SOUTH PORTLAND — The Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ Enforcement Division (BMV) and Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) will team up to host a free catalytic converter etching event on Wednesday, October 29. The event will run from 9 a.m. to Noon, at SMCC’s Johnson Automotive Technology Center, 2 Fort Road, South Portland.

Vehicles will be etched on a first come, first served basis, or attendees can register for a preferred time slot by emailing investigations.bmv@maine.gov. SMCC students from the Johnson Automotive Technology Center will assist with the marking of the catalytic converters.

“This event will give vehicle owners an opportunity to proactively protect themselves and their vehicles,” said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. “Programs such as this upcoming event are part of the innovative anti-theft steps the state has taken to protect consumers as well as the environment, and we appreciate SMCC’s partnership with BMV to bring this opportunity to southern Maine consumers. The Bangor area event in April was very popular, and we hope to see strong turnout in South Portland on October 29, too.”

What is a catalytic converter and why are they stolen? A catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions from a vehicle’s exhaust system. They contain small amounts of previous metals, such as platinum, palladium, or rhodium, making them a quick and enticing source of revenue for thieves. No vehicle is immune, but popular targets include large trucks that are easy to access and hybrid vehicles because they contain higher quantities of precious metals. Fluctuating prices for precious metals can lead to spikes in thefts – thieves can fetch hundreds of dollars for stolen converters while replacement can cost the victims thousands of dollars. Awareness and theft prevention measures help reduce thefts.

According to statistics from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), there was a nearly 900% increase in catalytic converter thefts between 2019 and 2023. A 2022 Maine law added penalties for the theft of catalytic converters while also requiring new and used car dealers to engrave the full vehicle identification number (VIN) onto converters when removed from a vehicle, and a license to sell, purchase, remove, or dispose of converters. Free catalytic converter marking events such as the upcoming event at EMCC further increase the number of converters marked in Maine.

“This upcoming event at SMCC is the Bureau of Motor Vehicles latest event, and we are happy to bring this opportunity to consumers in the Portland metro area,” said Derek F. Dinsmore, Director of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Enforcement Services Division. “Catalytic converters are easily accessible and fairly easy to remove, making them a quick and easy way for thieves to profit from your loss while leaving you with the headache and the expense. Marking a vehicle’s catalytic converters takes just a few minutes, and it’s an easy way to avoid being victimized.”