How to avoid catalytic converter theft: Tips on protecting your car as thieves target rare metals

Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Catalytic converter theft, a crime that's been happening for decades, is suddenly surging as thieves take advantage of a spike in the prices of rare metals contained within the automotive devices.

Before the pandemic, catalytic converter thefts had become pretty rare, averaging only 108 per month in 2018, according to the National Insurnace Crime Bureau, a nonprofit that combats fraud on behalf of the insurance industry.

That figure rose to 282 monthly in 2019 and spiked to 1,203 in 2020, increasing steadily as the year went on and reaching 2,347 in December.

Catalytic converter theft soars: Metal prices spike, lead to a nationwide surge in thefts

Thieves stole nearly 26,000 from January through May 2021, research firm BeenVerified estimated based on an assessment of NICB data and Google search reports. That would translate into a monthly average of more than 5,000.

Check out our in-depth story on how catalytic converter theft is booming.

The catalytic converter in Chicago resident Sam Horvath's 2004 Honda CR-V has been stolen twice during the COVID-19 pandemic, including just recently in early July 2021. Since the pandemic started, thefts of catalytic converters have soared nationwide as shortages or rare metals caused a spike in prices that have made the devices a particularly enticing target.
The catalytic converter in Chicago resident Sam Horvath's 2004 Honda CR-V has been stolen twice during the COVID-19 pandemic, including just recently in early July 2021. Since the pandemic started, thefts of catalytic converters have soared nationwide as shortages or rare metals caused a spike in prices that have made the devices a particularly enticing target.

How to avoid catalytic converter theft

Catalytic converter theft can happen anywhere, but thieves tend to target vehicles parked in driveways, on the street or in poorly lit parking lots.

Experts say the best way to protect yourself is to:

• Park your vehicle in a secure garage if you have access to one.

• If you don’t have access to a garage, park in a well-lit area or an area with a lot of people around.

“Secure parking is great, but you want to definitely park in a well-lit area or on a street that has high traffic,” said Sgt. Mark Ponegalek, a public information officer at the police department in Torrance, California, which has been hit hard by catalytic converter thefts. “They're looking for streets where there isn't a lot of foot traffic so they can get in and out.”

Torrance, California police officers recovered 87 stolen catalytic converters in a three-week effort to crack down on the increasingly common crime in June 2021.
Torrance, California police officers recovered 87 stolen catalytic converters in a three-week effort to crack down on the increasingly common crime in June 2021.

• Consider buying an aftermarket device best described as a metal cage that can be installed to cover the catalytic converter, making it harder to steal, much like the Club device hooked into a steering wheel makes it harder to steal an entire car.

Despite the various steps people can take to protect themselves, Chicago resident Sam Horvath said she still feels pretty helpless to avoid it. Thieves have stolen the catalytic converter from her street-parked 2004 Honda CR-V twice during the pandemic, including in July 2021.

She said renting an indoor parking space is not financially sensible for her, and aftermarket devices would cost about as much as her deductible.

“I don’t know exactly what to do,” she said.

You can follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to avoid catalytic converter theft: Tips on protecting your car

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