5 Ways To Prevent Thieves From Stealing Your Catalytic Converter

A caller study by nan National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a non-profit statement dedicated to identifying, preventing, and deterring security fraud and crime, shows that catalytic converter theft is connected nan rise—the statement reports that nan federation knowledgeable much than 64,000 catalytic converter thefts successful 2022. This is simply a costly theft, arsenic a replacement whitethorn costs anyplace from $300.00 to $2,500.00, depending connected nan model, for conscionable nan costs of nan part," says AutoZone, a nationalist automotive parts supplier. Add successful labor; nan replacement costs tin transcend $3,000 connected immoderate vehicles.

A catalytic converter, located beneath a car, truck, aliases SUV, is portion of a combustion vehicle's exhaust system. Cylindrical successful shape, nan metallic canisters incorporate metallic honeycombs engineered to person toxic exhaust gasses into little harmful products—they virtually scrub tailpipe emissions (thus explaining why EVs don't person them). Thieves want catalytic converters arsenic they tin beryllium quickly resold arsenic replacement parts. Or they whitethorn beryllium surgery open, and nan metallic honeycombs mined for platinum, palladium, and rhodium—the precious metals tin beryllium sold connected nan secondary market.

Stopping catalytic converter theft isn't very difficult, arsenic it whitethorn beryllium accomplished successful respective ways. Here are 5 proven ways to forestall your vehicle's catalytic converter from being stolen.

Park Indoors Inside a Closed Garage

"The simplest reply is nan correct one," reportedly said William of Ockham, an English Franciscan friar and theologian who lived successful nan 1300s (Google 'Occam's razor' aliases nan 'law of parsimony'). In different words, if thieves can't entree your vehicle's underside, they won't beryllium capable to bargain nan catalytic converter. Remember that a closed backstage car shed is best—public garages, which outsiders whitethorn access, will supply small protection.

Park successful Well-Lit, High Traffick Areas

Catalytic converter thieves for illustration to activity distant from people, arsenic nan devices they usage (saws to trim metal) are very loud. Park successful well-lit areas pinch plentifulness of action—on a main street, not down a broadside alley. Park wherever your conveyance is visible to others, arsenic thieves request to crawl beneath it to bargain nan part, and their actions will tie nan attraction of bystanders.

Move Your Vehicle Often

A moving target makes theft challenging and reduces nan chance of your conveyance being singled retired and targeted. Many catalytic converter thefts hap successful location driveways aliases beforehand of nan home. Criminals scope nan vicinity and return successful nan mediate of nan nighttime aliases during nan time erstwhile homeowners are astatine work. Moving nan conveyance and parking successful different places will deter theft.

Install a Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft Device

Catalytic converter anti-theft devices travel successful 2 flavors: beingness barriers and siren systems. Physical barriers, specified arsenic alloy plates, cables, aliases alloy straps, forestall nan thieves from cutting and removing nan converters from nan vehicle—they are very effective, arsenic astir criminals will beryllium instantly deterred by nan other clip and inconvenience of nan obstruction truthful that they will move to different vehicle. An siren strategy monitors mobility aliases activity nether nan vehicle, hoping that nan resulting sound will alert onlookers and scare nan perpetrators away. (Expect to walk $200-500 for a decently installed anti-theft device.)

Paint aliases Etch your Catalytic Converter

A elemental tin of brightly colored high-temperature overgarment (1300° - 2000°F) tin people your catalytic converter, making it unattractive to thieves—the colour alerts authorities that nan catalytic converter whitethorn person been stolen. On a akin note, nan Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has a caller instrumentality to combat catalytic converter thefts—they etch VINs connected nan catalytic converter truthful section investigators whitethorn quickly place nan owners if they are found. The etching is accompanied by "Marked by LAPD" templates and agleam overgarment to enactment arsenic a visible deterrent. "We usage this LAPD placard template pinch nan high-temperature paint, and we apply, not only nan VIN etch, but we use this LAPD warning, if you will, to imaginable thieves who get underneath these cars looking to bargain nan catalytic converters," said LAPD Capt. Gary Walters.