Buyers and sellers of catalytic converters are now required to have a permit in place.
LPD Assistant Chief Brian Jackson says, “We are at over 800 catalytic converter thefts for the year, In years past the average was 26 per year between 2015 and 2019, a significant increase in 2020 and 2021. These represented about a $1,000 loss for every victim that is impacted by this offense. These are offenses that are occurring city-wide, often overnight.”
This is the breakdown of thefts over the last 7 years:
2015 – 14
2016 – 9
2017 – 10
2018 – 29
2019 – 69
2020 – 274
2021 – 800
There is a crackdown on thefts. An ordinance went into effect in October that requires all buyers and sellers of catalytic converters to have a permit. The cost is $5 and they can be obtained at the Lincoln Police Department. The application for a permit is available on LPD’s website. Violators will be cited.