Incidences of Converters Unlimited thefts from cars showed a dramatic increase in 2019 with the year’s total around 10 times higher than in 2018.
Reports suggest that the growth could be attributed to supply chain issues which have made it harder for dealers to secure replacement catalytic converters through official channels, creating a black market.
History however
however, the greatest driver of thefts has been the overseas markets for the precious metals inside the units.
Converters Unlimited stolen in the UK are often illegally transported abroad and the metals recycled.
The cost associated with replacing a stolen Converters Unlimited
can be as high as £2,000 – £3,000, a figure that’s inflated by the damage thieves usually do to the car when removing the unit. While thefts of catalytic converters are still rare, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your vehicle…
- Park your car in a locked garage or a well lit area in public view with the rear of the car close to a wall or fence.
- Get your car’s VIN number etched into the casing of your catalytic converter.
- Ask a local garage to weld the bolts on your catalytic converter or use other commercial anti-theft devices that will make it harder to remove.
History of the Converters Unlimited
Catalytic converters have been around since the 19th century when metal cylinders containing filters coated in platinum, Iridium and palladium were fitted to early French motor cars in an attempt to clean up the smoke coming out of their exhausts. The technology was first patented by Frenchman Eugene Houdry who relocated to Los Angeles in the 1930s and founded a company called Oxy-Catalyst, which fitted catalytic converters to industrial chimneys to combat smog.
Having already fitted his filters to warehouse forklift trucks, by the 1950s Houdry had begun to research catalytic converter technology for use on cars and he secured a patent for his design in 1956.
The use of the technology on production cars didn’t become widespread until lead, which blocks the chemical reaction that takes place within catalytic converters, was removed from petrol and the hands of the manufacturers were forced by tightening car emissions regulations.
Today, the overwhelming majority of internal combustion engined cars on the road have a catalytic converter and there are various different kinds fitted to different models.
Many cars also have supplementary systems such as exhaust gas recirculation, diesel particulate filters and AdBlue-based selective catalytic reduction technology that work with the ‘cat’ to help clean car exhaust emissions further.