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Long Beach Police are offering to help residents stop theft of catalytic converters by marking them with vehicle information.
In cooperation with the city’s Fleet Services Bureau, the police department will etch the identification number or license plate number of the catalytic converter vehicle. This process can help you investigate if a catalytic converter is stolen and can also prevent criminals from stealing their devices, according to police.
The free event will be held on Saturday, August 16th from 8am to 2pm at the Northern Division Police Station. Long Beach residents can register online.
To attend, Long Beach residents are registered owners of the vehicle and must bring a driver’s license and a copy of the vehicle’s registration. Event confirmation is required, and vehicles without confirmation may not be allowed to enter.
This summer we will be holding another “Etch & Catch” event!
Participate in the complimentary catalytic converter etch event at 4891 Atlantic Avenue, the Northern Division police station, on Saturday, August 16th, 2025, from 8am to 2pm.
The event is open to all Long Beach residents. Our team… pic.twitter.com/eqjkeria7h
– Long Beach PD (CA) (@LBPD) July 26, 2025
Catalytic converters are a common target for thieves because of precious metals that can be resold. The state bill, which came into effect in January 2024, requires that all catalytic converters be marked with the vehicle identification number, but some older cars may not have this label.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed, growing to nearly 293% nationwide in terms of the number of claims filed, according to state farm data.
California had the highest number of claims filed in the first half of 2024.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the most targeted vehicles in California due to converter theft are Toyota Prius, Honda Element, Honda Accord, Ford Econoline and Honda CRV.
In June 2025, Long Beach Police reported a decline in 92 car robberies and 102 grand thefts since 2024.
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