With catalytic converter thefts nonetheless occurring, cities and legislation enforcement officers throughout the nation are operating out of concepts on cease them. Dealers have additionally been reporting elements shortages leading to months-long wait instances in the event you want a substitute. Now, ABC7 experiences that the Los Angeles Police Department is providing VIN etching as a solution to cease thefts.
Using an $8,000 Insta Etch machine bought with a state grant, the LAPD’s Northeast Division is providing the service to residents. Using the machine, the division will etch the automobile’s VIN onto the converter. To go one additional, the division may also etch “Marked by LAPD” onto the converter as a “high visibility deterrent.”
While the VIN etching will assist the division observe and catalog converters which were stolen or recovered, the division hopes the LAPD template will make thieves assume twice about stealing a automobile’s catalytic converter. “We use this LAPD placard template with the high-temperature paint and we apply, not only the VIN etch, but we apply this LAPD warning, if you will, to potential thieves who get underneath these cars looking to steal the catalytic converters,” LAPD Capt. Gary Walters advised ABC7.
The division is at the moment holding month-to-month etching occasions for residents and hopes to get extra funding to buy extra of the Insta Etching units. It’s nonetheless to be seen how a lot of a distinction the etchings would possibly make, as thieves have proven that little actually stops them, they usually appear to get faster by the day. Every little bit helps, although, particularly in the event you’ve been a sufferer of catalytic converter theft and questioned, in hindsight, if there was something you didn’t do that may’ve helped you keep away from the entire ordeal.
Source: jalopnik.com