Just look at Nassau County, New York to see how bad the issue has become. News 12 Brooklyn reports that county officials held an emergency meeting amid 1,290 reported catalytic converter thefts this year, up from just 131 last year.
This alarming trend has garnered the attention of state lawmakers across the country who are working to combat the issue head on. In Massachusetts, The Boston Globe reports that proposed legislation would create a paper trail for catalytic converter sales.
The proposed measures include requiring scrap metal buyers to keep a logbook of catalytic converter transactions, only pay for the parts by check, and make sellers prove ownership when selling the parts.
Where There’s A Will There’s A Way
Of course, the million-dollar question is: can this type of legislation prevent catalytic converter theft at your business? While legislation is a great start and may deter some catalytic converter thieves from selling stolen parts for a quick profit, the answer is almost certainly no.
For starters, thieves will always find a way to cheat the system. In this case, they may be motivated to take stolen car parts to other shops in order to cash in on the precious metals inside. They may even skip scrap yards and recycling centers altogether and find other venues to cash in quickly.
We must also remember that the issue of catalytic converter theft and sales isn’t just limited to scrap metal yards and other physical locations.
The rise of online selling platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist have made it easier than ever for thieves to carry out under-the-table transactions.
And online, it’s nearly impossible for a buyer to tell if a part is stolen or not – affording thieves an increased level of anonymity.
Boost Your Security Strategy
The only way to truly combat catalytic converter theft head on is to take security into your own hands. The thought of legislation to halt thieves sounds nice, but realistically it probably won’t do much to stop thieves altogether. They will find a way and your business needs to be ready.
Luckily, there are a number of measures you can take in order to keep catalytic converters where they belong – attached to cars and on your property!
Some commonsense security measures include installing lighting to effectively light up your site (thieves love darkness – so don’t let them have it!) and installing proper fencing to establish a perimeter and keep trespassers out.
However, in order to truly take security a step further and proactively deter catalytic converter theft, you must turn to Remote Video Monitoring (RVM). Pro-Vigil’s RVM solutions use smart surveillance cameras powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognize suspicious activity.
Once a suspicious event is detected, Pro-Vigil’s team of virtual guards can launch audio and visual deterrents like strobe lights, pre-recorded announcements, and sirens to send thieves running. In fact, Pro-Vigil deters 97% of intruders before they can ever commit a crime.
The best part is, our team keeps watch and takes action while you focus on running your business.
Don’t wait to see if legislation will stop catalytic converter theft at your business. Partner with Pro-Vigil to stop would-be thieves in their tracks. Contact us today to learn more.
