Tips for how to protect your car from catalytic converter theft in Kansas City
Protecting your vehicle from catalytic converter theft may save you some big bucks if you think your car could be vulnerable.
Catalytic converter theft in Kansas City has gone up significantly over the past few years. Between 2019 and 2020, the American Automobile Association announced that they saw a 278% increase in converter thefts in the region that includes Kansas City. Between 2020 and 2021, AAA saw a 53% increase.
“Thieves are looking for a quick profit by selling the recyclable materials that can be found inside catalytic converters,” AAA Missouri Director of Claims Jim Strike said in a statement last July.
What is a catalytic converter?
The catalytic converter is a part of your car that helps convert exhaust fumes into less dangerous gasses. It should be placed underneath your car and attached to your exhaust pipes.
The part looks similar to a muffler and uses metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium, which are currently worth thousands of dollars per ounce, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
What kinds of vehicles are easy targets?
All kinds of cars are susceptible, but some thieves may target cars that are higher off the ground because they are easier to get underneath, such as larger trucks.
“We’ve seen cases where they simply just jacked up the vehicle quickly to get underneath it easier. So, you know, really any type of vehicle is at risk,” said AAA Missouri spokesperson Nick Chabarria.
How much does it cost to fix?
Once taken from a vehicle, the converters can go from $50 to $250 each, according to NICB. Repairs on the car after this kind of theft can cost anywhere from $950 to $2,500, according to AAA.
Catalytic converter theft can also leave car owners with a hefty repair bill because while someone is trying to saw off the converter, they will likely damage other parts of the car including the oxygen sensors and fuel lines, according to AAA.
“Some auto insurance policies do cover catalytic converter thefts or damage from catalytic converter thefts, and those would generally be policies that have comprehensive coverage,” Chabarria said.
Most comprehensive plans, according to Chabarria, are optional, so it may be worth checking to see if your plan covers damages like catalytic converter theft.
So how can you protect your car from catalytic converter theft?
There are several ways to protect your car in this situation.
There are special alarms for the catalytic converters that are triggered by vibration. These alarms are one of the more affordable ways to deter a thief.
Catalytic converter shield or steel plate defenders can be mounted on and around the converter itself. These kinds of shields are available on Amazon.
CatClamps are another route, where the catclamp acts as a cage around the catalytic converter and locks it into place. Both the catclamp and steel plate will likely require professional installation.
A professional mechanic can weld the converter to the frame of the car or a car owner can engrave the car’s VIN number into the converter to help locate it if it does get stolen, according to Chabarria.
You can report the theft to authorities immediately so they have a better chance of matching the converter up to the car it was taken from.
