At the police district’s event next month, volunteers will spray-paint residents’ catalytic converters hot pink and mark the devices with a “CPD” stencil, Edens said. The markings are only visible if you’re underneath your car.
The Shakespeare Police District is also looking into putting a marker on each catalytic converter that can be traced back to its owner as a crime-fighting tool, Edens said.
Edens said they hope to expand the program to other police districts if it’s deemed effective.
Logan Square resident Cherie Travis pitched the idea of marking catalytic converters to the Shakespeare Police District after noticing an uptick in victims’ posts on neighborhood Facebook pages.
“The people that are stealing them are getting a small amount of money. The people getting victimized — it’s very painful for them because it’s an expensive car repair,” Travis said.
Catalytic converters can cost up to $2,500 to replace.
“If it helps one person who is leaving to take their kids to school in the morning, or go to their job, and doesn’t find that all of a sudden their car is sounding like a jet engine, then that’ll make me feel good,” Travis said. “People are having a rough time as it is, without being the victim of a really stupid theft like this.”
Residents who wish to participate in the Sept. 11 event must pre-register. To do so, or to find out more information, email CAPS.014District@chicagopolice.org.
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Article Appeared @https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/08/09/police-will-paint-your-catalytic-converter-hot-pink-mark-it-with-cpd-to-deter-thieves-as-part-of-pilot-program/