ST. PAUL, Minn. – After 560 catalytic converter thefts from car exhaust systems this year, St. Paul police think they have a solution. A drive-through clinic is planned for Saturday to go to the undercarriage of cars and spray-paint the catalytic converters. The idea: Render the converters toxic on the black market, which pays handsomely for the palladium inside. “Many scrapyards won’t purchase a catalytic converter that’s been marked,” said police spokesperson Natalie Davis said. Police also will theft-prevention screws on license plates, which also have become a growing target for thieves.
Cosmetology for catalytic converter. Free at Allianz soccer field parking lot.