Theft catalysts are a plague! How to secure a car?

Over the past few years, more and more reports of catalyst theft have been received by services. This became a scourge not only in Poland, but also in other EU countries. It is very easy for thieves to get this one part and often more profitable than stealing the whole car. How can we as drivers protect ourselves from this?

What will you learn from this post?

• Why would thieves want to steal a catalytic converter and not the whole car?
• What can I do to protect myself from theft?

Shortly speaking

Catalyst thefts are on the rise. The part is located directly under the chassis and can be easily removed. It is worth considering in advance how to protect the catalyst from theft. If possible, try to park your car in a well-lit and frequently visited area. AC policy applies to the owner of the vehicle in the event of theft or damage to property.

Are catalysts so valuable?

Stealing a catalyst is a quick and easy action for thieves. The component is located directly under the chassis. No special knowledge, skills or tools are required to remove it. Unsurprisingly, catalysts have become such a common target for theft. The part itself does not seem like something special, but inside you can find something really valuable. Catalysts include small amounts of precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium... Purchase prices for raw materials are constantly growing. For a gram of platinum and palladium, you can get several hundred zlotys, and for rhodium even more than 2,5 thousand zlotys! The smarter ones independently extract metals from the catalytic system, while others rent them out for the exchange of spare parts, which will also bring them considerable profit.

How to protect your catalytic converter from theft?

As we already mentioned, stealing catalysts for thieves is a common thing. Unfortunately, this is not good news for car owners. No one can fully protect themselves from theft. However, there are things worth paying attention to. not unknowingly provoke fate.

Do not park in shady areas

Leaving your car in an unguarded parking lot is usually risky. Lack of surveillance and poor lighting of the area is a great excuse for thieves. Of course, it is not always possible to park your car in a guarded parking lot or garage. In such a situation, it is worth leaving the car closer to the road. So our car is in sight, but good Illuminated street and pedestrian presence can effectively deter potential thieves.

Invest in AC policy

Additional insurance is also a good form of catalyst theft protection. The AC policy is optional, but it can be useful in many situations. Drivers are often skeptical about purchasing it. These are additional costs that may seem unnecessary, especially when we drive sporadically and attach great importance to legal driving.

Hybrid car owners and owners of older car models should consider AC policy. It seems natural to pay special attention to new vehicles, so why are we talking about slightly older ones? Automotive catalysts, which premiered several years ago, contain more precious metals in the system. This is a much more valuable loot for thieves. Car manufacturers, aware of the problems with theft, have reduced the amount of expensive raw materials in new cars. Besides, catalysts in older models are easier to remove.

Anti-theft covers - is it worth it?

An alternative way to do this is to prevent catalytic converter theft. anti-theft covers. This is a metal grill attached to the chassis, the task of which is to prevent access to the catalyst. Unfortunately, this is not a particularly effective form of protection. As we already mentioned, a metal grill will make it difficult for a thief to work, but with simple tools, it is easy to take it apart. Anti-theft covers are not popular on the market. The material of manufacture often leaves much to be desired and may adversely affect vehicle performance.

Have you seen anyone suspicious? Don't stay indifferent!

Remember to protect catalysts from theft. At first glance, insignificant things can be effective enough to avoid becoming a victim of crime. Every day we must pay attention to the surroundings and be alert to suspicious behavior... If you see people loitering around parked cars and acting suspiciously, react! Your phone call to the police can help you catch a potential thiefand also save someone's car from destruction.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the assortment of the avtotachki.com store. The offer includes auto parts from trusted manufacturers (including catalysts!) And their care products.

You may also be interested in:

Clogged catalytic converter - symptoms indicating a malfunction

Can the catalyst be removed?