Thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles parked on the street and in driveways are on the rise, an insurer has warned this week.
Criminals have in recent years preyed on the exhaust devices as they contain valuable metal parts that can be sold at a premium.
Records show that thefts declined when the UK went into lockdown from March. However, there’s been a ‘significant’ rise since June, says Admiral – and it has named the four cars organised criminals are identifying as prime targets.
Catalytic converter thefts is becoming a huge crime problem in the UK.
The motor insurer said it received a massive 400 claims in January alone for damage caused to vehicles when thieves had ripped the emissions-reducing devices from the underside of their petrol-powered cars.
And that’s just one insurance provider among handfuls operating in the country.
Admiral said there had been a dip in claims of this type as more people stayed at home in the first lockdown restrictions.
It said just 52 claims were made in April – an 87 per cent decline in thefts.
Unfortunately, these types of thefts are dramatically rising again as restrictions in some parts of the country have eased, says Lorna Connelly, head of claims at Admiral.
‘The increase since June has been significant, and shows thieves are back to stealing the precious metals found in catalytic converters in some cars, which are then being sold on for a profit,’ she explained.
And criminals have models that they have earmarked for having the best-quality parts.
All are hybrid cars, which are ripe for thieves as the catalytic converters contain a higher concentration of precious metals and are generally less corroded.
Admiral says data shows the most susceptible hybrid models are the Honda Jazz, Toyota Prius, Toyota Auris and Lexus RX of all generations and ages.
Hybrid cars are ripe for thieves as the catalytic converters contain a higher concentration of precious metals and are generally less corroded.It’s no surprise then that the Toyota Prius – the most-bought hybrid in the UK – is among the list of cars criminals are preying on
Honda’s hybrid version of the Jazz is also on the shopping list of these organised criminals.The Jazz is popular among older drivers and therefore tend to have accumulated fewer miles, meaning their catalytic converters will be in good condition
The Toyota Auris hybrid (left) – the sister car to the Prius – has also been identified by Admiral as a prime target. The Lexus RX hybrid SUV (right) is another model that’s often preyed on by thieves of catalytic converters
Admiral’s warning comes after an investigation by BBC Radio 5 Live into the spike in catalytic converter crime earlier this year.
It calculated that thefts of the devices from the underside of cars had risen six-fold in 2019 with 13,000 reported cases in England and Wales – up from 2,000 the year previous.
It found that criminal gangs stealing catalytic converters are predominantly operating in the capital, though footage of thefts taking place in other locations – which have been featured on MailOnline and This is Money – show that it is spreading outside London.
In an added nasty twist, the BBC said criminals are actively going after vehicles owned by NHS staff – because they are parked for prolonged periods during shifts, giving them ample time to remove the devices.
Catalytic converters – which are fitted to all petrol cars manufactured from 1993 – are there to reduce the harmful pollutants emitted from vehicle exhaust pipes.
They do this by taking the gases produced and converting them into water vapour and less harmful emissions via a series of chemical reactions.
The devices are made up of an array of valuable materials including palladium, rhodium and platinum – and criminal gangs are well aware of this small fortune stored beneath your vehicle.
Currently, palladium is even more valuable than gold, having doubled over two years, while rhodium is more than four times higher in value than gold, according to a .
It found that a Troy ounce (1.1 ounce) of gold is worth $1,731 (£1,392), while palladium sells for $1,914 (£1,539).
Rhodium, which is sold in normal ounces, was priced at $8,300 (£6,675) an ounce in June.
Platinum is around half the value of gold currently.
Buy Testosterone Cypionate Online With Prescription gangs likely to have regular buyers for the metals lined-up, it has simply become a case of sawing the devices off cars as quickly as possible to escape undetected.
‘Year on year we’ve seen an increase in this type of theft so despite the drop in the number of stolen catalytic converters earlier in the year, it looks like thefts are now rising again at a worrying rate,’ Connelly added.
‘Regardless of which car you own, you should do everything you can to make sure it’s parked in a safe and secure place, especially at night, to reduce the risk of your car being affected.’
