A pilot program aimed at stopping catalytic converter thefts in San Francisco’s Sunset District launched Friday.
San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio teamed up with police for the launch.
Twenty cars were lifted up at Sunset Auto Care, so mechanics could engrave a serial number on catalytic converts, as well as spray paint the San Francisco Police Department logo. The thinking is that thieves will have a harder time selling converters that are clearly stolen and victims have a chance of getting their property back.
“No one’s going to steal this one,” declared Engardio, ducking under the first car to receive the serial number and logo to admire the mechanic’s handiwork.
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Nearly 300 Sunset District residents signed up for the free program before applications were closed. Supervisors and police hope to expand the program to other parts of the city soon to curb the rash of converter thefts.
“We have to do something to prevent and deter. That’s what this is about,” said San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott. “It's not going to stop thieves from being thieves, but what we do hope for is that if people have a converter stolen it will be easier to identify because we do often recover them.”
The rest of the program’s applicants will have their catalytic converters engraved and painted in the coming weeks.
