Catalytic Theft - Don't be a Victim!

Catalytic theft has become a major problem especially on Prius Hybrid and plug-in models.
This video explains why this is happening and how you can take steps to avoid having your catalytic converter stolen.
The video mentions the vehicles MOST targeted for catalytic theft. Other in demand vehicles include the Chevy Silverado, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, GMC Sierra, Toyota Corolla, Honda CRV, Dodge Ram 1500.

[@1jackvalley580]

Yes, my Honda Element was one of the many that had the cat converter stolen. It is parked outside at an apartment building parking lot, so it's easy to steal at night. There is a big problem with insurance companies wanting to total the Honda Elements instead of having them repaired. I'm sure the reason is because of the cost associated with the huge repair expense, and Honda Elements are older vehicles no longer being made after 2011. I found a little hole in the wall shop in a small town that put in a new inexpensive cat converter in hoping the thieves would not want it because it's not Oem replacement equipment and had it spray painted Bright 💚 green, replaced the sensor, and had my vin number engraved in the cat converter, and had the pipes all welded in, total cost that I paid without using insurance was $450.00. Sad to say, but stolen catalytic converters are not the only big problem involved here in this theft, THERE IS ALSO THE CORRUPTION OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES!!!!!

[@Cartier_specialist]

I'd like to see the VIN added in the future but more importantly if they would crackdown on the places buying the catalytic converters the demand would cease to exist.

[@Leonardokite]

Good advice but a little too late for me. I parked my motorhome in my driveway at the end of October and just a few days ago I went out to get a few things out of it and decided it would be a good time to start it up and run it for a bit. Nothing but a big roar! I knew immediately that I had been had and I looked underneath and indeed that was the case. My only saving grace is that in my state motorhomes don't need to have catalytic converters because they are not operated very often comparatively speaking to cars. So instead of 2500 it will be just a few hundred dollars or so to fill the gap. I now have surveillance cameras on order for my car parking area. At least I will have a chance to find out who did it.

[@Rustyhook1]

You need to do more videos. They are top quality and have enjoyed all you have done. Keep them coming.

[@ferisarr]

Thank you very much for this information. I'm a risk manager and I'm dealing with a this problem right now. Thieves stole from one of our messenger vans (Nissan) the catalytic. In our case, the replacement cost is nearly $5,000 and we have a $1,000 deductible from the insurance. I bet insurance companies will either provide an exclusion for this part or will apply a higher deductible in new Auto Physical Damage policies. I'm subscribing to your channel!. Thanks!!

[@Yellow-Rose]

Omg I had no idea I had a jewelry store inside my cat converter! This advice is gold itself. Thank you so much car Angel!

[@thomasbasler8112]

You provided really good advice. I like the idea of requiring car manufactures to engrave your Vin number on the Catalytic Converter. I really enjoy your videos, always very informative. It has been a while since your last video. Stay well! Thank you

[@manthony225]

The best way to stop this is to hold the people who are buying stolen CC's responsible. I don't see how engraving the VIN would help. Couldn't it just be scratched out?

[@1jackvalley580]

Absolutely Correct 🌟

[@ignacioxxi]

@@1jackvalley580 well, you cant recover your cat if its stolen and scratched out, but will make clear its stolen and anyone handling or buying a scratched out cat will know its illegal

[@Mic420m]

Abso fing lutely

[@Mic420m]

​@@ignacioxxi they know cut ccs are stolen. But whatever

[@JohnSmith-cb5nk]

Thank you and please do more videos, your information is solid and fits a niche area of content on YT. Enjoy the way the info is presented.

[@givemyselfthecreeps]

Hi mr Macke, I've been following your channel for a few years, and I want to say that you are constantly one of my favorite content-makers. Keep up the good work!

[@dandork20]

This is an amazing channel. Thanks for all the hard work!

[@landshass2849]

My 2007 Honda Accord with 350K miles was totaled in a side crash. My local junkyard offered to buy it for $700 if it still has the original factory catalytic converter, which it did. They paid $700, removed the Cadillac converter, and they crushed the rest of the car.

[@constanceconniefreitag4393]

Im impressed that it had 350k miles on it!

[@williamwebberjr8045]

Great explanation about this problem.

[@bucsh00tt28]

Very helpful advise. Thanks. Also keep a bat or club handy so you can ask the thief, 1 lump or 2? Be careful though.

[@dixonrenyin95ugo]

Thank you Mr Greg, nice work man

[@reinaldimarquez3037]

Thank for the video Greg! I was checking the description for a list but I don’t see anything. Any update if you will post the list soon? Hoping for more videos from you this year!

[@RyanRusich]

Always appreciate your videos Greg Wish you made even more!!

[@premswarooppaul1109]

Very informative. Thank you very much. Best wishes from India.

[@sherryowen6150]

Thanks for this, Greg!! Nice job!

[@tacticoolgent1784]

Good stuff, thank you sir.

[@dougj102463]

Thanks for posting. Excellent overview. One thing to add: Prius catalytic converters are manufactured with a higher amount of those precious metals than most new cars, from what I’ve heard on other KZbin videos.

[@DListening]

Thanks for the tip. I think I will paint my catalytic converter bright orange to make it stand out.

[@jamietoro8373]

Very informative- I had no idea.

[@ibmtpx24]

The college in my neighborhood just had several cars lose their cat last week. People are suffering.

[@The_Macaroon]

Massive problem in the UK too

[@cmburns2606]

Great stuff as always

[@reneeandchrisforever]

My 2023 Tundra came with a cat converter cover plate. Worth every penny for the piece of mind.

[@JR-nm2zu]

Thank you

[@mrslcom]

Does the catalytic converter on my 20-year old car still have any value?

[@jimmysmithers5526]

Greg have you heard of the 600,000 mile NYC taxi Toyota Prius with the original engine and hybrid battery?

[@Dan-vy8he]

Good advice

[@sl4983]

Our police department had an event where they etched people's catalytic converters, spray painted them, and kept a record of the number/name.

[@eyeofthetiger7]

This happened to me last year.

[@MarioLopez-iq1kq]

This happened to a friend of mine twice a few months ago to her Prius. In 2 different cities! She ended up reading for a different car to not deal with it happening again :/

[@edwinburrell7704]

Thank you very much for the information oh my gosh. I will pass this song

[@tonywirth6722]

He’s back! Hello from 🇦🇺

[@michellewelch6013]

Good motivation to clean out the garage and park in the garage. Is all the garage junk worth leaving your car vulnerable to theft?

[@Cartier_specialist]

The 1st thing I did when I moved into my house other than having the water and gas turned on was get a new garage door opener installed and started parking my car inside. In fact an attached garage was one of my "must haves" when searching for a new house. It makes a huge difference on the life of your car, not to mention the convenience and comfort.

[@helene420]

Of course but not everyone has a house or a garage. I live in a city w tons of apt & condo buildings, many people are parked in open lots. The cat converter theft here is out of control. Even people parking in "secure" parking garages at apts or condos are still getting vandalized or their cars stolen outright, it happens here constantly. I'm in a very safe neighborhood in a secure condo building and although we don't get a lot of theft, we've had thieves get into our garage and vandalize cars and stolen thousands of $$ worth of personal items in our storage units. In 4 1/2 yrs it happened about 5 times. And that's a high end safe neighborhood.

[@ozarklife9996]

My cat on my civic is under the hood in a vertical position. That should help me out some. But my wife's 97 avalon is underneath.

[@EpicNickbad]

Thanks Jordan Peterson 💪💪 love you bro

[@YAMAHA_FAN.]

yesterday someone steal from my mom's car which is 2005 honda accord front of my house and you just post a video and cops told me there is no any way we actually catch them because the number plate of their car was also fake

[@sl4983]

So the culprits are the junkyards??

[@mikefoehr235]

If someone steals the cats from my Tundra, HP will go up and fuel economy may improve.

[@8peterp]

not sure this less running engine is true ,and that's why Prius cat is more interesting for thieves. there is more about the engine running cold more so metal composition is different ,more rhodium maybe (?) and old Prius have metal substrate not ceramic. here they taking old Toyota Yaris cats ,look very similar to Prius 2

[@Gonzo_Bubb]

He lives!

[@dafff08]

despite this being a serious problem, nothing beats the hilariousness of hearing a jerk approaching and getting passed by a prius.

[@1malikalik]

As if a VIN NUMBER engraved in a Catalytic converter will make a Thief Stop from stealing it. Dumb!!!! That's like saying, a Car with a VIN NUMBER will not be stolen. Nothing can stop these crooks buddy. A Grinder will scrap off the in a hurry. In addition, the metal shell casing is worthless the precious metals are inside and a thief can harvest that and toss the casing away.

[@Moshe_Dayan44]

How about a hand granade that gets the pin pulled when they pull off/tamper with the cat? Are they still going to steal it?

[@TheDistas]

And how exactly engraving a VIN or painting a CAT with any color is going to help is they are after the metals, which means the CATs will be dismantled. So who cares if it has VIN or not, painted or not if they just take it to pieces and I guess then use quite a bit of acid to extract the metals. Having whatever engraved on a CAT is not going to help a bit. It might be a factor only if they steal it for installing onto another car. But even then, who's going to bother enough to check if the engraved VIN matches or not

[@YourCarAngel]

It’s only a deterrent for the facilities that would buy the cars from the low paid thieves. The chamber housing would be evidence and I don’t think these places would want that to come to light. It’s not an airtight solution but a step in the right direction.

[@1jackvalley580]

I agree that it is a small step in the right direction, but a very small step. Police having stopped drivers for many different reasons, have found cars with back seats filled with a lot of sawed off catalytic converters, could not arrest the THIEVES because there was no proof all of those stolen converters were not his\her converters. If the cat conv had the VIN NUMBERS ON THEM, THEY COULD ARREST THE THIEVES. Yes it's a small step, but the Biggest Problem is the places that are buying the converters. I have read that many of these stolen converters are temporarily stored in big storage units, then trucked to ship yards and off to China they go.

[@boobtubeakatv1296]

There IS an American Company that sells a Stainless Steel plate that can protect a cat from being stolen on Gen II Prius's... It's about $350 ... Just Google it...

[@oldmcdonald1759]

Think i'll steal my own cat - might be worth more than the car

[@lukespack]

Why are thieves not going after pickup trucks and SUVs more than sedans. They are higher off the ground and are extremely popular.

[@malcolmjelani3588]

Ive gotten a lot of cat converters over the years. I needed the money and ppl weren't protecting them. My gain, there loss.

[@rileyjones750]

I guess going all electric would be the best option :(

[@rk22cc]

that has too many other drawbacks

[@lucast594]

You wrong , if they can take it , they will damage the car . On my neighbor sequoia, they cut the pipe, break line ,and gas tank, 2 doors scratched to the metal .as a mechanical ing and a lot of money . He’s working on some devices that will trap the thieves under the car .for now he install a horn and a siren so loud , that the thief under the car is going tho bleed from the ears and probably become deaf. Some people have a shoot gun by the door , this guy are risking their life or become handicap for 500$ .

[@rickt2419]

Your video/information is about two (2) years behind, very sad to see you making this video now... Ug! In addition, by making all those modifications (including engraving the VIN - the cost to to do so and implement into the assembly process will NOT be free to car buyers) to prevent the Cat. from theft, you are already making yourself a victim, Derp!

[@michaelsonsarmiento5943]

We need to hang thieves in public squares again as a warning to others.

[@tbone8713]

Someone stole my wife's cat right in front of our house 😡

[@LosGordosSomoAsi]

I stole my own cats before someone else. Lol i have a 07 prius and sold off my cats. Got 1150 for em. I know i could have gotten more but was good quick money. I live where no emission are checked , so it has a strait pipe.

[@buddygoservice4621]

Hello Mr Greg This is EAGLE from Buddygo. We are a car product service company, we mainly produce the car Cabin Air Filter for cars. My purpose of contacting you is to seek business cooperation, and I look forward to your reply. best wishes

[@christianankney]

Nobody is going to plug your fake ass cabin filter dude

[@1970Mrscott]

Good advice