Shoreline Community College’s automotive department hosted an event on Oct. 17 in collaboration with the Shoreline Police Department to help curb the rising rates of catalytic converter thefts. Catalytic converters are stolen because of the high amounts of rare earth metals that are in them and it is very easy to steal one. All a thief would need to do is cut it out from the bottom of the car.

When asked if the car’s owner would notice if the part was stolen, Amber Avery-Graff, one of the instructors in the automotive program, responded by saying, “When they start up their car, it will sound very, very different.”

At the event, participants could either sign up in advance or just drive up to the stand located outside the south side of the 2000 building next to the event parking lot. Participants parked their car in the lot and handed their keys over to the automotive department staff, who then took the car into the garage and lifted it into the air so a volunteer student technician could spray a high temperature high visibility paint on the catalytic converter. Then, using a dremel, they carved the vehicle’s VIN into the paint. Now, if the converter was stolen, the thief would have a harder time selling it and law enforcement would be able to catch them more easily. Once the operation was complete, the car was returned to its owner who was waiting for it at the waiting area.

There were 78 cars that came to the event, a 30% increase compared to the last event in April, where the department serviced 60 cars. The sheriff’s department has shown interest in doing another event in the future. However, if you would like this operation done sooner, feel free to contact the Shoreline Police Department, who are more than willing to help set up an appointment with SCC’s automotive program.