For the third month in a row, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station (SCV Sheriff) is offering catalytic converter etchings to help curb catalytic converter thefts in the valley.
This month, the SCV Sheriff etching events are set to take place on Tuesday, May 11,18 and 25, Wednesday, May 26 and Thursday, May 27 with Reeves Complete Auto Center and Canyon Muffler in Canyon Country as well as RG Brake and Alignment in Valencia and can be accessed by appointment only.
“The problem is that when a catalytic converter is stolen and we catch a thief or a suspect with catalytic converters, it’s very difficult to tell where the catalytic converter came from,” said SCV Sheriff Captain Justin Diez at the first etching event in March. “We figured if we can engrave the actual license plate in the catalytic converter, once the catalytic converter is recovered, we can identify the victim and then prosecute the suspect.”
See Related: SCV Sheriff’s Station Hosts Catalytic Converter Etching At Reeves Complete Auto Repair
During the etching events, the sheriff’s logo is spray painted onto a car’s catalytic converter, or cat, and the car’s license plate number is etched onto it.
The purpose of spray painting the sheriff’s logo is to prevent theft, while the purpose of etching the license plate number is to help identify the owner of parts if they are stolen, according to Diez.
Theft of catalytic converters has been a growing trend in 2020, with a 400 percent increase throughout Los Angeles County, and a significant increase in the Santa Clarita Valley as well, according to officials.
See Related: Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station Hosts Second Free Catalytic Converter Etching Event
Catalytic converters are attached to a car’s exhaust system, and are targeted because they contain precious metals and can be “scrapped” for a quick profit, officials say.
Parking in areas that are well-lit and have surveillance cameras, welding catalytic converter bolts shut, and reporting suspicious behavior can help prevent cat theft, according to Sheriff’s officials.
To make an appointment or to learn more about the event, contact SCV Sheriff Community Relations Deputy Borbon via email.
Appointments are only scheduled through the sheriff’s station, not the auto centers.
For updates on future etching events, visit SCV Sheriff’s Twitter.
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