More than 2,600 catalytic converter thefts happened in Edmonton last year and now, Edmonton police are looking to the public for a viable solution to put an end to the crime.
With a $50,000 contribution from Millennium Insurance Corp., the Edmonton Police Service and Edmonton Police Foundation have launched a worldwide challenge to help solve the ongoing issue of catalytic converter thefts.
“This issue is not new for law enforcement, but public education and police investigations are only part of the solution,” EPS chief Dale McFee said.
“We need to make it much harder for criminals to steal or sell them. We need a game-changer to help stop this crime of opportunity.”
In Alberta last year, 4,797 catalytic converter thefts were reported. Of those, 2,647 — or 55 per cent — took place in Edmonton, according to the EPS.
In the first six months of 2022, 1,761 thefts were reported in Edmonton. That’s up from 1,445 during the same time period last year.
Over the last three years, the EPS said catalytic converter thefts in Edmonton have increased 219 per cent.
The EPS estimates replacements, repairs and other related expenses cost Edmontonians $13 million in 2021.
Catalytic converters are stolen to recycle the precious metals contained within them, such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. Police expect the thefts to rise as the global demand for these metals increases.
The EPS and EPF are now seeking ideas and technological innovations to help solve the problem, through its Catalytic Converter Challenge.
“More must be done to protect vehicle owners from this costly crime, and this challenge will help generate the ideas and innovations needed to reduce auto part crime and ultimately provide peace of mind,” McFee said.
“Sometimes a seed just needs a little water, and there are some great ideas that just need to be infused with the right investment and support to grow into something benefitting everyone,” said Ashif Mawji, chair of the EPF.
“Our first CSA (Community Solutions Accelerator) challenge helped reduce thefts in local liquor stores by over 95 per cent, so we have high hopes that the global innovator community will bring forward another successful solution.”
The CSA leverages expertise, data, technology and support from multiple sources to work on challenges that have been identified by the community, social agencies, health care and law enforcement. The EPS said it was the first to bring the CSA approach to policing in North America in 2020.
Submissions for the Catalytic Converter Challenge are being accepted online until Nov. 30. The winner will be announced after judges review all of the entries.