Thieves are increasingly stealing catalytic converters fitted to vehicles, sawing them off the underside of parked cars so they can sell the precious metals they’re made from.
These devices are designed to reduce the pollution produced by car engines but have become easy targets for criminals who can make big money out of breaking them down and selling the materials they’re made from.
The number of claims made by drivers for stolen catalytic converters has risen tenfold this year and the damage caused when criminals remove them is resulting in repair bills of up to £3,000, according the AA insurance.
Some of those who have had the device stolen could also face long waits to obtain a new one and get their car back on the road, thanks to the increase in thefts and fast-developing supply issues with parts.
Catalytic converter crime on the rise: Footage emerged earlier this year of brazen thieves stealing one of the vehicle emission devices in broad daylight. The video showed the gang jacking the car in the air and removing a catalytic converter from a parked car
AA says it had received claims made for just eight vehicles that had their catalytic converters stolen in January.
However, thefts have become more prevalent as the year has gone on, with 79 cases of thefts in October.
Some drivers have even had catalytic converters stolen from their motors twice, meaning they have had to make separate insurance claims.
Waiting times to have a car repaired are also extending, according to reports.
Toyota said: ‘The rapid rise in this crime in 2019 is one we could not have envisaged, set against many years of low incidence of catalytic converter theft.
‘This has impacted our ability to source enough of the parts we need in some cases, for which we sincerely apologise.
‘We have taken urgent action with our suppliers to try to resolve this. For example, our supplier of Auris catalysts has now increased daily production shifts from one to three, which we hope will allow us to tackle this issue and get customers’ cars back on the road more quickly.’
A catalytic converter substantially reduces the amount of harmful pollutants by taking these gases and converting them into water vapour and less harmful gases via a series of chemical reactions.
All petrol cars manufactured since 1993 must have a catalytic converter fitted to the exhaust, meaning there are plenty of targets for thieves.
The emission devices are appealing to criminals because they are made from precious metals such as palladium, rhodium and platinum – all of which are relatively valuable.
Catalytic converters are made up of precious metals. Thieves break them down and sell the materials online
The catalytic converter is part of a vehicle’s exhaust system. Criminals in a hurry are sawing them off, causing irreversible damage that can result in repair bills of up to £3,000
Once the converter has been stripped they can either be sent for scrap or sold privately via online auction sites.
While more skilled thieves are unscrewing the devices from the underside of vehicles, others are taking a more ham-fisted approach and sawing them off the exhaust system, causing irreversible damage and resulting in some having to replace entire exhaust systems.
Car warranty provider MotorEasy analysed 10,000 garage bills and found the average cost to replace a catalytic converter is up to £1,300, with over £900 of the cost being parts.
However, the AA says claims have amounted to anything between £2,000 and £3,000 when the devices have been sawed away from the exhaust.
Police forces across the UK have recognised the increase in crime too and have rolled out targeted communications to help protect drivers.
What are catalytic converters and why are they so valuable to thieves?
Modern cars are fitted with catalytic converters to reduce harmful emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.
They contain a ceramic honeycombed core coated with metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium.
The metals act as catalysts and convert the harmful gases into water vapour and less harmful emissions.
Criminals are ripping out the anti-pollution devices from cars and vans because they contain increasingly precious and sought-after metals such as platinum and palladium – leaving motorists with huge repair bills.
Soaring scrap metal prices have seen thefts increase ten fold in some areas.
The police and AA say that to help foil the thieves, catalytic converters can be uniquely marked in acid with a serial number.
Motorists are advised to keep their cars in garages or park in well-lit areas. Most converters are bolted on – but they can also be welded.
Police in Kent have reported a significant year-on-year increase in the number of these emissions devices being stolen, with 214 taken in the first 10 months of 2019.
This is compared to 51 such incidents across the whole of 2018 and 25 the year prior, according to KentOnline.
Although catalytic converter thefts represent a very small proportion of all insurance claims made, the number of claims has steadily increased since January 2018, the AA said.
As there is often no third party to claim against, drivers claiming against their insurance policy would also lose their No Claims Discount, unless otherwise protected.
Janet Connor, managing director for AA insurance services said drivers can take precautions in an attempt to safeguard their vehicles – though there’s absolutely no guarantee that criminals won’t take extra measures to target your car.
‘Where possible, drivers should park in a garage or in a well-lit area,’ she explained.
‘Manufacturers have also developed anti-theft devices which can be attached to the fixings and give the converter a unique serial number.
‘Concerned drivers should contact their dealer for further information.
‘Scrap dealers and online auction sites have a role to play too, by making appropriate checks to ensure the parts being sold or scrapped have not been illegally gained.’
Mike Hawes, chief executive at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, told This is Money that the recent instances of catalytic converter theft is ‘of concern both to car owners and manufacturers’.
‘Car makers are taking what steps they can to make the crime as difficult as possible – some even modifying car designs to try to tackle the issue,’ he explained.
‘The industry is providing support and guidance to customers where required, and liaising with police forces to see what more can be done to apprehend the criminals and prevent further thefts.
‘In the meantime, police advice to consumers is that they should, where possible, park inside a locked garage, in well-lit areas and close to fences or walls to restrict access beneath the vehicle.’
Motorist who are caught by police driving a vehicle knowing the catalytic converter has been removed can be fined up to £1,000 because the car will be producing higher levels of pollution than they are allowed to.
However, the additional sound the exhaust makes when a catalytic converter has been removed and not replaced will be so loud that motorists will be well aware there’s something amiss.
While the vehicle will still be driveable, removal of the device will trigger a warning light on the dashboard, reduce fuel economy and cause plenty of headaches from extra exhaust roar.
Duncan McClure Fisher, founder of MotorEasy, added: ‘If you’re driving a low emissions car and concerned about catalytic converter theft there are security locks available online the average motorist can fit to their vehicle.’
Manufacturers have also developed anti-theft devices which can be attached to the fixings and give the converter a unique serial number so they can be traced on sites such as Ebay
Earlier this year, brazen thieves were caught on camera jacking up a parked car in London to steal the catalytic converter.
The gang held up traffic in the busy street as one removed the device with what looks like an electric drill.
A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard responded to the footage, saying at the time: ‘The theft of catalytic converters is not a new phenomenon, and is something we have seen in London for some time.
‘It is believed to be the precious metal within the converters which makes them appealing to thieves who we believe strip the items down and sell the metal on.
‘We believe a number of the cases to be linked and are focusing resources on identifying the suspects as well as offering crime prevention advice to those car owners who may be affected.
‘Work is also ongoing with the car industry to consider ways to reduce the issue.’
