On Saturday, Nov. 6, the Irvine Police Department is hosting a free Etch & Catch event to help prevent local catalytic converter theft.

Currently, Irvine is experiencing nearly 20 times the amount of catalytic converter thefts in comparison to the five-year average, according to Irvine Police Sergeant Karie Davies.

“Catalytic converter thefts year-to-date are 18.5 times higher than the five-year average for the same time period,” Davies wrote in an email to Irvine Weekly.

While many factors play into this crime, Davies added that speed, efficiency and a price tag of more than $1,000 make catalytic converters an easy opportunity for thieves.

“Thieves can get up to $1,200 per catalytic converter on some models. Many of the car manufacturers use precious metals in their catalytic converters and thieves know how much they can get so they seek out those types of cars. They can remove a catalytic converter in 30 seconds using a reciprocating saw and a jack,” Davies added.

Irvine’s Etch & Catch event is appointment-based and is encouraged for owners of Honda Accords and Honda Elements, along with Toyota Prius’ and other models, as IPD indicates those have become highly targeted vehicles.

The catalytic converter is a portion of a vehicle’s emission system, according to CarFax, and reduces the amount of pollution released from the exhaust.

In partnership with the Irvine Auto Center dealerships, Irvine’s Etch & Catch event will work as both a deterrent for future crime, and will also aid in the recovery after theft has occurred.

During the event, auto technicians will etch the car’s catalytic converter with the vehicle’s identification numbers (VIN) or license plate number.

In addition to the Etch & Catch event, the city of Irvine is also working to pass an ordinance that would make it unlawful to possess a catalytic converter without proper documentation.

The Irvine City Council will take a vote on the ordinance during its second reading at the Irvine City Council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 9.

The ordinance makes unlawful possession of a catalytic converter punishable by a $500 fine and potentially 12 months incarceration.

In late September, the Irvine Police Department apprehended suspects during an attempted catalytic converter theft, after a resident alerted authorities.

“This is why it is so important to have this new law in Irvine that will allow us to do something when our officers come across someone with one or more of these in their possession without any paperwork or proof of purchase,” Davies said.

Appointments for Irvine’s Etch & Catch event can be found here.

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