Through a state pilot program, the Faribault Police Department has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Commerce Fraud Bureau to distribute free catalytic converter marking kits to residents of Faribault. The kits include a label that etches a unique identification number onto a catalytic converter making the part traceable when registered.
Kits are available during regular business hours at the police department Records window, 25 Fourth St. NW, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Records staff will assist in registering your vehicle and kit online or through your smart phone. Please bring your vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), Minnesota license plate number, and year, make, and model of your vehicle to register your kit. Kits can not be issued until a vehicle is registered within the system.
Minnesota has one of the highest rates of catalytic converter thefts in the nation, and Faribault is not immune to this trend. Scrap dealers, often located out of state, pay top dollar for the precious metals found within catalytic converters. A marked converter is a good indicator that the part may be stolen and can be traced if registered. This helps in the prosecution of offenders and acts as a deterrent in reducing the number of thefts.
Find below an image of the kits.
