Catalytic converters are the most tempting of all the parts a thief could steal from your car. They're quick to steal, and they fetch a hefty sum when thieves recycle them. There are several ways to protect your converter, and one of them is the catalytic converter shield. But does it work?
Yes, a cat shield will reduce the chances of a thief stealing your catalytic converter. It has a metal panel and tamper-proof bolts, making it challenging for thieves to access and remove. The catalytic converter shield acts as a deterrent because it increases the odds of thieves getting caught.
In this guide, you'll understand what catalytic converters are and why thieves love stealing them. Then, you'll get a closer look at whether cat shields are worth your investment or a waste of money.
How Long Does It Take to Steal a Cats Con?
It only takes 1 minute to steal a catalytic converter.
That’s right! In 1 minute, someone can crawl under your car and cut the catalytic converter out. Then, they’ll be gone long before you even realise something’s missing from your car’s underside.
That's one reason why catalytic converter theft is prevalent.
Generally, most people assume that thieves only want to break into the car to steal valuables or electronics, like the in-car entertainment system (ICE). Or that a thief would steal the whole vehicle outright in a worst-case scenario.
That's not always the case. You see, there are two reasons why thieves love catalytic converters:
- Firstly, because of what you read above: Catalytic converters are easy to steal – robbers only need 1 minute and a cutting tool.
- Secondly, the precious metal content earns thieves lots of money for each catalytic converter.
For most thieves, stealing a catalytic converter is much more tempting than trying to steal valuables in the cabin or stealing the entire vehicle.
How Can I Protect My Catalytic Converter from Being Stolen?
Now that you understand how quickly a thief can grab your car’s catalytic converter, you’ll likely want to know how to prevent that from happening.
You have at least 3 options to protect your catalytic converter from being stolen.
- Labelling: The first step is to label your catalytic converter somehow and make it traceable. You can do that by etching or engraving your car plate number onto the cat converter. Unfortunately, that won't do much good once the thieves take the catalytic converter apart.
- Cautious parking: Secondly, you can reduce the odds of your car becoming a target by parking in well-lit areas with high foot traffic. But remember that it only takes 1 minute to rip your catalytic converter out, so doing this might not help much.
- Anti-theft device: Lastly, you can install an anti-theft device, like a catalytic converter shield.
When you look closely at the 3 options above, you’ll notice some similarities. Options 1 and 2 don’t prevent the thief from removing your catalytic converter.
Option 1 might help police trace the catalytic converter back to your car, but that’ll only happen if the thieves get caught with it before recycling the converter.
Option 2 will only discourage those who aren’t confident they can steal the catalytic converter quickly enough.
However, option 3, the cat converter shield, makes it much more difficult for thieves to steal the thing in the first place.
Does a Catalytic Converter Shield Really Help Protect Cats Con Theft?
Yes, a cat shield will help protect your car against catalytic converter theft. The shield blocks thieves from reaching the catalytic converter to cut it out. Plus, the bolts that you use to secure the shield to your car are tamper-proof, making them too challenging to remove.
Still, there’s one thing you must never forget. A determined thief will still find a way regardless of the protection you put in their way. So, even with a catalytic converter shield in place, it’s still possible to steal your cat.
However, the goal here is to make your catalytic converter challenging to steal, and a catalytic converter shield will do just that.
By making things more difficult for the thieves, you’ll:
- Discourage them from trying to steal from your car because they know it’s not worth the effort and risk.
- Increase the odds of getting seen or caught while they continue trying to steal your catalytic converter.
Which Types of Cars Are Most at Risk of Cats Converter Theft?
Catalytic converters in hybrid vehicles, such as a Prius hybrid, face a higher risk of theft. That’s because the catalytic converter in Prius hybrid vehicles contains more precious metals than those in a standard combustion engine vehicle.
Remember that thieves love catalytic converters because there is a lot of money in them. We’re talking about expensive metals like platinum, rhodium, and palladium that can be recycled for money.
However, hybrids aren’t the only ones at the top of a thief’s list. They also love converters from larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks.
It’s not because there’s more precious metal in the converters of these large vehicles, but rather, because they’re higher off the ground, making it easier to get under and cut out the catalytic converter.
How Much Will It Cost to Install a Cat Converter Shield?
Installing a catalytic converter shield on your car in Australia will cost you hundreds, from as low as around $200 to $600 dollars or more.
You can expect to pay a different price depending on:
- Your car brand and model, as well as manufacturing year
- The cat converter shield brand
- The level of protection you want – higher level costs more, naturally
- Labour charges will differ between installers
At first glance, paying a few hundred to install a cat converter shield on your car might seem like too much. However, don’t hastily wave it off as a waste of money.
To put things into perspective, a brand-new catalytic converter for a Toyota Prius can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000 in Australia.
Replacing one stolen catalytic converter might be doable for you, but having to replace them multiple times due to repeated thefts? That'll drain anyone's finances, no matter how deep your pocket is.
So, here’s another way to look at cat shields. They’re another form of insurance. Sure, you might never need them, and your money would have gone to waste.
However, it’s better to have one and not need it than need one and not have it.
For more information on catalytic converters and cat shields, check out CarPartAU. There, you can request for new or used parts and get quotes from reputable sellers all over the country.
By Ray Hasbollah