Spike in catalytic converter thefts prompts Edmonton council to ...

EPS identified that a lack of traceability and proof of ownership for unattached catalytic converters creates challenges for successful enforcement

Published May 29, 2023  •  Last updated 11 hours ago  •  2 minute read

Edmonton police seized 462 catalytic converters worth more than $300,000 in a single large-scale bust in 2020. Photo by supplied

Possible bylaw changes meant to prevent rising catalytic converter thefts in Edmonton will be up for debate at city hall this week.

Around 3,350 catalytic converters were reported stolen in Edmonton in 2022, more than a 1,400 per cent increase from 2018 when there were 213 such thefts. City administrative staff and the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) are suggesting options to help curb the trend which cost Edmontonians nearly $20 million in repairs and replacements last year.

A report heading to council’s community and public services meeting on Wednesday says while scrap metal dealers and recyclers are already regulated at the municipal and provincial level, there is more the city could do.

According to the report, Edmonton could add new conditions to the scrap metal dealer and recycler business licence, similar to the rules pawn shops and second-hand stores must follow. Nothing is finalized, but allowing scrap metal dealers to only buy catalytic converters etched with vehicle identification numbers (VIN), requiring dealers to track the dollar value of these sales, and increasing fines for non-compliance are some examples of what changes could look like.

“Administration has met with the Edmonton Police Service to identify the barriers they face in enforcing thefts and the illegal trade of catalytic converters. EPS identified that a lack of traceability and proof of ownership for unattached catalytic converters creates challenges for successful enforcement,” the report states.

“Further work with EPS is required to determine what deemed conditions (in the bylaw), if any, would be both helpful in reducing theft and actionable by EPS in their investigations and enforcement, and what resourcing from EPS is available for enforcement if conditions were added.”

Other Canadian cities are also updating bylaws to help deter thieves, such as Surrey, B.C. The new rules, passed in April, only allow catalytic converters to be sold if they are attached to the exhaust system of a vehicle, have a VIN etching and the seller has registration to prove they own the vehicle, or if it has a VIN etching and the seller is a licensed automotive repair business.

The rise in catalytic converter thefts in recent years is believed to be tied to the increased value of the precious metals they contain — rhodium, palladium and platinum — which can be recycled for profit.

Apart from changing bylaws, council could also choose to join the Edmonton Police Commission in lobbying the federal government to require VIN etchings on converters in new and imported vehicles, and for the provincial government to fill in the “gaps” identified since the scrap metal sale legislation passed in November 2020, the report states.

Police are also looking into creating a voluntary VIN etching program with mechanics and dealerships. Some jurisdictions have programs where drivers can get VIN etching for a discount or for free during a visit to a mechanic.

“Catalytic converters with VINs etched into them could either be cross-referenced with reported incidents of theft, or could be assumed stolen if the VIN was filed off. EPS is exploring possible programs with local mechanics and dealerships,” the report states. “Such programs offer the opportunity to empower owners to better protect their own property — but may not be feasible to all vehicle owners due to potential issues with accessibility, cost and awareness.”

EPS declined an interview for this story.

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