Catalytic converter theft from cars isn’t a new crime, but it has increased significantly in recent times.
Police forces around the UK, including those in West Yorkshire, London and Suffolk, are advising owners of any car fitted with a catalytic converter to take precautions.
Any car fitted with a catalytic converter could be at risk. 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 cars sold in Europe since 1993 have had to be fitted with 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 in the main, the value of the catalytic converter for recycling is the main attraction to thieves, because they contain precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium.
What is Toyota doing to stop its cars being targeted?
In May 2021, Toyota (GB) announced that it would be covertly marking more than 100,000 catalytic converters in order to combat theft. By working with police and Smartwater, catalytic converters can be tagged with an invisible yet traceable marking, meaning 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.
It is free to get the catalytic converter marked, all customers need to do is call their local Toyota or Lexus retailer to arrange a visit.
In addition to this, Toyota has issued 20,000 Smartwater kits to police to support their local anti-catalyst theft initiatives. The company is also working with the AA, Toyota’s roadside partner, so its patrols can point customers to where they can get a free kit.
We have also developed and reduced the price of a ‘Catloc’ device which can deter theft and make it more difficult. Toyota teams in the UK and other countries are urgently exploring new technical possibilities to deter criminals as well.
We are working with the police, as well as talking to government about changes in the law around scrap metal sales that would make it harder for criminals to sell stolen catalysts for cash.
However, these are criminal operations and our scope is therefore limited. A number of police forces are taking action and some forces, such as Nottinghamshire, are also starting awareness campaigns. It is vitally important for anyone who is a victim of this crime to report it to their local police force as quickly as possible.
In the main, it remains older cars that are targeted because advances in efficiency and technology mean the latest generations of Toyota catalytic converters contain vastly lower amounts of precious metals, whilst 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 Catloc 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 catalytic converters ‘unstealable’. A Catloc makes it harder to steal a catalytic converter, slowing thieves down and acting as a deterrent. As mentioned above, we’re doing all we can to seek further technical options for customers.
Is Catloc available for my Toyota?
Catloc devices are available for a growing proportion of our range, but not all. We recommend speaking to your local Toyota centre.
How much does it cost to replace a catalytic converter?
Toyota’s first priority is to do all we can to support our customers who have been victims of crime.
We have moved to reduce the prices of replacement catalytic converters and Catlocs to a level where Toyota GB does not make any profit from supplying them to customers.
Your nearest Toyota centre can advise on exact costs after inspecting your vehicle.
Is it true that there is a long wait for replacement catalytic converter parts for Toyota cars?
The rapid rise in this crime in 2019 is one we could not have envisaged, set against many years of low incidence of catalytic converter theft. This initially impacted our ability to source enough of the parts we needed in some cases, for which we sincerely apologise.
Toyota has restarted production lines in Japan and France that made catalysts for many of the older models targeted in order to supply affected owners, developed a Catloc security device which helps deter theft (and has been granted a “Sold Secure with Gold Status” security ranking) and ensured it makes no profit at all from the sale of replacement catalysts or from Catlocs, providing them at cost.
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 13 May 2021, so some of the responses to reader comments below have been superseded by more recent information.
Another one! This from my Auris in a public car park in broad daylight!
I’m on my third Toyota but repeating the same platitude is no solution and will drive loyal customers elsewhere.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We understand the distress that must have been caused by this theft, and we are truly sorry.
If there are elements of your situation that you wish to raise further, we would recommend contacting our customer relations team.
They will be able to offer you any necessary support, and they can be contacted, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
We are very sorry to hear that you have been affected by this crime.
Thanks.
Hi,
on 13 October 2020, regular playing badminton at private club, I was going to go home as usual. My car,
Toyota Prius 2012, parked in the private car park, started with very loud noise from exhaust.
I was shocked but knew straight away, someone has stolen its catalytic convertor.🥵🤬, reading this happening almost everyday now.
This happened in a broad day light between 11:30 am and 3pm, frequently people coming ang leaving and car park was full during that time,
On checking club’s CCTV and it has some evidence recorded, informed police.
Just to tell everyone to lookout.🙄🙄, as it happened within club’s private car park.
I hope Toyota can do something about it as BBC reported that it is not mandatory for scrap dealer to take sellers information.
So when there is demand(Scrap dealer), then there will be NO shortage of supplier(thieves).
Everyone is winner, catalytic convertor manufacturer, garages who are reinstalling it, thieves and a dodgy scrap dealers.
ONLY looser are loyal customer like me, (now trusting less) using Toyota cars(currently 8th) for last 30 years.
Nalin
Hi Nalin,
Thanks for getting in touch. We’re really sorry to hear that you’ve been affected by this crime.
We have taken steps to engage with the Home Office as well as Local MPs, the Met Police and the National Lead for Vehicle Crime, which will raise the profile of this crime and identify issues with current legislation.
If there are elements of your situation that you would like to raise further, we would recommend contacting our Customer Relations team, who are best placed to offer any further support.
You can contact them, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we’re truly sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
Thanks.
Hi Toyota, We had a CAT converter stolen in broad day light in IKEA in Croydon. Everyone is aware that the theft is happening as 5 other cars had their CAT stolen on Monday 12th October 20. We let customer services in IKEA know but it was strange that they were not aware that that car park was a den for CAT theives. We had out car recalled for a Toyota fault a couple of weeks ago but no mention or warnings are put in the show room about CAT being stolen nor was it suggested that it was something we cold get done when we brought the car in. Toyota tried to sell other things on the menu like getting the car washed. Toyota are not helping the customers at all and the value of the cars have now sunk so they cannot also been sold. To state that 250 is a not for profit fee is a joke. we spent over 25K for our Auris and have been let down badly by Toyota and their design. If they have sold over 130,000 cars in the UK with this problem then they are making a lot of money from the replacements of the CAT locks and alarms. The police are not interested in stopping this crime as they have better things to do. We have now got to pay 350 to the insurance company and an additional the cost of the Cat lock. The worst thing is that even when we do this there we are still scared to take the car out. Our insurance premium will go up because we bought an Auris that had it CAT stolen. I will never buy another Toyota again and also tell all my friends about how useless Toyota are when it comes to supporting its customers. I am absolutely sick and disgusted with the way Toyota has chosen to treat their customer. It looks like we don’t matter anymore.
Hi Trevor,
Thanks for your comment.
We’re really sorry to hear you’ve been affected by this crime.
Our customer relations team are best placed to discuss your situation further with you and offer any necessary support, and you can contact them, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Again, we are truly sorry for the distress that has been caused by this theft.
Thanks.
We had our cat stolen last week the pick up guy said he had picked up 4 cars same problem the day before and 1 had it done 4 times! Reading the reply from Toyota to each of these reports they are not in the least bit interested we too are looking at changing our Toyota for a different make, when we get it back from the repairers
Hi Carole,
Thanks for getting in touch, and we’re really sorry to hear that you’ve been affected by this crime.
Our customer relations team are best placed to assist you should you wish to discuss your situation further, and they can be contacted here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we are truly sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
Thanks.
22 October
I’ve had my catalytic converter stolen from ikea croydon as well
Spoke to Toyota croydon useless told me there weren’t any available and they had not eta on them either wdnt through to there customer relation dept toyota uk and they told me the same could be days weeks months they have no indication of time this should be made illegal as if i fit a cat from kwick fit or halfords will it make my warrenty invalid !! Last time never by a toyota treated with utter contempt discracefull
Hi Marco,
Thank you for getting in touch with us. We’re sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
We also apologise for the parts delay. We are working as hard as we can to secure additional stock.
We would recommend contacting our customer relations team should you wish to discuss your situation further, and they can be contacted here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Again, we are truly sorry that you have been affected by this crime.
Thanks.
Another one here – my Auris had its CAT stolen in broad daylight in the busy gym car park. To read all of these comments makes my heart sink. I can’t believe Toyota are doing nothing about it 🤬
First theft of the cc from our Prius in Sept 2019 was in a floodlit hotel car park in the Midlands below a CCTV camera. Police did not have the manpower to go through the CCTV footage. So an Insurance claim & we paid £200 for a CATLOC as a deterrent.
Second theft of the cc from the same Prius was a year later in Berkshire in Oct 2020. Thieves cut through the CATLOC so no deterrent!! Police notified, insurance claim. Advised by garage that to renew the CATLOC was a waste of money.
Thankfully NFU insurance consider this as vandalism with a £100 deductible not £250.
PLEASE provide us loyal TOYOTA owners with solutions that work. Our cars are a liability & resale value will be affected.
We are about to buy a new car & because of these issues Prius is bottom of the list. Sad because we bought it for its low pollution & it has been a superb car for the last ten years!
SOLUTIONS ?
Weld a metal plate over the cc?
Fit a Tilt meter?
Thanks
Gang of 5 turned up and stole the cat convertor while on drive at 10 pm drive had floodlights and cctv .
took them 90 secs and one of the men stood outside front door with baseball bat incase we went out
Garage doing repair says catlock delays them slightly but does not stop them as so many have said if we had known owning a hybrid could put you in danger and like others we will get rid of it
Hi Shirley,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We appreciate the upset this must have caused and are truly sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
As with all criminal activity, and especially in this case, we would recommend reporting this to the police.
We have reduced the precious metal content of our catalytic converters by up to 84% for our newer hybrids to make them less attractive to criminals.
To discuss your specific case in more detail, we would recommend contacting our customer relations team.
They are best placed to assist you further and provide any necessary support, and they can be contacted, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we are really sorry that you have been affected by this crime and apologise for the distress caused.
Thanks.
When will cats be available to fit from Toyota ? They are on back order. We need our car! This is a nightmare.
I will never buy a Toyota again
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We’re sorry to hear this.
Your Toyota centre is best placed to advise on delivery times for parts they have on order.
Thanks.
Hi Kay,
Thanks for getting in touch. We’re really sorry to hear this and appreciate the distress this must have caused.
We have taken action over time to produce CatLocs for vehicles considered most at risk to try and prevent further attacks, although we’re sure you’ll appreciate that criminals with high-grade power tools are very difficult to completely protect against.
Police advice was published online as soon as possible, and we have also engaged with many different organisations to try and raise the profile of the crime and identify issues with existing legislation.
If you wish to discuss your situation further, our customer relations team are best placed to offer further support and advice.
They can be contacted, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we are truly sorry to hear that your vehicle has been affected by this crime.
Thanks.
Hi Mr Hunter,
Thanks for your comment. We’re really sorry to hear that you’ve been affected by this crime and appreciate how much distress it must have caused.
We would recommend contacting our customer relations team if you would like to discuss your situation further, as they are best placed to offer more advice.
You can contact them, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we’re truly sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
Thanks.
I am clicking on the reply, as I can’t upload my comments.
Hi Toyota other victim like so many on this comment page whose Catalytic converter was stolen. Two days ago my car was parked in my drive the incident took placed at 21.30 it took them only 90seconds to take out the catalytic converter.
I have footage on CCTV of the crime taking place have reported it to the police, who in return have said they can’t do much about it.
I have been a loyal customer to Toyota every year I would take my car into Toyota garage for service and MOT not once did anyone mention to me that my car could be a victim to this crime.
I wasn’t even aware that this was an issue with the Toyota Auris cars till I starting reading these comments and researching online.
Toyota should take responsibility and inform the customers of the risk to these cars and rectify the design issue.
Hi Bhavna,
Thanks for your comment. We are so sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by criminals.
Our customer relations team are best placed to assist you should you wish to discuss your situation further, and you can contact them here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we are truly sorry that you have been affected by this crime.
Thanks.
Like others,my cc was stolen recently. The insurers cannot access a replacement, given the epidemic of thefts so I have no car for an indeterminate period, no replacement vehicle as the insurers quite understandably won’t provide a courtesy car or allow the Auris to sit in a garage waiting for a part Toyota can’t supply, and a large excess on the insurance.
This is clearly a Toyota design error, which they are not taking responsibility for. A product recall and installation of an effective deterrent is the only long term solution. Absent this, all customers can do is (i) avoid the brand in future, and (ii) spread the message to avoid others making the same mistake. The Toyota response is an unbelievably quick route to brand destruction.
.
Hi Edward,
We’re really sorry to hear that you’ve been a victim of this horrible crime.
We have produced CatLocs for vehicles considered to be most at risk, and this does include the Auris.
Our customer relations team are best placed to help should you wish to discuss your specific situation further, and they can be contacted here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Thanks.
As with many or most of the responses from Toyota UK offering very little except sympathy for those ( being conned into buying hybrid vehicles…especially Toyota, Honda and other marks) having suffered theft of catalytic converters…… it is evident….”that they seem to show or offer any real solution to realistically improving the security of the cc. Having been a long term supporter of Toyota… I now, after having the car repaired ( only took a day via my insurers……7 weejs delay via Toyota !!!)….decided to get rid of vehicle. Here comes the dilema…..trying to determine which manufacturers produce vehicles less likely to be targetted ??? It seems no lne knows ( or will provide thd data….not the RAC, not ghe insurers and not thd police).
Unfortunately …. all manufacturers advertise on the ‘pros’….never the ‘cons’.
I suppose ‘full electric’ is the only answer….but how long will it be hefore the battery packs will be stolen ??
And finalky…..the vulnerability of hybrid vdhickes to cc theft does little more than reducd the price of such vehichles on the second-hand market. Those of us thinking we were saving the environment by buying hybtids….. now suffereing twice ( or more ) over. Perhaps the answer is to change thd EU law and allow ccs to be legally removed during a period of time up to when electric vehicles become a viable alternative ( price-wise)……or until manufacturers find a suitable method of security for ccs.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry to hear that you’ve been a victim of this terrible crime.
We have reduced the precious metal content of the catalytic converters in our newer hybrids by up to 84% in an attempt to make these less attractive to criminals.
We have also produced CatLocs for vehicle considered most at risk and are in regular communication with the Home Office, local MPs and the National Lead for all Vehicle Crime to identify issues with existing legislation.
If you would like to discuss your specific situation in more detail, we would recommend contacting our customer relations team.
They are best placed to advise you, and they can be contacted here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Thanks.
Now waiting 3 months for Jemca Toyota Enfield to supply/fit a new cat on a 2018 Auris model. Stolen.
Was originally told 4/6 weeks now been informed that it’s a backlog from Toyota in Japan and there is no timescale!?
Hi James,
Thanks for your comment. We’re truly sorry to hear that you have been a victim of this crime.
Due to unprecedented circumstances, there are delays on some parts.
We can only apologise and recommend staying in touch with your Toyota centre for the latest ETA.
Thanks.