During the month of May, Airdrie RCMP has been trying to further address the ongoing issue of catalytic converter thefts in the community. The lack of ability to identify victims has been creating challenges for police to prosecute offenders.
"This is an ongoing issue, not just for Airdrie but for all of Southern Alberta. The problem is that no matter how much we patrol, and how visible we are in the community, Airdrie is a big community and if we're not in the right place at exactly the right time, they're getting away with this," says Airdrie RCMP Corporal Rachel Pergunas.
As part of a crime prevention initiative to assist the police in solving these thefts, Airdrie RCMP has reached out to local auto body shops to ask them, when servicing a vehicle, to offer their customer, at no expense, the option of etching the last six digits of a vehicle’s VIN on the catalytic converter.
"This is a step we're taking, just in hopes to make it a little bit more difficult for these thieves to get these catalytic converters recycled. If we are able to locate them with these catalytic converters, and they have the last six digits on them, then we're able to tie them back to the vehicle that they came from."
The feedback has been positive thus far and will support efforts to reduce catalytic converter crime in Airdrie and ultimately provide police with the evidence required to link a found catalytic converter to its owner.
If any additional auto body shop is interested in participating in the program, Airdrie RCMP will provide them with an engraver at no cost to the business. They can contact Airdrie RCMP Corporal Rachel Pergunas at 403-945-7200, Ext 7122.
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