According to Arantxa Chavarria, the public information officer for the Long Beach, California, police department, purchasing a cable locking device is significantly less expensive than replacing a catalytic converter. Such tools to safeguard the catalytic converter, which is a component of the exhaust system that runs along the bottom of your car, are readily available online. The cost of the anti-theft gadgets installed by Sandman’s shop ranges from $250 to $800.
Here are a some of the most well-liked gadgets:
a steel shield that covers the catalytic converter and must be removed with special tools and time.
Some muffler companies will weld such a component specifically to your car. However, Sandman warns that because the exhaust system is typically suspended from the car by sound-absorbing hangers, installing the catalytic converter directly to the frame of the vehicle may be noisy.
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How can I stop someone from stealing my catalytic converter?
Use a locked garage, regularly shift your car’s place, or park in well-lit areas close to exits for the general public. Install a theft prevention device. Install cameras and motion-activated lights in your parking area. Some local police departments even provide free painting programs to dissuade purchasers by painting your catalytic converter.
Are stolen catalytic converters covered by insurance?
Is insurance coverage available for a stolen catalytic converter? Theft of a catalytic converter is normally covered if you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy. Catalytic converter replacement and related damage repair are frequently covered under comprehensive insurance.
Does sprayed-on catalytic converter theft prevention work?
Purchase some brightly colored, high-temperature (1,3002,000 0F), automotive exhaust spray paint, and liberally coat the converter with it.
Bright paint can be added to create a visual deterrent to warn burglars to leave.
Additionally, this paint alerts recyclers and law enforcement to dig more deeply for serial numbers or other identifiers.
By prominently identifying your catalytic converter, you can prevent theft from ever occurring. The following are additional strategies to safeguard your vehicles from this auto crime:
- Place your car in a garage or other enclosed space.
- Install a powerful motion sensor light to deter robbers.
- Install a theft prevention device.
- Always set the alarm and lock the car.
- Fleet cars and vehicles with little use should be parked in a yard that is secure, alarm-equipped, and well-lit.
How much does cat security for a Prius cost to install?
Depending on the car, installing this protection will cost you between $320.00 and $560.00. Although installation doesn’t take too long, we do ask that you plan an appointment and give us about 4 hours. The Model Garage Team and Robert.
Which Prius model year is susceptible to catalytic converter theft?
The most popular vehicles in the West that catalytic converter thieves target are: 200121 Prius from Toyota Ford F-Series, 19852021 Honda Accord: 19892020.
How much does installing Cat Shield cost?
3) Set up a theft prevention system. One is installed by his business for roughly $350, including installation, by bolting a metal shield to the car’s chassis to hide the catalytic converter.
Why do thieves target Toyota Prius for catalytic converter theft?
According to a recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute, theft claim frequency for Toyota Prius cars from 2004 to 2009 was astonishingly 40 times greater in 2020 than in 2016 because of the valuable metals included in its catalytic converter (HLDI).
Thefts of catalytic converters have been rising across the country, going from about 100 per month in 2018 to more than 1,200 per month in 2020. This is due to the fact that recyclers are now willing to pay thieves more for the platinum, rhodium, palladium, and other metals found in the components.
Due to decreased mining output in recent years, which was a trend that was worsened by the epidemic, metal prices have skyrocketed.
Prius is currently being targeted because hybrid vehicles’ catalytic converters require more precious metals to function correctly because they don’t heat up as much as those found on traditional automobiles because their combustion engines only operate occasionally. To put it another way, Prius models provide burglars with a larger haul of precious metals.
Prius fleet owners should be aware of some specific statistics from the HLDI report.
The increase in claim frequency is notable, to begin with. In 2020, there were 58.1 theft claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years for Toyota Prius cars from 2004 to 2009, up from 1.4 claims in 2016. A more than 45-fold rise from $3 in 2016 to approximately $137 per insured vehicle per year in total stolen losses for those Prius vehicles in 2020. In comparison, the frequency of theft claims for all other 20042009 automobiles barely changed between 2016 and 2020, and total losses stayed around $7.
The analysis looks into pricing as well. Older Prius catalytic converters fetch a pretty price, and thieves appear to be aware of this and taking advantage of the trend.
Now compare those figures to the converter employed from 1999 to 2006 in General Motors automobiles like the Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Grand Am. The converter used in the 2007 Ford F-150 FX4 was only $143, but they were valued at $269.
The bottom line: Compared to newer Prius models and practically any other vehicles on the market, older Prius models command top pay when it comes to selling catalytic converters to recyclers who reprocess them.
Catalytic converter theft is a persistent problem. 1,298 thefts of catalytic converters were reported in 2018, while 3,389 thefts were reported in 2019. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that reported catalytic converter thefts increased significantly to 14,433 in 2020.
How much is a catalytic converter for a Toyota Prius worth?
Replacement catalytic converters for Toyota Prius models typically cost between $2,142 and $2,174. While parts are priced between $2,036 and $2,040, labor costs are predicted to range between $106 and $134. Taxes and other fees are not included in this range, nor are your particular model year or geographic area taken into account.
What steps is Toyota doing to combat catalytic converter theft?
Texas’s Bryan (KBTX) Four catalytic converters on a Toyota Tundra owned by a Bryan resident will cost her thousands of dollars to replace. This year in Bryan-College Station, numerous Toyotas have been targeted, including Maggie Jones. Jones believed she would never experience this.
My 2007 has a fairly rough-looking body, which a lot of people are aware of, according to Jones.
According to Jones, her converters were stolen in the final week of February at around 3 a.m. Because of the persistent barking of her neighbor’s dog, she thinks it happened around that time. She didn’t realize she had been a victim until she got in her car the following morning to go to work.
They’re incredibly expensive and I can’t afford to replace them,” Jones claimed. “They cost practically anywhere between $1,500 and $2,000 each.
In 2022, there were 28 catalytic converter thefts reported by the Bryan Police Department, 11 of which were Toyota vehicles. Toyotas have been involved in the majority of the 85 catalytic converter thefts reported to the College Station Police Department. The public information officer for the College Station Police Department, Tristen Lopez, claimed that thieves are targeting the rare metals in the converters. According to Lopez, pick-up trucks and SUVs appear to be the most frequently targeted Toyota models since they are simpler to get beneath.
According to Lopez, “the thieves aren’t making as much money selling them as it will cost the victims of this theft to replace them.
According to Lopez, the majority of the vehicles targeted in College Station are Toyotas, Mitsubishis, Hondas, and Fords. In the absence of a garage, he advises parking in a safe, well-lit, and busy area. According to Lopez, it’s crucial to report any questionable activity.
In order to avoid missing the chance to apprehend someone and put an end to at least part of this, Lopez stated, “We’d rather err on the side of safety.
Which vehicle has the most stolen catalytic converters?
Despite the fact that thefts of catalytic converters are frequently crimes of opportunity, many criminals target particular vehicles because of the cost of the catalytic converter, the prevalence of the vehicles, and the ease with which the catalytic converter may be accessed.
CARFAX discovered that the following automobiles are the most frequently targeted for catalytic converter theft by consulting their partner repair facilities:
These are merely the models, though, whose catalytic converters are stolen most frequently. Depending on a few additional conditions, your car may also be vulnerable to catalytic converter theft. Here is an example of the car kinds that are even more vulnerable to catalytic converter theft:
Luxury vehicles
With a staggering price tag of $3,770 per unit, the Ferrari F430 wins the Most Valuable Catalytic Converter Award. Given that the F430 has two converters, they make for a sizable target for thieves.
Catalytic converters for Lamborghinis are likewise exceedingly expensive, costing on average $3,000 each.
Hybrid vehicles
The catalytic converter of a car tends to be more valued the more emission-friendly the vehicle is. The entire cost of these automobiles rises because they require more of the pricey metal palladium.
Older vehicles
Catalytic converters in larger, older automobiles are more valuable than those in newer, more efficient vehicles because to their concentration of valuable metals and general lack of environmental friendliness.
SUVs and trucks
Two factors influence the targeting of larger vehicles and SUVs. First off, a bigger engine translates into a more expensive catalytic converter. For instance, at a startling $2,000, the catalytic converters on the Dodge Ram 2500 are almost as valuable as those on Ferraris.
Second, their height from the ground makes it simpler for thieves to steal their converters.
Other models with valuable catalytic converters
Of course, there are vehicles that don’t fit into any one category but feature catalytic converters that are more useful for a variety of reasons.
Is a Prius capable of operation without a catalytic converter?
Oh, no! That breaks my heart, dear. The worst are thieves. Although it is possible to operate a Prius without a catalytic converter, this is not a recommended long-term option. You won’t get as much out of your Prius, and it won’t pass an emissions test.
What to do if a catalytic converter is stolen is as follows:
- Make a police report and contact the police.
- You can drive the automobile there if you bring it to a repair shop!
If your catalytic converter is not replaced, you can anticipate
- obnoxious engine noise
- driving recklessly and accelerating suddenly
- unsuccessful emissions tests
Hopefully, this was useful. I’m so sorry you fell victim to theft, but I hope you can obtain some assistance with the cost of your replacement catalytic converter!
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