CD4 Councilmember Blames Toyota for Catalytic Converter Thefts

Fourth District Councilmember Nithya Raman voted against an ordinance to make

unauthorized possession of a catalytic converter a criminal offense. The motion was

adopted by the city council on April 18 and is intended to provide police an additional tool

for combating the thousands of catalytic converters thefts that have occurred in the city in

the last few years.

Raman justified her vote against the measure by claiming that prosecuting offenders would

cost the city more time and money and not make the city any safer. She placed blame on

Toyota in particular, since one of the most popular targets of catalytic converter thieves is

the hybrid Prius.

Recently, federal, state and local authorities took down a nationwide catalytic converter

theft ring. Arrests occurred in several states, including California.

One measure car owners can take to help law enforcement is to get an identification

number etched on their vehicle's catalytic converter. On May 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00

p.m., LAPD Northeast senior lead officers are hosting a VIN etching for catalytic

converters event at Eagle Rock Plaza, located at 2700 Colorado Blvd.

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