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Catalytic converter theft is more than out of control. If you think COVID-19 has been bad, catalytic converter theft is ruining the lives of good people too.
Converter theft has gotten so bad now that Toyota has decided to do something about it. Their solution, however, is not as great as they think. Here is what they are going to do and why it will not stop theft from happening.
The "Toyota Way": Not Effective In This Scenario
Catalytic converter theft has made massive headlines, with the Toyota Prius being a primary target. The densely packed converters loaded with the precious metal Rhodium are worth loads of money in scrap.
What is worse, the replacement costs are even more, and they are still getting stolen at an alarming rate. So, what can you do to keep thieves at bay?
One company called Cap City Muffler came out with a product that covers the converter protecting it from thieves. The deterrent significantly increased the time required to remove a catalytic converter making it less desirable.
So far, the chatter on places such as PriusChat or some of the more popular Facebook groups people have liked the product.
But this is an aftermarket solution to a problem that starts with the manufacturer. Now Toyota has responded with a resolution of their own, etching the converter with the VIN.
The logic behind this is sound, I will give them that, but it will not deter thieves. VIN etching makes the converter traceable, so it can be returned if it is stolen and recovered.
That is all fine and good if there were not organized crime rings running these operations. When these converters get stolen, they usually end up going to places that cut out the material from within the steel shell.
The places that take them in are paid by the people stealing them, and it becomes a vicious cycle. VIN etching is a worthless attempt at trying to do something good for people. I am sorry, but Toyota could do A LOT better.
Conclusion
If Toyota wanted to do something that makes an actual difference, they should look at the Cat Security™ product line.
The solution does not hinder anything about the factory specs of the car, and it does a great job at deterring thieves.
If you are a Prius owner or a vehicle owner that is nervous about your catalytic converter getting stolen, I will encourage you to forget VIN etching. Criminals do not care about fluorescent paint, VIN etching, or anything like that.
They get paid to steal converters and scrap them.
I hope that no one gets their converter stolen and has to deal with the headache that comes from it. Thank you all for reading, and I look forward to seeing you in the following article.
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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 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.
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Comments
I have been a victim of a
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I have been a victim of a stolen CAT (2008 Prius). I purchased and had professionally installed a CAT Security Product for the 2008 Prius and for my 2021 Prius. My local auto repair shop installed them for $85 per vehicle. So far, the CAT and the anti- theft device are intact and I am sleeping much better at night
What device have you found
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In reply to I have been a victim of a by Morris Maslia (not verified)
What device have you found that works and where do I get one? I have a 2012 and had my CAT stollen- Toyota says they have a new aluminum bracket that they will put over my CAT at the cost of $599
Please sleep with your ears
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In reply to I have been a victim of a by Morris Maslia (not verified)
Please sleep with your ears open because I too had Toyota install a plate or bracket that was suppose to stop thieves from getting my catalytic converter and just this morning was woken up by the sound of a cordless saw cutting my catalytic converter off, it is now dangling from the under body of my car. And this is the second time the last time when I caught them in the act I had 2 men pull and cock very large firearms in my face. Be aware yet be safe
How about an engine that does
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How about an engine that does not require a catalytic converter? CVmotiontech.com
Mine was stolen at night
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Mine was stolen at night while 2006 Prius was in the driveway. I had comprehensive insurance and paid out of pocket only $100. However, the inconvenience of no car was far worse. My insurance covered only 30 days of a rental car (which have been in a shortage for some time.) And it took 2 months to get a new cat shipped in, due to high demand. It's about an hour's-ish labor and a $3,000 bill, but 2 months with no car is the real hassle. I am getting a Cat Shield after looking at many options, and now have cameras.
Ours was stolen too so we put
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Ours was stolen too so we put the guard over the cat conv. but it makes a lot more noise in the cabin as it basically reflects the noise back up. Easy solution is to ban recycling them removing the demand or require wire transfers to bank accounts for payments leaving a paper trail.
My city's crime prevention
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My city's crime prevention officer says the same. It's not like Operation Identification, where engraving made things toxic to fences. What he said was that within days the catalytic converters are beyond recovery in places that don't care where they came from. He didn't quite say painting and etching were useless but said they were way less important than parking in a garage. So we have riveted shields now.
I got my catalytic converter
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I got my catalytic converter stolen just last week (2010 Prius). It was right before I was planning to sell the car so I just had to end up selling it for way less than originally planned unfortunately. It’s a real problem especially in California. CAT security seems like the most viable option to prevent theft.
I had my cats stolen off of a
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I had my cats stolen off of a 2014 Tundra, in a parking garage of a hospital ( I am a cardiac nurse). Dealing with faulty O2 sensors now. Hopefully Toyota will figure out something for a cat that the thieves/MF/worthless pieces of shit, lazy (hopefully your hand will get cut off) (sharia law) won't steal. If not hopefully a car will crush them.
The pricks have no idea (I am sure they don't care) what they have caused. PS, If their family member is having a heart attack, I will ignore the call.
My cat was stolen from my 12
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In reply to I had my cats stolen off of a by troy Milliken (not verified)
My cat was stolen from my 12 year old Prius. Why would anyone buy a Prius is their old car is basically useless without the cat?
A little over a year ago I
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A little over a year ago I had 2 guns pulled on me in my face by the thieves that stole the catalytic converter from my Prius. When it first happened my adrenalin was up there and the gun thing didnt really seem all that bad. But then I told the story put loud and it hit me I could have died for the cost of a catalytic converter. I have since had to spend over 2000 to replace the catalytic converter but I then invested in a plate that Toyota installed over 1000 and this morning I got woken up by thieves cutting off my catalytic converter. So now my catalytic converter is dangling from the under body off my Toyota Prius and will have to pay yet again for a new one and have waisted money on a plate that is suppose to stop or slow them down and it does neither. So with the cost of everything going up and and just the cost to live going up yet we aren't making more I will go indebt so I have a vehicle to get to work to not even be able to pay all the bills to begin with and the little punks that go around causing all this mayhem just make money off of us. Doesn't seem right or fair that the criminals are aloud to stay criminal out walking free continuing to steel and the law abiding citizens get screwed. Where is the justice and god forbid we take the justice into our own hands only the criminals are aloud to commit crimes not the blue collar workers out busting there butts to not even make a dime. It really makes me angry ill tell you that much.
Personally I would buy a
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In reply to A little over a year ago I by Winters (not verified)
Personally I would buy a cheap replacement aftermarket cat converter and have it installed onto my own prius by reputable backyard mechanic. This entails removal and replacing manifold as well as the secondary cat about 2 feet further, that really long tube is only a hollow resonator to reduce exhaust resonation vibration noise.
Both 2nd gen cats would be worth $1500 to $2000USD Jan 2021 but rhodium value has dropped 40%+-.
Thiat is why your 2nd gen Prius is especially prone to attack so replacing it with a $200 aftermarket cat may offer a way to cash out on your own cat and get the electronic cat protection as offered here maybe mark on Cat "Aftermarket Cat only worth $20 to recyclers."
Perhaps an electric fence around the cat to jolt thieves into some senses or a dog. Last resort is to "Straight Pipe" your exhaust and cash in on your cat before thieves do. If you do this make sure its air tight welds so you don't fall asleep on road from fumes. Good luck.