Contact us. Police have warned catalytic converter thieves are on the prowl again - and they're targeting Toyotas and Hondas. The effect on you or your business is often expensive as it can cause a loss of revenue, loss of the vehicle, cost to hire a replacement vehicle, cost to pay your insurance excess and possible increased insurance premiums. The one I bought had its car converter ripped out on the lot, and the dealer replaced it. How to protect yourself from a catalytic converter theft. “The National Insurance Crime Bureau, the prime data source for vehicle thefts reported to insurance companies, stopped tracking converter thefts after 2015,” according to Car and Driver.. “In that year, the NICB wrote that nearly 4000 catalytic converters were reported stolen … These numbers reflect just insured thefts, so the actual … RE :The Catalytic Converter was stolen from my car. Catalytic converters are devices that reduce the toxic gases and pollutants emitted in exhaust gas. How Widespread is the Problem of Catalytic Converter Theft? Older cars use more precious metals and their catalytic converters are often easier to get to. Chicago actually led the nation in catalytic converter theft in 2016. The police can fine drivers up to £1,000 if a catalytic converter is missing. Having a replacement catalytic converter fitted to a Toyota Prius will cost around £1,300 including labour. These tips have been sourced by several police agencies as well and are as follows: When possible, park in well-lit areas and close to building entrances. You should be able to claim on your insurance for the theft of the catalytic converter. Police in Lindsay, Ont., are investigating multiple reports of stolen catalytic converters this week. At Muffler Tech we are doing up to 5 Prius’s a day now for catalytic converter replacement due to theft and we deal with all major insurance companies. If I make a claim for this on my insurance will it effect my no claims bonus? The higher up your car sits, the greater the chance of theft. The converters are located in boxes on the exhaust pipes of cars. As the catalytic converter cleans up the gases going through it, the fewer gases it has to deal with, the cleaner it will be. This is regardless of a driver’s knowledge of the theft. Recent figures from AA Insurance reveals the number of catalytic converter thefts have increased ten-fold since the start of the year. Insurance claims data shows that 25,394 catalytic converters were reported stolen from 2008 through 2015. There have been cases where insurers have refused to take new customers who have claimed for catalytic converter theft. Irish car owners have been warned about a significant increase in the theft of catalytic converters. "I just want people to be aware," she said. CAR THEFT offences for sought after catalytic converter parts has dramatically increased since June with the number of incidents said to be "significant". This makes the vehicle illegal to drive on the road. A thief can steal a catalytic converter in less time than it takes to grab a cup of coffee. But the National Insurance Crime Bureau notes that figure only reflects insured thefts. Looking at the London boroughs which have seen thefts of catalytic converters jump the most in the last year, it’s clear to see that thefts have skyrocketed across the capital, but the borough which saw the biggest increase was Sutton, where cases rose from just 26, 12 months prior, to 444, an … Can I claim on my insurance for a stolen catalytic converter? And it’s not just insurance companies seeing the increase; the Metropolitan Police report a 73% rise in cat thefts with almost 3,000 reported stolen in the first half of 2019, compared with 1,674 for the whole of 2018. However, if yours is stolen and you claim for it on your insurance you’ll lose your no claims bonus. Recent Lancer Insurance Company claim statistics show that catalytic converter thefts from passenger vans are on the rise. Seven catalytic converters have been reported stolen from Lancer insured vans within the past week, with thieves likely dismantling or sawing off the parts for the precious metals contained inside. Catalytic Converter Protective Sleeves. SUVs and trucks are particularly at risk, with late-model Toyotas and some Nissans being favorite targets. Insurance loss control services provide solutions. Chicagoans experienced 980 converter thefts between 2008-2016, which was 15 percent more over that time frame than second-ranked Sacramento, California, which had 850. Once a car owner declares they have been rejected by an insurer, finding cover elsewhere is difficult. This is for two reasons. Catalyst converter theft is on the rise Although catalytic converter theft isn’t new, by many accounts, it’s on the rise. That number rose to 3,986 at the end of 2015—an increase of 23 percent—according to a review of insurance claims data. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that from 2008 through 2015, there were 25,394 catalytic converter thefts across the nation. Rose is now just working through her insurance and doesn't know how much the catalytic converter theft will cost her. The scale of the problem seems to vary across the country. Speaking about the fact that the number of catalytic converter theft claims had soared, a spokesperson for insurance provider, LV=, said: “Between 2018 and 2019, we’ve seen more than a 600% increase in the number of claims relating to catalytic converters, with the average cost being about £1,000.” I have good insurance, but I’m seeing some people have had their cat ripped out multiple times. The model you have has the catalytic converter in the engine bay rather than underneath the car – where it is much more secure. The theft of catalytic converters from cars isn’t a new crime, but it has increased significantly in recent times. Catalytic converter thefts have dramatically increased with police forces reporting over six times the number of crimes in 2019. The London boroughs with the biggest increase in catalytic converter thefts . An epidemic of catalytic converter theft, largely from hybrid petrol/electric cars, is now becoming a major insurance headache for their owners. All three options together cost around $500, which is about the same as an insurance deductible -- and much lower than the price of replacing a catalytic converter that has been stolen. We offer coverage-based consultation for: Commercial auto From a few vehicles to a full fleet, Nationwide Loss Control Services has solutions to help keep your drivers safe. Although catalytic converter thefts represent a very small proportion of all insurance claims made, the number of claims the AA has received has steadily increased since January 2018. Its patented cable cage design surrounds the catalytic converter with aircraft-grade wire rope. In communication with insurance company about next steps. The most popular cars for cat theft are older petrol-electric hybrid models. On Friday a couple of thugs stole the catalytic convereter. Symptoms of Catalytic Converter Theft If, for example, the cost to replace your catalytic converter after a theft is $1,000, you may decide to not file a claim if your deductible is $1,000. Protecting your car from catalytic converter theft In Canada, several cities have been hit by a string of thefts over the past year, as the price of precious metals has soared. They didn't dismantle the pipes, just cut the whole thing off with a power saw and ran away. In 2008, there were 3,246 thefts of catalytic converters. Catalytic converter theft is underreported. The CatClamp® was invented to prevent thieves from stealing your catalytic converter. Although catalytic converter thefts represent a very small proportion of all insurance claims made, the number of … Nationwide, the exact number of catalytic converter thefts is hard to pin down. This is another one that's more to do with common sense and lowering the chances of a crime being committed generally - it's not specific to catalytic converter theft. The Met Police have reported that catalytic converter theft cost the UK vehicle owner over £10 million in 2012-2013. Police forces around the UK, including those in West Yorkshire, London and Nottinghamshire, are advising owners of any car fitted with a catalytic converter to take precautions.. Any car fitted with a catalytic converter could be at risk. Honda told us: "Versions of Honda cars from 2008 onwards have been designed to house the catalytic converter where it cannot be reached by thieves with later versions having the catalytic converter bolted direct to the engine inside the engine bay. A few unlucky drivers have had their catalytic converter stolen twice, meaning they have had to make two separate insurance claims. This is only a deterrent to the catalytic converter thief who works only with a wrench. Anything which delays the theft will do the trick. Allstate Insurance shared their tips for preventing the theft of a “cat” from your vehicle. They're not criminal masterminds, they want an easy life. The repairs are going to cost a lot, and it’ll be a particular headache if your insurance doesn’t cover you for theft. We can customize effective cost-reduction and loss-reduction solutions for your business. Update: My car is a 2002 Honda Accord. For installation, custom tools are not needed. Yes. Attempted catalytic converter theft in PoCo leads to vehicle fire – Jul 11, 2019 Police agencies have been sounding the alarm about a rise in catalytic converter … Catalytic Converter Protective Sleeves– Protective coverings for your catalytic converter, such as the device known as the “Cat Strap” or “Cat Clamp” can deter thieves as well. Thereby making it difficult to cut even with power tools. Hey all- I just bought a 2008 EX yesterday and only now discovered I now have a target for catalytic converter theft. Still, in some cases, it might be enough of a deterrent to help prevent a theft. If you have to claim on your insurance, you will need to pay an excess and may lose your NCD. So the true number of catalytic converter thefts is likely much higher. A few drivers have had their catalytic converter stolen twice, meaning they have had to make two separate insurance claims. 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