Lebanon Police are sponsoring a free Etch and Catch program aimed at cracking down on catalytic converter thefts.
Drivers can take their vehicle to one of more than a dozen locations.
The business will put their license plate number on the converter, along with a line made with brightly colored, heat resistant paint.
Press Release
In an effort to deter would-be thieves and to track stolen catalytic converters, the Lebanon Police Department has teamed up with several local automotive businesses to participate in the “Etch and Catch” anti-theft program.
The Etch and Catch program works like this: When a vehicle goes in for a service at a participating business, the vehicle’s owner can request to have their license plate number etched on their catalytic converter.
The business will also mark a line on the catalytic converter with brightly colored, heat resistant paint.
This will be done free of charge.
When thieves see the paint and engraved license plate number, they will hopefully leave the vehicle alone.
If a thief is found in possession of a catalytic converter, based on the markings, law enforcement officers, or scrap yard personnel will be able to recognize the catalytic converter as being stolen.
Area scrap yards should not accept a catalytic converter with these markings, nor should they accept them with evidence of the markings being partially or completely removed.
We are sharing this information with them.
For more information on the program click on the link https://www.lebanonmissouri.org/680/Etch-and-Catch-Program.
The following businesses support the Etch and Catch Program:
- Big O Tires 1701 W Elm St 417-657-2027
- Cole N Sons Tire & Auto Inc 935 S Jefferson Ave 417-588-4468
- Ed Morse Chevrolet Lebanon 285 W Elm St 417-532-3114
- Ed Morse Collision Lebanon 735 Maple Ln 417-657-0437
- Ed Morse Ford Lebanon 260 W Elm St 417-532-3146
- Graven Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 1755 W Elm St 417-532-3157
- Life Tire Service 1480 W Elm St 417-991-3800
- Loving Hands Auto Repair 1303 Deadra Dr 417-991-3011
- Pro-Tech Automotive by York 333 E Elm St 417-533-3600
- Sakelaris Buick GMC of Lebanon 2400 Evergreen Parkway 417-532-3121
- South 5 Auto Repair 131 Lawson Ave 417-532-4211
- Tires Brakes & More 1237 US Route 66 417-532-0850
- Valvoline Express Care 438 N Jefferson Ave 417-532-1949
We thank our “Etch and Catch” partners for their collaboration to reduce catalytic converter thefts. Without their help, this program would not be possible.
Many people have asked what they can do to help protect their vehicles. Here are some tips to help prevent catalytic converter thefts:
- Get your license plate etched and your catalytic converter painted next time you are in for a service.
- Park in a secured garage when possible or in a well-lit area with surveillance cameras and/or where the vehicle will be seen by a passerby.
- Install motion-sensitive lighting to illuminate driveways used for parking.
- Consider adding security cameras to oversee driveway and on-street parking areas.
- Research catalytic converter anti-theft devices and weigh the pros and cons of having one installed.
We are asking for the community’s support to prevent catalytic converter thefts.
If you hear strange noises during the night, such as power tools or sawing, if you see a suspicious vehicle driving slowly through your neighborhood or stopped at the side of the road, or if you see/hear ANYTHING out of the ordinary, please call the Police Department at 417-532-3131.
Oftentimes, cases are solved when an observant resident calls dispatch immediately when something doesn’t seem quite right.
