Toyota Prius Repair Shop Learns Why Cat Security Shield Is The Best Solution For Theft Prevention

Sometimes being a local hero can come at a cost. One local hybrid shop has found that out in San Fransisco. Check out this story of how a failed attempt to protect Toyota Prius owners from cat converter theft ended up being a smart move on their part.

The Problem
If you have not seen my string of articles on catalytic converter theft, start here with this one about stopping catalytic converter theft. Catalytic Converter Theft has become one of the hottest topics for Toyota Prius owners. The issue is now spreading worldwide.

Converter theft is such a massive problem in major metropolitan areas that any shop working on Prius knows about it. Thieves are targeting our Prius cars for the converters so they can take them in for scrap money.

A good thief can steal a converter off of a Toyota Prius in about 3 to 5 minutes. If this thief can do this ten times a day or even a week, that can be anywhere from $3,000 to $9,000. That is easy money for a thief if you think about it. That is more money than I make in two months.

There is a huge incentive for these cat burglars to keep stealing converters, palladium, a precious metal found in converters are now 2,000 dollars an ounce. Even if they go to jail, they are usually out within a few hours and back at it again. The sad part is, this is costing Toyota Prius owners millions of dollars in replacement converters each month, just so some low life can avoid working a real job.

A Prius owner can expect to spend $2,500 to 5,000 dollars if they have their catalytic converter stolen. The theft is so bad it has caught the attention of Toyota dealers and independent shops all over California, Oregon, Washington, and other states. In short, this is no laughing matter and is an epidemic of massive proportions.

The Fight Against Thieves
In San Fransisco, California, the Prius population is very dense. It is a car that lines nearly every block in the town. With so many Prius in one area, this is a thief's playground for making big money in a short amount of time. I can also tell you that Prius owners know what it costs them.

There is a shop locally there called Luscious Garage that specializes in hybrid repair. They know first hand how bad this problem is. Their shop has been at the forefront of trying to help their customers fight this ridiculous battle. They have even been doing their in-house anti-theft procedure, but with little luck. Most of the Prius owners who were charged for the protection service ended up having their converters stolen again.

This problem can quickly bankrupt a person who is spending $2,500 to $5,000 a pop for a new converter. Imagine being one of those owners who is now out $5,000 and is worried that it is going to happen again. Luckily, for those customers of Luscious Garage, they got some serious backup and hope of security like never before.

Luscious Garage Is A Hometown Hero
The request for Toyota Prius owners to have their converters replaced began to skyrocket. Luscious Garage is a very reputable institution. They only wanted to help keep their customers happy and worry-free. After installing their home-made theft deterrent on over 40 customer cars, thinking they were doing the right thing vehicles came back, with converters stolen just like before

The garage had the best of intentions, but that just was not good enough. The news brought heartbreak to the repair facility, who had already charged their customers for a new converter plus added protection. They knew they had to find the solution and make it right with every Prius owner they had dealt with on the matter.

When Luscious learned about Cat Security™, the Prius' number one choice for cat converter protection, they knew this was the answer. The garage was so impressed with the simplicity of the shield and the security that it offered; they knew what needed to come next. They began to reach out to every Prius owner that had previously purchased their previous protection and told them to come in for a free replacement shield that would be a better solution to what they had before.

If that is not the epitome of stellar service from a shop that could have easily turned a blind eye, then I do not know what is. I applaud this business for taking the initiative to do the right thing and ensure the peace of mind to their Prius owners that can only come from Cat Security™ Protection Shields.

Conclusion
If you are a Toyota Prius owner who has ever had to replace your converter you know the pain in your pocketbook that it causes. If you are an aware owner that would like to get your Prius protected you can visit Getcatsecurity.com and find the nearest installer near you.

You can also order online and install the shield yourself if you have a bit of DIY in your blood. EveryToyota Prius needs to have this shield on it. Keep thieves at bay by deterring them from a quick buck at your expense.

Thank you for reading and see you in my next story, where a Toyota Prius owner finds a mud hole rather satisfying.

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Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter is also an Instructor of Automotive Technology at Columbia Basin College. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporters.