Catalytic converter theft from cars isn’t a new crime, but it has increased significantly in recent times.
Police forces around the UK are advising owners of any car fitted with a catalytic converter to take precautions. In Toyota’s case it is second and third-generation Prius models (2004-2009 and 2009-2016 respectively) and second-generation Auris Hybrids (2012-2018) which have been particular targets for thieves.
Below we’ve gathered the best advice for Toyota owners who may be concerned.
What is a catalytic converter?
The catalytic converter is part of the car’s emissions control system. It cleans up the exhaust gases before they are expelled from the car through the exhaust pipe. Its internal elements react with the gases, breaking them down into less harmful substances and water vapour. All new cars sold in Europe since 1993 have had to be fitted with a catalytic converter by law.
Why are they a target for thieves?
Clearly the police are best placed to offer advice on the motives behind this crime. But we understand that the value of the catalytic converter for recycling is the main attraction to thieves, because it contains precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium.
What can owners do to stop their cars being targeted?
Some owners have chosen to tag their catalytic converters with an invisible yet traceable forensic marking solution, such as that provided by SmartWater. This means that a stolen catalytic converter can be traced to a specific crime, helping police in their attempts to fight the organised gangs responsible. It also raises the risk to all those handling the devices along the criminal chain, from theft to eventual disposal and recycling. Mechanical theft prevention products such as Catloc devices can also deter thieves.
However, it must be noted that catalytic converter theft is a criminal operation and the scope of owners is therefore limited. Police forces are taking action, so it is important for anyone who is a victim of this crime to report it as quickly as possible.
In the main, older cars are more likely to be targeted. This is because advances in efficiency and technology mean the latest generations of catalytic converters contain vastly lower amounts of precious metals, while still doing their job just as well or even better. This means their value for recycling is very low and they are not attractive to thieves.
Does a mechanical lock give my car 100% protection from thieves?
Sadly not. It can make theft more difficult but thieves are using high-powered cutting tools to remove catalytic converters and because of this it is not possible to make them ‘unstealable’. A mechanical locking device makes it harder to steal a catalytic converter because it slows down thieves and therefore acts as a deterrent.
If I’m worried about my Toyota model, what should I do?
If you are worried about potential catalytic converter theft from your Toyota, we recommend you use our locator tool to find your nearest Toyota centre and contact them to discuss the best way to protect your car.
This article was last updated on 2 November 2024, so some of the responses to reader comments below have been superseded by more recent information.
Well, we became another statistic, our 07 Prius CAT removed from Costco Watford car park today around midday. Didn’t realise till we drove out of Costco when the petrol engine kicked in. Was a big shocker to happen on a main road for sure. A member of the public apparently witnessed and took some photos and contacted police. We’ve also reported the same to the police. Costco knew straightaway when I told them I had a prius, will check CCTV but they are not doing anything more proactive such as hiring more security for their car park. Waiting to see what will happen.
Thieves on the street are most likely sponsored by a highly organised syndicate and they are technically savvy, they have focused on Toyota hybrids for a reason, not only because there are more Toyota hybrids on the road. Thieves obviously start with the easiest target. Surely Toyota is not the only manufacturer to use precious metals in their CAT. I’m a firm believer that Toyota had just not put much consideration around protecting critical components of the car. The only good thing going for the Prius is the hybrid technology. I never even knew that tilting the car doesn’t trigger the alarm (sure my bad for not doing my homework), I had this feature on my other cars from 02 onwards. As much we love the Toyota hybrid technology, what’s the use of owning a car when you are now constantly anxious about parking anywhere publicly accessible? Even after these CAT thefts eventually dissipate probably because there are no more OEM ones to steal, what’s next? So, instead of planning to drive our Prius till Toyota stop making parts for them, we are seriously considering to sell our Prius ASAP.
Come on, we need a more permanent fix from Toyota to reassure us to keep your cars. At least own up to your design problems and provide more subsidies to victims in the meantime.
Hi fellow victims,
My gen2 prius is back on the road with an aftermarket type approved BM catalysts brand system BM91617H ,all perfect fits ok and made of stainless steel ,30min to replace cost £200 on ebay including the sensor ,gasket and screws. whole catalytic converter system 2 cats ,2 meter long and 10kg weight cost less than catstrap.
Mechanics can’t charge more than 1 hour for changing if you go with the part ,4 screws that’s it.
Printed out signs and everywhere I park to display that car has aftermarket cat ,hope works.
others sell Klarius and Bosal systems ,Bosal maybe last longer.
Advice to Toyota: sell aftermarket converters to customers ,like you do with blueprint brake discs etc. eg. Bosal comes with 3 year warranty ,BM with 2 and made in UK. Give customers option or don’t install Futaba OEM converters if the car parked outside in large cities ,those are so valuable eventually WILL BE STOLEN AGAIN! talking from experience.
catlock ,steel rope ,wire mesh ,nothing stops them. We are not in California ,aftermarket cats are approved and good enough ,some Euro 5 so filters even better than the original.
Would you know whether BM Catalysts make the same for the Prius Plus (2013) model? I am struggling to see whether the after markets will fit. Many thanks! I’m having to pay £250 for insurance excess alone! 🙁
Hi Yidan,
just did a bit of search on ebay ,Prius Plus only from US. there are brands like Walker ,AP Catalyst ,Magnaflow. for Prius plus brand “eastern manufacturing”. price is aroun $450 and shippin $40. Might be Bosal available ,def. no BM or Klarius, yet…
Hi,
My catalytic converter has just been stolen from my Toyota Auris I purchased only two weeks ago from Toyota dealership. The comments I received from the police, my insurer and the local garages I have contacted since were not very encouraging. The realty is (according to all of the above mentioned) that there is not much I can do to protect my car and myself. Thieves go unpunished as according to the police ‘they need less than 5 minutes to do the job’ and is really hard to attend the crime scenes that quick. Apparently the gangs are so aggressive that if you thinking of challenging them there is one of the gang armed with a metal pipe ready to attack. There are stories about people with broken arms while trying to protect their vehicles. Evidently the police cannot be everywhere to protect all potential victims with hybrid Toyotas so who is to blame? Toyota recommendations are to fit a CatLock but some car mechanics believe that this only adds ‘one or two more minutes to the job of the thief’. So what is the solution then? Toyota produces and sell catalytic converters to replace the stolen ones, the insurance company pays but that affects our hard earned no claims bonuses (premium prices go significantly up for the next year – guaranteed) so you as a victim pay directly for everything. The end user is the only loser! The bigger problem is that there are no guarantees at all that once replaced the catalytic converter is not going the be stolen again…..maybe the next day!? Can we as owners pay the excess of the insurance policy every time this happens? Do we want to? Can we live/work without our cars?
Yes, my comments are angry, but instead of being a proud owner of a new vehicle I am unwillingly an unexpectedly a victim of a poor engineering solution from the manufacturer. Would I recommend Toyota to friends and family?!
Hi Vince,
Thanks for your comment. We are so sorry you have been targeted by criminals. We will email you directly to gain further information in order to open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
I feel for you, the Same happened to me, only after 2 weeks I bought the car , lexus rx400h and the catalyst converter was stolen and I have to foot the bill and my insurance is going to be affected .
The Toyota should make this issue easy for the people affected by this crime .
Hi Mercy,
On behalf of Lexus UK, we’re very sorry that your Lexus has been targeted by criminals. If you’d like us to put you in touch with the Lexus customer relations team, do please let us know.
Thanks
I have had my Catalytic Converter on Lexus RX 400H stolen outside my house 2 days ago. I rang Lexus Sidcup and cost quoted is 2.5K. Totally pathetic. No wonder the thieves are stealing them at that cost. Only the owners of the cars are losers. The thieves/Toyota are raking in the monies.
I have just had the catalytic converter stolen from my Lexus RX400h. I was unaware that this was happening until now.
The issue I have now, is I have just ordered a new Lexus RX450h. Will the catalytic converter be in the same place? I am now considering cancelling the order as I don’t want to be worrying about my car every time I park it.
Wendy
Hi Wendy, I just read your note as we are in the same boat victims of crime.. My lexus 400h catalytic converter has been stolen when parked in a side road 300 yards away where I live.. When I drove it I have heard a very loud noise unaware of the problem realised the catalytic converter was stolen until I called the RAC Engineer and found out that the converter has been removed/stolen. I believe all the victims of this crime can get together and share with our experiences and more aware with this terrible crime in our surroundings. This crime has been reported to my local Police Authority for crime awareness for catalytic converter target for thieves. Thanks Wendy for sharing this to everyone.
I am so sorry for everyone who has been a victim of this crime. Toyota, can you tell me if the Yaris is also being targeted? And is there anything I can do to make it more difficult for thieves, such as reversing close up to a wall in my driveway overnight?
Hi Janet,
Thanks for getting in touch. Any car with a catalytic converter is at risk from being targeted by these thieves. You can find more safety tips via this link https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/advice/vehicle-crime/vehicle-crime/catalytic-converter-theft-prevention-advice
Thanks.
Hi Toyots… just had my Catalytic Conveter stolen from a sbudy supermarket in broad daylight, no happy as I have only found how easy these are yo steal. (Auris hybrid – 2014). Not that you”ll do anything, (seems like you’ll open a case) so add to the list of an unhappy customer and victim of a ‘Toyota crime’. Now all
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been targeted in this crime wave. If you would like to speak to our customer relations team, please let us know.
Thanks.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been impacted by this crime. As the part supply situation is constantly developing, we have re-opened and escalated your case with our customer relations team.
Thanks.
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. We regret that your vehicle has been targeted by criminals. To help you further we will email you directly to gain additional details to open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
Hi Linda,
We will email you directly regarding your open customer relations case.
Thanks.