“We had been overwhelmed with the response we obtained, in addition to the general public conversations about the issue and its doable options,” says EPS Chief Dale McFee. “There have been some actually good concepts generated, which we imagine shall be a part of a complete method to stopping these crimes via innovation, police investigations, public schooling, and authorities laws.”
On Aug. 31, 2022, EPS in partnership with the Edmonton Police Basis (EPF) got here ahead with the problem to hunt new concepts and technological improvements from the general public to unravel the issue of catalytic converter thefts. The $50,000 in prize cash for viable options was made doable via a monetary donation from the Millennium Insurance coverage Company.
There have been 210 official entries into the Catalytic Converter Problem from all over the world, and 6 entries had been shortlisted for presentation and judging. Submissions had been judged by a panel of law enforcement officials and trade specialists on 4 standards: viability of the answer; price of the answer to deploy; creativity of the answer; and scalability of the answer.
After cautious deliberation by the judges, the winners had been formally introduced on Jan. 27, 2023:
• 1st Prize – Foilem Fence ($25,000)
• 2nd Prize – The King Strap ($15,000)
• third Prize – Catalytic Converter DNA ($10,000)
The primary prize winners are a neighborhood mom and daughter workforce, Mavis Shaw and Tamara Dolinsky, who created the Foilem Fence after falling sufferer to catalytic converter theft in June 2022.
“Along with the effort of getting it mounted, the insurance coverage adjuster warned me that there was a very good probability the thieves would come again as a result of that they had discovered a straightforward mark,” says Tamara Dolinsky. “As quickly as my automobile was towed, Mother and I began eager about methods we may defend my automobile that will be each a bodily and visible deterrent. Mother got here up with the design and we had been in a position to have it constructed, and for the final seven months nothing has occurred to my automobile.”
The Catalytic Converter Problem utilized the Neighborhood Options Accelerator method that the EPS and EPF used beforehand to assist remedy the issue of liquor retailer thefts in Edmonton.
“Similar to the success we achieved with the problem on lowering the liquor retailer thefts, we really feel this resolution may even assist scale back the variety of catalytic converter thefts,” says Ashif Mawji, Chair of the Edmonton Police Basis. “For our first-place winner, the prize cash shall be going in direction of getting a patent, advancing their prototype, and getting additional funding for an modern concept that hasn’t been tried earlier than. As well as, we’re investing in different runner-up options that can assist us remedy this rising drawback, from quite a lot of angles and approaches – such because the profitable Winnipeg Crime Stoppers Save Your Cat program that we wish to implement right here.”
Aaron Perdue, the CEO of the Millennium Insurance coverage Company, was proud to take part within the competitors and supply the seed cash for the options. “Innovators discovering methods to guard catalytic converters immediately results in defending property, one thing we’re at all times trying to assist enhance. As Albertans we depend on our autos closely for each work and play, and I sit up for seeing how everybody who participated will advance catalytic converter safety in our autos.”
The continuing drawback of catalytic converter theft and the necessity for extra coordinated efforts to guard automobile house owners and companies have been the topic of debate for quite a few police companies and municipalities throughout the province.
Catalytic converter thefts proceed to development upwards in Edmonton with a 25% enhance in reported thefts from 2021 to 2022 (2,647 to three,345 thefts). Within the first two weeks of 2023, there have been 130 thefts citywide, almost double the three-year common of 74 in the identical timeframe. It’s estimated that the thefts final yr price Edmontonians almost $20 million (for replacements, repairs, and different associated prices), which is up from earlier years.
The rising variety of thefts seem to observe the rising worth of treasured metals on world markets, particularly the rhodium, palladium, and platinum discovered inside catalytic converters that may be bought and recycled for revenue.
Whereas the Catalytic Converter Problem introduced ahead new concepts to assist the general public defend their autos, EPS can also be in discussions with native auto service centres on further measures corresponding to VIN etching that may be accomplished affordably, and is lobbying varied ranges of presidency to additional tighten the legal guidelines concerning scrap steel recycling and enhance the penalties related to unlawful actions.
“We have to do extra, and it’s necessary that we take the subsequent steps along with our companions in policing, enterprise and authorities to handle this multimillion-dollar drawback,” says Chief McFee. “We wish to make it inconceivable for thieves to earn money from this crime of alternative.”
