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Volvo: Safety Beyond the Star RatingsCatalytic Converter and Car Thefts at Historic Highs
Criminals reap millions as thefts of cars and catalytic converters continue to rise across the US. Here’s how to protect your vehicle.
Ever More Stolen Catalytic Converters and Cars
Once of the more concerning trends to emerge out of the pandemic has been a surge in automotive related property theft. Car thefts themselves through the third quarter of this year were up 25 percent over pre-pandemic levels. And it is not just cars, we have also seen a massive spike in the theft of catalytic converters (part of your car’s exhaust system). Numbers there are up an astounding 1,215 percent over pre-pandemic levels and 109 percent year-over-year.
Catalytic Converter Crime Wave
Thefts of catalytic converters have continued to rise since we first wrote on the subject last year. The booming market in stolen catalytic converters has much to do with the rise in the prices of the precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium used to scrub your vehicle’s exhaust of noxious particulate.
In early November of this year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI announced the bust of a major catalytic converter theft ring that included the indictment of 21 individuals across nine states. To give you an idea of the scale of this criminal enterprise, the DOJ is seeking $545 million dollars-worth of forfeitures including cars, properties, and cash.
Congress has taken up the fight against catalytic converter thieves with the Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act (PART Act). The pending legislation would require new cars to have their VINs stamped on their catalytic converters and include funding for grants to have the same done to existing vehicles. Additionally, the PART Act would institute new, stiffer penalties for catalytic converter theft and regulate the purchase and sale of catalytic converters including new recordkeeping rules. Similar laws are in the works or have recently been passed in states across the US over the past few years.
Thwarting Catalytic Converter Thieves
Stealing a catalytic converter is not too difficult. Thieves can jack up a car, saw through both ends of the exhaust pipe, and make off with a catalytic converter in just a few minutes (particularly adept thieves can accomplish this feat in less than two minutes). While thieves typically get a few hundred dollars for a stolen cat, for car owners, replacing one will run between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on the type of vehicle.
The most common targets for catalytic converter theft include the Honda Accord and CR-V, Toyota Camry and Prius, and pickup trucks from Fords to Chevys. But there are ways to fight back against thieves. Some car owners in theft prone areas have had shields or rebar cages welded around their vehicle’s catalytic converter. You can also paint or etch the VIN into the catalytic converter, making it harder for thieves to fence (sell) the item to a legitimate scrapyard. Basic preventative measures like parking in a well-lit area and having a car alarm installed can also help.
Car Thefts and Prevention
As we noted above, it is not just catalytic converters that are being stolen at alarming rates. Car thefts are also on the rise, with approximately 745,000 vehicles stolen in the US through Q3 according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). That is around $6.6 billion dollars-worth of stolen cars.
A list of the most stolen vehicles in the US tends to mirror a list of the best-selling vehicles in the US. Topping that list are Chevy and Ford pickups, followed by sedans like the Civic, Accord, and Camry, and SUVs including the Honda CR-V and Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee.
Much of the advice in preventing car theft may seem self-evident, but they reflect the lack of diligence from many car owners. Police and insurers advise car owners to roll up their windows, never leave your keys in the car or hidden near the car, and park in well-lit, populated areas. You can also install a kill switch to prevent thieves from driving off (or just own a manual) and/or a tracking device like an Apple Air Tag to quickly locate your stolen vehicle.
While law enforcement and legislators do what they can to prosecute and deter thieves, much of preventing car and catalytic converter theft falls on individual vehicle owners. Equal doses of common sense and high- and low-tech solutions can at least help reduce your risk of becoming a victim yourself.
