A year and half ago, we told you about the skyrocketing rise in catalytic converter thefts. Even more recently we shared info from the National Insurance Crime Bureau's latest Hot Wheels report citing that in 2021 catalytic converter theft claims increased 1,215% compared to pre-pandemic 2019.
Now comes a report from State Farm with a staggering statistic. The largest insurer of automobiles in the U.S. says based on its auto claims data, catalytic converted thefts are up more than 400% over 2019 numbers.
July 2021-June 2022
When it comes to the past year or so, State Farm says between July 2021 and June 2022 catalytic converter theft grew 109% nationally, in terms of the number of claims filed, compared to the previous 12 months. During this recent period more than 43,219 of these parts were stolen and reported by State Farm customers compared to just above 20,600 in the previous 12 months (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021).
First Half of 2022
Now let's look at the first half of 2022. In the first six months of the year, State Farm says it's received over 23,000 catalytic converter theft claims. The data from the most recent 12-month period indicates that the ranking of the top 5 states in catalytic converter theft is:
- California - with more than 2 out of 10 (24.5%) claims being filed in the Golden State
- Texas -with roughly 1 out of 10 (13.58%) of these claims
- Illinois
- Washington
- Minnesota
Why the catalytic converter
If you aren't sure where you catalytic converter is or why it's so valuable to thieves, you're not alone. State Farm says many driver's don't know where the catalytic converted is located on their vehicle. The answer is underneath. If your automobile is powered by gasoline or diesel, it has at least one catalytic converter under it. A part of the exhaust system required in US vehicles since 1975, it helps reduce the contaminants emitted by the exhaust.
The reason these auto parts are so enticing to thieves is because of the rare metals that are inside catalytic converters – including platinum, palladium or rhodium – can be worth several hundred to several thousand dollars. Some thieves go as far as removing these metals to sell them on the black market.
Cars Most Likely To Have Their Catalytic Converters Stolen
If you're the owner of a Ford F-Series, Honda Accord, or Jeep Patriot, you'll want to be on extra alert. A recent CarFax report lists those as the top three vehicles more likely to have their CC's stolen nationwide. If you live in the West, the Prius takes the #1 spot. Read the list by region here.
How to stop thefts
Stopping thefts isn't easy. These things are easy to remove - especially in tall SUVs easier to access- and it doesn't take long either. If you hear the engine without any muffler, well that's when you'll know your CC is missing.
Parking your car in a secure garage or a well-lit area is the easiest way to prevent theft. Other tips are installing a sensitive alarm system, having a security camera pointing at your car in its usual parking spot, or engraving your VIN on your car’s catalytic converter.
State Farm says you can also ensure that your auto insurance policy covers the theft of your entire vehicle or any of its parts, through comprehensive coverage.
State Legislation
There are a number of states that have legislation in place or bills in the works to combat catalytic converted thefts. You can check out the NICB's list here.
Photo Credit: Fru-fru/Shutterstock.com.