As part of the provincial government’s plan to address a significant increase in catalytic converter theft, scrap recycling businesses in Manitoba will now have to follow strict regulations when buying and selling.
The Scrap Law (Bill 9) and its corresponding Scrap Ordinance came into force on Monday.
When the law was originally introduced in December 2021, Manitoba Public Insurance told CBC there was a 450 percent increase in catalytic converter thefts between 2020 and 2021.
Buyers are now required to record details of every transaction involving scrap metal, keep the records for two years and provide them to law enforcement when requested.
“There is a balance in everything. There is a greater burden on scrap dealers … but with that in mind, we need to ensure that the public also have their goods protected,” Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen told the media at a Monday morning news conference.
This regulation applies to all used items made of aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, iron, lead, steel, stainless steel, tin or a prescribed metal or alloy.
Anyone wanting to sell restricted items containing precious metals, such as catalytic converters, will now have to provide buyers with government identification, a photo of their face, a description of their goods and details of how they acquired them.
Buyer will not be able to accept the materials unless it provides this information.
Buyers will also keep a more detailed record of the transaction, including the value of the goods and the registration number from the seller’s car.
These records must be turned over to the scrap dealer’s local law enforcement agency within seven days.
The rules prohibit cash transactions of more than $50.
WATCH | “We’re testing this to see if it really has an impact”: Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen on the new legislation:
‘We’re testing this to see if it really has an impact’: Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen on new legislation
The new legislation aims to combat catalytic converter theft while balancing the extra costs for scrap dealers and car owners
Last month, Mike Payment’s catalytic converter cut off his 2004 Honda Element while he was watching Top Gun: Maverick with his wife at Kildonan Place in Winnipeg.
As the couple exited the theater and started their car, they heard a rumble that they knew wasn’t right.
“Horror. That’s what we thought. Because we knew other people who had theirs [catalytic converters] stolen and we were just waiting for ours to be stolen,” Payment told CBC’s Up to Speed host Keisha Paul.
Payment said he filed an online police report and contacted Manitoba Social Security. When all was said and done, he said the theft cost him about $575.
LISTEN | His catalytic converter was stolen, now he hopes new legislation will prevent this from happening to others:
Up To Speed7:01Has catalytic converter stolen, now hopes new legislation will prevent it from happening to others
You probably know someone whose catalytic converter broke on their vehicle – Mike Payment had it stolen and had to jump through a bunch of hoops to get it fixed.
Hearing about the new rules Monday, Payment said they sound like a good start, but he thinks more needs to be done to deter would-be buyers from taking stolen property.
“Will it stop honest traders buying the stuff? Probably. Will it stop those who buy them because they can get away with it? Maybe not,” he said.
95 percent drop in thefts after arrests: police
In June, Winnipeg police made three arrests following a four-month investigation into catalytic converter thefts.
Police say two of the suspects stole the car parts and took them to a scrap yard in Springfield, Manchester, which knowingly bought the stolen goods.
Staff Sergeant Josh Evatsky of the Winnipeg police says since the arrests, reports of catalytic converter thefts have dropped by 95 per cent.
The number of alerts has been in the single digits for several weeks.
During a traffic stop on July 16, Winnipeg police confiscated five catalytic converters and made four other arrests.
Crimestoppers has teamed up with 32 auto repair centers in Winnipeg that can engrave the catalytic converter with the vehicle’s serial number and paint it with high-visibility paint to deter thieves. (CBC)
Auto repair shops offering engraving
With funding from Criminal Property Confeiture, Crimestoppers has launched a campaign with car repair shops that will engrave vehicle owners’ catalytic converters to deter thieves.
The last eight digits of the car’s serial number will be engraved and then the converter will be painted with high visibility paint.
If an engraved converter is stolen and taken to a scrap buyer, it can be traced back to the car.
Currently, 32 service centers in Winnipeg will offer the application of the anti-theft devices while the vehicle is being serviced.
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