Catalytic Converter Theft Application

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Catalytic converter thefts have drastically increased as the demand and the price of the precious metals inside the catalytic converter have increased. Catalytic converter thieves rarely operate within one law enforcement jurisdiction or agency. The wide spatial range of thieves makes the sharing of catalytic converter theft information between law enforcement agencies imperative. To facilitate the sharing of catalytic converter theft information between law enforcement agencies across the San Bernardino County, the Cross-Jurisdictional Catalytic Converter Theft Project was developed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Prior to the project, individual crime analysts kept their agencies’ theft reports in individual Excel spreadsheets and often shared with other agencies based on personal requests for information. The Cross-Jurisdictional Catalytic Converter Theft Project allows law enforcement agencies across the county to submit their theft reports to a standardized report template available via the internet. The agglomeration of reports and the data collected are then visualized via dashboards, maps, and other web applications. The information and statistics collected provide all participants including crime analysts, patrol officers, and command staff a clearer and more defined understanding of the catalytic converter theft problem across San Bernardino County. This initiative represents a collaboration between the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office and Innovation and Technology Department.