On October 1, 2021, Équité Association partnered with the Service de Police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM) and Vehicle Road Safety Solutions (VRSS), inviting Montrealers to local stations in an effort to prevent catalytic converter theft.
A catalytic converter is a vehicle component that controls exhaust emission. It reduces the toxicity of gases and pollutants in exhaust. As prices of precious metals rises, so has the number of catalytic thefts.
Participants received a unique identification (ID) number to put on their catalytic converters free of charge. Thirty-two catalytic converters were marked and added to the database during this event. More than 300 vehicles have been marked through this program.
This program engraves the unique identification number and QR code on the catalytic converter using a special formula – making the catalyst easily identifiable – even if its tag is removed. Additionally, the converter’s unique ID can be added to a secure and accredited database as part of this program.
Other partners supporting this program include Industrielle Alliance, Info-Crime Montreal, and l’Arrondissement Rivière-des-Prairies-Point-aux-Tremblesof Montreal.