Protect Yourself from Catalytic Converter Thieves

Since 1975, all vehicles in the United States are mandated to have a catalytic converter. Your vehicle's catalytic converter is a device used to reduce the toxicity of emissions released from your cars exhaust system. Thieves are hel in! themselves to catalytic converters that contain enou!h latinum, alladium or rhodium and they are ma"in! rofits at your ex ense. You mi!ht #ecome a$are that your catalytic converter has #een stolen $hen your vehicle starts $ith a !ravelly roar% if your converter is stolen, file a olice re ort immediately after the theft is discovered. &ccordin! to the 'Y() catalytic converter thefts ty ically ha en to vehicles that are ar"ed for rolon!ed eriods in lar!e lots. Such as sho in! centers, mass transit commuter lots or com any ar"in! lots. *ehicles that sit hi!her from the !round, such as truc"s, ic"+u s and SU*s, are articularly vulnera#le to catalytic converter theft #ecause thieves can slide underneath $ithout havin! to ,ac" u the vehicle to !ain access to the converter. -ith ,ust a fe$ cuts of a #attery+ o$ered sa$, the catalytic converter can #e stolen in less than a minute.

To prevent catalytic converter theft; Follow these tips

. (ar" in areas $here your vehicle $ill most easily #e seen #y assers+#y. /or exam le, ar" under li!hts after dar" or near $indo$s at a #usiness or ar" near security cameras, if ossi#le. . 0f you o$n or $or" at a #usiness or factory, ar" $ithin a fenced area that's #usy durin! the day and secured at ni!ht. . (urchase a vehicle security system and ma"e sure its set to tri!!er $ith ,ust the sli!htest motion. . *isit a local muffler sho and have the converter secured to the vehicles frame $ith hardened steel $elded to the frame. . 1tch your converter $ith your vehicles license late num#er in several different locations. This $ill hel olice trac" your ro erty if it is stolen.