Our View: Sheriff's Office, auto shops leave their marks Bird's Auto in Pine Island and the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office have teamed up to etch vehicle license plate numbers onto converters still in cars. Written By: Post Bulletin Editorial Board | 7:30 am, Apr. 13, 2021 × If the catalytic converter is stolen from your vehicle, there's little you can do other than file an insurance claim and pay a hefty deductible. Even if the thief is caught, it's difficult to prove ownership of the converter because there are no identifying marks on the pollution control devices. Until now. Bird's Auto in Pine Island and the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office have teamed up to etch vehicle license plate numbers onto converters still in cars. The hope is that the identifying mark will make it harder for a thief to sell the part to a scrap dealer.