Full Notification

The Torrance Police Department has seen a sharp increase in catalytic converter thefts in Torrance in the last few months. There has been 20 thefts of catalytic converters between January and August 2014 and since September 2014  there has been a total of 24. 

All incidents since January 1, 2014 are plotted on a map in the bulletin (see below for link). Commercial parking lots along Hawthorne Blvd have been the target area for the catalytic converter thefts. In commercial lots, the thefts occur all days of the week, daytime and nighttime while in residential areas, they are mostly occurring overnight, mostly Monday-Tuesday.

While thieves overwhelmingly target numerous model years of Toyota and Honda SUVs and pick-up trucks due to their higher undercarriages, passenger vehicles such as Honda Accords have also been targeted.

Here are some prevention tips to safeguard your catalytic converter:

Park your vehicle in areas where it can be seen by others. Park your vehicle under lights after dark and near security cameras.

If your catalytic converter is a “bolt on” model, you can have the bolts welded shut and have extra metal welded to the exhaust system.

Install a catalytic converter protection device that will clamp around the converter.

Etch your converter with your vehicle’s license plate number in several different locations. This will help us track your property if it is stolen.

If you see anyone under a vehicle in a parking or any suspicious activity in a parking lot, please call the Torrance Police Department.  “See Something, Say Something” 

For full bulletin click the following link:

http://www.torranceca.gov/TPD/Documents/14-132_PUBLIC_CAT_CONV_THEFTS.pdf

If you have any information please contact the Torrance Police Department at 310-328-3456.

“See Something, Say Something”

Emergency 9-1-1

Non-Emergency: 310-328-3456

Provided By:
Torrance Police Department –
Community Affairs Division
310-618-6391 or 310-618-6392
www.Police.TorranceCA.Gov
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www.Facebook.com/TorrancePD
www.Twitter.com/TorrancePD