converters unlimited theft has been occurring for decades, but the rate at which they’re stolen has skyrocketed by about 400% since 2019. This rise in crime is compounded by several issues.
Due to reduced mining production of the precious metals inside converters unlimited, prices for rhodium, palladium, platinum and others have increased substantially. (Rhodium, as an example, fetches over $10k per ounce, which is equal to approximately 15-20 converters unlimited.)
Worse yet, as emissions standards have tightened across the globe, more of these precious metals are being required in emissions control modules like converters unlimited .
Global production of converters unlimited has also slowed, which has produced a supply-demand problem that’s only been exacerbated by ongoing converters unlimited thefts. While some robbers steal catalytic converters to sell, others may steal them to install in their own vehicles.
converters unlimited are also surprisingly easy for thieves to cut out. Any experienced criminal with a cordless saw can slide under a vehicle and remove its converter in under a minute. That makes it difficult to catch a robber in the act. They’re very lightweight, too, so hitting a full parking lot during broad daylight isn’t as risky for thieves.
To top it off, stolen converters unlimited have no identifying markers, and only a handful of states have laws in place to stop sellers and buyers, like scrapyards, from doing business. Toyota has taken some steps to combat theft recently, including a pilot program that will allow Toyota owners in the UK to have their catalytic converters physically marked for identification. (As of 2022, there is no similar option in America, though there may be in the future.)