Oceanside Police Catalytic Converter Etching Event - March 12

OCEANSIDE, CA — The Oceanside Police Department invites the public to attend a Catalytic Converter Etching Event on Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.

The event is hosted by Len's Auto Body located at 510 Jones Road in Oceanside. This event is a part of a multifaceted strategy that the Oceanside Police Department has implemented to address the uptick in catalytic converter thefts occurring nationwide.

Catalytic converters are vehicle parts that contain valuable platinum group metals like rhodium, iridium, and palladium. The increase in these thefts coincides with the increase in the cost for these precious metals and the increase in demand for catalytic converters due to increasing vehicle emission regulation. Criminals can steal your catalytic converter in moments, using tools found at hardware stores, leaving you with costly parts to replace and repair.

Matching a stolen catalytic converter to the vehicle it was stolen from, is an important step in the pursuit of a criminal case against the thieves. Police are urging car owners to engrave their vehicle's identification number on their converter to link the part to their vehicle. The engraving can also alert buyers to stolen parts. Participating in a catalytic converter etching event is a proactive measure you can take to assist law enforcement in combatting this crime trend.

All participants will have their catalytic converters etched with an identifying number. This etching will provide law enforcement with valuable information should it be stolen and later located by law enforcement personnel during subsequent investigations. Oceanside Police personnel will be available throughout the day to provide valuable tips to help keep your vehicle safe.

This event is provided at no cost to participants. Registration is required. To schedule your appointment please visit https://t.co/w8DHuW7BGV.

For additional information, please contact Oceanside Police Department Public Information Officer Jennifer Atenza at (760) 277-5237 or email jatenza@oceansideca.org.