Sheriff's Office Joins Minnesota Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce our participation in the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program. The program, which was launched by the state's Commerce Department in 2021, works by adhering a special label to catalytic converters, that transfers etchings of the label's unique number onto the metal once the vehicle is started. The etching makes it possible for law enforcement to trace a recovered convertor back to a specific vehicle if it's stolen. As you may be aware, Minnesota has one of the highest theft rates of catalytic converters in the nation. Minnesota law enforcement agencies, automotive dealerships, and service centers are marking the converters, especially those on the most at-risk vehicles, with an easily applied label that has a number, when registered, is traceable to the VIN.
Vehicles most at-risk for catalytic converter theft
- Chevrolet Express
- Honda Element
- Mitsubishi Eclipse
- Ford Econoline
- Honda Odyssey
- Mitsubishi Lancer
- Ford F250
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Honda Accord
- Hyundai Tucson
- Toyota Prius
- Honda CRV
- Kia Sportage
- Toyota Tundra
The process to obtain a kit
1. Request a FREE kit from me at james.schueller@olmstedcounty.gov or simply come to the Government Center (101 4th St SE) during normal business hours to pick up your kit at the 2nd floor Sheriff’s Office Civil Warrants window.
2. You will need your vehicle's VIN number and Minnesota license plate number to register the kit! Have these handy when you start the registration process.
3. Register your kit online by visiting www.theisr.org and following the registration instructions included in your kit. This can be more easily accomplished if you have a smartphone and bar code scanner, again following the registration instructions included in your kit. It is important to complete registration before applying the kit.
4. If you’re able, you can mark your catalytic converter yourself through a simple process or contact your local dealer/mechanic/body shop about scheduling a time to have your unique code marked on your catalytic converter.
Our main partner in this pilot program is Universal Marine and RV in Rochester. They have generously volunteered their time and services to install these kits for those who are unable to do so themselves. If you wish to have Universal Marine and RV install your kit, please call them to make an appointment.
Additional participating service centers include:
- Tilson’s Auto Repair of Rochester
- Autoworks Elite of Rochester
- Chatfield Body Shop
It is important for service stations to understand that state law prevents them from charging for the installation of the free pilot program marking labels.
It is worth noting, that as more converters are marked, criminals may grind the number off a converter if they intend to sell it. Under Minnesota law the removal of a number, even if it is owner applied, is a crime and can be used as evidence to show the criminal knows it to be stolen. Furthermore, it is a crime for scrap metal dealers who receive, possess, transfer, buy, or conceal any stolen property or property knowing or having reason to know the property was stolen. Thus, this program and state statute serve to communicate to scrap metal dealers that converters with fresh grind marks are an indicator they are stolen and that they should be dissuaded from purchasing them.
While we freely acknowledge this pilot program may not stop all thefts from occurring, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau are actively working to reduce the number of thefts, as well as taking steps to help prosecute the criminals who commit or are involved in these crimes.