Catalytic converters, an exhaust-control device that has been installed underneath a number of cars since the 1990s, have often been sought by thieves hoping to profit off the precious metals found inside. To help prevent these thefts, the Long Beach police department is hosting a free event to engrave the VIN or license plate numbers of people’s cars onto their catalytic converters to help police locate the owners if they ever get stolen.
The event will be Saturday, July 31, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus at 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway. To register, click here.
“The etching of catalytic converters can assist LBPD investigations if the catalytic converter is stolen and may also discourage criminals from stealing it,” Richard Mejia, a spokesman for the LBPD, wrote in an email.
The department hosted a similar event last month where 200 vehicles had their catalytic converters marked.
Today, LBPD partnered with the @LongBeachCity Fleet Services Bureau to host our first "Etch and Catch" event where we etched the catalytic converters of vehicles belonging to Long Beach residents! This can help our officers in tracking and recovering stolen converters. pic.twitter.com/xwFTmeGTmz
— Long Beach PD (CA) (@LBPD) June 26, 2021
Mejia said the last event “quickly filled up” adding that the department is anticipating a high turnout this time around as well.
To attend, participants must:
- Be a Long Beach resident
- Be the registered owner of the vehicle
- Bring your driver’s license and a copy of your vehicle’s registration
- Bring your event confirmation with you to the event. (Any vehicle without confirmation will not be allowed entry)
- Arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment
- Fill out and sign the participant waiver form
Sign up here. The event is limited to 250 people.
Auto thefts rose 57% since beginning of 2021, Long Beach police say