Beware the new cat burglars . . . they’re after metal worth more than gold in your car’s catalytic converter
THE loosening of lockdown is leading to a resurgence in ‘cat crime’ – not of the feline variety, but thieves stealing catalytic converters from cars. I know first hand – as earlier this month, just before dawn one Friday, a crook brazenly cut mine out of my Toyota Prius in a matter of moments.
I was blissfully unaware – it was 4.35 in the morning – though several neighbours later said they heard power tools being used in the street. But by the time they had twitched their curtains, the thieves, in face coverings, were leaping into their getaway car and speeding off with my ‘cat’ in their boot.
These vital car parts are sought after because of the high price of the metals they contain – palladium, rhodium and platinum. These act as catalysts in a reaction to convert polluting exhaust gases into water and carbon dioxide.
Prices of palladium have doubled over two years, while rhodium is four times higher – and both are currently more valuable than gold.
For example, a Troy ounce (1.1 ounce) of gold is worth $ 1,731 (£1,392) while palladium sells for $1,914 (£1,539). Rhodium is sold in normal ounces – and currently is priced at $8,300 (£6,675) an ounce.
Of course, criminals always follow the money. And with the metals trawled from a single catalytic converter weighing as much as seven grams, they are worth several hundred pounds.
Toyota UK says that in 2018 it provided just 60 replacement catalytic converters, but last year that number shot up to 3,000.
All petrol and diesel cars have catalytic converters, but thieves target older model hybrids, for example my 2012 Prius and others such as the Honda Jazz, because they are easier to access and contain larger amounts of the metals.
Hybrids emit less exhaust gases because they are powered partially by electricity, so the metals also remain in better condition for longer.
Newer models ( for the Prius, that’s 2018 onwards) have their catalytic converters better protected with anti-tampering devices as standard – and they are also stamped with serial numbers.
Modern catalytic converters also contain less of the precious metals.
Last year, AA received 400 insurance claims for such thefts – and more than 200 in the first three months of this year. But it says that once lockdown hit in late March, thefts plummeted as people’s movements were restricted. But now that lockdown is easing, police are worried that more thefts could be on the way.
When I reported the theft to police, they suggested that with mask-wearing now commonplace, culprits can easily hide in plain sight.
Social networking websites such as Nextdoor are crammed with posts about stolen catalytic converters – often filched in broad daylight from vehicles parked in busy streets or in supermarket, or even hospital, car parks. Luckily, I was warned by a neighbour that the part had been taken.
But if you turn the ignition, you know instantly by the deafening deep throat throttle that you have been a victim of this crime. Driving your vehicle in this condition will damage the engine.
Owners can install a so- called ‘catlock’ to deter thieves. This costs several hundred pounds on top of perhaps £800 or more for a replacement catalytic converter.
To add insult to injury, when your motor insurance is up for renewal, the premium is also likely to rise.
Toyota says its dealers alert carowners to the risk of theft of catalytic converters when they bring a vehicle for service.
But I don’t recall such a warning when my Prius was serviced last summer – when the crime-wave was already raging. Toyota says it will now install a new converter plus a catlock for about £1,000 all in, if bought direct.
The British Metals Recycling Association says the crime is being made easier by the lack of enforcement of rules under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, which requires that merchants should check the provenance and ownership of scrapped catalytic converters they receive.
Genuine dealers check the source of the scrap, but the association says local authorities rarely clamp down on rogue players.
Insurers, car-makers and motoring bodies have been lobbying the Government on catalytic converter theft. Toyota says: ‘ We’ve had a number of meetings and continue to do so with Home Office officials, Ministers, MPs, the police and wider automotive industry bodies.’
‘They are even filched in hospital car parks’