Skip to main content
Auto InsuranceInsuranceQuick TipsSafety

CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT PREVENTION

By May 5, 2021No Comments

Catalytic Converter theft is on the rise! Most thefts have happened while cars have been parked at home, either on the driveway or the road, although in a very small number of cases thieves were brazen enough to steal them in supermarket parking lots while the driver was shopping.

A victim of theft may spend up to $2,000 getting their vehicle repaired. Depending on the make and model of a car, certain catalytic converters, like the ones under a Toyota Prius, can sell for over $1,000 on the used market. It’s no wonder thieves are getting bold — With just a few minutes and a saw/wrench, they’re making a thousand dollars. Making their job even easier – they’re easily accessible and lack any identifying markings.

Thieves tend to target vehicles with easily accessible catalytic converters, such as pickup trucks and certain SUVs. Cars left for extended periods of time in poorly monitored lots tend to be the most common locations.

Symptoms of Converter Theft

As soon as you turn on your vehicle, you’ll notice a loud rumbling or roaring sound if your catalytic converter is missing. This gets louder when you press on the gas pedal. The exhaust is not working properly, so the vehicle also drives rougher than usual, often with a sense of sputtering as you change speed.

The catalytic converter is a round canister viewable from the rear underside that connects two pieces of piping in the exhaust. You will see a gaping space in the middle of your exhaust if the converter is missing, and you will likely see signs of the piping being cut away.

Here are a few recommendations to prevent catalytic converter theft.

  • If you have a garage available, always park the vehicles inside and keep the garage door shut and locked.
  • When parking in an unsecured location, park your vehicle in an area that’s highly visible to other people — near a building window, security cameras, a busy street or under lights after dark.
  • Add video surveillance to the area where you regularly park your car.
  • Install a catalytic converter-specific security device, or have it welded to the car frame.
  • Etch on your VIN and license plate number, two pieces of information that should raise alarms to scrap metal yards that this cat converter is stolen.
  • Spray painting your catalytic converter a bright red or blue with some high-temperature BBQ spray paint might deter some thieves, turned off by having to sell something spray-painted to a scrap yard.
  • Install a dashcam
    • For as little as $50, you can get yourself a dashcam that records upon motion detection, whether it’s movement in front of the camera or physically rocking your car.
    • You’ll want to choose a dashcam with a standby mode, sometimes referred to as a parking mode, that records when motion is detected.
    • Although this won’t protect your catalytic converter per say, you can catch the license plate of the offending party and their faces.
  • Adjust the security system on your car, if already installed, to activate from vibrations, such as those produced by a saw.
  • Stay on the lookout for increases in theft in your area and respond accordingly.

What to Do in the Event of Theft

Call the police department first when you notice your catalytic converter has been stolen, and provide any identifying details you can. If you have your VIN number engraved on the device, give them that number as well. Call local scrap yards to inform them of the theft, especially if there is an engraved number on the converter that they can verify. Also, call local scrap metal yards to notify them of the theft. They can be on the lookout if anyone comes in with a catalytic converter.

Diligence is your best defense against catalytic converter theft. Pay attention to local news reports so you are aware of any theft increases. Remember: the best way to prevent theft is to make access to your car’s converter as inconvenient and difficult as possible. This means taking preventative measures like smart parking and adding your VIN number to the catalytic converter