Police Offer Free Catalytic Converter Etching to Help Efforts to Curb Rising Thefts

The Pasadena Police Department will offer free catalytic converter etching to help combat the skyrocketing number of catalytic converter thefts in Pasadena.

People who want their vehicle identification numbers etched onto their catalytic converters can get the service done for free on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Crown City Tire at 80 West Bellevue Drive — but should hurry to sign up for the limited remaining spaces.

To sign up, click this link.

Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle’s exhaust system that converts pollutants to less toxic materials.

They have become a hot commodity for thieves because they contain valuable metals like platinum, rhodium, and palladium which can be sold to metals recyclers and they typically lack identifying markings, which makes it hard for police to identify victims and successfully apprehend and prosecute criminals.

“The purpose for the etching program is to mark a converter with an identifiable number so that if a person’s catalytic converter is stolen and recovered by law enforcement, the engraved number will provide investigators with information about the victim,” explained  Lt. William Grisafe.

Grisafe said the etching will not prevent theft, but it will provide a starting point for investigation.

Prevention methods include parking a vehicle in a locked garage or parking in a well-lit, well-traveled  area to deter thieves.

In Pasadena, verified catalytic converter thefts are still on the rise.

From January to date, there have been 86 catalytic converter thefts reported to Pasadena police, according to Grisafe.

This is a 21% increase from the number of thefts reported in the same period in 2021 and a 306% increase compared to thefts reported in the same period in 2020.

Thefts of catalytic converters in Pasadena more than doubled in 2021 from 117 reported catalytic converter thefts in 2020 to 257.

According to Grisafe, Toyota Prius (2nd generation) Honda Accords (years 2000-2008) and Honda Elements are the most targeted cars for catalytic converter theft.

The Police Department is working on future dates for other etching programs, according to Grisafe.