Catalytic Convertor theft information

You may be aware that there has been an increase in the theft of catalytic converters across Berkshire and indeed nationally.

Catalytic converters contain small amounts of the precious metals platinum, palladium and rhodium which seem to be fetching good money at scrap yards.

Thieves have been mainly targeting Toyota Prius and Honda Jazz cars parked in large open air and multi-storey car parks, as well as residential roads too.  Hybrid vehicles are also a big target as they have higher quantities of the valuable metals, but German cars are still in danger and it is reported that BMW, VW and Audi catalytic converter thefts have been reported.

Tips to try to prevent Catalytic Converter theft

 We understand how devastating it would be for any of our customers to become victims to this crime so here are a few things that you can do to protect your car from catalytic converter theft:

Keep your vehicle in a locked garage overnight 

If at all possible this is the safest place for a car to be. 

Park facing a wall 

When parking in a car park, try to park with the front of your car against a wall and park between cars wherever you can. Many catalytic converters are located at the front of your vehicle where the exhaust enters the engine. and this makes it harder for offenders to gain access underneath your vehicle.  By reducing space both at the front and at the side of your vehicle, you’re ensuring theft is as tricky as possible.

Park partly on the curb 

If bay parking isn’t an option, consider parking half on the curb (just make sure you aren’t blocking pedestrians). You may be able to park in such a way that your catalytic converter is close enough to the curb to make it very difficult to remove. 

Purchase anti-theft products 

Check to see what alarm systems may be available for your car.

You may also want to consider installing CCTV to protect your vehicle.

Avoid public car parks 

It’s not always easy, but avoiding public car parks will reduce the chance of you being a victim of theft. Many catalytic converter thieves are committing the crime in public car parks during broad daylight. If you have no other option, ensure you are parking in a busy, well-lit car park and are following the tips above. 

We sincerely hope that none of our readers are victims of catalytic converter theft. If the worst does happen, Lakeside Garage is here to help. We also provide a wealth of other services, from Servicing,  MOTs  , specialist diagnostics to ECU Mapping.