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.
Hi,
I purchased a Auris in 2018 and park my car in garage. My issue is that Toyota is OFFERING protection against badly designed car which has its component exposed openly.
Can you imagine having a car with a bonnet partially covering the engine? No that’s a silly thing to do on many grounds.
In other words, its the designer who is at fault. If the components were hidden and locked into position, then I think even with heavy duty power tools,it would be diffecult to remove.
I personally feel this is just another way of making money. Toyota is ‘offering’ = funny.
You haven’t understood why hybrid’s are being targeted and clearly have no knowledge of car design. It’s an unintended consequence because hybrid engines are so clean that the cat is worth stealing. They aren’t in other vehicles. Suggest you stick to diesels.
I do so feel for Toyota as all they do is make the most reliable cars filled with class leading battery technology and in return their cars are targeted by scumbags who sell on the removed catalytic converters to unscrupulous scrap dealers here in the UK for the most part. A law against unscrupulous scrap dealers was brought in during 2013 I understand, however, years of reducing police numbers and local authority inspectors has brought us here, where the criminals know they won’t get caught and the scrap dealers won’t get checked!
I understand that the problem is worse in hybrid cars, with Toyota being the largest seller for years, as the petrol engine is run less than pure petrol or diesel vehicles and therefore the special metal value in the stolen catalytic converters is much greater.
WHY AM I POSTING THIS, well I’m looking to buy my retirement car after 40 years of company cars and after days of evaluating I identified that a used Toyota 2017/2018 hybrid RAV4 was my best bet but with group 28 insurance, or perhaps a 2019 used Prius Plus, with around group 15 insurance.
Then I read my first article on the catalytic converter criminal scourge, then a friend had his Corolla hybrid catalytic converter stolen from his drive and now, I’m forced to buy diesel in the hope that diesel catalytic converters are low down on the list of valuable cats, although I’m likely to end up buying a vehicle with a dud DPF filter due to short journeys, you just can’t win can you?
Perhaps all replacement cats and those on newer vehicles, both of whom should have much lower levels of valuable metals in them should be RED, so stupid crooks will instantly see that their dodgy scrap dealer won’t buy this one off them.
TOYOTA? seriously great products and used to have a Prius in 2007 so know the dealers that I had experience of were so professional, so knowledgable and I would never question their ethics, ever!
I have just had my catalytic convertor stolen from my 2018 Auris in broad daylight, opposite a busy junction, on a busy high street street – it took them 3 minutes. People witnessed them do it, but though they were changing a tyre until it was too late and then they were gone – and of course nobody gave then a second look wearing face coverings these days. I am totally shocked to come on here and find first of all a warning page dedicated to these types of thefts when NOBODY at my dealership Pinkstones in Stoke made me remotely aware that these cars or in the top 4 group most likely to be targeted (the Pirus also being one). Where is your duty of care to your customer ? Its not good enough to shrug it off by saying it could be any car – there must be a good reason why you are in the top 4 with these models ? Not good enough that nobody from the dealership mentioned it when you have a page dedicated to it and a forum with posts going on for 64 + pages !!! I am on my fifth Toyota, my Dad drives one, my daughter’s first car, and my husband (after me convincing him) is on his third Toyota . NO MORE ! I won’t be buying another or will my family ever again. Where is the trust ? Where is your proactive plan to resolve the issue ? Not good enough Toyota – just not good enough. I have had (like many others) enough mental and financial stress over the last 12 months and did not need this to add to it it . I’ve had 25 years of no claims on my insurance – so now I face losing this & paying the price with my insurance going forward, or coughing it up myself which put even more financial stress on my family. Fed up with your lip service – I want to see you commit to actually a) compensating your victims by free replacements b) design the cars to prevent anyone going through this even one more time ! Its about time you LISTENED, OWNED IT and ACTED Hang your heads in shame Toyota !
Hi Judy,
We are very sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves. Technically any car fitted with a catalytic converter is at risk of theft, but organised criminal gangs have been targeting some of our older hybrid models due to the higher amount of precious metals within the catalytic converter. These materials were fitted to make the catalytic converter more efficient at removing harmful emissions, making the car cleaner. There was no way we could have envisaged the value of these materials rising so high in the last few years. As our hybrid systems have become more efficient our newer models have much reduced precious metal content in the catalytic converter, making them less attractive to thieves. This is a criminal issue, and we working with various agencies, including the Police, to try to put a stop to it. Once again, we are very sorry that this has happened to you and hope you are back on the road soon.
Thanks
i think Toyota and Lexus should solve this problem. And it shouldn’t be a paid service. We pay for the car anyway. We pay for a service that really doesn’t cost cheap. I think they should have car catalytic converter protection for free
My cat was stolen yesterday (happy Mother’s Day to me) from my 10 plate Auris. I am wondering if you do a cat lock for this model Auris?
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for contacting us. We’re so sorry to hear that you vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
If you could please provide us with your UK reg, we will then be able to look into this for you.
Thanks.
YT60ZGO
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for getting back to us.
There should be a CatLoc available for your vehicle.
We would recommend contacting your nearest Toyota Centre to order this.
Thanks.
To add to the misery of all these messages, I returned to my Toyota Prius (bought new in 2011) tonight, parked in my school carpark all day, to find the catalytic converter stolen. It’s only now, having done some research, initiated by the kind RAC breakdown guy who attended to the car initially, that I discover what a HUGE problem catalytic converter thefts from Toyota hybrid vehicles are. Reading through all these messages, it’s abundantly clear that Toyota has a corporate response to these thefts- we can’t stop criminals with high-powered cutting tools. So where does that leave your customers Toyota? I spent a great deal of money on my car, have never been warned that this was a potential problem and it’s only now after I have become a victim of the crime, that I learn how prevalent this crime is. My question to Toyota is what do you intend to do about it? Seems to me as though Toyota and the criminals are the winners here and us Toyota drivers the mugs who pay a lot for cars and get absolutely no protection or help with what is a design fault- as somebody said earlier, why haven’t you come up with a way to ensure that these items cannot be removed in broad daylight? Appalled, disappointed, won’t buy another Toyota that’s for sure. Please don’t send the stock response about how sorry you are, and hope I’m back on the road soon. I don’t want platitudes, but a guarantee that when my car is repaired, this will not happen again. To me or anyone else. Toyota you need to wake up and fix this problem for your customers.
Hi. Can you please advise if layer models of the Prius are primary targets (I have a 67 Reg). From what I can see, it is earlier models that are more susceptible. Is that correct. Was shocked to read all about the theft.
Thank you.
Hi Suzanne,
Thanks for contacting us.
Whilst criminals seem to be targeting older vehicles, all vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter are technically at risk of theft. Auris and Prius models, including yours, seem to be regularly targeted.
There is a CatLoc available for this model, and this can be purchased through your nearest Toyota Centre.
Thanks.
My Auris estate converter was stolen over the weeked when parked on my drive.never heard a thing. Only when I went to start it .Did I realise what had happened. Been recommended to have a security plate fitted at my extra expense. Toyota should be fitting these for free as standard. As it only takes thieves a couple of minutes to remove the unit. Why are we customers lining Toyota pockets when they should helping us.Due to poor design. This will be my last Toyota.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for getting in touch. We’re truly sorry to hear this.
Criminals are targeting catalytic converters due to the precious metals they contain, and therefore any vehicle containing one is in theory at risk of theft.
These thieves are using high-grade power saws to remove the catalyst, so in reality they are as easy to remove from any vehicle. The design is not so relevant.
We have developed and are supplying theft deterrent devices at zero profit such as CatLocs, and there is one available for the Auris.
Once again, we are really sorry to hear your vehicle has been targeted by thieves, and we hope you’re back on the road soon.
Thanks.
I am surprised a Catlock was not offered for my 2015 Auris.
I bought the car new in 2015 from a Toyota garage in Sheffield where I have a service contract. The last service was only three months ago.
They send me plenty of emails so know how to contact me.
It might have saved me from discovering, this morning, that my car had had its catalyst stolen.
I think Toyota should be contacting all owners of vulnerable cars to offer them a Catlock and tilt sensor. Also Toyota dealers should not be selling these cars with unsecured catalysts.
Hi Gerry,
Thanks for contacting us. We’re so sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by these brazen thieves.
A CatLoc is available for your Auris, and there are also other theft deterrents available such as tilt sensors, bolt caps and component etching. However, criminals with high-grade power tools are very difficult to completely protect against.
We would recommend contacting your nearest Toyota Centre for more information.
Once again, we are truly sorry to hear that you have been a victim of this awful crime.
Thanks.
I am now aware that a Catlock is available for my car.
My point is that Toyota should have made me aware of this before my catalyst was stolen.
I have ordered a new Rav 4 Black edition recently. I am really surprised to hear of all the thefts of the CC’s and that Toyota vehicles are being highly targeted. At no point during the sale of the vehicle was I made aware of this major problem, I would have thought that it should have been mentioned during my time at the showroom that there could be a potential problem of theft of the CC from the Rav 4 and ways it could be prevented, including a catlock if available, or other preventative measures for this vehicle, was this not mentioned because it may have lost a sale? or because that I may have asked for preventative measures to be installed before I purchased. I do understand that this is a problem on most, if not all makes ( I had a CC stolen from my works Ford Transit, Twice ) but I feel disappointed that I have not been informed of the lack of security measure installed for the prevention of theft of the cc at production. If this is, as been mentioned a high risk for a few years now, why hasn’t it been addressed at production and design, even as a addition to the later models, you have stated that when the earlier CC’s was made you could not have predicted the increase in value of materials, which is a fair comment, but as you have been aware of the increase in scrap value of the materials used for a while now, why hasn’t something been done? Even with the deceased 80%+ amount of materials used in the CC it is still vulnerable for theft if it has no deterrent installed. With the combination of lesser value and high security installed it may seem less inviting. I look forward to your reply. Dave
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your comment, and congratulations on your order!
Any vehicle fitted with a catalytic converter is technically at risk, regardless of manufacturer. Theft of these parts has been happening for many years, but recently has increased due to the rising value of the materials within the catalytic converter.
As you noted, the content has been reduced dramatically with our later models, and as a result, the new RAV4 Hybrid isn’t as attractive to thieves, so isn’t deemed as high risk and an official Toyota Catloc is not available. However, some other theft deterrent devices are, like component etching and bolt welding.
We are continuously monitoring the situation, working with various agencies including the Police, and if the situation changes, we’ll react and take the necessary action.
Thanks.
I enquired about a catloc being fitted on my car, and the Toyota dealer wanted £600! That doesn’t scream “at no cost” to me
Now, it’s been stolen and a decent quality aftermarket catalytic converter, with an antitheft plate is £400-£500. The anti theft plate is just £40. If Toyota charged only a small amount for putting a catloc on, then I think more people would get it
Hi Waqas,
Thanks for you comment. We’re so sorry to hear that you have been a victim of this crime.
Our Customer Relations team are best placed to discuss your specific situation with you in further detail, and they can be contacted here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we’re really sorry to hear your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
Thanks.
Perhaps they might be able to help with regards to selling me a new catalytic converter but when I’ve seen quotes of £200 from other Toyota dealers, it seems like that the local Toyota is trying to make a quick bit of profit. Why should the customer have to deal with this?
Hi Waqas,
Sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the service offered by your local Toyota centre. You can contact our customer relations team here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Thanks
i’m having to reply here as your answer to me (“Dave”) above, has no reply access!! You have not answered any of my comments with regard to the sale of the vehicle and the fact that I had not had any information with regard to the high level of thefts of the CC’s from the Toyota brand, so would not have been told of any preventative measures to take prior to the potential theft of my CC, and you would therefore profit from the replacement of the stolen part and future preventative measures, you say you make no profit from these sales, but the vast difference between costs on other comments clearly show that someone is making large profits, can you explain this vast difference, if you are indeed concerned for your customers and getting them back on the road, you would certainly ensure that the same replacement prices are consistent across your outlets, and where there are differences in prices because of area, you would, as a company, make up the shortfall, so all your customers would pay the same! You say you have reduced the materials in the latest CC by around 80%, so why are the later model CC’s still being stolen? is it because the Toyota brand is an easy target due to the ease of the theft of the CC. This would explain why you are near the top of the league for CC thefts! You state the Rav 4 is not a high risk, and has no allocated Catloc, but go on to say that there are other deterrent devices available, WHY DON’T THESE DETERRENTS COME FITTED? if you know there is a chance of a theft. You fit alarms to prevent the theft of a vehicle because you know without the alarm the car will be stolen, so can you explain the difference between theft of a vehicle, to theft of a CC that you know will be stolen without protection? if, as stated by you “the Rav 4 isn’t as attractive to thieves” why was there another comment from a Rav 4 owner who was threatened during the theft of their CC? You only answered part of my last comment section to you, so I do hope you will reply to all my questions in full, unanswered questions always look like an avoidance or cover up, so full answers please. your response to me on this is important, as the purchase of my new Rav4 at £36,000 is resting on it. you will either show you care about customers, or couldn’t care less, so your call. I look forward to your reply. Dave.
Hi Dave,
All vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter are technically at risk of theft, and theft of catalytic converters has been happening since they have been a legal requirement on all new petrol and diesel cars since 1993, albeit in relatively low numbers. All catalytic converters contain precious metals that can be attractive to thieves, regardless of manufacturer or age.
However, targeted Toyota vehicles are almost always older hybrid models we no longer make. This is because previous generations of catalytic converter for our hybrid vehicles had much larger quantities of precious metals in them, to help reduce vehicle emissions. Newer ones have vastly less due to improved hybrid technology, including the RAV4 Black Edition, and are not “worth” stealing. The odd one gets hit by thieves but it is very rare because this is an organised crime and those doing the stealing are given cars to target by their “handlers”, based on the value of the catalytic converter. They know which vehicles make the most profit and are looking to maximise their return versus risk. Even with a Catloc fitted, there is little that can be done to stop determined and brazen organised criminals using power tools to take what they want.
In response to your other questions, the difference in price for repairs is due to the way thieves steal the catalytic converter; they can cause more damage to other parts of the car as they forcibly remove it, often in a rush. Due to volume of sales, there are many of these older hybrid vehicles in circulation, particularly in built up areas, where the focus of this crime seems to be, accounting for the high volume of crime.
Ultimately, this is a criminal issue and we’ve been working with and supporting the Police, both publicly and behind the scenes to help put a stop to this awful crime, as well as producing a Catloc, which was developed specifically for targeted vehicles and is provided to customers at zero profit to Toyota UK.
Thanks.
Had our catalytic convertor stolen off our Prius 2019 plate, 2 days ago. My husband went out to try and stop the 3 men and was met with metal poles, they also tried hitting our dog! I now have to pay the excess on our insurance to get my car repaired. The worry is endless as I KNOW they will return and do this again and after reading about the CATLOC what is the point in more expense, I am just worried sick! I am having sleepless nights and the children are not sleeping due to seeing what happened!
These cars should be made as so this doesn’t happen, why should the customer have to pay more when even then they can’t guarantee 100% that the CAT won’t be stolen!!!!!! Furious about it all
Hi A Bolton,
Thanks for contacting us. We’re really sorry to hear that you’ve been a victim of this awful crime and appreciate the distress this must have caused.
Organised criminal gangs using power tools are very difficult stop, but we are working with the police and other agencies to try and put a stop to it.
Due to the nature of this part, we are limited on where the catalytic converter can be located. It must be between the engine and the exhaust.
As catalytic converters contain precious metals, any car containing one is in theory at risk of theft.
Over time, we have developed CatLocs and other theft deterrent devices to try and protect customers from further attacks, although criminals with high-grade power tools are not easy to stop.
We would recommend contacting your nearest Toyota Centre to discuss theft deterrent options.
Once again we are truly sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
Thanks.
This is a reply for your comments to me (Dave) above. I clearly asked you to answer all my questions that was raised in my first comment to you. it is sad how you have avoided my questions on the sale of the Rav 4, and information I should have been given prior to purchase with regard to the CC thefts and future prevention measures. I also stated that your answers would show whether you cared about your customers or not, by your reply it is very clearly the latter! I will therefore be cancelling my order of the Rav 4 as I consider that this has been mis-sold to me due to withholding important information. Once again I don’t suppose you will be too bother by my cancellation, which also proves a lack of concern for your customers! Finally I will point out that on numerous other comments you have stated that you have tried your best to let customer know about the CC thefts, which most people have dismissed. I will therefore help you out, I will be contacting all whats app, facebook and twitter groups to let them know of this massive problem with the Toyota. I would also urge anyone who has read this to do the same, to ensure your message that you have desperately tried to get out to the public, will now happen.