California Bills Targeting Catalytic Converter Thefts

NOW FOR A LIVE WATCH AT OUR STATE CAPITAL, WAS LEGISLATIVES TONIGHT CONSIDERING A BILL TAKING DOWN A CRIMINAL TREND THAT HAS COST DRERIVS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FLIGHT OF CATALYSTS. THE EAVESAV HE STOLE THE PARTTOS GET THE PRECIOUS METALS INSIDE. >> I SENSE FOR THE AOT OF DEALERS IN SACRAMENTO, AND I THINK MOST ETH DEALERS HAVE BEEN STRUCKED ALREADY. EDIE: A COMNMO PROBLEM, A HUGE PROBLEM FOR CAR DEALERS AND EVEN AVERAGE CAR OWNERS. THE NUMBER OF CATALYSTS THEFT IS INCREASING. THEY ARE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, IT’S AUACTLLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS. GULSTAN: A NEW LAW COULD FIX THINGS. LE LYSEE MITRI BY KCRA 3 LEARN ABOUT THE NEW BILLS INTRODUCED AT THE LYSEE CAPITO D’ÉTAT: SAM SHAALAN EXPLOITED US THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED. >> THEY PARKED THEIR RHTIG CAR HERE, THE LITTLE NISSAN ALTIMA. THEY CUT THESE TWO BARS, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK HERE. LYSEE: A THIEF ENTERED THE GROUND FULL OF CARS AT ATSLA MOTORS IN THE NORTHERN HIGHLANDS AT ABOUT 1.45AM. >> WE HAD THE CRV RIT GHHERE. THEY SHUT DOWN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN 10 MINUTES. LYSEE: THEN, HE SAID, ETH SUSPICIOUS RIDES AT THE RANGE ROVER, WHILE A SECOND PERSON GUARDS WAT.CH >> THEY CUT TWO OF THESE CATS HERE IN TEN MINUTES. LYSE TE: HE SUSPECTS THEFT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AGO WAS CATCHED ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO, HE SAYS. >> THESE VIDEOS SHOW SOME MEN, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUT OF THEIR CAR. LYSEE: THIS IS EVIDENCE SHAALAN SAYS HE GAVE OEDVER TO THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, BUT HE KNOWS THEY RECEIVE MANY REPORTS LIKE THIS. >> I FEEL FOR A LOT OF DEALERS IN SACRAMENTO, AND I THINK MOST OF THE ALDER HAVE BEEN STRUCKED ALREADY. LYSEE: HE HOPE MORE N CABE DONE. AT THE STATE CAPITOL, NEW BILL INTRODUCED WOULD TARGET ESTHE THEIS. ONE HAS A BUSINESS LICENSE AS AN AUTOMOBILE DISMANTLER. AND ANOTHER BILL WOULD ENSURE THAT A TK FORCE IDENTIFYING AREAS WITH INCREASED LEVELS OF PROPERTY CRIMES SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS CAR PARTS THEFT. MEANWHILE, DEALERSIK LE ATLAS MOTORS JUST HOPE SOMNEEO COULD PROVIDE INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY THE THIEVES. >> WHAT MORE CAN WE DO? LYSEE: IN THE NORTHERN HILAGND, LYSEE MITRI, KCRA 3 NEWS. GULSN: YOUR LIKE FOR THIS COMPANY, ATLAS MOTORS ESTIMATES IT WILL COST

California Bills Targeting Catalytic Converter Thefts

Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, introduced a few bills focused on auto parts theft, like catalytic converters. converters that are not attached to a motor vehicle, and current law makes it a crime for someone to act as an automobile dismantler without having an established place of business and without having a current license. Assembly Bill 1653 is related to property crimes. Existing law requires the California Highway Patrol to work with the Department of Justice to organize a regional property crime task force to identify areas experiencing increased levels of property crime and to assist law enforcement. local order with personnel and equipment. This bill would actually specify that the theft of auto parts and accessories should be investigated as a property crime by the regional property crime task force. The introduction of these bills is part of a growing trend of theft of catalytic converters. .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, introduced a few bills focused on the theft of auto parts, such as catalytic converters.

Assembly Bill 1659 would expand the definition of an “automotive dismantler” to include a person who retains two or more used catalytic converters that are not attached to a motor vehicle, and current law makes it a crime for a person to act as a car dismantler without having a place of business and holding a valid licence.

Assembly Bill 1653 is related to property crimes. Existing law requires the California Highway Patrol to work with the Department of Justice to organize a regional property crime task force to identify areas experiencing increased levels of property crime and to assist law enforcement. local order with personnel and equipment.

This bill would actually specify that the theft of auto parts and accessories should be investigated as a property crime by the regional property crime task force.

The introduction of these bills comes amid a growing trend of catalytic converter thefts.

A KCRA 3 investigation found that in Sacramento County alone, the number of reported catalytic converter thefts has increased more than 1,500% in the past three and a half years.