A Baja California state legislator wants to make auto parts theft a standalone criminal offense carrying up to five years in prison, a sharp increase from the current penalty of three to six months.
Deputy Diego Echevarría introduced the proposal to reform Baja California’s penal code, arguing that the existing legal framework makes prosecution nearly impossible. Under current law, victims must present a purchase receipt to prove ownership of stolen parts. Most vehicle owners do not keep receipts for individual components like catalytic converters, mirrors, or batteries.
Current Law Called Unworkable
The receipt requirement has created a practical barrier that benefits thieves. Even when police catch suspects with stolen parts, prosecutors struggle to build cases without proof of ownership from the victim. Echevarría’s bill would classify auto parts theft as its own category of crime, separate from general theft, with penalties of up to five years.
The deputy also took aim at Baja California’s Amnesty Law, which allows reduced sentences when defendants claim they acted out of economic necessity. Echevarría said the provision has fueled widespread impunity, letting repeat offenders cycle through the system with minimal consequences.
Catalytic Converter Theft a Growing Problem
The proposal comes as auto parts theft, particularly catalytic converter theft, continues to plague cities across Baja California. In May 2025, another BC lawmaker, Juan Manuel Molina García, introduced a separate initiative targeting catalytic converter theft specifically. That proposal called for one to three years in prison and fines for stealing converters or handling their residual materials without environmental authorization.
Catalytic converters contain precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium. A single converter can sell for hundreds of dollars on the black market, and thieves can remove one from a parked vehicle in under two minutes. The crime is common in Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, and other border cities where both Mexican-plated and U.S.-plated vehicles are targeted.
Bill Not Yet Voted On
Echevarría’s reform has not yet gone to a vote in the Baja California State Congress. If approved, it would raise the stakes for chop-shop operations and street-level parts stripping across the state. The bill’s progress will depend on support from fellow lawmakers and committee review.
This story was first reported by The Baja Post.