Blog

Sep 27, 2023

Catalytic converters: Why thieves target them and what to do about it

Across the nation, there has been a dramatic increase in catalytic converter

Across the nation, there has been a dramatic increase in catalytic converter thefts since 2019.

Arizona alone saw a jump from just 142 thefts in 2020 to 2,046 in 2021 – a 1,340% increase – according to BeenVerified, an online database for public records information. In the Valley, there were 67 cases of stolen catalytic converters in 2019. Thefts skyrocketed to 4,718 last year.

"The exponential growth of catalytic converter thefts is plaguing our county, its plaguing our cities across the nation and no one is immune to this issue," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said at an Aug. 10 news conference.

Here's a look at why this car part is being stolen and how people can protect themselves from catalytic converter thieves.

A catalytic converter is a part of many car emission systems. Located underneath the car, it reduces the amount of polluting material that is released into the atmosphere, according to CARFAX.

They started to be installed in cars in 1975, CARFAX's website says, to transform the hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides that result from the fuel combustion into the less harmful water vapor and carbon dioxide. It accomplishes this by using catalysts to start a chemical reaction that converts the gases – hence the name "catalytic converter."

The catalysts in the gas-changing chemical reaction happen to be an assortment of metals. According to CARFAX, they include platinum along with two other similar (and even more precious) metals: rhodium and palladium. This makes the part very valuable, both in resale and scrap value.

As of Aug. 22, YS Catalytic Recycling, a catalytic converter recycler based in Albany, New York, will pay an average of $336 per converter, although there's a lot of variation depending what car it's for, with the least expensive worth $13 to the most expensive up to $1,116.

As of Aug. 26, platinum is selling for about $28 per gram, while palladium is going for $68 per gram and rhodium a whopping $448 per gram, according to Daily Metal Prices. Catalytic converters are understandably expensive considering each will have between 3 and 8 grams of platinum group metals, according to Vehicle Freak.

A BeenVerified analysis showed that as of April 2022, thefts in Arizona are only about half of what they were in 2021, catalytic converter thefts are still on the rise nationally this year. Between January and April 2022, there were approximately 26,000 catalytic converter thefts, which accounts for about a 34% increase.

Big haul:Man arrested after police find 1,200 catalytic converters in storage unit

Brandon Cuspard, a service manager with the local Phoenix repair shop Hi-Tech Car Care, said it's fairly common to see customers coming in after thefts, although he said he hasn't seen a case in a few months.

He said another reason catalytic converters are stolen so often is that it's easy to pull off. It is inexpensive to buy the tools required – just a Home Depot trip away – but it's also quick. He said he's seen someone take off a converter as quickly as 45 seconds.

The high resale price combined with how cheap and quick the thefts are make catalytic converters a prime target for thieves.

Mitchell said these crimes are often connected to drug use.

"Most of these times, the thieves are stealing these and then passing them on to buyers or fences to fund a drug addiction," Mitchell said at the Aug. 10 press conference. "Much like the copper theft issue we’ve experienced, this crime can be tied to fentanyl and methamphetamine abuse problems that currently exist in our country and in our county due in significant part to the fact that our border is unsecured."

Cuspard said you will notice your catalytic converter is missing immediately as you start the car. It will be much louder than it normally is.

He said most cars will still function without the part, at least well enough to get the car to a repair shop.

"I wouldn't take it to California, though," Cuspard said.

Given how much they’re going for resale, replacing a catalytic converter is an expensive trip to the mechanic. Cuspard said it depends on the make and model of the car, but replacements (including the labor cost to install it) generally cost between $600 and $2,800.

Like any stolen valuable, one should report a catalytic converter theft to the police, although most stolen converters are not recovered. One should also contact their car insurance company to find out whether the stolen converter is covered under their policy.

"The cost of replacing a stolen catalytic converter is generally covered under the comprehensive coverage portion of a standard auto insurance policy," said Luis Sahagun, director of external communications for Farmers Insurance.

Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill on May 9, 2022, making it illegal for someone to solicit a used catalytic converter, or solicit or purchase the platinum metal parts of a converter, unless it is in direct connection to selling or installing a new catalytic converter.

The bill also requires anyone buying a catalytic converter to send a record of the purchase to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Some local agencies are helping people deter theft of their catalytic converter. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office partnered with the Tempe Police Department and Midas Repair to provide free catalytic converter etching Aug. 14.

Mitchell said the office hopes those efforts will dissuade thieves or at least make cases easier to prosecute.

"The goal is to engrave a unique identification number on people's catalytic converters to deter a criminal from stealing that converter, and if they do steal it, to allow us to match it back to the victim to obtain restitution and also to show knowledge that the converter itself was stolen," Mitchell said. "We are working to hold the people who do these things accountable."

In Phoenix:Theft investigations slowed by police shortages, reassignments

According to a 2022 study by Carfax, these are the 10 cars that are targeted most for these kinds of thefts nationwide:

CARFAX based this list off of service reports for catalytic converter replacements from more than 60,000 service shops across the country, focusing on service records from 2019 through the first three months of 2022.

Hi-Tech Car Care posted a list of methods people can use to lessen their risk of having their catalytic converter stolen.

Beyond getting the converter etched, one can buy a variety of installations that would make the converter much more difficult to steal, such as a shield, a lock (known as a CatStrap) or a siren (known as a CatEye), according to Hi-Tech Car Care's website.

Additionally, Hi-Tech Car Care recommends getting one's car calibrated to set off its alarm system if it detects a vibration while placed in park.

Finally, AAA recommends "storing (the vehicle) in a secure location," like a garage, said AAA external communications lead Aldo Vazquez. Try to park in well-lit areas and near building entrances.

"If someone has access and the right equipment, it only takes a few minutes to remove a catalytic converter," Vazquez said.

Reach breaking news reporter Sam Burdette at [email protected] or on Twitter @SuperSafetySam

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.