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.
We have saved up for a long time to buy a car and chose a Toyota Auris hybrid. We were floating in cloud nine! Ten days later our catalytic converter was stolen from our car on our driveway at 11pm and we haven’t slept since.
We’ve never been victims of crime but now realise how heartless, mindless and cruel thieves are. To steal from the hard-working everyday man is heart breaking.
Toyota have been very understanding and I hope and pray they can help source a replacement to get our car back on the road and fit the necessary Catloc/Tile Sensor to ease the fear of it happening again.
It takes criminals less than 2 minutes to steal a cat converter and only a few seconds for honest, hard-working people to help fight this crime and sign Andrew Man’s Government petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/575859/signatures/new
Hi Christopher, we’re sorry to hear that.
After reporting the crime to the police, please get in touch with your local Toyota Centre. The team there will be able to source a replacement part and discuss preventative measures. They will also be able to discuss the Smartwater marking programme which is a recent addition. Thanks
I have just had the catalytic converter stolen from my 2015 Toyota Auris estate this evening, while it was parked outside my house. It was so quick – less than a minute and they were off.
Given all that is going on with catalytic converter theft, as much as my wife loves the car, and I like it’s environmental we will be looking for something new that is not so easily targeted. And that’s probably not a Toyota.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We’re so sorry to hear that you have been affected by this awful crime.
If you haven’t already, the first step is to report this to the police as this is ultimately a criminal matter.
We have reduced the quantity of precious metals in the catalytic converters of our newer hybrids, making these less attractive to thieves.
We have developed and are supplying theft deterrent devices at zero profit such as CatLocs, tilt alarms, bolt caps and component etching to protect consumers from further attacks. However, criminals wielding high-grade power tools are very difficult to protect against.
Recently, we have announced that we will covertly mark more than 100,000 catalytic converters, working with the Police and Smartwater to combat theft.
Once again, we are so sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by these brazen thieves.
Thanks.
Hi
I’ve been advised to install catloc and also weld cat converter to car structure , is it ok ?could this void any warranty? If mine is getting stolen at least I wanna make their life difficult!!!!
Looking forward for your reply
Hi Nuno,
Bolt cap welding, or any other work carried out by a Toyota centre will not impact your warranty.
Thanks
This week we joined the club of those who have had their catalytic converter stolen – from a Toyota Prius. I had heard about this type of theft before, but having experienced it first hand has motivated me to find out more about it. What is evident is that this type of theft in increasing very significantly, but Toyota seems to be doing very little about it. Data from LV (insurance company) says a 600% increase in such thefts between 2018 and 2019, and Admiral report 57% more claims in March 2021 than March 2020.
Had this been a safety issue, there would have been a quick recall, but apart from some advice, no action from Toyota. Surely its time that Toyota recalled all the cars that are being targeted and fitted a catloc device to at the vey least make this type of theft more difficult.
Hi Bryan,
Thanks for your comment. We’re so sorry to hear this.
We have developed theft deterrent devices including CatLocs, tilt alarms, bolt caps and component etching to try and protect customers from further attacks.These can all be purchased through your nearest Toyota Centre.
However, criminals are using high-grade power tools to carry out this crime, and these are very difficult to completely protect against.
As well as working with insurers to minimise the impact on customers, we have also recently announced that Toyota will be marking more than 100,000 catalytic converters, working with the police and Smartwater in order to combat theft. This marking is free – please contact your nearest Toyota Centre for further information.
Toyota does announce recalls, but these are for safety related reasons, not for criminal reasons.
Once again, we are sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by these criminals. We hope you are back on the road soon.
Thanks.
Thanks for the response, but its a very disappointing response which basically says ‘its nothing to do with Toyota”. But, Toyota has designed, built and installed the catalytic converter, and it’s clear that it is not fit for purpose as it contains valuable metals and the theft is evidently so easy.
I feel strongly that Toyota should accept the responsibility for getting the design wrong, and should be retrofitting the deterrent devices free of charge to all affected cars. I accept that it could never prevent theft, but it would send a message that Toyota does care about its customers and is working to fix the problem that Toyotas design and build has made easier.
Just called my local Toyota dealer -Currie Motors Brentford, (London) who are not taking bookings for marking with smartwater as they are “waiting for instructions” as to know what to do. So no appointments can be made
If Toyota have done a launch and are making publicity, should you not have sorted this out first? Will I need to be calling the garage once a week for months to find out when this can be done?
Hi, thanks for your comment.
We’re really sorry to hear that and thanks for bringing it to our attention. All Toyota Centres are equipped to carry out the Smartwater marking, so we’ll look into this.
And will you then inform me where I can have this done?
Hi A Mark,
Thanks for your reply, and apologies for the inconvenience caused.
We would recommend re-contacting the Toyota Centre at the start of next week.
Thanks.
Similar experience Mark, just contacted my local Toyota which is Listers Coventry (CV3 4FJ), who does not seem to be even aware of this, therefore, had to explain it to them – three of them, one after another, after which they advised me to contact the police to enquire if they have a Smartwater kit, rather than contacting Listers.
I also asked them about the catloc which Listers provide for £250. What I came to know is “Approved by Toyota” does not mean their catloc is “produced by Toyota as a genuine part”. This is, as they said, “just a metallic shield fitted over the catalytic converter”. While these metallic shields are available on ebay for £40 (and fitting charge may be £30), what makes the Listers’ catloc different from those sold by others is may be the difference in price!
Hi Masud, thanks for your comment.
Can we ask when you spoke to the team at Listers regarding the smartwater marking? Thanks.
In response to Toyota: I spoke to them at Listers Coventry on 21 May at 10:22.
Hi Masud,
Thanks for your reply.
An update has been sent out to all of our Toyota Centres, meaning that they should all be aware of Smartwater marking.
We would recommend recontacting them in order to get your vehicle booked in.
Thanks.
Hi
I am thinking of buying a toyota auris hybrid estate 2015 but after reading this Iam now having second thought which is disappointing. Does the petrol model have the same problem with catalyst . thanks
Hi Hashem,
Thanks for your comment.
Any vehicle containing a catalytic converter is in theory at risk of theft.
However, criminals tend to target older hybrids due to their higher precious metal content. 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.
Thanks.
If Renault can build one that’s protected, why can’t you? I have a Renault Captur but granddaughter has a Yaris. It’s no good saying you can get a marker on it to trace it! It’ll be dismantled long before that ever happens….rendering marking useless. Focus on creating a safety measure to protect it from theft. There, job done.
Hi Sally,
Thanks for your comment.
We have produced CatLocs along with other theft deterrents such as bolt caps and component etching in order to try and protect customers from further attacks. However, criminals are using high-grade power tools to remove the catalyst, and these are very difficult to completely protect against.
Due to the precious metals they contain, any car containing a catalytic converter is in theory at risk of theft.
Thanks.
Surely it shouldn’t’ be possible for a car to be jacked up and the catalytic converter stolen while the car is locked and the alarm system on? Couldn’t the alarm system be improved to react to such thefts? Mine was stolen very quickly outside a garden centre.
Hi Irene,
Thanks for your comment. We’re sorry to hear that you have been affected by this crime.
It might be that the vehicle is not fitted with a tilt sensor. These are available as an accessory for some of our vehicles, including the Auris hybrid and certain Prius models.
Criminals are using high-grade power tools to remove catalytic converters from vehicles, and these are very difficult to completely protect against.
Your nearest Toyota Centre will be able to advise on the theft deterrent options available to you. We hope you’re back on the road soon.
Thanks.
I am considering buying a TOYOTA YARIS ( 2017 reg + ) , but am concerned about catalytic converter being stolen ! Any advice to protect it please
Ashwin
Hi Ashwin,
Thanks for contacting us.
Due to the precious metals they contain, any vehicle containing a catalytic converter is in theory at risk of theft. However, of our vehicles, second and third-generation Prius models and second-generation Auris Hybrids have been particular targets for thieves.
There is a CatLoc available for the Yaris hybrid, along with bolt caps. Smartwater catalytic converter marking can also be carried out for free and allows parts to be traced back to specific crimes.
Please contact your nearest Toyota Centre for more information.
Thanks.
Hello, I would like to ask, I left my car Toyota CHR 2018 hybrid at the car park, and the catalytic has been removed from car, is this possible to CHR, because I’ve heard that it’s too difficult to remove a catalytic from CHR, but I have been told at garage that yes, and also to put Catlock would be 100% safe for the future?
Thanks
Hi Vilma,
Thanks for your comment. We’re sorry to hear that you have been affected by this crime.
We have reduced the amount of precious metals in the catalytic converters of our newer hybrids to make these less attractive to thieves. However, due to the precious metals they contain, any vehicle containing a catalytic converter is in theory at risk of theft.
A CatLoc can make theft more difficult, but thieves are using high-grade power tools to remove the catalytic converters, meaning that it is not possible to make catalytic converters ‘unstealable’.
You can contact your nearest Toyota Centre to find out which theft deterrents are available to you as well as to have Smartwater marking carried out, which involves tagging the part with an invisible yet traceable marking.
Thanks.
I have ordered a Proace 2.0l Euro 6 and have enquired about having a Catloc fitted at my local Toyota dealer. After several days I am still waiting for a response as to whether a Catloc exists for this model – are you able to advise, please, with thanks?
Hi Philip,
Thanks for your order. Yes, a Catloc is available for the Proace. Your centre should be able to order and fit this for you.
Sorry to hear that they have been unresponsive. We hope your van arrives soon.
Thanks