When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. It wont, Drive an old beater you think no one wants? I have a friend in Chicago who has had 2 stolen from the same Toyota Prius. I was holding off on saying anything out in the open about those inexpensive alarms until I got to try them, but one concern is like you mentioned- longevity, both with the battery and having it directly exposed to the elements on the bottom of the vehicle- especially here with New England winters. Sorry to hear it happened to you. You can read my catclamp review here. liability insurance, plus collision and comprehensive policies that repair or replace your own car you're covered, minus your deductible amount. One downside of the CatClamp is that installation can be difficult at home, but totally doable. (The fender liner is the big plastic piece that is inserted in the wheel well). Unfortunately, a camera wont do much for stopping theft, but it may help the police after the fact. You can watch their install video here. Take a picture of the location where the cat was stolen and the spots where it was cut off and/or unfastened. Can I use the Cat clamp on a 2013 Hyundai Elantra? Most catalytic converters are the passenger side, just park your car on the street and let the curb block anyone from accessing your catalytic converter. However, this does not influence our evaluations. You also may want to look into if your Elantra alarm has whats called a tilt sensor and / or additional vibration and shock sensors. For only $300 we will install a catalytic converter shield that prevents theft of this necessary and critical vehicle component. This never influences our opinions or review content, and your support helps keep this site running. Some users complain of rattling after installing heat shields such as this, but that's nothing some heat-resistant sealant such as Permatex can't fix. According to a recent article in Waste Advantage magazine, a typical catalytic converter contains 3to 7grams of platinum, 2to 7grams of palladium, and 1to 2grams of rhodium. Thanks, F-350 diesel dually owner! Some sources recommend using a high-temperature fluorescent orange paint, such as those sprayed on barbecue grills, on your catalytic converter and then inscribing your vehicle identification number in the painted surface. Heres a MillerCAT Cat Shield on a Prius V. Notice the louvers to promote airflow to reduce heat buildup. How to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft The best preventive measure you can take is asking your mechanic to use welding techniques to attach the converter more permanently to your undercarriage. If youre parking on the street, try to pick a well-lit one with plenty of traffic. To be honest, not so sure about their strategy. 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. 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. AFFILIATE DISCLOSUREGearist may receive payments through various affiliate programs like Amazon which means that if you click and buy we earn with with no extra cost to you. Consider replacing it with a theft-resistant catalytic converter. Here are some tips to help protect your vehicle from catalytic converter theft: 1. If your car is parked in a crowded place, most thieves wont run the risk of spending the extra time to defeat one of these devices and move on to an easier target. Now, you can take this documentation and use it to file a police report. Thieves can steal this antipollution device in minutes, sell it to scrap metal dealers and receive hundreds of dollars for the precious metals it contains. Making it easier to track stolen catalytic converters. Think about when you have your hand covering your mobile phone speaker. Is that true? 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. This leaves your car in a location where many people can see it. Some statesincluding the Carolinas, Indiana, and Texashave passed laws requiring scrap metal dealers to ask for vehicle titles or other documentation before theyll buy used catalytic converters. Just answer a few questions to get personalized results from our lending partners. Contact your insurance company and take pictures of the damaged exhaust pipe where the catalytic converter used to be. I laughed so hard. Julies writing has been published by USA Today, Business Insider and Wired Insights, among others. Ill try all 3. Many people have fit aftermarket on after originals were stolen only to become a victim again. A federal bill called the Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act, or PART Act, was introduced in early 2022 and is still making its way through Congress. 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. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. At the very least youll have a video to show your friends or put on YouTube to show that this is a real concern. Is this an easy install for auto mechanics? Required fields are marked *. My reporting has taken me everywhere from Baghdad, Iraq, to the Detroit auto show, along the U.S.-Mexico border and everywhere in between. I have not had anymore problems since they tried to steal one catalytic converter from my business yard. 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. In addition to alarms, get motion-sensitive lights and parking in your driveway or a closed garage whenever possible. 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. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Install a catalytic converter protection device. I think the MillerCat discount code is case-sensitive. These may be the cheapest catalytic converter alarm on Amazon! Miller Cat Shield wouldnt take the discount code Gearist! Anti-theft devices: Catalytic converter anti-theft devices are available from various manufacturers and range from steel plates protecting the underside of the vehicle to cages made from steel cables that are meant to discourage thieves from stealing a converter by making removal more time-consuming, which in turn increases the thiefs exposure to getting caught. WebStatewide: Catalytic Converter Protection Theft of catalytic converters is on the rise in Colorado due to a lucrative black market. If not, drive only to the repair shop. Good Luck. Looking at replacement costs for a 2002 VW Jetta catalytic converter was a real eye openerespecially in the CARB states like California! 4. More modern vehicles however, with better technology, their cars are mainly filled with Titanium and metals that are essentially worthless on small quantities. When I'm not reporting, I can usually be found at home with my family, at the beach surfing, or in my driveway, wrenching on my hot rod '74 Olds sedan. Community members can receive one or more heat and destruction-proof theft prevention do-it-yourself kits that engrave a serial number into the catalytic converter, according to a Windsor Police Department news release. 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. (This happened to me.). Some people complain of rattling after installation, but thats usually due to an install issue along the way. I drive a Ford E350 bus. 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. 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. They were available on Amazon, but it seems that theyre not available there anymore. SWIM, BIKE, RUN Focused on you, the athlete we bring you informative articles and gear reviews about cycling, running, trail running, triathlons and other endurance sports. In October, California and New York were two states to pass such laws that tend to fall into three categories. Im assuming your e350 bus is on a van cutaway chassis? Web1. Buy a catalytic converter clamp. stainless zip ties. Im sure youll get a couple of Huh?s before you find one, but Im sure somebody local can help you out. The internet is filled with such devices to protect the catalytic converter, which is part of the exhaust system that runs along the bottom of your car. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. The Toyota Priusa popular gasoline-electric hybrid with two convertersis a favorite target, according to the NICB. Unfortunately, this is one of those things that we dont think about until it happens to us. About the author: Shannon Bradley covers auto loans for NerdWallet. What Should You Do If Your Catalytic Converter Is Stolen? Mechanics and law enforcement agencies offer these tips to avoid a wrenching experience and costly repair. Trucks, which are higher off the ground, are at greater risk, simply because the converters are easier for thieves to access. The downside it doesnt look like a substantial physical deterrent like the other options. 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. Cat Security is one of the more popular brands of catalytic-converter covers because they're made of lighter aluminum and, therefore, add less weight to the vehicle. Detecting Tampering. Theres also a the thought that cars parked this way will obscure the thief from the street, letting him steal your cat converter out of sight of traffic. This device is a little different than the others. 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. It seems that there are some resourceful people out there coming up with their own DIY solutions. WebPrevent Catalytic Converter Theft Starting At $159.99 Specific Solutions for: Gas and Hybrid Vehicles, RVs - Class A & C, and Heavy Diesel Trucks TM PHYSICAL LOCK - CATSTRAP : Extremely Difficult to Cut: Turns a Normal 60sec Theft into a Struggle that Overwhelms Thieves and Prevents You from Being an Easy Target Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you. She spent more than 30 years in banking as a writer of financial education content. Catalytic converters are generally easy to access; it takes an average of three minutes for a thief to slide under a car or (especially) a truck and simply cut it out with a hacksaw or Sawzall. How do thieves know which converters have the rare metals and which ones dont? I would definitely make some calls in your area to see about getting some physical protection on your vehicle like the CatClamp. the reviewers mentioned a few concerns and I have a few too. The cars that are most commonly targeted for their catalytic converters are the Toyota Prius, Honda Element, What Bike Tools Should I Carry On A Ride? If not same low life scums, then some others will try. Buy a catalytic converter clamp. Its a little like a skid plate youd find on an off-road truck. Otherwise, as Ive said to Kathryn and Paige in the comments: Make a few phone calls to some independent garages and muffler shops and see if they heard of the CatClamp. Okay, if this device works it might just be groundbreaking because it's compatible with most small gas and diesel engines of any brand. A member of the NYPD's Auto Crimes Unit applies a unique serial number to a vehicle's catalytic converter during a catalytic converter theft prevention event in Ocean Breeze on Friday, April 14, 2023. Hello. Here are some tips and tricks on catalytic converter theft prevention: 1. Our opinions are our own. If you have a vehicle at high risk for a catalytic converter theft, you might consider lowering your deductible amount. The catalytic converter is an exhaust system part thats necessary for your car to pass safety and emissions inspections in many states. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Statistics can help legislators pass laws that make it tougher for thieves to sell stolen parts. . This new trend has made it important to protect not just whats inside your car, but whats underneath your car. Acat shield is a plate of metal that attaches to the bottom of your car and guards your catalytic converter. Thank you so much!! MillerCat has been listening and expanding their line up to include Toyota Tacomas, Toyota Tundras and Sequoias, but nothing for the Honda CRV- yet. What would be the best shield/strap/or clamp for this large vehicle that is high off the ground? Well have to look into that link, but try CatClamp.com if you cant find it on Amazon. According to Advanced Auto Parts, replacement catalytic converters can cost thousands depending on the quality of the converter and your vehicle type. 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. Also made of durable and corrosion-resistant aluminum, this shield is ideal for older Priuses with the 1.5L engine. Talk with a trusted mechanic to see what they recommend for your vehicle. Hopefully, once you have ANY device installed, Catalytic Converter theft on your CRV is something you can cross off your worry list! A professional will know what to look for, the casual thief thinking he can make a few extra bucks wont know until its already stolen from your vehicle. WebCatalytic converters are expensive to replace. Anti-theft solutions can be pricey, but they often cost less than a new catalytic converter. I know trucks are higher, but at least cars are protected. 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). 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gearist specializes in real use, unbiased product and gear reviews for endurance sports and outdoor adventures. Which would be most effective to deter successful vicious thieves, the Cat Strap or the Cat Clamp? I just purchased a new 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue and was wondering if you might can direct me on which way to go. According to Kitco, a website that tracks precious metals trends, the current price for an ounce of platinum is $1,000, while palladium costs more than $2,300, and rhodiumwhich is extremely rarecosts more than $20,000. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. After I called CatClamp and got a it should fit on my Honda, i was a little sceptical. It may help in a very minor way to inconvenience a thief if you park just right with the curb blocking any space to get a jack underneath. Youll also have to pay for installation, unless you plan on tackling the complicated process yourself. The Catlock is another clamp and cable device catalytic converter lock, although not as substantial as the CatClamp. The heavy-duty wire acts like a cage around your converter, effectively tying it to your frame. Always follow safety procedures or contact a professional. The idea of driving an old beater is false. Thanks for your comment. Know if you're a target for catalytic converter theft. Here are some tips and tricks on catalytic converter theft prevention: 1. The final price tag for a catalytic converter replacement depends on the vehicle make and model, as well as the area of the country. The only off the shelf option that stands out is the CatClamp Maxx. What to do if your Mazda CX-5s catalytic converter is stolen. Yep. The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us. 1 guy had his stolen 4 times 1 month apart each time he fixed it. The Cat Clamp is a unique device that uses a combination of clamps and cables to create a type of catalytic converter cage. A steel shield that fits over the catalytic converter, requiring time and extra tools to remove. Park in a well-lit area. As with any type of theft, its easier to get away with under the cover of night. Even cheaper is the CatStrap with an easier installation process. Theres a recent trend of Prius cat thefts happening where the thief pries/ unbolts the passenger side fender liner. However, with the e350 you have the advantage of having an actual frame instead of unibody construction like most passenger cars and SUVs. Thanks. And theres a new rattle when the engine starts under hard acceleration. Her personal finance insight has been featured on Forbes, The Boston Globe and CNBC throughout the years. WebConsider these tips to help protect your car from catalytic converter theft: Know if your car is a likely target: hybrids, SUVs and trucks have valuable or easily removable catalytic converters. Can you imagine crawling under the car to replace those 3x AAA batteries every 6 months or so? Just set the motion-based alarm with a fob whenever the vehicle is parked, and it shrieks if it gets jostled or moved. Check out the selection of cat shields and covers below, as well as a couple of other suggestions: a device designed to "lock" your catalytic converter in place and a motion-sensitive alarm to sense when the cat itself it being messed with. Making yours harder than the next one dramatically reduces your chances of being a victim. Short answer: It depends. I was lucky, so to speak, in getting an immediate replacement of the converter and had to wait for the oxygen thing. these inexpensive, self-contained motorcycle / bike alarms. That may block some areas that would be ideal to wrap the cable around. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. And if they can do it for this truck, more models should be on the horizon. Catalytic converters on the underside of vehicles help reduce emissions. Influence-free. Thanks for chiming in about the alarms. The average cost for a catalytic converter is $2,000 to $3,000, experts say, but it takes only seconds to remove the part. Called local Honda dealer and they were no help. Theres a company which I wont even mention that is taking what looks like the same alarm, throwing in a couple 2-cent metal zip ties and a small piece of heat tape then charging twice as much as youd pay for these alarms on Amazon. Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Automotive Tools & Supplies. I really like the thought of this and you can purchase this separately from the CatStrap. Ask your mechanic if driving your car without the catalytic converter will further damage it. California is considered a hot spot for catalytic converter thefts, and Sandmans shop replaces 15 to 20 stolen catalytic converters each day. However, if youre doing multiple vehicles, just buy the metal ties and heat tape. Youd be looking to protect the secondary one. He adds that its a crime of opportunity, and car owners can take steps to encourage thieves to move on to easier prey. They now include the following vehicles: I like the Miller Shield a little better because of the fastening system AND they make a Stainless Steel version. Good luck, the Catstrap is working for me since June 2021. Alarm 2-Pack Park in well-lit areas. As mentioned in the article, theres all levels of thief. This is a good idea in general. Prices for the three metals have spiked over the past few years. Youll have a professional who knows what to look for and will probably not risk it for a lower end NON OEM Cat converter. 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. Definitely take a look at the CatClamp to see if itll work. The thieves dont care. Thanks! Check your passenger side fender liner and see if its loose and/or missing bolts. Comprehensive insurance covers events like theft and weather damage, but many people who have older, less valuable cars dont carry it because the premium isnt worth the potential payout if something goes awry. Hello, Will your product work on a 2009 Kia Sportage? MillerCat has expanded their line up to include Toyota Tacomas, Tundras and Sequioas. Thieves usually have their eyes on the cars hidden from the general publics view. Also at risk are street-parked vehicles and trucks parked overnight in unattended lots. Can you tell us what year Prius you have? Park in well-lit areas: Parking in a well-lit area can deter potential thieves and make it easier for you or passersby to spot any suspicious activity. Should I get the catshield? If not in a garage, park in a well-lit area. Here are the best ways to prevent catalytic converter theft: If you have a garage, always park your car there rather than leaving it in the driveway. 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