Catalytic Converter Theft 101: The Art of Prevention

Jan 1, 2022

Your vehicle’s catalytic converter has one purpose: to control the amount of pollution you emit. To do that, catalytic converters are crafted with several precious metals – this includes palladium, rhodium, platinum and sometimes even gold – that act as pollution filters or scrubbers.

Therein lies the dilemma. While these precious metals are vital to reduce your carbon emissions, they’re also extremely expensive. For instance, as of January 2022, rhodium fetches over $15,000 per ounce. Each catalytic converter has approximately 1 gram of rhodium inside it, which equates to a market value of over $500.

Thieves have taken note. Catalytic converter theft has increased by about 400% nationwide since the start of 2020 – and there’s no end in sight, even as lawmakers are enacting laws across the country to deter crooks from stealing catalytic converters. Worst of all, catalytic converter thieves can do their work in as little as 60 seconds.

If you’re worried about your catalytic converter being stolen, prevention may be your only recourse.

Most Stolen Catalytic Converters

While any vehicle can be targeted by thieves, it appears that certain vehicle types and models are most susceptible to catalytic converter theft.

Due to their ground clearance – the more ground clearance, the easier it is for crooks to slide under the vehicle – pickup trucks and large SUVs are the most likely candidates.

Hybrid cars are even higher on the list. Because they’re built to emit less pollution, hybrid exhaust control systems, like Prius catalytic converters, have more and maintain their precious metals longer than standard car catalytic converters. That makes them more valuable when sold to a scrapyard. (Selling stolen catalytic converters can fetch as much as $700 each, while the price for a replacement catalytic converter can easily be over $2000.)

The easiest catalytic converters to steal, or at least the most stolen catalytic converters, come from the following newer models and brands:

Toyota Prius
Toyota Tacoma
Toyota Tundra
Toyota 4Runner
Honda Accord
Honda Insight
Honda Odyssey
Lexus SUVs
Ford F-150

If your vehicle appears on the list above, take steps to protect yourself. Here’s how.

How to Prevent Your Catalytic Converter from Being Stolen

No matter the time of day, thieves will swipe your catalytic converter if they want it. Money is involved – sometimes a lot of money – so you can only take steps to deter them from cutting it out. We recommend the following catalytic converter protection methods:

Park Inside a Garage

If they can’t see it, they can’t steal it. These soon-to-be felons aren’t ashamed of stealing right from your driveway while you sleep.

Park Close to Other Vehicles

When parking in public, try to find a spot that makes it difficult for thieves to jack up your car or slide underneath. This may include parking close to other vehicles, preferably smaller cars with low ground clearance, curbs, and other objects.

Park Where it’s Visible

While it’s true that catalytic converter theft is happening more regularly in daylight, thieves definitely don’t want to deal with extra attention if they can avoid it. When putting your car to rest at night, if you can’t find a secure garage to store it, the next best option is to keep it underneath a streetlight, preferably on a busy or highly visible road. If it’s near an obvious security camera, that can also be a helpful deterrent.

Set Up Motion-Sensor Lights

If you can’t park in a garage or under bright lights, maybe invest in a cheap driveway motion detector light. This works even better if you have a doorbell camera system set up to record, too. Best of all, if your doorbell camera connects to your home security system, that security company may automatically alert the police. (Speak with them for details.)

Install a Catalytic Converter Lock or Cage

You can also buy and install a cheap catalytic converter anti-theft device to stave off would-be thieves.

Catalytic converter cages or clamps use heavy-duty metal wiring that connects to the frame or engine block in several places. The benefit of a catalytic cage is that they increase the time it takes to cut and remove the component, which inexperienced thieves may want to avoid outright. (Cages for catalytic converters include Catstrap and CatClamp.)

You can also get a catalytic converter shield, which is usually fitted for specific models like the Prius, Tacoma and Accord. These are more expensive than cages, but they may provide extra peace of mind. That’s because catalytic converter security shields cover the entire converter and can damage cheap cordless saw blades. (Products include the Cat Shield by MillerCAT.) Do catalytic converter shields work? Although they can be bypassed, thieves will have to spend more time under your car–and that’s a deterrent in and of itself.

For those with welding experience, DIY catalytic converter locks can work well to stop cat thieves. This is a more affordable option, though it’s wise to seek out a professional auto body specialist if you aren’t comfortable welding something to your frame – especially if doing so would void the car’s warranty!

Install a Catalytic Converter Alarm

An alarm system specifically for your catalytic converter is an excellent alternative to a catalytic converter shield or cage. They attach straight to the converter and monitor it for vibrations; if it senses someone fiddling around when activated, it will let loose a siren to notify everyone in the neighborhood. Buh-bye thief. (Products include the Procatt Alarm, Fast Guard Alarm, and Cateye.)

Etch Your VIN into the Catalytic Converter

If you can etch something (like your vehicle’s VIN) onto your catalytic converter, it may deter robbers. This is because thieves will have a more difficult time selling something if it’s clearly been stolen. Scrap yards and shady mechanics will want to avoid fines or even being charged with a felony. The key is to ensure the etching is very visible.

Paint Your Catalytic Converter

Another option is to lather your entire catalytic converter with a brightly colored, high-temperature spray paint. Thieves may pass on your painted catalytic converter because they’ll need to manually remove the paint in order to sell it.

Check Your Auto Insurance

If you own a vehicle that thieves are frequently targeting, or if you’re aware of a growing trend of catalytic converter theft in your area, speak with your insurance agent. You may want to switch to a low-deductible plan that covers stolen vehicle components. This won’t stop crooks from sliding under your vehicle, but it will surely help you avoid paying extra for their evil deeds.

Catalytic Converter Replacement in Kansas City

If you find that your catalytic converter is missing, you’ll want to remedy that right away. Driving with a catalytic converter is possible, though it will be very noisy – perhaps even noisy enough to break an exhaust noise law in your area – and could cause noticeable losses to fuel economy, acceleration and power.

Need catalytic converter cage installation near Kansas City? Come to McCarthy for assistance. Request a free estimate from our Kansas City body shops to find out your costs to replace a stolen catalytic converter. Feel free to ask us about installing a catalytic converter plate or security device to prevent future theft, too! We’re here to help you make the best of a bad time.

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