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crime4h ago
Free VIN etching event aims to curb catalytic converter thefts
- Eastern Maine Community College hosts a free VIN etching event to deter catalytic converter thefts nationwide.
- The event is a collaboration with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Department of the Secretary of State.
- Catalytic converters are targeted for theft due to their value and easy access, authorities say.
- Owners face replacement costs that can exceed $2,500, while thieves fetch $20 to $350 on the black market.
- VIN etching helps identify parts if they are turned in for scrap, aiding law enforcement.
- The program provides hands-on experience for automotive students at EMCC.
- Event organizers say detectors help the community and are offered at no cost.
- Event notes that thefts nationwide surged 900% from 2019 to 2022.
- The event is part of a broader effort to curb thefts at both Eastern and Southern Maine Community Colleges.
- The program emphasizes community safety and education for future automotive workers.
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