With catalyst adapter theft is still happening, cities and law enforcement officials across the country are running out of ideas about how to prevent them. Dealers also have reported part shortages resulting in lasted for many months meantime if you need a replacement. Currently, ABC7 reported that the Los Angeles Police Department are offering VIN engraving as a way to prevent theft.
Use the $8,000 Insta Etch machine purchased with a state grant, LAPD’The Northeast of s is providing services to residents. Using the machine, the unit will engrave the vehicle’s VIN on the converter. To go further, the kit will also engrave the words “Marked by LAPD” onto the adapter as a “high visibility deterrent”.
While etching a VIN will help the department track and convert categories that have been stolen or recovered, the department hopes the LAPD pattern will make thieves think twice about stealing a car. catalytic conversion. “We use this model of LAPD sign with high temperature paint and we apply, not just the VIN, but we apply this LAPD warning, if you will, to potential thieves who get under these cars looking to steal the adapter catalyst,” said LAPD Captain Gary Walters ABC7.
The department is currently holding monthly etching events for interested residents and hopes to raise funds to purchase additional Insta Etching devices. It remains to be seen how different the engravings are can do, like thieves have shown that very little actually stops them, and they seem to get faster during the day. However, every little bit helps, especially if you’ve been a victim of catalytic converter theft and wonder, in hindsight, if there’s something you didn’t do that could help you avoid it. whole challenge or not.
