Catalytic Converter Etch & Catch Event Planned For September

DIAMOND BAR, CA — To help combat a rise in catalytic converter thefts, the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station is inviting residents to take part in a free etching event next month.

The station will host an "Etch & Catch" event on Sept. 8, from 9 to 11 a.m., at Calvary Chapel Golden Springs. Officials will etch a car's catalytic converter with a unique identification number free of charge.

That number will be able to link the converter back to its original owner in the event it’s stolen and later recovered by law enforcement, sheriff’s officials said in a statement.

Registration is required for the etching and can be made by visiting the sheriff’s station’s Eventbrite page.

The event is part of what officials call a “multifaceted strategy” to address a rise in catalytic converter thefts that have plagued Los Angeles County. The station has already hosted several of these etching events in the past, which quickly run out of registration spots each time, officials said.

Thieves target the auto part as it contains precious metals like gold, palladium and platinum. Converters belonging to hybrid vehicles are frequently targeted as they have higher concentrations of metals, officials said.

A stolen converter can fetch between $150 and $250 at a scrapyard. However, the cost for a motorist to replace the stolen part can be upwards of $2,500.