Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station To Host Etch & Catch Event

DIAMOND BAR, CA — Residents are invited to an etching event hosted by the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station in August that’s meant to help curb a rise in catalytic converter thefts.

The station will host an "Etch & Catch" event on Aug. 18, 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.

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.