All modern petrol cars have a catalytic converter (a cat). In simple terms, it is part of the car’s exhaust system and helps to remove harmful pollutants in a vehicle’s exhaust. They have had a significant impact in reducing harmful emissions and improving our environment.
But cats have become valuable to criminals because they contain rare and valuable metals which are used in the catalytic conversion process, in particular Platinum, Palladium and Rhodium. Thieves can jack up a car and saw off the cat in literally a couple of minutes. They are then sold to crooked scrap metal merchants who can recover the rare metals.
Although the crooks will collect a few pounds for the cat, the cost to the car owner is considerably more. As well as replacing the cat there is often significant damage to other parts of the vehicle which can add up to £500 or more. Whilst usually covered by insurance, the excess may make it impractical to claim.
Some cars are more at risk than others. Hybrid cars are favourite because they contain higher levels of rare metals with Honda Jazz, Lexus RX and Toyota Auris and Prius most frequently targeted. Some cats are more easily removed than others, but all petrol cars could be at risk.
It’s difficult to catch these thieves because the process is so quick and usually happens whilst the vehicle is parked, often at night. There have been cases of NHS workers being targeted near hospitals because the criminals know the vehicle will be left for long periods. But there have been a number of thefts locally, notably from the Asda car park in Burgh Heath.

Police are targeting the scrap metal yards to ensure that illegal cats are not being traded. They ask that the public be alert for someone working underneath cars in unusual circumstances and reporting such activity to them. Our local community police chief says that crimes get stopped by intelligence and they value public feedback via 101 (999 if it’s actually happening) or online on the police uk website.
If you want to remain anonymous then you can use CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

So what can be done to prevent your car’s cat being targeted?
1. Try to avoid parking in remote areas
2. Fit a device to make the cat harder to remove or have it welded to your car’s frame
3. Mark the cat so if it is stolen it may be identified
4. Fit a top of the range dash cam that records any movement of a car even when parked.
In reality it’s not easy to avoid. Careful parking makes sense, but it only takes minutes to remove a cat. At work and out and about, avoid quiet areas and park in locations that make it hard to jack up a vehicle. Fitting a device is probably excessive and may also damage your car. Marking the cat may not stop the theft but a warning sticker in the car stating it’s marked may help deter the criminal. It will also make the cat harder to dispose of and may track down the thief. A dash cam will not prevent a theft but may help catch the perpetrator.
Marking kits can be obtained online from SelectaMark and cost £24.99. They include 2 x heat resistant TESA security labels that are lasered with a unique code, 2 x warning window stickers and online registration to a Secure Asset Register.