Catalic converter theft

Reduce the chance of your catalytic converter being stolen

If you’re worried that thieves might target your car’s catalytic converter, there’s still hope.
Our tips below could prevent a would-be criminal from completing their next dodgy scrap metal deal.
1. Choose where to park your car carefully
Where possible, park your car in a locked garage.
If you don’t have the luxury of off-street parking or you’re not at home, you should park with the side of the car closest to the catalytic converter near to a fence, wall, high kerb or other vehicles, and avoid mounting the pavement on two wheels. In most cases this is the side where your exhaust pipe is.
Catalytic converter thieves need to get under your car to get a hold of their loot. You should make this as difficult as possible and give them limited space to use a jack and to slide beneath your vehicle to unscrew bolts or cut parts away using power tools.
Some brazen criminals will work in broad daylight, but parking in well-lit areas to prevent the thieves from working under the cover of darkness can help.
For more info on the in's and out's of parking in different places, read our guide to parking.

2. Boost your home security
To boost your home security, you can invest in sturdy garage doors, CCTV systems and even alarms for your driveway. Kit out your property with three things in mind:
Prevention
Try fitting reinforced garage doors or adding a motion-triggered security light overlooking your drive. A combination of both will help to deter would-be thieves before they strike.
Detection
CCTV cameras will help you to gather evidence during a theft. Look out for weatherproof models with an IP66 rating or higher, and options that capture footage in low light conditions.
Your reaction
Some driveway alarm systems will alert the police immediately when they detect an intruder. The automated technology can make all the difference after a crime and may help the police catch a fleeing criminal.
For true peace of mind, consider products approved by Secure by Design (SbD). The police-owned initiative provides a recognised standard for security products that can deter and reduce crime.

Not all security features have to involve top-of-the-range technology. You can try adding gravel or other loose material to your drive to deter intruders from stepping foot on your property.
You should also ensure that fences, bushes and walls at the front of your garden are no more than one metre high.2 That way you give intruders less opportunity to hide and can keep an eye on your car if it’s parked on the street outside your property.

3. Add a lock, guard or alarm to your vehicle
Locks and guards for the underside of cars are also available. However, you should declare the security features with your insurance provider and check if adding one might affect a future claim.
Some manufacturers are offering locks to slow thieves down if they try to remove your catalytic converter.
Toyota, for example, will fit a 'Catloc' for the Prius (3rd generation) and Auris (2nd generation). You can contact your Toyota dealership for more information.
Elsewhere, mechanics have started fitting makeshift ‘cat cages’ as an extra layer of protection. Alternatively, you could ask a trusted garage to weld bolts shut to make them more difficult to loosen.
There is one more option; a Thatcham category alarm. Category 1 devices use tilt sensors to detect if your car is being lifted by a jack before it sounds an audible alarm.
You can check if your vehicle is fitted with a Thatcham device by visiting the Thatcham Research website.

• 12 ways you could accidentally invalidate your car insurance
• Thatcham devices: what is a Thatcham Category alarm?
• Car modifications - our guide

4. Mark your catalytic converter
You can ask a garage to add a serial number to your catalytic converter too. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act requires that dealers check the identity of sellers against the unique code.
Although illegal sales have continued since, trusted dealers should check the combination of letters and numbers to identify which car the part belongs to and improve your chances of retrieving it.
You’ll also receive a window sticker indicating that your catalytic converter has been marked – another way to deter potential thieves.
5. Report suspicious activity to the police
It may seem obvious but contacting the police is one of the best ways to prevent catalytic converter theft.
If the situation isn’t an emergency, try calling the police on 101. Alternatively, you can report an incident using an online form.
Whatever you do, you should gather as much information as possible, including any vehicle registrations.

Protect Your Catalytic Converter from Theft with One of These Devices
Thieves are targeting catalytic converters in greater numbers than ever. You're going to want to read this—especially if you drive a Toyota Prius.
BY JON LANGSTONPUBLISHED: FEB 23, 2022

CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALARM, CATCLAMP
Thefts of catalytic converters continue to climb at an alarming rate, and the pandemic and its resulting economic issues have made their resale value rise even further. Aside from comprehensive insurance coverage and setting your alarm to its most sensitive setting, is there anything we vehicle owners can do to make sure we're not stuck with expensive repairs? Short answer: It depends.
Catalytic converters are generally easy to access; it takes an average of three minutes for a thief to slide under a car or (especially) a truck and simply cut it out with a hacksaw or Sawzall. It's a crime of convenience. Hybrid vehicles are particularly vulnerable, because those cats utilize even more of the precious metals within. Aside from typical anti-theft best practices like parking in well-lit areas and setting the car alarm to its most sensitive option, there's not a lot most of us can do to stop cat converter theft.
We can, however, make it a lot harder. Depending on the type of vehicle you own, there are several anti-theft devices on the market. Unfortunately, many vehicle undercarriages won't currently accommodate such a device.
If you're a Toyota Prius driver, you're in luck. A few aftermarket companies have developed metal shields that easily bolt to the undercarriage of 2004-up Priuses—and even some late-model Tacoma pickups. Check out the selection of cat shields and covers below, as well as a couple of other suggestions: a device designed to "lock" your catalytic converter in place and a motion-sensitive alarm to sense when the cat itself it being messed with.
Is one of these worth it for you? Most insurance policies don't cover cat theft—and because it's a model-specific, EPA-regulated emissions device, catalytic-converter replacement can cost thousands from your dealer. It's your call, but if we had a Prius, we'd definitely give a shield a shot.
WATCHING A CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN ACTION IS ABSOLUTELY MESMERIZING




1
Fast Guard Alarm Universal Catalytic Converter Alarm
$30 AT EBAY
CREDIT: EBAY
Let's start with a product that's inexpensive and universal. It's "universal" because it hangs loosely via metal hose clamps to the exhaust under the car, so, theoretically, it should fit nearly any car or truck. Just set the motion-based alarm with a fob whenever the vehicle is parked, and it shrieks if it gets jostled or moved. To be fair, we could see a couple of potential drawbacks with this alarm—windy nights come to mind—but at this price, it's worth a shot if you don't own a Prius.



2
CatClamp Catalytic Converter Lock
$423 AT EBAY
CREDIT: EBAY
Okay, if this device works it might just be groundbreaking because it's compatible with most small gas and diesel engines of any brand. The CatClamp MAXX claims to form a nearly unbreakable barrier around your cat converter with a 5/16-inch-thick stainless steel cable that fits around 1 3/4- to 3-inch exhaust pipes. The heavy-duty wire acts like a cage around your converter, effectively tying it to your frame. We haven't tried it, but we're eager to hear from those who have.
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3
LOSTAR Catalytic Converter Protection Shield for 2016-2022 Toyota Prius 1.8L
$52 AT AMAZON
CREDIT: AMAZON
Prius owners can relax a bit more than the rest of us (they seem pretty chill and unperturbed already anyway), because it's relatively easy to bolt a metal shield under their car. Of course, a determined thief will just remove the guard to get to the cat, but remember—catalytic converter thieves exist because cats are easy and fast to steal. Making yours harder than the next one dramatically reduces your chances of being a victim.


4
Cap City Muffler Catalytic Converter Protection Shield for Toyota Prius 2010-15
$160 AT AMAZON
CREDIT: AMAZON
Cat Security is one of the more popular brands of catalytic-converter covers because they're made of lighter aluminum and, therefore, add less weight to the vehicle. These covers are easy to install too, with no welding required.

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5
labwork Catalytic Converter Shield for 2004-2009 Toyota Prius 1.5L
$92 AT AMAZON
CREDIT: AMAZON
Also made of durable and corrosion-resistant aluminum, this shield is ideal for older Priuses with the 1.5L engine. Some users complain of rattling after installing heat shields such as this, but that's nothing some heat-resistant sealant such as Permatex can't fix.


6
MillerCat Catalytic Converter Protection for Toyota Tacoma 4x4 2016-2022, 3.5L,
$320 AT AMAZON
CREDIT: AMAZON
As we said above, unless you're a Prius owner most cat shields won't work for your vehicle. However, if you drive a late-model Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with a 3.5L engine you're in luck because MillerCat has designed a cat shield just for you. And if they can do it for this truck, more models should be on the horizon.