The Manhattan Beach Police Department, in cooperation with the Manhattan Beach Public Works Department, is offering Manhattan Beach residents free etching service for automobile parts frequently targeted by vehicle burglars.
Over the past two years, there has been a significant increase nationwide in the number of catalytic converters stolen from vehicles; the City of Manhattan Beach is not immune. In the first quarter of 2008, seventeen catalytic converters have been stolen from vehicles in Manhattan Beach.
Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle's emission control system, and are located underneath the vehicle. Thieves steal these converters, then sell them to recyclers who strip valuable metals from them. Metal recyclers pay about $80 for a used catalytic converter, but it costs a vehicle owner between $700 and $1,000 to replace a stolen catalytic converter.
The thieves are primarily targeting Toyota pick-up trucks and Toyota SUVs that are parked outside, on residential driveways, and streets overnight. Toyotas are especially popular with thieves because they are higher off the ground and their converters can be unbolted or sawed off fairly quickly. Other types of vehicles are not immune; catalytic converters from other types of vehicles have also been reported stolen; however, much less frequently.
In addition to catalytic converters, the City of Manhattan Beach, and other South Bay cities have reported thefts of 3rd row seats from sport utility vehicles, specifically from Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.
If you own a Toyota truck or Toyota SUV and would like your license plate number etched on the catalytic converter; or if you own a Chevy Tahoe or GMC Yukon and would like your license plate etched on a 3rd row seat, City maintenance workers will etch your vehicle’s license plate number on the catalytic converter and 3rd row seats free of charge. This will provide for the easy identification and return of these components if stolen.
Please contact Sergeant Steve Tobias at (310) 802-5123 to schedule an appointment.
