FAIRFAX, VA — Two businesses in Merrifield and McLean are teaming up with the Fairfax County Police Department's McLean District Station to provide etching services for Toyota Prius owners who wish to protect their cars from catalytic converters thefts.

Catalytic converters are usually made up of three precious metals: platinum, palladium and rhodium. The value of the precious metals has risen sharply, with the prices paid for stolen catalytic converters increased in line with the higher values.

In 2021, police across the nation saw the number of catalytic converter thefts drastically increase. Fairfax County has not been immune to this trend. From January to April this year, 333 catalytic converters were stolen in Fairfax County, compared with just 27 similar thefts over the same period in 2021.

Thieves are targeting Toyota Priuses, which are hybrids, in particular because of their electric batteries. The longer a gasoline-fueled engine runs, the more air passes through the catalytic converter. Over time, the precious metals begin to wear away. Since a Prius periodically runs off its battery instead of its gas-fueled engine, a Prius catalytic converter will retain more of its precious metals.

Craftsman Auto Care will be offering free etchings of an anti-theft label onto catalytic converters of second-generation Toyota Prius registered in the McLean District at two locations:

The etchings may not prevent theives from taking a catalytic converter, but it will make it easier for police to match stolen converters they recover to their owners.

The FCPD's suggestions to prevent catalytic converter thefts include:

When reporting a stolen catalytic converter, residents can call the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131, or 911 if it is an emergency.

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