Sheriff’s Office Obtains More Catalytic Converter Theft Kits
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office has received dozens of additional catalytic converter etching kits.
Sheriff's Captain James Schueller says another 50 of the marking kits have been obtained from the state in response to additional requests from the public and recent catalytic converters thefts in Olmsted County. The kits are being made available to the public for free through the Minnesota Commerce Department Fraud Bureau, which launched a statewide Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program last year.
The kits include a special label that is stuck to a vehicle's catalytic converter and then chemically etches a unique number onto the emission control device after the vehicle is started and warmed up. The number, once it’s registered, allows law enforcement to trace catalytic converters back to a specific vehicle if they are recovered.
The kits are available at the Government Center in downtown Rochester between 8 AM and 4 PM on weekdays. They must be picked up in person at the Sheriff's Office Civil Warrants window on the second floor. The Sheriff's office says anyone requesting a kit will need the vehicle's VIN number and Minnesota license plate number to register it with the state.
The news release says the marking kits are easy to install, but anyone needing assistance can contact their local dealer, auto repair, or body repair shop to schedule a time to have the work done.