Police across Western Canada are facing an increasing number of catalytic converter thefts and are looking for solutions to put a stop to this crime. 

At the end of last year, the Edmonton police found 700 catalytic converters worth approximately $1.4 million at a metal recycler during a bust. This is just one recent example that shows how big the problem really is.

In an effort to find a solution, the Edmonton Police Service recently held a “Catalytic Converter Challenge” in which they sought out innovative ideas from the public to combat the thefts.

The challenge received numerous entries from the public, showcasing the creativity and resourcefulness of individuals in the community who are eager to help the police address this growing problem. The winners of the challenge presented the ideas Foilem Fence, The King Strap and Catalytic Converter DNA. Understandably, the article doesn’t go on to describe the technology behind these inventions.

While this challenge is an innovative way to look for a solution to this growing problem, it is also a sign of the time and demonstrates just how hard it is to protect catalytic converters from theft.

So, how can you better secure your business to better mitigate the risk of catalytic converter theft? 

Ways to Mitigate Catalytic Converter Theft 

The increase in catalytic converter thefts is a growing concern for police departments across the country. These parts are valuable due to the precious metals they contain, and they are being stolen from parked cars in large numbers. Major commercial targets include dealerships, car rental businesses and repair shops.

The police understand the urgency of finding a solution to this problem and are actively working to find ways to prevent these thefts. The Catalytic Converter Challenge is just one example of their efforts to engage the public in finding a solution. By partnering with the community, the police hope to find a way to stop these crimes and bring peace of mind to vehicle owners.

However, there are solutions businesses can use that already exist.

Secure Your Business With Verified Alarms

Protect your dealership's facility and vehicles by installing a verified audio/video security system.

Verified security solutions provide a comprehensive solution for protecting your dealership, service shop or rental service facility and the vehicles stored on your premises. Unlike traditional CCTV, these alarms are designed to monitor and detect any potential security threats. If a threat is detected, the system sends a live audio/video feed to a central monitoring station where security experts can verify the authenticity of the threat.

This not only ensures the safety of your facility and vehicles but also reduces the response time for the police. With traditional CCTV, the average response time for the police across North America is 45 minutes, whereas, with verified alarms, the response time is reduced to just 3.5 minutes.

The verification process is crucial in ensuring that police resources are used efficiently and effectively. It also eliminates the possibility of false alarms, which can not only be a nuisance but also waste valuable police time and resources. Additionally, the real-time monitoring provided by verified alarms allows the police to respond quickly and effectively to any security threats, thereby reducing the risk of loss or damage to your organization’s assets, and increasing the rate of apprehension.

By installing a verified security solution, you can provide a higher level of protection for your vehicle-based business and its assets, including catalytic converters - while also reducing the response time for the police in case of a security threat. It's a smart investment that will provide peace of mind and ensure the security of your dealership for years to come.

Protect Spare Parts with Managed Access Control

Managed access control systems are designed to grant or restrict access to specific areas of your business based on predefined rules. This means that you can control who has access to your inventory and when helping to minimize the risk of theft or unauthorized access.

Criminals are well aware that there are valuable spare parts stored in dealerships, service shops and similar businesses. That is why they may try to break into your facility to steal them. Implementing managed access control will secure the areas where you store your spare parts, making it much more difficult for criminals to access them.

Additionally, managed access control systems provide detailed reports on who was in each room and when allowing you to monitor access to your inventory. This information can be useful in the event of a theft or other security breach, as it provides valuable information that can be used to identify the culprit.

These solutions provide a higher level of protection, reduce response time for the police, and increase the rate of apprehension in case of a security threat. Interested in learning more about how verified security and managed access control can help secure your business? Get a free security plan from Sonitrol Western Canada today.