California Auto Shops Offer Free Etchings to Fight Catalytic Converter Theft

(L–R) Marianne Kim, a California Auto Club representative, Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), and Doug Shupe, a California Auto Club spokesman announce a state Senate resolution designating June 13 as the beginning of Catalytic Converter Awareness Week at Buddy's Auto Tires and More in Garden Grove, Calif., on June 13, 2022. Carol Cassis/The Epoch Times

GARDEN GROVE, Calif.—To help mitigate the risk of catalytic converter thefts, State Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) joined representatives from the Automobile Club of Southern California and the Garden Grove Police Department at Buddy’s Auto Tires And More to etch vehicles’ license numbers on converters for free.

The etchings are part of a community effort, occurring at 16 other Orange County and Los Angeles County Auto Club-approved vehicle repair shops.