Lincoln Tech & Denver PD Partner to Address Catalytic Converter Theft

June 19, 2021 – (Denver, CO): Lincoln Tech students and instructors have partnered with the Denver Police Department to address the skyrocketing thefts of catalytic converters. Catalytic converters contain a metal honeycomb that is plated in precious metal, usually one or more of the valuable platinum, rhodium and palladium elements. Palladium is currently more expensive per troy ounce than 24K gold.

Students etched the last eight digits of each vehicle’s VIN number into the applicable converter, then coated the converter’s outer casing with a specialized orange paint that hardens into a protective shell. This shell is virtually impossible to remove, and the bright orange color alerts the police that there might be a VIN number present for investigation. The CBS-Denver affiliate covers this story.