I’ve written about car theft in previous blogs, but have never touched on the fact that some thieves are just as happy stealing parts of your car as they are driving away with the entire set of wheels. Most of us think that the criminals are after our car stereos and other high tech gear, but according to the American Automobile Association, these days car thieves are after certain parts located underneath your vehicle.
Experts from the popular auto club say thieves are after your car’s catalytic converter. You may not know what it looks like, but you would certainly know if you were driving around without it because of the sound your vehicle would make. Without a catalytic converter car experts say your vehicle would sound like a semi-truck when you turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, last year a record number of catalytic converters were swiped right out from the underbellies of people’s cars. The bureau calls the car part a hot commodity for thieves and says in most cases criminals are taking the parts right off and selling them.
So what exactly is a catalytic converter and do you really need one to get around? According to the AAA, the federal government requires the heavy metal device to filter out harmful emissions. Most are made of platinum, rhodium and palladium—materials which provide thieves with a pretty penny when they sell them to unknowing scrap recyclers.
The one scrap of good news about this disturbing trend may be that the record level of thefts has prompted the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries to take steps to put the brakes on the crime.
“We have told our members anyone who brings in a catalytic converters who you don’t know already to be either an auto dismantler or the owner of an auto repair shop should be at least a little suspicious,” an executive of the industry recently told news reporters.
If you think your vehicle has been hit by a catalytic converter thief experts say it’s critical you do not drive your car. Driving your vehicle without the part could be hazardous—mainly because exhaust from your car could start to melt wires, cables and hoses and start a fire.
If you find yourself the victim of a catalytic converter thief replacing the part will run you about $1,000. (That’s not counting any damage the thieves cause to your car while they’re swiping the part.)
As far as protecting yourself from catalytic converter theft experts say there is not much you can do besides parking your car in a locked garage or leaving it in a well-lit area.
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