Thieves don’t need your keys to steal something valuable from your car.
A catalytic converter—the emissions-control device in your exhaust system—can be stolen in minutes. Here are five ways to make your vehicle harder to target:
Put a barrier in their way.
Ask a reputable repair shop about a catalytic converter shield, cage, or security device designed for your vehicle. These add an obstacle to removal, but no device makes a converter theft-proof.
Find out what actually triggers your alarm.
Ask your dealer or installer whether your alarm detects the vehicle being lifted or disturbed underneath. A tilt sensor or suitable vibration sensor may provide protection your current setup doesn’t.
Make your next oil change a prevention opportunity.
While your vehicle is on the lift, ask whether the shop can mark the converter with your vehicle identification number or install a purpose-made identification kit. Have the shop photograph the marking, and complete any required registration. Identification can help police link a recovered converter to your vehicle; it cannot physically stop removal.
Check what your camera can actually see.
Look at the live view after dark. Does it cover your parked vehicle and the approach to it? Check motion-detection zones and notifications, and consider motion-activated lighting. A camera aimed at the front door may miss activity in the driveway.
Plan for the hours your vehicle sits unattended.
At work, apartment complexes, or long-term parking lots, choose visible spaces with regular activity and camera coverage when available. Ask property managers about dark areas, broken gates, or cameras that don’t cover parking spaces.
Suspect a theft in progress? Call 911. Stay somewhere safe and do not confront or follow anyone. Give dispatch the location and any descriptions you can safely observe.
Save this post for your next service appointment.
Antioch Police Department – Service • Integrity • Community
Both believed to be homeless; U.S. Coast Guard, Con Fire, Contra Costa County Sheriff Air Support Unit assist
By Lt. Franco Cesar, Antioch Police Department
ANTIOCH, Calif. – On September 23, 2026, at 6:12 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of two adult women in distress and drowning in the water near the rear of Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill restaurant by the Antioch Marina.
Upon arrival, Officer Molina immediately entered the water aboard a personal watercraft (jet ski) and successfully reached and rescued one of the women, who had been caught in the strong current.
Screenshot of Con Fire incident report of Water Rescue in Antioch Wednesday night. Source: PulsePoint
A coordinated, multi-agency search was immediately initiated for the second 54-year-old woman. The United States Coast Guard, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CONFIRE), and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit assisted with extensive water and aerial searches of the area. As of this time, the second woman has not been located.
The preliminary investigation indicates no foul play is suspected. The two women were swimming when they were caught in the strong current. We are in the process of confirming the identity of the missing swimmer.
According to a video message by local homeless advocate Nichole Gardner posted on the Homelessness in Antioch & Community Connection Facebook page, the one rescued is named Farrah and the woman missing is named Lynn. “Our friend, Farrah is one of the women who fell in and they found her. But they could not find our friend, Lynn. We were out there at 6:30 when all of this was going on.”
When asked for the women’s ages, Lt. Franco said, “The information is preliminary for now. We expect to update the information later. I believe the one who is missing is 54 years old. But we need to interview the woman who was rescued.”
Asked if they are homeless, he said, “That’s our understanding and what people are saying.”
9/24/26 UPDATE 1: According to a KTVU FOX2 news report, “The woman who was rescued was identified by a friend as Farrah Moore. She was transported to the hospital for her injuries. Moore’s friend said she is OK and suffered a cut to her leg” and the identity of the missing swimmer is “46-year-old Edgielyn Torrente.”
The Antioch Police Department thanks the United States Coast Guard, CONFIRE, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for their rapid response and continued assistance with the search.
Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department. Case No.: 26-9135
City of Antioch proposed organization chart following Council action on Sept. 22, 2026.
Leaves City with no continuity plan for top leadership, only an Acting City Manager until June 30, 2027, and no Assistant City Manager
By Allen D. Payton
The City of Antioch will once again have a separate Economic Development Department. During their meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Antioch City Council agreed to re-establish the department and remove it from the current combined Community Development and Economic Development Department. Plus, the council agreed to have a stand-alone director without a dual role as assistant city manager, after the position remained vacant for a year then only an acting director for the combined department for half of the past year.
Public Comments
Resident and council candidate Andrew Becker spoke during public comments saying, “The easiest way to answer the question is…we go online and see what’s up for sale in the city of Antioch. Every business, every commercial property is up for sale in the city of Antioch, every single one.”
“The newest thing to go up for sale in the city…is the FoodMaxx on Lone Tree. They pay a million dollars a year,” he said. “Who would be part of that process? The economic development director. And get rid of the Mallet & Sons Jewelers sign next to the FoodMaxx that’s been hanging there for the past 15 years after they left.”
“How can we take 20 percent of their time away for other things. Is that responsible?” he asked. “We need something clear and concise, that’s an economic development department.”
Resident and local Realtor Melissa Case also argued for a separate position and to not combine it with the assistant city manager position.
However, this reporter also spoke and again suggested a combined position as the City had in the late 1990’s, but only temporarily, until the position of assistant city manager can be filled in order to have a continuity plan, as the City currently only has an acting city manager and no assistant city manager.
Council Comments & Direction to Staff
“When was the last time did we have an assistant city manager that also served as economic development director?” Torres-Walker then asked.
“The late 1990’s,” Freitas responded, to which both Torres-Walker and Wilson laughed.
Yet, more recently, from June 2023 until October 2024, the City had an employee in the dual role of Economic Development Director and City management, specifically, Kwame Reed. District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson was one of three council members who voted to appoint him as Acting City Manager during a meeting when Torres-Walker was absent, and he served in the position for a year and five months. He was then promoted to Assistant City Manager by the new city manager until he left earlier this year for a position with the County.
“I am definitely in the stand-alone camp. I am not for a split,” Wilson stated.
“Clearly, I am one of those who advocated for a split decision,” Freitas said. “Number one, structurally, we need an assistant city manager. One of the problems is authority. We need very quick actions. That individual…would have the authority to have things move quickly and not get mired in bureaucracy. Chances are things will move quicker.”
We’ve already gone out twice with the salaries we have, twice…it’s the lowest paid,” Freitas said. “It’s not going to happen at this salary. It also has internal impacts for all the department heads. We need to address the salary.”
“You really are creating a brand-new department. We need a very experienced individual,” he continued. “There cannot be on-the-job training.”
“There’s no sense in fighting. I will support a stand-by itself economic development department,” Freitas added.
“One of the reasons it did fail was because the positions were combined…it was difficult to find someone with experience in both city management and economic development,” Acting City Manager Ana Cortez stated.
“The public deserves to have high expectations. You pay for what you get,” Torres-Walker stated. “We need opportunity here for someone who’s going to come in and propel Antioch forward.”
Based on the consensus of the four council members present, as District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha was absent while attending the California League of Cities conference, current Acting City Manager Ana Cortez said she will bring back to the Council at their meeting on Oct. 13th, an entire package to move forward with forming the department, again and the recruitment process for the director position.
The decision by the council leaves the City with no continuity plan for leadership, only an acting city manager through June 30, 2027, and currently no assistant city manager.
The Antioch Chamber of Commerce and City of Antioch will hold the annual Antioch Business Expo on Thursday, September 24, 2026 from 5pm – 7pm at the Antioch Community Center in Prewett Community Park located 4703 Lone Tree Way. The Business Expo will allow local businesses and organizations to introduce their products or services to the local community.
It also offers businesses to market and create a business-to-business network that is often overlooked in distinct network venues. The Antioch Business Expo will showcase over 50 local businesses, organizations, non-profits, government entities and community business resources. The Business Expo is designed to create an environment for East County businesses to grow, prosper, and learn how to build meaningful relationships with the community and other businesses and organizations.
The Antioch Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Antioch demonstrates both the City and Chamber’s intention of supporting local businesses and the continued planned economic growth of Antioch and the surrounding area. Securing a booth at this event is a great opportunity to connect your business or services with the community. Proceeds from the Antioch Business Expo will help support the Antioch Chamber member initiatives and other Chamber events.
Traffic Calming projects including speed humps planned for Sunset Drive. Source for all maps: City of Antioch Public Works Dep’t. Inset photo: U-Line
See list of streets and maps of locations to receive speed humps, more
By Allen D. Payton
After approving the expenditure of a little over $500,000 for the traffic calming devices on Sycamore Drive on Aug. 25, under Item 5.P. as part of the Consent Calendar for Tuesday’s meeting on Sept. 22, 2026, the Council approved on a 4-0 vote awarding the construction agreement to Consolidated Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $168,495 with a contingency of $30,000 for a total contract amount of $198,495 for the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Project.
Traffic Calming projects on D Street (left) & W. Madill Street (right).
It consists of the installation of speed hump systems, signage and thermoplastic striping. There will be a total of eight speed hump systems constructed on the following streets:
Traffic Calming projects planned for E. Tregallas Road (left) E. 19th Street (right).
Sunset Drive between Diablo and Beasley Avenues;
E. Tregallas Road between Center Lane and Garrow Drive;
Wildflower Drive between Larkspur Drive and Lupine Court;
W. Madill Street between D and G Streets;
D Street between the Railroad and Texas Street;
East 19th Street between Acacia and Deodar Avenues;
Sunset Lane between Northridge and Daphne Courts; and
Candlewood Way between Arroyo and Stagecoach Ways.
Traffic Calming projects planned for Sunset Lane (left) and Wildflower Drive (right).
According to the City staff report, funding for the project will be from the FY 25/26 Capital Improvement Budget which has a balance of $292,292 carried over into the FY 26/27 budget of $250,000 for a total of $542,292 from Measure J Funds. Following procurement of the contract and an estimated 10% of $16,850 for construction engineering, management, inspection, testing and contract administration, that will leave an estimated fund balance of $326,947.
Locations of Traffic Calming devices approved for Wildflower Drive.
This month, the Downtown Antioch Association meets somewhere special — the old lumber yard building on W. 2nd Street, now home to Prime Vintage Realty. A piece of Antioch history, still standing strong and serving our community today.
Home-based businesses, storefronts, big or small — if you’re a local business owner in Antioch, we want you at the table. Join us for our monthly DAA meeting: mixer at 5:30 PM, meeting 6:00–7:30 PM.
Wants it to include broader option of other parts of city
By Allen D. Payton
Following meetings held with downtown business owners and community members regarding hours of operation, patrol locations, scope of services and other identified needs and issues, during their meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Antioch City Council discussed restoring private security services to the City-owned parking lots in downtown Rivertown. But the discussion expanded to other issues and possible broader private security services throughout the city.
First approved by the Council in 2023, according to the city staff report, the contract with Brentwood-based Shield Protection & Public Safety, Inc., DBA Spearhead Protection, for private security services of City-owned assets and parking lots in the Rivertown area was for an amount not to exceed $50,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 (ending June 30th) and $100,000 in fiscal year 2024-25. It was renewed for the 2025-26 fiscal year and the private security contract ended on June 30th.
Under Item 6, on the agenda, the Council was asked to discuss downtown security services for City owned parking lots, property and public areas, and provide direction to staff on whether to initiate a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process for private security services in the Rivertown/Downtown area.
Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas was the first council member to speak saying, “Frankly, this issue came to us from the Downtown Antioch Association. Because…there have been more and more reports since the security has stopped. We began asking a lot of questions…and all of us received input from the DAA and Chamber of Commerce.”
“They complimented the police department and some of the crime prevention efforts,” he continued. “But crime has risen since the services have stopped.”
“Clearly the hours from their perspective, about 30 people were in attendance and 60% said they wanted different hours,” Freitas said. “There are a lot of issues that came out of this. Conceptually, yes, I believe services should be provided. But I don’t know what should be provided. There are a lot of options: Hours of operation. There are businesses that were under contract but did not perform.”
Acting City Manager Ana Cortez responded saying, “What I’m seeking tonight is direction. Does Council want to continue with private security services? If yes, we’d have to proceed with a request for proposal process, since the previous contract ended. We would put all the input into a scope of services.”
“Private security services represent one aspect,” Freitas continued. “The lighting in the downtown, the homelessness issue, the cleanliness. All of that was discussed extensively by the business owners and private residents. This should be comprehensive and not just in the downtown.”
“But, we said, there needs to be a public-private partnership,” he stated. “This cannot be just the City of Antioch. This cannot be just the General Fund. This needs to be a collaborative effort.”
“What’s really confusing about the process is that…it explicitly says security services will be used for City-owned properties and parking lots…it will not be to patrol privately-owned property,” District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker stated, asking “Is their focus, City-owned property downtown? If I see somebody breaking into a business, do I ignore it?”
“I think they would report that to the police department,” Cortez responded. “That’s something that would be included in the scope of work.”
“I expected to see a fully drafted Request for Proposal…and that’s not here,” Torres-Walker continued. “In addition to a public-private partnership.”
She then spoke of an overlay district and said, “I know that’s a longer-term strategy.”
“This does involve a bigger discussion,” she continued. “I know the mayor pro tem and I are appointed to the Downtown Standing Committee. What I would request…is that we as a City, we might want to reassess the potential of that standing committee and establish an ad-hoc committee. Is the standing committee still necessary? What would a task force look like? It’s kind of hard to have dialogue and workshop in a standing committee.”
District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson then said, “Although there is a list of what the private security will do…then there’s also the expectations of our businesses which don’t align. A lot of this seems to be more of a police department issue.
“This is about public property, not a private business,” she continued. “How are we going to make this work with the expectations of
“It’s a Code Enforcement issue, it’s a Public Works issue…we got into a parking issue and turns out, some of the worst offenders are the business owners,” Freitas stated. “Frankly, one of the parties is the railroad. That is a big issue in the downtown and we seem to ignore it until we handle it until the next time. I think we need to have a broader discussion.”
“I don’t want to dismiss the issue of needing security in downtown, right now,” Torres-Walker added. “It needs to include a larger community voice.”
“I can come back to the next council meeting with an RFP,” Cortez responded.
“One of the other issues that isn’t addressed, necessarily in the current parking lots, at the water treatment plant, we’ve had calls for service…if there are other areas of the city that are having issues,” Mayor Ron Bernal stated.
“This is about one security guard. Is one enough?” he asked. “Not just in downtown.”
“I think we also need to look at the Downtown Specific Plan…I think that would be important,” Bernal added.
“We do want to include the entire city, not just the downtown,” Cortez stated.
“In talking to the chief, I included other parts of town…it should be expanded,” said Bernal.
“We need to hear from Public Works, Code Enforcement…if the hours are correct. I think the way we had it did not work,” said Freitas.
“Moving those around is the best model,” Bernal interjected.
“I thought it was very good for all council members and staff, the chief to hear these dialogues…having that dialogue was very, very helpful,” Freitas stated. “Some things came up that we never hear. I think an ad hoc is better than a steering (he meant standing) committee which has other rules.”
Torres-Walker then asked what about businesses in other parts of Antioch.
“Are security officers armed, are they not armed, do they have lights on their patrol cars?” Bernal asked.
“And what businesses are already paying for private security?” Torres-Walker asked. “They might be in a commercial lot with other private businesses. She then reiterated her proposal for a public-private partnership.
“It started as a focus on the downtown,” Cortez explained. “It turned out to be a bigger issue.”
Cortez will return with a proposed RFP or RFQ for discussion at the Council meeting on Oct. 13th.
During their meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Antioch City Council on a vote of 4-0, with District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha absent while attending the California League of Cities conference, approve the following proclamation declaring September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month, in alignment with the National Hispanic American Heritage Month.
WHEREAS, the observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson, and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15, 2026, and ending on October 15, 2026;
WHEREAS, every year since 1988, from September 15th to October 15th, our country has celebrated Hispanic culture & contributions to our community and nation by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and
Central and South America;
WHEREAS, we begin the observance on September 15th, because it is the anniversary of independence or Independence Day for Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively;
WHEREAS, the theme for 2026 is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” highlights the transformative contributions of Hispanic Americans and encourages individuals and organizations to explore how Hispanic culture continues to influence a more inclusive and innovative future. It emphasizes leadership, creativity, and community engagement across generation; and
WHEREAS, throughout the year, we honor the collective contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in our history, while uplifting the voices and service of those who continue to shape our communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON BERNAL, Mayor of the City of Antioch, hereby proclaim that September 15, 2026, through October 15, 2026, is “Hispanic Heritage Month” and encourage all residents to use this time to reflect on the rich culture, history, and contributions of Latino and Hispanic peoples to the enrichment of the City of Antioch.
