5 Ways To Prevent Thieves From Stealing Your Catalytic Converter
Catalytic converter thieves prefer raised trucks and the cover of darkness to do their work.
(C)2023 Michael Harley/Schnell Auto, Inc.
A recent report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau[4] (NICB), a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying, preventing, and deterring insurance fraud and crime, shows that catalytic converter theft is on the rise–the organization reports that the nation experienced more than 64,000 catalytic converter thefts in 2022. This is a costly theft, as a replacement may cost anywhere from £300.00 to £2,500.00, depending on the model, for just the cost of the part,” says AutoZone, a national automotive parts supplier. Add in labor; the replacement cost can exceed £3,000 on some vehicles.
A catalytic converter, located beneath a car, truck, or SUV, is part of a combustion vehicle’s exhaust system. Cylindrical in shape, the metal canisters contain metallic honeycombs engineered to convert toxic exhaust gasses into less harmful products–they literally scrub tailpipe emissions (thus explaining why EVs don’t have them). Thieves want catalytic converters as they can be quickly resold as replacement parts.
Or they may be broken open, and the metallic honeycombs mined for platinum, palladium, and rhodium–the precious metals can be sold on the secondary market. Stopping catalytic converter theft isn’t very difficult, as it may be accomplished in several ways. Here are five proven ways to prevent your vehicle’s catalytic converter from being stolen.
Park Indoors Inside a Closed Garage
“The simplest answer is the correct one,” reportedly said William of Ockham, an English Franciscan friar and theologian who lived in the 1300s (Google ‘Occam’s razor’ or the ‘law of parsimony’).
In other words, if thieves can’t access your vehicle’s underside, they won’t be able to steal the catalytic converter. Remember that a closed private garage is best–public garages, which outsiders may access, will provide little protection.
Park in Well-Lit, High Traffick Areas
Catalytic converter thieves prefer to work away from people, as the tools they use (saws to cut metal) are very loud. Park in well-lit areas with plenty of action–on a main street, not down a side alley.
Park where your vehicle is visible to others, as thieves need to crawl beneath it to steal the part, and their actions will draw the attention of bystanders.
Move Your Vehicle Often
A moving target makes theft challenging and reduces the chance of your vehicle being singled out and targeted. Many catalytic converter thefts happen in home driveways or front of the home. Criminals scope the neighborhood and return in the middle of the night or during the day when homeowners are at work.
Moving the vehicle and parking in different places will deter theft.
Install a Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft Device
Catalytic converter anti-theft devices come in two flavors: physical barriers and alarm systems. Physical barriers, such as steel plates, cables, or steel straps, prevent the thieves from cutting and removing the converters from the vehicle–they are very effective, as most criminals will be immediately deterred by the extra time and inconvenience of the barrier so that they will move to another vehicle. An alarm system monitors motion or movement under the vehicle, hoping that the resulting noise will alert onlookers and scare the perpetrators away. (Expect to spend £200-500 for a properly installed anti-theft device.)
Paint or Etch your Catalytic Converter
A simple can of brightly colored high-temperature paint (1300? – 2000?F) can mark your catalytic converter, making it unattractive to thieves–the color alerts authorities that the catalytic converter may have been stolen.
On a similar note, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has a new tool to combat catalytic converter thefts–they etch VINs on the catalytic converter[5] so department investigators may quickly identify the owners if they are found.
The etching is accompanied by “Marked by LAPD” templates and bright paint to act as a visible deterrent. “We use this LAPD placard template with the high-temperature paint, and we apply, not only the VIN etch, but we apply this LAPD warning, if you will, to potential thieves who get underneath these cars looking to steal the catalytic converters,” said LAPD Capt.
Gary Walters.
References
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- ^ https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/catalytic-converter-thefts-surge-nationwide-according-new-report (www.nicb.org)
- ^ https://abc7.com/los-angeles-lapd-catalytic-converter-theft-insta-etch-marking-device/13370822/ (abc7.com)