The reason Winnipeg police say catalytic converter thefts are dropping
The Winnipeg Police Service is reporting a steep drop in catalytic converter thefts.
In a news release on Monday, police shared statistics showing that at the start of the year there were hundreds of catalytic converter thefts each month, but by August the number had significantly dropped. These numbers include:
- January – 186 thefts;
- February – 219 thefts;
- March – 280 thefts;
- April – 353 thefts;
- May – 283 thefts;
- June – 122 thefts;
- July – 78 thefts; and
- August – 31 thefts.
According to police, in order to curb the theft of catalytic converters, they conducted a four-month investigation called ‘Project Precious.’
As a result of this investigation, officers arrested two people, associated with a Springfield scrap metal dealer, in June 2022, for buying and selling stolen catalytic converters. Then in July, police arrested four more people with stolen catalytic converters during a traffic stop.
Winnipeg police note that the Manitoba government also introduced a bill that requires scrap metal dealers to follow strict rules when buying and selling certain metal products. This means anyone trying to sell these items needs to provide government ID at the time of the sale, and the metal dealers need to keep accurate and up-to-date records of the transactions.
Police note they have the authority to conduct random checks at metal dealers and enforce these new requirements.
Along with the work by police and the government, Crime Stoppers launched an initiative called ‘Save Your Cat’ through funding from criminal property forfeiture.
With this initiative, drivers can bring their vehicles to auto service centres and have their catalytic converters engraved with the vehicle serial number, and painted with high-visibility paint. Police note that these engraved catalytic converters won’t be accepted at scrap metal dealers under the province’s scrap metal act.
According to Winnipeg police, in 2021 vehicle accessories, including catalytic converters, replaced liquor as the most stolen property. There were more than 1,700 reported thefts last year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.