The Chula Vista Police Department is hosting another Engrave & Save event on Saturday in a continued effort to decrease catalytic converter theft through increased public awareness and partnerships.
Cherniss Tire World will engrave the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) onto catalytic converters on Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. t0 1 p.m. The service is free to the first 50 Chula Vista residents who register for the event.
Registration closes on Sept. 15.
Participants must bring proof of Chula Vista residency and current vehicle registration to participate. According to the CVPD, this simple act may deter theft and assist police in investigating thefts.
Catalytic converter theft increased by over 300% nationwide, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). According to State Farm, California is leading the nation in catalytic converter thefts.
The insurance company reported it paid $62.6 million for 32,265 catalytic converter theft claims nationally, a 1,173 percent increase from 2019. There were a total of 4,507 catalytic converter theft claims in 2020, costing the insurance company over $10.8 million.
Catalytic converters are a part of every vehicle exhaust system. They filter harmful vehicle exhaust using precious metals with a high black-market value.
This event has been generously sponsored by Cherniss Tire World. For more information or questions regarding the event, contact CVPD Property Crimes Unit at propertycrimes@chulavistapd.org or (619) 691-5146.
