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Catalytic converter theft: how to protect your car

By TOYOTA UK

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.

2,452 comments

  1. Dear TGB, Thank you for following-up my case; if these details are useful, would you recommend to apply Nordbak-Loctite (from Henkel) to the entire exhaust pipework? (Nordbak-Loctite 7218 or 7229) … these are the TDS

    http://tds.henkel.com/tds5/Studio/ShowPDF/7218-EN?pid=7218&format=MTR&subformat=REAC&language=EN&plant=WERCS

    http://tds.henkel.com/tds5/Studio/ShowPDF/7229-EN?pid=7229&format=MTR&subformat=REAC&language=EN&plant=WERCS

    http://tds.henkel.com/tds5/Studio/ShowPDF/NORDUHTPW-EN?pid=NORDUHTPW&format=MTR&subformat=REAC&language=EN&plant=WERCS

    Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Hi Manuel,

      Thanks for getting back in touch and for sharing this with us. We can’t officially advise that you use this as a solution. As mentioned, in the case of catalytic converter theft we can only recommend our Catloc range of devices at this time. This is not to say that this may not help, however we can’t recommend or suggest this.

      Thanks.

      Reply

  2. We had 3 quotes to replace the stolen cat all were £1400 – £1600 with a 4-5 month delay time, we have now purchased a new cat system with full fixing kit and oxygen lambda sensor off the internet which advertised it as a replacement for a stolen catalytic converter for a Prius at £129.99 it was delivered in 3 days, a local garage have fitted it for £100, I have now been driving it for 2 weeks and it drives just the same as before the theft, there’s a big difference between £1600 and £230 and fingers crossed no more theft as the new cat has no scrap value!

    Reply

    3. I replaced to the same cheap BM catalysts BM91617H. Only available for gen2 Prius for now. £100 For fitting was bit pricy, it’s 4 screws ,a plug inside and takes 15min. 3 months with it no problem, car was lifted up again but they didn’t take it this time. I’m not planning to cover or catlock it, they seem to know it’s worth nothing. Maybe good idea leaving a sign around behind the side windows that it’s replaced when parked In cities ,can imagine they scratch the car if they go under and see then. If I knew how serious the issue is I would have changed and sell the original cat

      Reply

  3. My sister just had the Cat stolen from her Auris yesterday in broad day light parked on the side street. So far we have had 4 Toyota vehicles and recently purchase the hybrid. She has been quoted £1300 at Toyota and £1500 at her local garage plus additional for the lock.

    I’m surprised!! Toyota hasn’t taken this into consideration when designing this and leaving it so exposed and vulnerable.Toyota should be recalling or offering to reimburse as a good will until a permanent solution has been found.

    Reply

    1. Hi there,

      Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been impacted by this crime. We will email you directly to discuss your case further and to gain additional details in order to open a case with our customer relations team on your behalf.

      Thanks.

      Reply

    2. Mine was also done in broad day light but at my place of work. I’ve been quoted £1400 -for an auris (before garage looked at vehicle). Please respond publicly to explain why this is £450 more than mentioned above?

      I have to park at work – but now know it’s a hot spot for this crime. It sounds like even with cat lock it could easily recur. Do I just keep handing out £1400 each time?

      Reply

      1. Hi there,

        Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been impacted by this crime. We would like to put you in touch with our customer relations team who will be able to help you further with this. We will email you directly to discuss this further and put you in touch with our team.

        Thanks.

  4. Hello,
    About 30 minutes ago my neighbour must knock on my door that they saw two guys cutting something under my car. Going out to check I discovered the Catalytic converter has been stolen. Please, Toyota should come to my aid because the car was parked at its usual place front door of the house.

    Reply

    1. Hi Anthony,

      Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been a victim of this crime. We will email you directly to discuss your case further and to gain additional details in order to put you in touch with our customer relations team.

      Thanks.

      Reply

    2. Dear Cat Converter victims: I join you all to express my huge disappointment with Toyota not warning us Toyota owners of the ongoing thefts of the CC. I bought my Auris two years ago, and wonder why I was not made aware of the problem, and offered to have a Cat Lock fitted? Why was I not alerted by Toyota when the problem increased? I have spent 350 on my excess of the insurance and 250 on the Cat Lock. And what is worse… I fear Toyota is making money out of our misery as my friend had the same, generic Cat Lock fitted by her Local garage for 182 pound. The Cat Lock is not made by Toyota, but my dealer did not know who made the. Secondly I feel we need to address this issue to the Government who are encouraging us to go green… and move away from diesel. My previous Ford Diesel tank (Galaxy) served me well for over 17 years….and it was only on the insistence of the Goverment I decided to do my bit and go green…paying a hefty price for it in the meantime….

      Reply

      1. Hi there,

        Thanks for getting in touch. We are sorry you feel let down in our approach to this situation. We appreciate the severity of this crime and we are doing all we can to help. We will email you directly regarding putting you in touch with our customer relations team if you would like to discuss your case further.

        Thanks.

  5. Wow there are a lot of people here who have had there CC stolen. I had mine stolen last week and its going to cost me north of a thousand to get it fixed. I had only owned it for a week before it was targeted. I think I am going to have to seriously consider selling it straight away I am not sure the catloc will do more than delay the thieves a little.

    Reply

    1. Hi Dan,

      Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry to hear you have been a victim of this crime. In order to help you further, we would like to put you in touch with our customer relations team. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details and open a case on your behalf.

      Thanks.

      Reply

  6. I have Auris and the catalytic was stolen yesterday at Lee valey in scate “security” parking.The reseption checked camera and told they done job within 5 min only..Im still in shock and cannot believe it.Toyota know that,and its not new problem.Then why they still not finding any solution???Is there profit for them???I have read here in many their reply are STANDART REPLIES such as: we are sorry to hear it ,please contact us on http://www..LIE!!!BIG LIE!!!! I have contacted them few times and explained them the cituation,and they just simply told me,call to your local Toyota centre and see what thet can do for you..WHAT?????? aND YOU FOR WHAT SAKE ARE HERE THEN I ASKED….anyway,once i fix this car,im going to sell it …I will annonce it on all social media,to avoid people to be in trouble and in my bad situaton…Not recommend it all!!!!!There no garranty for us and not safe,only high price and extra costs (which is extremely expensive)!!!!!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Niki,

      Thanks for getting in touch. We are extremely sorry to hear you have been a victim of this crime and that you are unhappy with our response. We would like to help you further and we will email you directly to discuss opening a customer relations case on your behalf.

      Thanks.

      Reply

  7. My cat was stolen yesterday at car park of Lee Valy ice scating in day time..I have toyota Auris..shame..toyota company makes profit on it????im going to sell my car immidetely!!!

    Reply

    1. I had my catalytic converters stolen on 2018 Auris hybrid from Ikea car park Greenwich 30/01/2020. Good news was security spotted it and called the police who arrived and arrested them. Bad news, not before they had taken it off. Police took my converter as evidence and left my wife to arrange her way home. I called insurance who took the car for repair.
      Whether we get compensation from the thief is open to question. I will find if they will be fitting a catloc as standard procedure. I’m willing to bet they don’t.

      Reply

      1. Hi Stephen,

        Thanks for getting in touch with us. We are so sorry you have been a victim of this crime. We would like to help you further by putting you in touch with our customer relations team who will be able to support you in any way we can. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details and open a case with them on your behalf.

        Thanks.

    1. Thanks Toyota, I got up this morning to find the catalytic converter gone. Police say it’s so easy for thieves 2/3 minutes tops, great design Toyota. On reading this blog there are nearly 1000 catalytic converters stolen an yet Toyota do nothing to change design or retro fit a solution. As soon as I get my Auris repaired it goes and I will never buy another Toyota.

      Reply

      1. Hi Emmett,

        Thanks for your message. We’re really sorry you have been impacted by this crime and that you are unhappy with our response. We are working to support all our customers who have been impacted by this and we will email you directly in order to gain additional details and to put you in touch with our customer relations team.

        Thanks.

      2. Mine nearly got stolen twice infront of me. The cheek of these thieves.
        I am also never buying a toyota again. Its less then a year old and am discusted by the way toyota think they can just sell catloc and not do anything further to their customers.

      3. A week after your copy & paste reply and information supplied to customer relations not a word!! from Toyota it seems as though we have to take these thefts on the chin and shoulder the costs and loss of no claim discount and premium increases. Best solution is get rid of these vehicles as Toyota could not care less.

      4. Hi Emmett,

        Thanks for getting back in touch, we’re sorry to hear this. We can see our Customer relations team emailed you on 17/1/20, however as you haven’t received this, we will request they recontact you as soon as possible.

        Thanks.

    2. Is it time to start boycotting Toyota on the issue with Catalytic Converters? My Catalytic Converter got stolen yesterday. Although the recommended bundle price for new catalyst and catloc mentioned on this blog £950 for Toyota Auris, Woodford Toyota actually quoted me £1300. Is it fair for Toyota to charge this much where this is someway a fault in there own design. Shouldn’t Catloc be free for the victims and everyone on these faulty models. It only takes few mins for the thieves to remove it! Should we all start thinking of moving away from Toyota then? Perhaps, it will make sure we get a better service in the future!

      Reply

      1. Hi there,

        Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry to hear you have been a victim of this crime. The price quoted by centres may be higher depending on the level of damage to the car.

        We would like to help you further with this and will email you directly in order to gain additional details and put you in touch with our customer relations team.

        Thanks.

    1. Hi Alan,

      Thanks for getting in touch. The Catloc features anti-tamper fixings and a unique marking kit (Catloc ISR Kit) that chemically etches a unique serial number into the Catalysts, which is registered on the International Security Register, Police Approved and Thatcham Accredited.

      Thanks.

      Reply

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