Catalytic converter theft, which soared during the pandemic, is now falling

Catalytic converter theft in Los Angeles rocketed to unprecedented heights late last year. Victimized vehicle owners found themselves sometimes waiting months for a replacement for the device that limits harmful exhaust emissions. 

Each month from October 2022–January 2023, there were more than 900 reports of auto-part theft in the city, according to publicly available Los Angeles Police Department data. In 2018, there were commonly 150-200 reports each month.

Yet suddenly and quietly, auto-part theft in the city is tumbling. Counts have decreased for six consecutive months. There were 457 reports in June, according to police data.

Sgt. Juvey Mejia, of the LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division, attributed the decrease to multiple factors, including more attention being focused on the problem, and legislation that targets unscrupulous buyers of stolen goods.

“Over the last year or so, the LAPD and the city itself have been very proactive in trying to combat this catalytic converter theft trend,” Mejia said. “They put a lot of resources into it and it’s become a priority for the chief.”

Despite the progress, numbers are still historically high. Before 2020, there had never been more than 300 auto-part theft reports in a single month, according to police data. The monthly average last year was almost 600 thefts.