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City of San Leandro City Council Meeting Date: April 2, 2024 Agenda Number: 13.b. Agenda Section: ACTION ITEMS File Number: 24-108 File Type: Ordinance First Reading of an Ordinance to add Chapter 4-43 “Prohibition of Unlawful Possession of Catalytic Converters” to Title 4 “Public Welfare” of the San Leandro Municipal Code COUNCIL PRIORITY ·Public Safety SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Approval of this ordinance will make the unlawful possession of catalytic converters in the San Leandro a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six months, or by both. Staff recommends adding Chapter 4-43 “Prohibition of Unlawful Possession of Catalytic Converters” to Title 4 “Public Welfare” of the San Leandro Municipal Code to prohibit unlawful possession of catalytic converters. BACKGROUND Catalytic converter thefts have become a widespread problem, affecting hundreds of San Leandro residents in recent years. Key components of catalytic converters include valuable metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium that have increased in value, making catalytic converters lucrative targets for thieves looking to profit from the resale of precious metals. Reported catalytic converter thefts in San Leandro were 178 in 2020, 482 in 2021, 595 in 2022 and 302 in 2023. Although catalytic converter thefts decreased in San Leandro last year, it is still an issue resulting in unanticipated costs, inconvenience and undue financial stress of up to a thousand dollars or more in parts and labor to replace a stolen catalytic converter. These thefts continue to occur because individuals are incentivized to commit catalytic converter thefts for multiple reasons including, but not limited to: 1)The ease and undetectable nature of committing the thefts in a matter of seconds using common tools such as a reciprocating saw; and 2)The ability to recycle catalytic converters at scrap metal yards for high dollar returns ranging from $200 to $1,200 per catalytic converter; and 3)Loopholes in legislation that only allow law enforcement to arrest individuals in possession of a catalytic converter if it can be proven to have been stolen from a particular victim. Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 3/28/2024