The Faribault Police Department is excited to announce a community partnership with Faribault Tire and Express Service, which has agreed to apply catalytic converter marking kits on residents’ vehicles, free of charge. In January, FPD announced that free catalytic converter marking kits would be available, thanks to a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Commerce Fraud Bureau.
One of the barriers departments have seen is the ability to apply the kits to the actual unit; however, thanks to Faribault Tire and Express Service, mechanics will now do so - free of charge.
Residents can continue to pick up the kits during normal business hours, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Faribault PD lobby. Those unable to apply the kits themselves can take them to Faribault Tire and Express Service, 1723 Grant Street, where a mechanic will install the marking kit at no cost.
To date, over 40 kits have been distributed to local residents, and we are excited to see that number grow thanks to the partnership with the Faribault Tire and Express Service.
***Please see the original release below***
Faribault Police Department Joins Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Program
FARIBAULT – 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 am and 4:00 pm, 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. Faribault is not immune to this trend. Scrap dealers, often located out-of-state, pay top dollar for the precious metals found in catalytic converters. A marked converter is a good indicator 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.
