It takes just minutes to separate an expensive catalytic converter from its donor vehicle.
The pollution reduction device can be removed easily with a portable grinder and once detached, the converter, filled with precious metals, is likely to end up in a container and shipped somewhere overseas.
Alternatively, the precious metals, “of significant monetary value,” can just be removed from the exhaust part and then sold, say police.
But stopping someone from ripping off your catalytic converter isn’t easy, especially if you have a Kia, Hyundai or Mitsubishi SUV, say Delta Police.
A/Insp. James Sandberg said recently that all cars can be targeted, but there’s a higher likelihood of theft from the above-three makes of SUVs.
“These makes and models are targeted more often by thieves,” Sandberg said.
That could either be because the converters are just easier to get at, or they’re worth more than converters from other manufacturers.
“Catalytic converter theft is lucrative for those involved,” he added. “The precious metals within a cat converter, when separated, have significant monetary value. The effort and time to steal a catalytic converter is minimal.”
According to Canadian Tire, a catalytic converter for a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe ranges in price from $125 to $675.
Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle’s exhaust and emission control system and contain palladium, rhodium and platinum, “and can be removed in minutes,” said a news release from the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
The ministry added there’s been a “noticeable uptick” in such thefts as prices rise for the precious metal they contain and is asking for public input via, an online survey, on how to prevent catalytic converter thefts.
Scrap metal dealers, recyclers, those in the auto business, police, and members of the general public, are all invited to share ideas.
In March 2022, the province required scrap metal dealers to report any purchases of catalytic converters to police although the ministry also said the parts are not sold to registered metal dealers.
In Delta, the seven most-targeted vehicles for catalytic converter thefts, in descending order, are the Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi RVR, Kia Sportage, Honda CRV and Honda Odyssey.
Last year in Delta, 213 such thefts were reported, with January 2023 being particularly high with 58 thefts. The number of thefts of catalytic converters in January of this year however, dropped to only six.
Sandberg said that people often ask that metal recyclers be targeted for enforcement, but police believe most converters are not entering the recycling stream and instead are just shipped overseas, or the precious metal is removed and sold.
Some measures auto owners can take to stop the thievery include anti-theft devices for catalytic converters, shields or cages around the catalytic converter, alarms, or barriers to keep someone from crawling beneath your vehicle, as well as parking in places that can keep thieves from slithering beneath your car.
Most catalytic converter thefts take place overnight, so if parking outside, try to find a well-lit area with security cameras and advise about of the use of cameras, police say.
According to ICBC, claims involving catalytic converters in just the first seven months of 2023 totalled $8.2 million.
