Catalytic converter theft is on the rise and as we’ve seen in the press of late, the thieves are getting ever more brazen, stealing catalytic converters in broad daylight from cars parked on their owner’s drives.

Most cars on UK roads have a catalytic converter fitted. Catalytic converters have been fitted to the majority of petrol cars since 1992 and diesel cars since 2001.

What is a catalytic converter?

Your catalytic converter turns pollutants emitted from your car’s exhaust into less harmful gases, but it’s also a tempting target for thieves.

Why do people steal catalytic converters?

There are two simple reasons for this. Number one, nicking a catalytic converter is a relatively simple job – all you need is a flagrant disregard for the law and other people’s property, a jack, an angle grinder and a few seconds of your time to get the job done.

Most catalytic converters on modern cars are located under the vehicle towards the exhaust which makes it easily accessible to thieves. Lifting the back of a car and cutting out the whole unit can be done in no time at all.

SUVs are more vulnerable due to their raised ground clearance. This means the catalytic converter is easier to get to and because they tend to have larger engines, these cat converters contain more precious metals.

What is a catalytic converter worth?

Reason number two is that some of the precious metals hidden inside your catalyst are worth more than gold. Inside a catalytic converter there is a ceramic element coated in various precious metals like platinum, rhodium

and palladium.

This is what attracts thieves – you can easily make £500 selling a catalytic converter on the black market.

While few manufacturers have acknowledged there is a problem with catalytic converter theft, Toyota has stuck its head above the parapet. In a recent statement, the company said:

“We’re doing all we can. We’ve shared police guidance with customers and we have developed and reduced the price of a ‘Catloc’ device which can deter theft and make it more difficult. Toyota teams in the UK and other countries are urgently exploring new technical possibilities to deter criminals as well.”

Toyota is working with the police, as well as talking to government about changes in the law around scrap metal sales that would make it harder for criminals to sell stolen catalysts for cash.

However, these are criminal operations and Toyota’s scope is therefore limited. A number of police forces are taking action and some forces, such as Nottinghamshire, are also starting awareness campaigns. It is vitally important for anyone who is a victim of this crime to report it to their local police force as quickly as possible.