Crime & Safety
Monrovia Police Hosting Etch & Catch Event Later This Month
Monrovians will have the catalytic converters on their vehicles etched with an ID number to help deter thefts.
![The Monrovia Police Department is holding an etching event for catalytic converters at the end of August to help curb a rise in thefts of the auto part.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/24797168/20210809/063024/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1707826279-1___09182901346.jpg)
MONROVIA, CA — The Monrovia Police Department will host an "etch and catch" event at the end of August to help curb a rise in catalytic converter thefts that have plagued Los Angeles County.
The event will be held on Aug. 28, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Ward Service Auto Repair. The event is free for residents of Monrovia, and advanced registration is required, the department said in a statement.
Mechanics will etch a car’s catalytic converter with a unique identification number, according to officials. The number is used to link a converter back to its original owner if it's ever stolen and later recovered by police.
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Thieves target the part because it contains precious metals such as gold and platinum. Converters from hybrid vehicles are typically targeted as they have a high concentration of metals, officials said. A stolen converter can be sold for between $150 and $250 at a scrapyard.
However, replacing the stolen part could cost a motorist upwards of $2,500.
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