OEM replacements are around $500. As with any type of theft, its easier to get away with under the cover of night. Why Are Catalytic Converters Being Stolen? Thanks for your comment. One way to prevent the theft of your catalytic converter is not to make it an obvious target for thieves. The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, 5 Ways to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft. Even F-150 pickups are joining the Tundra as big targets for catalytic converter theft. Etch the catalytic converter. Mechanics and law enforcement agencies offer these tips to avoid a wrenching experience and costly repair. What Bike Tools Should I Carry On A Ride? Consider replacing it with a theft-resistant catalytic converter. Thieves are targeting catalytic converters in greater numbers than ever. After being a NerdWallet reader for many years, Shannon welcomed the opportunity to become a NerdWallet writer and help more people with financial decision-making. Victoria, I am also looking for some type of an alarm. On Nov. 2, the Justice Department announced the takedown of a national, multimillion-dollar catalytic converter theft network. If you have a vehicle at high risk for a catalytic converter theft, you might consider lowering your deductible amount. Whichever way you go, something is better than nothingyou want to make it as difficult as possible so the criminals move on to an easier target. Park in a well-lit area: Parking your vehicle in a well-lit area can help deter potential thieves from targeting it. Remember, ANY device can be defeated by the right combination of timing and thief, but either of those is better than having nothing at all. Before joining NerdWallet, Julie oversaw editorial teams at NextAdvisor, Red Ventures and Quote.com. Im going to tell you what no one wants to hear about protecting your catalytic converter from theft. WebCatalytic converters are expensive to replace. Park indoors if possible. My older model Prius had its 2nd cat stolen even though it had a Miller cat shield. Thieves usually have their eyes on the cars hidden from the general publics view. If it was my money and I was protecting a Prius or an Element, Id go for one of the cat shields. Hate to say it, but with the economy going the way it is, desperation can bring out the worst in people. Assistant Assigning Editor | Auto loans, consumer credit. They seem to work as intended, but im looking to test it somewhere low inside the engine compartment where its easy to access for the vehicle owner, protected from the elements, and tough for a thief to find. These covers are easy to install too, with no welding required. If your Sorento was anything like the 2019 im familiar with 4cyl, AWD, the expensive cat is up near the engine, and theres a secondary one underneath. Protect Yourself From Indoor Air Pollution, 21 Small Kitchen Appliances for $100 or Less, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The office of D.A. For what seems like a pretty simple thing, they actually do research and development to make sure everything works, protects your catalytic converter, and installs with a minimum of fuss. Also at risk are street-parked vehicles and trucks parked overnight in unattended lots. Depending on the make and model of a car, certain catalytic converters, like the ones under a Toyota Prius, can fetch over $1,000 on the used market. Statistics can help legislators pass laws that make it tougher for thieves to sell stolen parts. However, due to environmental protection laws, you could face some hefty fines if youre caught driving a vehicle without one. My question is, I was told it was unlikely that the replacement catalytic converter would be stolen. Acat shield is a plate of metal that attaches to the bottom of your car and guards your catalytic converter. Contact the police. I think the MillerCat discount code is case-sensitive. Both companies focus mostly on making Toyota Prius catalytic converter shields and Honda Element catalytic converter shields. What kind of Cat lock do you recommend for a 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4xe? WebUltra-destruct self-etching labels CATETCH/CATGUARD labels with unique PIN codes for your catalytic converters. Heres hoping they work! Whether they going to make 1K or 100 they would still remove it. Plus, catalytic converters dont carry any sort of identification number, so its pretty much impossible to identify them as stolen property. I drive a Ford E350 bus. Park indoors if possible. Residents must choose a designated sign-up time to participate. It's typically required if you have a loan or lease. How to stop your catalytic converter being stolen Park to prevent access underneath But remember to consider pedestrians 1/10 In order to steal the parts, thieves need to slide under the vehicle and use cutting tools to detach the box from the pipes around it. Muffler shops would not do any type of welding cages or bars on my 04 Accord and I gave up locating a shield as none were being made (~ 5 months ago). Check your passenger side fender liner and see if its loose and/or missing bolts. Thanks. I'm thinking a "skid plate" covering the catalytic converter, attached to the FRAME may be the best route to go. Let's start with a product that's inexpensive and universal. cut. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Unfortunately, no one we know of makes a protector shield of any kind for the Kia Sportage. Catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium, and rhodiumexpensive precious metals that react with exhaust gasses, heat up a ceramic honeycomb element, and convert harmful combustion byproducts, such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, into less harmful gasses. Prices for the three metals have spiked over the past few years. Hey there Mark. By adding bright paint, you can create a visible deterrent to alert thieves to move on. A steel shield that fits over the catalytic converter, requiring time and extra tools to remove. Most insurance policies don't cover cat theftand because it's a model-specific, EPA-regulated emissions device, catalytic-converter replacement can cost thousands from your dealer. We recommend our users to update the browser. I have a friend in Chicago who has had 2 stolen from the same Toyota Prius. The following are several ways to prevent catalytic converter theft: Park in well-lit areas. 4. Here are some tips and tricks on catalytic converter theft prevention: 1. The problem I have with the Fast Guard Catalytic Converter Alarm instructions is the location, AND the fact that they give you stickers to put on your car. Unfortunately, a camera wont do much for stopping theft, but it may help the police after the fact. I was lucky, so to speak, in getting an immediate replacement of the converter and had to wait for the oxygen thing. Trucks and SUVs are often targeted because its easy to slide under the vehicle rather than jack it up. If you can change your own oil or are mechanically inclined, DIY install is within your reach. It's a crime of convenience. The Hyundai Sonata and Kia Sportage SUVs are starting to get targeted, The Hyundai Elantra? It's exclusive, award-winning, patented cable cage design surrounds the catalytic converter with aircraft-grade wire rope that is very difficult to cut, even with power tools. She spent more than 30 years in banking as a writer of financial education content. Here are a few things that you can do to keep your Ford F-150 safe and sound: Park in a safe area Park your truck in a secure, well-lit area. Seems to me there are way too many catalytic converter thefts and really, not a real good way to prevent a "SAWZALL/GRINDER cutting wheel " from getting through such things as Stainless Steel Wire Rope - just cut off the bracket/lock. Catalytic converter theft prevention is a multilayered task. Get more smart money moves straight to your inbox. Fortunately, comprehensive car insurance should cover theft-related problems. Seriously though, If youre not ready for an electric car- try the two things above to keep your catalytic converter where it belongs. Thanks for chiming in about the alarms. Making it easier to track stolen catalytic converters. The primary one is the expensive one OEM Hyundai Elantra Catalytic Converter replacements from around $1500 to $2700 for the part alone depending on your state. But there are three main strategies to significantly reduce your risk. Generally speaking, comprehensive auto insurance policies may cover the cost of replacing a stolen catalytic converter. The converters contain precious And reviewers on the bike alarm model said that you can get in a situation with a weak or dead remote battery and be unable to turn off or disarm the darn thing. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), nearly 14,500 catalytic converters were stolen nationally in 2020, and that number jumped to 50,000 in 2021. That may block some areas that would be ideal to wrap the cable around. Id want it pointing down, but kind of hidden near my catalytic converter because if these work how I think they do, theyre easy to bypass where they have it mounted in the video. This is a good idea in general. (There are just over 28grams in 1 ounce. Any suggestions? I am waiting on them to contact me but thought you might have a suggestion. Not all thieves are smart enough to notice the difference between original parts or cheaper versions which are aftermarket. Well, it depends. Any info? Older cars converters are more likely to be stolen for the same reason the Prius converters are more likely to be stolen: more precious metal content. They took mine although I caught them in the act, they threatened me with machetes saying they would kill me if I didnt go back in my house and close the door as they were doing it on my drive literally few feet away from my front door. Shannon Bradley covers auto loans for NerdWallet. However, with the e350 you have the advantage of having an actual frame instead of unibody construction like most passenger cars and SUVs. A California bill that would have required car dealers to etch converters with a vehicles unique vehicle identification number (VIN) did not pass. If you start your car and hear a low, loud rumble, one of the first things you should check is whether your catalytic converter has been stolen. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Strategy 1: Park in a safe, well lit place with lots of traffic. December 2022 UPDATE: MillerCat heard about us and has offered us a discount code to pass along to our readers. Not that this can help you now but may help someone else reading this: Miller has reworked their Prius CatShield design to help combat this theft technique, (see it here) and offers an add on for earlier shields called the Deadbolt. Hello. Email: The cost of replacing a stolen catalytic converter, Tips for avoiding catalytic converter theft, 1. Shannon Bradley covers auto loans for NerdWallet. (The fender liner is the big plastic piece that is inserted in the wheel well). This will help police track such crimes and might assist in arrests. The only real way to prevent your catalytic converter from getting stolen is not to have one! Because theyre model specific to your Prius or Element, installation is fairly straight forward. Take a picture of the location where the cat was stolen and the spots where it was cut off and/or unfastened. Were getting alot of traffic from Honda CRV owners wanting Catalytic converter protection, but looks like the best bet at this time (November 2021) for something off the shelf would be the CatClamp or the CatStrap. State lawmakers across the country have already been responding to the surge in catalytic converter thefts, and the NICB is tracking more than 150 pieces of legislation either enacted or under consideration to prevent these thefts. I have not had anymore problems since they tried to steal one catalytic converter from my business yard. Make your catalytic converter standout. Sorry to hear about your van. Jeffrey, Cages made of high-strength steel that's difficult to cut. As far as installation, if you know someone who is a car person that likes to tinker, its a 2 hour DIY job tops, especially on your van. Just lost the cat on my 2000 E-250. This is 100% false. And California is the state with the highest number of thefts of catalytic converters, with Texas coming in second. Catalytic converter theft is on the rise and to a shocking degree. Thefts of catalytic converters continue to climb at an alarming rate, and the pandemic and its resulting economic issues have made their resale value rise .css-p0u9qf{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#595959;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#595959;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #FFC84E 50%, #FFC84E);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-p0u9qf:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:#000000;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}even further. Unfortunately, this is one of those things that we dont think about until it happens to us. They couldnt get one for four months! Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Shannon is based in Newburgh, Indiana. They also tend to pop up in the news every late winter and early spring as thefts of these unassuming little devices surge in some areas. Make Your Car a Difficult Target. It uses a heat activated adhesive, kind of like a peel-n-stick setup. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. When you start your car, youll know by the loud exhaust noise if your catalytic converter was stolen. Thanks! Passwords are 6-20 characters with at least one number and letter. If I remember correctly, A 2013 Hyundai Elantra has two catalytic converters, one built into the manifold up at the engine and one underneath the car as part of the exhaust run. Maybe a reader will see this and comment on Jetta specifics. Of course, a determined thief will just remove the guard to get to the cat, but remembercatalytic converter thieves exist because cats are easy and fast to steal. Since we first wrote this article, MillerCat has expanded their line up. Sandman says that catalytic converter thefts are an organized crime effort, and teams of thieves with the tools and knowledge to quickly remove converters sweep through entire neighborhoods. Catalytic converters represent a treasure trove to potential thieves looking to make a quick buck. You also may want to look into if your Elantra alarm has whats called a tilt sensor and / or additional vibration and shock sensors. If you dont want to spring for an expensive catalytic converter alarm install, weve seen an increase in people buying a couple of these inexpensive, self-contained motorcycle / bike alarms, and sticking them under the hood or under the car near the exhaust. I also recall your Elantra has a plastic splash shield under the engine. It's your call, but if we had a Prius, we'd definitely give a shield a shot. Im sure youve seen the videos. WebStatewide: Catalytic Converter Protection Theft of catalytic converters is on the rise in Colorado due to a lucrative black market. Thats fine, but as Sandman points out, then the alarm blares when your cat jumps on the car in the middle of the night. The best way to prevent catalytic converter theft is to explore the solutions below and see what will work for you. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. But also, one of the links you have mentions spray painting your catalytic converter a bright red or blue with some high-temperature BBQ spray paint. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Hi Julie. great article! Heres a MillerCAT Cat Shield on a Prius V. Notice the louvers to promote airflow to reduce heat buildup. Also get to know your neighbors and join neighborhood networks such as NextDoor to be aware of strangers in the area or reports of theft. Your email address will not be published. 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