Statewide awareness campaign fights catalytic converter thefts, other vehicle crimes

Times staff report
·3 min read

A statewide campaign seeks to stop catalytic converter theft and other vehicle crimes.

The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority and the Insurance Council of Texas launched the awareness campaign, which encourages Texans to “Lock It Down!” as vehicle-related crimes surge across the state.

“Texas currently ranks second in the country for the largest number of motor vehicle crimes, with more than 65,000 cars and trucks stolen and nearly 200,000 burglarized every year,” Rich Johnson, Insurance Council of Texas director of communications and public affairs, said in a news release. “This campaign is designed to amplify awareness of these issues and empower community members with simple, highly-effective ways to help prevent motor vehicle crime – such as remembering to always lock your vehicle.”

More: El Paso police say 2 men caught stealing broken down car's catalytic converter along I-10

The top anti-vehicle theft and burglary prevention tips are:

  • Hide valuables from plain sight to avoid attracting thieves.

  • Lock the vehicle and take the keys.

  • Never hide a second set of keys in or on your vehicle.

  • Park in well-lit areas and attended parking lots.

  • Never leave your vehicle running, even if you will only be away for a minute.

    • If your vehicle is stolen, call law enforcement and your insurer immediately. Reporting a vehicle as soon as possible after it is stolen increases the chance of recovery.

In addition to thefts within vehicles, there have been more than 65,000 reported incidents of stolen vehicle parts in Texas, totaling in excess of $95 million, according to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.

More: Ongoing El Paso police operation targeting catalytic converter thefts results in arrest

Catalytic converters are a common stolen part due to the precious metals they hold, the news release said. Commercial vehicles and those with higher ground clearance often are targeted due to their easy accessibility to thieves.

Tips for prevention of catalytic converter theft are:

  • Etch or paint the vehicle’s catalytic converter.

    • Contact local law enforcement to determine whether departments offer free catalytic converter engraving and high-heat painting or have community events planned to do so.

  • Park in a garage, secure area or well-lit area to discourage thieves.

  • Install a catalytic converter anti-theft shield, which bolts over the converter and acts as a deterrent to thieves whose goal is speed.

Other types of vehicle fraud include:

  • Title fraud – Fictitious paperwork for stolen vehicles. Non-English-speaking communities are the most vulnerable to receiving these fake titles.

  • Registration fraud – When vehicles cannot pass emissions inspections or cannot be registered due to title issues, owners often resort to purchasing false registration documents or illegally issued temporary permits.

  • VIN fraud (VIN switches/VIN cloning) – In an effort to mask stolen cars, thieves take a vehicle identification number (VIN number) from another similar make and model of car and make counterfeit VIN plates that will be installed onto the stolen car.

More: El Paso auto thefts soaring amid rising crime

For more information, visit LockItDownTX.com, or follow the campaign at twitter.com/LockItDownTX and facebook.com/LockItDownTX/

The Insurance Council of Texas is a nonprofit trade association that promotes the property and casualty insurance industry. Learn more at insurancecouncil.org.

The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority is a program within the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles established in 1991 by the Texas Legislature to combat motor vehicle theft, burglary and fraud-related motor vehicle crime.

For more information, visit https://www.txdmv.gov/about-us/MVCPA.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Here are tips to fight catalytic converter theft, other vehicle crimes