Lincolnwood holds event to ‘tattoo’ catalytic converters to discourage theft

Motorists lined up at Cassidy Tire in Lincolnwood Oct. 23 in an attempt to prevent their vehicles’ catalytic converters from being stolen — a crime running rampant in both the city and suburbs.

By the time the event opened at 9 a.m., around 20 cars were already waiting at the entrance, which was marked by two Lincolnwood police cars.

When a driver’s turn arrived, Cassidy mechanics hoisted it up on a hydraulic lift while another employee prepared stencils that would give each vehicle’s catalytic converter a unique identification number, including the last four digits of its VIN number. Then mechanics used fire-proof spray paint to spray the numbers on the catalytic converter in bright-orange paint.

Near the exit Sarah Yun of the Lincolnwood Police Department handed each owner a window decal saying “This vehicle has a catalytic converter theft deterrent” on it, along with the logo of the Lincolnwood Police Department.