It seems as if crime is on the rise in Colorado. One thing is for certain, there is a lot of catalytic converter theft happening in the state. According to the Aurora Police Department, catalytic converter theft has shot to the moon with a 1,156 percent increase in 2021 compared to 2019.

In total, 2,485 Coloradans had their catalytic converters stolen last year. Those numbers are what have only been reported. A catalytic converter can be expensive to replace. In some instances, victims could be facing a bill of more than $1,000 to replace a small part of the exhaust system in their vehicles.

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What can be Done About Catalytic Converter Thefts in Colorado?

When it comes to keeping your car's catalytic converter state, it's always a good idea to park in a well-lit area that has frequent people passing by. Sometimes, that is not an ideal situation. VIctims have had their fair share of thefts from their places of employment, airport parking lots, and even their homes.

I have even seen people post photos on social media of a cage that has been welded around the catalytic converters. Catalytic converters are being stolen all across the country and sold for the valuable metals that make up the part of the exhaust system. Those metals include platinum, palladium, and rhodium.

Catalytic converters are an easy target as they can be virtually untraceable due to not having a serial or VIN number from the manufacturer according to AAA.

Protecting Your Catalytic Converter from Theft in Colorado

AAA Colorado has partnered with the Colorado Department of Public Safety's Auto Theft Prevention Authority and AAA-approved auto repair shops to help Coloradans prevent the theft of catalytic converters.

The theft prevention measure is a non-removable etched identification number that is placed on the catalytic converter. The identification number is applied by a technician and only takes a moment to install. Best of all it is free.

There are numerous auto care locations in Northern Colorado offering catalytic converter ID's.

Fort Collins

  • Houska Automotive Service - 899 Riverside Ave.
  • Scott's Auto Inc. - 1900 East Lincoln
  • Community Automotive Center - 1925 South Timberline Road S-1
  • McCormick Automotive Center - 130 West Horsetooth Road

Loveland

  • Scott's Auto Inc. - 505 East Eisenhower Boulevard
  • Warren's Automotive Services - 9864 Mangano Lane

Greeley

  • Advance Auto Pro's - 2527 8th Avenue

Windsor

  • Christian Brothers Automotive - 1635 Main Street

A full list of participating auto care centers can be found at AAA.

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