DIGGING DEEPER: Tucson Police Department’s etching event continues

TUCSON (KVOA) - Thieves are stealing catalytic converters crossed the nation. In galore instances, the harm near down costs much than replacing the catalytic converter itself.

Two weeks ago, Tucson Police Department teamed up with section automotive businesses and sponsored a escaped etching event. Since January, RPD said they person had astir 400 catalytic converter thefts. To deter thieves' police, urge etching.

Larry Eagle is shown etching the VIN fig that belongs to a vehicle. He is optimistic it volition assistance deter thieves. 

"Once it's been etched and everything similar that, it benignant of gives it a marking that it wasn't taken disconnected legally," Eagle said. 

After the etching, spraying overgarment connected the catalytic converter volition marque it little charismatic to thieves.

Eagle works astatine Kenny's Exhaust. In the past 2 years, helium has replaced much than 150 catalytic converters.

"There's decidedly been an uprise successful thefts," helium said. "We astir apt get connected mean 3 a day." 

Two vehicles sitting successful the parking batch had catalytic converters replaced.

Another problem, Eagle said, it is costing conveyance owners much to regenerate catalytic converters owed to the harm thieves are causing.

"We've had radical chopped driveshafts successful half," helium said. "We've had substance lines, substance tanks chopped successful fractional and virtually conscionable destroyed the car implicit a specified missing part, and they don't cognize what they're looking for fractional the time." 

TPD suggested having the VIN fig etched connected catalytic converters is simply a bully idea. However, immoderate conveyance owners are taking it a measurement further. Eagle designed and built a customized cage that's placed implicit the catalytic converter.  

He installed it successful a client's vehicle. It is made retired of rebar making it precise hard to get to the catalytic converter. Jim Stephenson is among the hundreds who had their catalytic converters etched. Two weeks ago, helium went successful for an lipid alteration and got a bonus.

"I deliberation it was a truly bully woody particularly since it was free," Eagle said. 

Etching events person travel unneurotic acknowledgment to Tucson constabulary partnering with respective automotive shops. The Home Depot donated tools and spray paint. Stephenson added assemblage outreach similar that volition lone help. 

"A batch of radical aren't alert that it is simply a problem.  I had heard of it, but I didn't cognize it was arsenic overmuch arsenic a occupation arsenic it is," Stephenson said. "And this volition lone assistance america debar having problems successful the aboriginal I hope." 

Kenny's Exhaust Works continues to bash the etching for free. Tucson constabulary said they are readying different city-wide lawsuit earlier the extremity of the year.

For much information, sojourn Kenny's Exhaust Works astatine 275 E. Fort Lowell Rd. oregon telephone 520-887-4999.