How to Avoid Getting Your Catalytic Converter Stolen

Catalytic converters are valuable because of the platinum, palladium, and rhodium they contain. Unfortunately, that means they’re also valuable to thieves. Since 2021, converter theft has doubled to an average of 130,000 stolen units annually. This can create big headaches for diesel, gasoline, and hybrid vehicle owners.

So, if you’re one of those vehicle owners, you’ll want to adopt habits to avoid getting your converter stolen. To safeguard what’s rightfully yours, tune in to our tutorial or keep reading.

Park Smart

The idea is to discourage thieves from targeting your vehicle. In public parking areas, avoid the far side of the lot. Instead, choose to park your car close to the entrance, where there’s more foot traffic and the building’s cameras have a good view of your vehicle. If you have to park your vehicle in a public area at night, try to do so in a well-lit area near the entrance.

Most of the time, your car is parked in the comfort of its own driveway. So what can you do to make sure thieves don’t target your vehicle when it’s parked in front of your home?

Measures to Safeguard Your Vehicle & Your Driveway

With all the light that’s been shed on converter theft, it’s time to shed some light on your driveway. This is a great way to protect your vehicle. Install motion-sensor lights and cameras for your driveway and entrance. This way, you’ll be alerted of any motion near your car and potential thieves will be flooded in bright lights.

To protect your vehicle, install an alarm in your car and increase the sensitivity. The alarm will alert you if anyone tampers with your vehicle. If you want to be extra cautious, add a sticker to your window advertising your alarm system. This will deter any potential thieves from even approaching your car!

Now that we’ve got that covered, are there more steps to take to decrease the chances of converter theft?

Protecting the Converter Unit Itself

To protect the converter unit from being stolen, you can install an anti-theft device on it, such as a cage or steel plates. You can also engrave the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and your phone number on the unit directly. If your converter gets stolen, this can help law enforcement identify the stolen unit when it eventually shows up in a yard or recycling facility.

Spray painting your converter in bright, flashy colors can make thieves think twice about stealing it. Converters are gray and dirty. Thieves don’t want to attract attention to themselves by selling brightly colored units.

Why is it Important to Alert Law Enforcement of Theft?

Reporting a converter theft helps law enforcement track theft patterns and catch thieves. And when you report a theft to your local police department, you’re actively participating in the fight against converter theft.

Your converter shouldn’t get stolen, and your vehicle shouldn’t be targeted. The reality is that thieves are still out there. By following these guidelines, you’ll put yourself one step ahead of them and protect your possessions.

PMR’s Place in the Fight Against Converter Theft

Although PMR doesn’t purchase catalytic converters by the piece, our suppliers do. Scrap metal and automotive recyclers deal with converter buyers and sellers, making them the first in the supply chain to feel the impact of theft. We understand the concerns of our partners, which is why we’re actively engaged in the fight against converter theft. Last year, we took concrete steps to raise awareness for legitimate recyclers and assist government officials in drafting anti-theft laws.

We joined the International Precious Metal Institute’s Preventing Auto Catalyst Theft (PACT) committee. The goal of the PACT committee is to develop effective measures to discourage catalytic converter theft on a national scale. PACT works with government officials to create comprehensive legislation for apprehending and prosecuting converter thieves.

Several other industry leaders have also joined forces with PACT, building the committee’s network of dedicated allies at every step of the recycling supply chain. Together, we can boost public awareness about the importance of precious metals in the global economy and bring the needs of legitimate recyclers to the forefront.

For more information, visit PMR’s Resource Center.