There has been an increase in the number of Catalytic Converters stolen from vehicles, in particular hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota and Honda.
Replacing a catalytic converter can cost well over £1000, as well as the increased costs in insurance premiums and the hassle of not being able to use the vehicle.
The Catalytic Converters are stolen for the metals they contain including palladium, platinum and rhodium.
Thieves can easily slide under the vehicle and cut it off within minutes.
Top 10 ways to prevent catalytic converter theft:
1 – Install security cameras – both witness cameras and house CCTV will assist with recording any theft.
2 – Install an alarm – We have two different options:
A Pandora Security system includes 5 different sensors from £750 for a Pandora Mini:
- Tilt – detects vehicle taking up, towing and wheel theft.
- Shock zone – Hard impact detection, a brick through the window.
- Shock warn – Light impact warning detection.
- Motion – Accelerometer, detects speed and movement, vehicle towing.
- Proximity sensors – internal cabin motion detection & external warn away chirps.
Or an Autowatch Cat 1 alarm system with a Tilt sensor for £410 – the tilt sensor will set off the alarm if the angle of the vehicle is changed.
3 – Parking close to fences, walls or kerbs will make theft much more difficult as in order to steal the parts the thieves need to slide under the vehicle and use cutting tools to detach the box from the pipes around it.
4 – Some garages will etch Serial numbers to your catalytic converter to make it easier to identify who it belongs to. Some cars now have a sticker to be displayed in the window to inform them that it has been engraved.
5 – If your catalytic converter is bolted on you can ask your garage to weld the bolts, this will make it more difficult to remove.
6 – Parking the car overnight in a well-lit area will make it harder for the thieves as the equipment they use is heavy-duty and is more likely to be spotted by fellow neighbours or by people who walk past regularly.
7 – Not everybody has the option to store their vehicle off-road to prevent these types of things happening but if you have access park next to other vehicles or in a well-lit car park and multi-storeys.
8 – CATLOC is a device you can purchase that locks around the converter and this will make it more difficult for Catalytic Converter Theft.
9 – CatClamp is a clamp which attaches to the exhaust pipes these come in different size and shape for all converters to be protected. This takes longer to get off which makes the converter very difficult for a thief who’s looking for an easy snatch.
10 – Keep an eye out for anyone who seems to be working underneath cars nearby they could be looking for the next vehicle, by blocking access to the underside of the vehicle can make it more difficult.
If you’d like any advice or information on protecting yourself against catalytic converter theft please call us on 01622 737393 or contact us.
