BRENTWOOD, CA – During the first couple of months this year, the city experienced a significant increase in catalytic converter theft. Thieves recycle the converters for cash at local scrap yards and receive anywhere between $50 and $250 cash.
Vehicles with high ground clearance and easily accessible exhaust systems are prime targets for this type of theft. Typically, catalytic converters have no identifying markings and they are simply bolted into the exhaust system making them easy to unbolt or cut out in a matter of seconds.
On May 9th from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, the City of Brentwood along with SpeeDee Oil Change and Midas Auto Service will be hosting our first ever “Etch and Catch” program.
This proactive program is designed to prevent the theft of catalytic converters by making them easily identifiable. SpeeDee Oil staff will etch the vehicles license plate number on the catalytic converter and mark it with bright colored heat paint. SpeeDee Oil has offered to etch 30 catalytic converters on a first come, first serve basis free of charge.
SpeeDee Oil Change and Midas Auto Service is located at 7737 Brentwood Blvd.
For more information regarding the “Etch and Catch” program, contact Lt. Doug Silva at the Brentwood Police Department (925) 809-7712.
1 comment
Sounds great. As the owner of a Toyota Tundra, with 4 catalytic convertors (CC’s), I’ve already taken my proactive approach. I had Kirk Welding on Brentwood Blvd. spot weld all the bolts on my CC’s. I then stopped by O’Reilly Auto Parts and picked up two cans of hi-temp engine paint, one orange and one white. I spray painted the CC’s bright orange and used the white and a stencil to put my license plate number on each one. May not be fool-proof but when one of these scumbags rolls under my car to do his thievin’ I’ve got to believe that he may want to be moving on to the next vehicle that isn’t so problematic for him.
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