ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — Thefts of catalytic converters have surged in Southern California as the value of the minerals they contain skyrockets.

Cities across the region have alerted residents of the danger through a series of etching events during which automobile owners can get their car license plate written on the part.

Irvine ran a recent event along with a handful of car dealerships etching 126 catalytic converters. 

What You Need To Know

  • Catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed nationwide as thieves steal the car part for the rare, precious metals it contains

  • The part can sell to processing plants for anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over a $1,000

  • The part can be removed within a few minutes and easily hidden in a backpack, making it difficult for police to catch offenders in the act

  • Police departments have held etching events to properly mark catalytic converters with license plate numbers, which can help authorities press charges

“Our officers have encountered suspects with catalytic converters in their possession, and we cannot prove they are stolen or return them to the rightful owners due to the lack of serial numbers or other identifying information. Engraving license plate numbers onto catalytic converters may allow us to identify victims of these types of thefts, return stolen property, and arrest criminal offenders,” said Irvine Police Department Chief Michael Kent in a news release.

It’s unclear how effective these events have been in halting thefts. Catalytic converters are small and can be removed in several minutes without bulky or loud tools. Once removed, they can be easily stowed in a backpack. Adding to the nuisance is the high cost that often comes with replacing the part.

“These things are anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 or $7,000,” said David Holmerud, general manager of Norm Reeves Honda Superstore in Irvine.

Thieves can sell these catalytic converters for hundreds of dollars to processors who extract palladium, rhodium and platinum. So far, he said, there are no plans to mark all the vehicles at the dealership.

“I think the problem right now is pretty much isolated around the earlier model years,” he said. “The ones that we’re seeing that need the cats replaced are all close to a decade old.”

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Local police departments plan to hold another etching event Nov. 13 at 7680 Talbert Ave. in Huntington Beach. It’s a joint gathering hosted by the Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach police departments. 

“It’s not necessarily preventative, but it is a way for us to press charges if we recover one and it is etched,” said Jennifer Carey, the public information officer for the Huntington Beach Police Department. “We encourage the etching because there are instances where we are recovering the catalytic converters.”