Catalytic converter thefts soar by more than 100%, Which? research reveals

Catalytic converter thefts have surged by more than 100 per cent, according to new Which? research, leaving victims with eye-watering repair costs, soaring premiums or even complete write-offs.

Exclusive police data obtained by Which? shows that between 2019 and 2020 alone, incidents of thefts across England, Wales and Northern Ireland rose by a staggering 104 per cent on average amid a spike in the value of precious metals.

With a single scrap catalytic converter currently fetching as high as £400, organised gangs are targeting tens of cars each day. At the time of Which?’s investigation, an ounce of Rhodium costs more than a brand-new Honda Jazz.

The consumer champion revealed that older hybrids, such as the previous generation of the Toyota Prius and Auris, and the Honda Jazz hybrid models are particularly at risk of this crime due to their higher concentration of precious metals.

Older models being targeted also creates further headaches, as motorists risk having their car written off by their insurer if the cost of repair outweighs the value of their car.

Which? heard from drivers who faced hefty repair quotes of upwards of £1,200, with a quarter of owners surveyed (27%) not notifying their insurer and settling their repair bill privately.

One victim, whose Honda Jazz was badly damaged after being targeted overnight outside his home, said: “Despite thieves having to saw into my exhaust, neither I nor my neighbours noticed until the following morning, when I was greeted by a terrible noise from my engine.

“The cost of repair far outweighed the value of my Jazz. I’ve now changed to a Peugeot 208 diesel.”

Of those who did report the crime to their insurer, over a quarter surveyed saw their premiums rise, while one per cent found it difficult to find further insurance cover.

One woman told Which? her car insurance soared after thieves stole the catalytic converter from her Toyota Auris Hybrid whilst she was out shopping.

She said: “Mine was stolen while I was in Tesco for only 15 minutes. So many Auris Hybrids had been targeted that it took nine weeks to get my car back as the garage couldn’t get the parts, plus my car insurance increased by 28 per cent.”

Other high-risk vehicles include ever popular crossovers and SUVs, as well as commercial vehicles, all of which tend to sit higher off the road, making for easier access underneath.

Newer hybrid vehicles are less desirable to thieves, as their catalytic converter’s metal content has been reduced, accounting for far fewer models being affected.

Online marketplaces also cause headaches for police. Which? found advertisements offering cash for scrap catalytic converters on Facebook Marketplace, despite this being made an offence under the 2013 Scrap Metal Dealers Act.

Scrap metal dealers and collectors must now also be licensed, although frequently there are not obvious credentials displayed by Marketplace users.

Facebook told Which?: “We have removed the listings brought to our attention for violating our commerce policies and have restricted users’ access to Facebook Marketplace.”

Facebook also added that the sale of stolen goods is strictly prohibited, that its team of 35,000 experts work alongside technology to keep its platforms safe, and that people should report any suspicious accounts or posts.

Which? research shows that the West Midlands has some of the largest numbers of catalytic converter thefts compared to other areas, but the problem has spread across the country, with Dorset seeing a 187 per cent increase in 2020.

A removed catalytic converter will render cars unroadworthy, so as well as producing higher levels of emissions, it will be illegal to drive.

Which? is urging victims of catalytic converter thefts to report it to police, as this could help measure the full scale of these crimes and how best to tackle them.

Harry Rose, Which? Magazine Editor, said:

“Catalytic converter thefts can leave victims with pricey repair bills, rising premiums or even complete write offs, so it’s concerning to see such a huge spike in these crimes across the country.

“To minimise the chance of your car being targeted you should consider installing traceable marking tools and a Catloc on your converter or park in an area covered by CCTV – these steps could help to identify or deter thieves.”

Which? advice to protect cars from theft:

• Smart Water or similar forensic-marking tools making stolen catalytic converters traceable can deter criminals and are a strong tool in police investigations.
• Fitting a ‘Catloc’ or similar device (costing around £200) will make removal more difficult.
• If your parking spot is covered by CCTV, you increase the chance of deterring thieves and of police action being taken.

Notes to editors

Research

Data supplied after Freedom of Information requests from 25 of the UK’s 45 police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Police Scotland refused our request. Supported by FOI information already published in the public domain. Crime and insurance reporting data: online survey, March 2021, 13,378 Which? Connect members.

Rhodium Approx price: £20,000 per oz Rhodium is prized for its catalytic properties and corrosion resistance. Huge demand and a slump in production has seen prices rise six-fold since last year.

Video available for use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zcr1xotQ9I

Table

Case studies

Martin McGurrin – Honda Jazz

“My Honda was badly damaged after being targeted overnight outside my home. Despite thieves having to saw into my exhaust, neither I nor my neighbours noticed until the following morning, when I was greeted by a terrible noise from my engine.

“The cost of repair far outweighed the value of my Jazz. More annoyingly, the police offered no support other than giving me a crime reference number. I’ve now changed to a Peugeot 208 diesel.”

Mrs B (doesn’t want to be named)

“Mine was stolen while I was in Tesco for only 15 minutes. So many Auris Hybrids had been targeted that it took nine weeks to get my car back, as the garage couldn’t get the parts, plus my car insurance increased by 28 per cent.”

Right of replies

Toyota

They said: “Catalytic converter theft is a serious problem in the UK and its effect on victims are emotional as well as financial. We continue to do all we can both as a manufacturer and working with police and others to help put an end to this crime. But ultimately as a car company our scope of action is always going to be limited.”

Toyota, which would typically replace around 300 to 400 broken or faulty catalytic converters in the UK each year, was initially overwhelmed by the volume of customers who had been affected. This was compounded by the fact that the targeted models were no longer on sale and spare parts were no longer in production. With a demand for many thousands of replacement catalytic converters in 2020, the brand chose to retool and resume production of legacy catalytic converters in both France and Japan – a move estimated to have cost tens of millions of pounds.

Since then, Toyota has invested significantly in Smart Water forensic identification kits, which it is rolling out across its dealer network. It aims to make Toyota and Lexus models ‘untouchable’ by making the catalytic converters of 130,000 vulnerable cars entirely traceable. Tens of thousands of kits are also being donated to police forces and the AA for use on cars of any make or model deemed at risk.

Honda

Honda said it revised its exhaust design in 2008 to position the catalytic converter in the engine bay to make it less accessible. But when Which? asked it why Jazz models built after this date remained a prominent target for thieves, Honda didn’t supply an answer. It also would not tell us the potential number of cars that could be affected.

Honda has also issued the following statement: “Honda UK recommends owners of these cars follow the advice given by police. This advice includes parking inside a locked garage, near walls or other vehicles to make it harder to get underneath the car. All Honda vehicles currently on sale are fitted with Thatcham-approved alarms as standard.”

About Which?

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