The Sconi

Quad Communities Stoppers and the Kimberly High School Car Club have partnered to battle a rise in catalytic converter thefts.

According to Green Bay ABC affiliate WBAY, the organizations on Jan. 27 held an event in which free markings were administered to catalyst converters.

"It is really cool to be a part of something as big as this and just because it's an ongoing issue you've been hearing about for the last couple of years," senior Ryan Tedford, a Kimberly Car Club member, told WBAY.

The station reported that catalytic converter thefts spiked 293% in 2021.

Thieves target the vehicle part because its metal carries a lot of value on the market.

Not only did the event address a growing problem in not just the community, but it afforded students some real-world experience on working on vehicles.

Duane Dissen, Kimberly school resource officer, acknowledged that catalytic converter thefts will never end completely, but believes at least “throwing a wrinkle” through things like the free marking event will make thieves have second thoughts, WBAY reported.

In Madison, Wisconsin legislators added stolen catalytic converters to their agenda last fall.

Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) introduced a measure that would “create an ID requirement, proof of ownership and a paper trail for scrap metal dealers,” according to The Center Square.

The publication reported at the time that the state’s stolen parts law didn’t specify catalytic converters.

According to the state legislature’s website, Moses’s bill, Assembly Bill 415, was in the hands of the Committee on Rules as of Jan. 25.

Reps. Lisa Subeck, Dianne Hesselbein and Katrina Shankland have added their names as co-sponsors.