Over the past month, thefts of catalytic converters have been on the rise in the City of San Fernando, according to the San Fernando Police Department (SFPD), which will provide free etching services for car owners in the next few weeks.
“There has been a notable uptick in the theft of catalytic converters,” said SFPD Detective Sgt. Pete Aguirre, noting that robberies of the car device tend to be cyclical, much like other property crimes, such as vehicle thefts. “We get a wave of them, and then they kind of fall off.”
Thieves currently appear to be targeting Toyotas more than other vehicles, although any car with a catalytic converter is potentially at risk, said Aguirre, but he added, “Toyotas seem to be the current trend.”
Thieves routinely target catalytic converters – which is part of a car’s exhaust system to reduce harmful emissions – for the value of the precious metals they contain: platinum, palladium and rhodium. The devices are usually sold to scrap metal dealers, who often pay good prices.
Catalytic converters are typically located underneath vehicles and easily accessible. Thieves can remove them fairly quickly with simple tools, like wrenches or reciprocating saws.
Aguirre noted there was a previous wave of local thefts several months ago, and the SFPD had planned and advertised a free etching event for community members in conjunction with TRAP (Task Force for Regional Auto Theft), but it was postponed due to the Eaton and Palisades fires.
In response to the current increase in catalytic converter robberies, the department will schedule another etching event sometime in the next few weeks. Aguirre said the SFPD utilized funds they received from a Flock Safety grant to purchase an etching device for the local department, and all officers in the detective bureau have undergone training on how to use the device.
“It’s free to the community. It costs nothing, but a little bit of their time,” said Aguirre, noting that the potential benefit for vehicle owners is twofold: as a theft deterrent and to reduce the likelihood that a stolen catalytic converter can be resold.
“The etching is plainly visible, so when potential thieves get under the car and they’re getting ready to remove this part, they can see that it’s etched with the San Fernando Police Department and the VIN number,” he said. In addition, scrappers are often less willing to take a device that is clearly marked with the identification number of the car it was stolen from, explained Aguirre.
Other options to help reduce thefts include cages or shields. A catalytic converter cage is an anti-theft device that consists of two clamps and a long, heavy-gauge stainless-steel cable, which is threaded through the clamps and creates a metal web surrounding the catalytic converter. Because cutting through the cage would take time, thieves often move on to easier targets.
A catalytic converter shield hides the device from view with a shield that is fastened to the underside of the vehicle with several bolts, creating a physical barrier for a would-be thief.
The San Fernando Police Department will announce the date of the upcoming etching event, which will be open to all vehicle owners, once it has been scheduled.