One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Bill Seeks To Beat Back Catalytic Converter Thieves Seeking A Pricey Metal Used To Make Them
Deputy Jaime Moran from the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department engraves the catalytic converter of a vehicle with a traceable number last July.
(
Frederic J. Brown
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
It’s shiny, it’s under your car, and if you cashed it in, you probably could buy yourself a Louis Vuitton.
No, it’s not a lockbox full of precious jewels that the dealership tricked you into paying for, it’s a catalytic converter, one of the most common car parts lifted from vehicles in recent years. Catalytic converters contain rhodium, a valuable metal which continues to soar in price. According to a site that tracks the current price of metals, an ounce of rhodium currently sells for nearly $20,000.
To make it easier to track stolen items, State Senator Bob Umberg (D-Santa Ana) co-authored a bill requiring car dealers to etch the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on all converters on cars listed for sale.
“There's been an epidemic of catalytic converter theft,” said Umberg. “And the purpose of this bill is to enable law enforcement to catch the folks who are stealing catalytic converters.”
The practice of catalytic converter VIN inscription is not new. In fact, car owners seeking to get that extra layer of protection can head to the Echo Park Reservoir Wednesday (April 6) for free engraving services, courtesy of the LAPD’s Northeast Auto Detectives and the L.A. Sheriff's Taskforce for Regional Auto Theft Prevention.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1863 Silver Lake Blvd., north of the dog park.
Sponsored message
In February, L.A. District Attorney George Gascón and LAPD Chief Michel Moore threw their support behind Senate Bill 986.
A statement they released said, in part:
“Catalytic converters have become a popular target of theft because they contain valuable metals and are untraceable and easy to sell. This bill will give law enforcement important tools that will reduce property crime and save consumers the money and hassle of replacing the stolen parts.”
Some 20% of thefts from vehicles in the city of Los Angeles involved catalytic converters, according to Moore. By requiring VIN engraving, authorities should be able to track the converter origin and hold the recycling industry — which plays a large part in the re-sale of the car parts — accountable.
“I’m encouraged by the bill’s focus on accountability for the recycling businesses as they play a key part in the cycle of a catalytic converter theft,” Moore said.
The legislation was unanimously approved by one legislative committee this week but still has a number of steps before it could become law. State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge), calls the proposed legislation a “commonsense solution” for an increasingly pressing issue.
“Catalytic converter thefts are rising and serious. It is a crime that is affecting an increasing number of families in the 25th State Senate District and across the state. We must enact tougher law enforcement strategies and penalties to combat it,” said Sen. Portantino via statement.
Sponsored message
The primary opposition to the bill comes from a group representing new car dealers, who argue that the legislation would further increase the price of catalytic converters.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
