Kindersley RCMP partners with area businesses to deter catalytic converter theft

Catalytic converter theft has been on the rise over the past year in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan RCMP received 173 reports of thefts of catalytic converters in 2021. That is up 810% from 2020, when there were only 19 reported thefts.

In partnership with local businesses, Kindersley RCMP is looking to help deter would-be thieves by creating the ‘You Etch It. We Catch It!’ program. Through the program, participating local businesses can, at the request of the owner, engrave the last 8 digits of a vehicle’s vehicle identification number (VIN) onto its catalytic converter, free of charge.

Officers, on occasion, have caught suspects with catalytic converters in their possession, however they have been unable to prove they were stolen. This has also meant the RCMP were unable to return them to their rightful owners due to a lack of identifying information. With the VIN etched onto the catalytic converter, it greatly increases the likelihood that criminals committing these crimes can be held accountable for their actions.

The Kindersley area has had relatively few reports of catalytic converter theft. “That’s a trend the Kindersley RCMP would like to see continue,” says Staff Sergeant Kevin Peterson, Detachment Commander for Kindersley RCMP. “Our Detachment would like to be proactive and try and prevent these types of thefts in our detachment area before it becomes a problem.”

Current participating businesses include:

• Energy Dodge

• Fountain Tire

• Integra Tire

• Kindersley Mainline King of Trucks

• Tisdale Ford

Any other businesses who wants to participate can contact the Kindersley RCMP Detachment and any member of the public who wishes to have their catalytic converter etched may contact a participating business.