Chula Vista police continue push to prevent catalytic converter theft with numbers on decline
Dante Ulanday - News Moderator 
The Chula Vista Police Department held an “Engrave and Save” event Saturday in an effort to reduce catalytic converter theft.
About 250 vehicles were brought in by local residents to take advantage of the free service at the city’s Public Works Center, according to city officials.
The goal, said Police Chief Roxana Kennedy, is “to help make residents of Chula Vista less desirable targets.”
With the use of two special engraving tools purchased with funds from the Chula Vista Police Foundation, catalytic converters were inscribed with their respective vehicle identification numbers.
“This simple act may deter theft and assist police in investigating stolen parts,” Kennedy said. “It’s one strategy in a larger effort to address catalytic converter theft in Chula Vista.”
While catalytic converter thefts rose sharply in 2020 and 2021, according to recent data from State Farm auto claims, they have been declining over the past two years. The insurance agency saw a 74% drop in catalytic converter theft claims for the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
California, however, along with Illinois, New York, Texas and Florida, continues to be among the top states for such claims.
According to the National Automotive Dealers Association, stolen catalytic converters can be sold for anywhere from $20 to $350 on the black market, but the replacement cost for victims is much higher. The cost to install a new catalytic converter averages over $2,500.
The most common targets for catalytic converter theft in California, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported, include several Toyotas, the Prius, Tundra, Sequoia and Tacoma, along with the Honda Element, Accord and CR-V and Ford Econoline, F-250 and Excursion.
Chula Vista’s free event was announced on social media and required a reservation. Those who were unable to sign up were encouraged to follow the CVPD on social media for future opportunities.
Participants must have a currently registered vehicle to take advantage of the service.
