Thieves are committing “opportunistic crimes,” says Sgt. Matt Casavant with the Maine State Police. “Parking lots – even ones that were well lit – were getting hit. Car dealerships are getting hit on a regular basis, too. The thieves were so brazen that it didn’t matter,” he said. “My kid drives a Subaru and I won’t let her leave her car overnight at the school or other places because it’s a high-value target.”
Criminals steal catalytic converters because of the precious metals – platinum, palladium, and rhodium – contained inside each device. Thieves can cut them from beneath vehicles in a matter of seconds, leading to a rude awakening for vehicle owners. Once the converter is removed, not only will the car make a loud noise when started, but it can cost owners thousands of dollars to replace that missing catalytic converter – especially if consumers don’t have the right type of car insurance.
To help consumers, CARFAX has compiled a nationwide list of the top 2022 targets for these precious-metal thieves:
- Ford F-Series pickup trucks
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Prius
- Honda CR-V
- Ford Explorer
- Ford Econoline vans
- Chevrolet Equinox
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Toyota Tacoma
- Chevrolet Cruze
Depending on where you’re located in the country, certain vehicles are targeted more heavily. We have a breakdown by region here.
Car owners looking to prevent catalytic converter theft should:
- Park in a well-lit area.
- Park in your garage if possible, instead of in the driveway or on the street.
- If you must park in a driveway, consider installing motion sensor security lights.
- Install a catalytic converter anti-theft device.
- Have a muffler shop etch your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the converter and spray it with a highly visible, high-heat paint. Doing so enables law enforcement to track converters, which in turn could lead police to the thieves.