A worrying trend witnessed amid the fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic is an alarming rise in car and auto part thefts. Though the prevailing situation forced people to stay indoors, figures provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau showed that auto thefts in 2020 increased by a total of 9.2 percent compared to the previous year, resulting in a total of 873,080 vehicles stolen.
The rise in car crime caught the authorities off guard, as former police chief Brian Higgins mentions, in a video by CNBC, that car theft was on a consistent decline over the years, with 2020 being a significant spike. David Glawe, president of the NICB and a former FBI agent, highlighted that car thefts were happening more in certain states and to certain vehicles than others. California, Texas, and Florida are the worst affected states. Similarly, owners of vehicles like Ford and Chevy pickups, as well as Honda sedans, have been the most common victims.
Car theft, however, isn’t the only issue that U.S. owners have to contend with. Catalytic converter thefts have also seen a steady rise due to the high values of the metals they contain and just how easy it is to strip one off a vehicle. A catalytic converter is an essential part of the exhaust emission control on a car, and without it, owners risk failing emissions regulations, not to mention the increased noise.
Read: Stolen Catalytic Converters Recovered Amounting to $750,000, 19 Arrested In LA
Tony Nguyen, owner of Bayshore Auto in California, reports that every month he gets around ten cars coming in with stolen catalytic converters, unlike anything he has ever seen before. Most of the stolen parts are sold to recycling centers or sketchy body shops who will sell them for between $50 to $250.
2020 saw a steady rise in these thefts producing an average of 1,203 converters stolen every month across the U.S., significantly more than the 282 per month seen in 2019. The US is not alone either. Earlier this month, Toyota UK announced that they would be spending £1 million adding covert markings to more than 100,000 catalytic converters across the UK to help identify them and, if stolen and found, lead back to a specific crime.
Of note us how the pandemic has become a catalyst to these crimes in multiple ways. Due to lockdowns and other restrictions, mining the precious metals used for catalytic converters has seen prices rise. Meanwhile, the thefts themselves have increased demand, which means that victims are in for a long wait for replacements.
Read: In A Bid To CatchThieves Toyota UK Will Add Invisible Markings To Catalytic Converters
Once again, this crime favors certain prey, with the Toyota Prius being a preferred target due to it having two catalytic converters. What makes a Prius’ cats even more desirable is that, due to their hybrid drivetrains, they are likely to be in better condition than other vehicles’. That doesn’t mean that old gas guzzlers are safe, though. Catalytic converter thefts are also prevalent in pickup trucks and SUVs with higher ground clearance, which makes it easier for thieves to reach the converter.
Glawe says that the most effective way to tackle the issue is by creating more employment opportunities and social services that will discourage people from committing theft to get by during these times. For vehicle owners, the best thing you could do is ensure that your vehicle keys are on you at all times, as well as improving your car’s connectivity to your smart devices so that it can be tracked down in the worst-case scenario.
To prevent catalytic converter thefts, it is advised to always park your vehicle in a secure area inside a closed or locked garage. Regardless, it’s a good idea to have a chat with your insurance company about their coverage services for such instances.
