Got proof that catalytic converter is yours? Carlsbad cracking down on theft of much sought-after device

Carlsbad, facing its share of a nationwide rash of catalytic converter thefts, became the first city in San Diego County to outlaw illegal possession of the auto parts this week.

Anyone with a catalytic converter not attached to a vehicle should be ready to provide valid proof of ownership under an ordinance approved unanimously Tuesday by the Carlsbad City Council.

Evidence of ownership must include the license plate number and vehicle identification number of the car from which the catalytic converter was removed, also the name, address and phone number of the vehicle’s owner, the signature of the owner authorizing removal, and the name, address and telephone number of the current owner of the catalytic converter.

Violators will be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, confinement to the county jail for up to six months, or both. The ordinance will be effective 30 days after its adoption, which requires a second reading before the City Council.

Catalytic converters are a key part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, required because of their ability to reduce emissions. Each device contains expensive precious metals including platinum, palladium and rhodium, which currently sells for more than $11,000 per ounce.

“As the price of these metals has increased, especially during the pandemic, so has the incentive for thieves to steal catalytic converters and sell them to others who can extract the metals,” Carlsbad police Capt. Christie Calderwood told the City Council.

Replacement of a catalytic converter and repairing the damage typically costs the vehicle owner more than $2,000, she said.

The repair usually must be done immediately because it’s illegal to drive a car without the part, and without it the car will be uncomfortably loud because it’s disconnected from the muffler.

The thefts are easy because the part is easily reached beneath the vehicle and can be removed with a reciprocating saw in just a minute or two. Scrap metal yards buy them, and the thefts are difficult to prosecute because there are no serial numbers on the part and the victim often is difficult to identify.

Toyota Priuses are the most frequent target, followed by Honda Elements and Accords.

Countywide thefts of catalytic converters went from 393 in 2020 to 2,230 in 2021, Calderwood said. Only 42 of the devices were recovered in 2021, and the total damages were estimated at $5.5 million. Also, police believe there were additional victims who never reported the crime.

Some auto repair shops have begun engraving a car’s vehicle number on the part to help prevent thefts, she said.

Oceanside, Escondido and Chula Vista police departments also have seen escalating thefts of the devices, and the trend could be nationwide. Police from across the county are working with the District Attorney’s Office and other agencies to reduce the thefts and teach people to protect their vehicles.

Ten states including Arkansas, South Carolina and Texas enacted new legislation in 2021 to increase regulations for scrap metal dealers who buy the converters, according to trade publication Insurance Journal. At least one state, North Carolina, made the thefts a felony.

A California law, Senate Bill 366 signed into law last year, makes it illegal to dismantle vehicles without a license or permit, but legislators say more is needed to address the growing problem of catalytic converter theft.

Washington state lawmakers debated a bill Tuesday that would prohibit the resale of used catalytic converters to scrap dealers except by commercial businesses and vehicle owners and bar on-the-spot cash payments.

However, the recycling industry pushed back, saying the state already has robust rules and penalties for people who buy stolen materials.