Why is this particular type of crime plummeting in the East Bay?

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (KRON) — In the East Bay, police are reporting a dramatic drop in catalytic converter thefts, mirroring a trend nationwide. The crime spiked during the pandemic, but since then, legislation and awareness have contributed to a sharp decline in thefts.

Back in 2021, mechanic Victor Hernandez was so overwhelmed with service requests to replace stolen catalytic converters, he had to put some cars in storage to free up space in his San Leandro lot.

“It’s a straight nightmare for everybody — I can tell you that,” Hernandez told KRON4 back in 2021.

That’s a stark contrast to today.

“We focus more on the complete auto repairs right now,” Hernandez told KRON4 this week.

It’s a much different story at Vic Muffler and Auto Repair. The lot is still full of cars, but hardly any are related to tampered catalytic converters. It’s a crime that in the past has pitted victims against armed suspects in deadly confrontations.

“We’re still doing exhaust and catalytic converters, but it’s definitely down,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez said that prior to the pandemic, replacing stolen catalytic converters amounted to about 90% of his business. In recent years, he says that has changed dramatically.

“We more down 20% instead of 90%,” he said.

Catalytic converter theft is not specifically tracked by the San Leandro Police Department.
Instead, the agency keeps records on stolen vehicle parts and vehicle tampering. Those records indicate that the number of stolen vehicle parts nosedived from 794 in 2022 to just 92 last year.

So far this year, just 21 vehicle parts have been stolen. In a statement on the decline, police said, “This is likely a combination of a generally reduced trend in catalytic converter theft along with increased online reporting of incidents for insurance purposes only.”

“We have seen that this is not a daily occurrence any longer,” said former Berkeley City Councilmember Kate Harrison. “I’m not hearing from people that they woke up and found their converter missing.”

Harrison drafted a resolution back in 2023 supporting Assembly Bill 641 which eventually became state law. It expanded the definition of an “automobile dismantler” to include individuals illegally in possession of two or more catalytic converters.

“They identify who the real perpetrators of these crimes are,” said Harrison. “There are theft rings. It’s not just individuals stealing your catalytic converter. It’s the people to whom they’re selling it.”

Statistics shared by the Berkeley Police Department shows catalytic converter thefts there dropped from 847 in 2022 to 312 in 2024. So far this year, 171 thefts have been reported citywide.

“Just throwing up your hands is not the right answer,” said Harrison. “Identifying the root causes and trusting your police to do the investigation is, I think, key to solving many of these types of crimes.”

Since 2023, in California, it is illegal to sell a car with a catalytic converter unless the exhaust emission control device is permanently marked with the vehicle’s VIN number. Meanwhile, the legal sale of used catalytic converters has been limited to licensed auto dismantlers, licensed repair dealers and people who can prove they own their converter.

Hernandez says the despite the drop in thefts, business is still good.

“It’s way better feelings, you know. You want to do the repair based on they need it. Not based on somebody stealing,” he said.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports catalytic converter thefts decreased 68% from 2023 to 2024. It’s a problem that still exists, but far less frequently than in the recent past.