It’s a sad reality, but car theft and damages are rising. In 2019, 773,139 vehicles were stolen in the United States, which is only increasing. One of the most common—and costly—types of car theft is catalytic converter theft. Thieves can quickly sell your catalytic converter for scrap metal, leaving you with a hefty repair bill.
According to the National Crime Agency, the average cost of replacing a stolen catalytic converter is more than 850£. So, how can you protect your car from thieves? Here are a few tips we’ve found that can save you money and deter thieves.
Why is the Catalytic Converter so Valuable to Thieves
Before we get going on our tips and advice, it’s important to discuss why thieves find the catalytic converter such a profitable endeavor. With practice and good cover, a thief can slide in and cut your catalytic converter out from under your car in mere moments.
The long and short of the reasoning is that this small, seemingly insignificant part is full of valuable precious metals that can be stripped and sold. These metals may include platinum, rhodium, and palladium, which are all high-value metals on both the legitimate metal market and darker corners of the black market.
What Happens Without My Catalytic Converter?
While you can, technically, drive your car without the catalytic converter, it isn’t sustainable and can cause further damage the longer you push it. When you start and begin running your vehicle, it’s likely to sputter and roar much louder than usual. It can cause your engine to falter and feel like the car will die as you drive. The more fuel you give your car, the more it will sputter and cough.
How to Protect Your Car
Security and law enforcement personnel will tell you that deterrence is the key to preventing theft. So how do you deter thieves from your car? You need to make the act of stealing from you more dangerous or inconvenient than the potential payout.
Invest in a Catlock
A Catlock is a device that wraps around your catalytic converter and helps to prevent thieves from being able to remove it. They’re not cheap—but they’re much more affordable than replacing your entire catalytic converter. There are similar tools to install and protect your catalytic converter, but the Catlock is one of the highest rates of deterrence.
It creates a complicated network of cables and clamps that cage your catalytic converter into position, making it incredibly difficult to quietly and quickly remove the part. It’s likely to deter the casual thief, but those that make their living on car theft will have additional tools to bypass this option.
Park in well-lit areas
Thieves are looking for an easy target and are less likely to attempt to steal your catalytic converter if they know they’re likely to be seen. If your neighborhood is relatively dark, you should install motion sensor flood lights to activate when they approach your car.
If you’re parking for work, school, or some other activity, do your best to find a place with lots of light, preferably close to the building, for security and visibility. If your car has an alarm system, keep your key fob battery working so that if you catch someone in the act, you can set off the panic alarm and send them running.
Consider installing a home security system with cameras
If you have a home security system with cameras, make sure the cameras are pointed toward your driveway so that any attempted thefts will be caught on tape. This footage can help identify the thief and get your insurance company to reimburse you for the cost of the replacement catalytic converter.
Another option that can cost a bit less than a complete security system is an array of game trail cameras overlooking the space you park your car and the driveway leading to your parking space. Be sure to capture all angles of your car and the approach. Trail cameras will capture photos of anything that triggers them and are motion sensitive. You may get some fun pictures of your friendly neighborhood raccoons, but you may catch a thief in the act. You can also put a GPS tracker on your car if you are worried about it.
Keep an Eye Out for Suspicious Activity
If you see someone lurking around your car or any other cars in your neighborhood, call the police immediately. The sooner they arrive on the scene, the greater the chance they’ll be able to catch the thief in the act and recover your catalytic converter before it’s too late.
The closer you live to a large metropolitan area, the more likely you will experience car damage from catalytic converter theft. According to Fleet News, London is considered one of the UK’s highest-risk centers for this type of theft, and this number excludes the City of London proper.
Get comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy
If your catalytic converter is stolen, comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy will reimburse you for replacing it up to your policy limit. This coverage is typically pretty affordable—usually just a few dollars per month —so it’s worth considering if you live where catalytic converter theft is common.
If comprehensive coverage is likely to strain your budget, consider how much it will cost to replace this essential part in your car. Ask your insurance agent about ways to utilize discounts. Many agencies offer sign-up specials, so shop around and compare quotes with other companies. You can also bundle your policies; most agencies offer multi-car discounts and multi-policy discounts when carrying your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance.
Lastly, look at other ways to save money in your automobile budget, such as DIY repairs (with guidance), keeping up on routine maintenance, shopping around for the best fuel prices, and carpooling with friends for your commute. All these options will give you a little extra cash to put away for a rainy day—or, in this case, a catalytic converter replacement.
The Best Protection is Attention
In short, you can do a few things to protect your car from thieves, including investing in a catlock, parking in well-lit areas, preferably with surveillance, and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. You should also consider getting comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy, as this will reimburse you for replacing a stolen catalytic converter up to your policy limit. Taking these precautions can help deter thieves and protect yourself from having to pay expensive repair bills.
If you become the victim of car theft in the form of catalytic converter damage or removal, having the above measures in place can help protect yourself from the catastrophically large repair bill and potentially apprehend the criminal in the act, enabling law enforcement to catch and prosecute. Getting these petty thieves off our streets will make our neighborhoods safer and bring peace of mind.
