What city has the most catalytic converters stolen?

ILLINOIS, USA — Living in Illinois or Missouri makes you more liable to be a victim of a stolen catalytic converter according to a study from State Farm.

New data from the company shows catalytic converter theft is a growing problem across the country, with both Missouri and Illinois seeing dramatic increases this past year.

In a ranking of catalytic converter theft claims over the last year, Missouri came in seventh. The state experienced 467 claims. 

Texas ranked fourth in the number of claims made for catalytic converter thefts in 2020. This year, though, Texas is ranked second.

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  DALLAS — If it feels like you're hearing more about catalytic converters being stolen around Texas -- that may be because it's true, according to one recent report.

  According to State Farm, Texas ranks as the second state for the most catalytic converter thefts across the country.

  Nationally, the insurance company says it has paid nearly $21.5 million in claims for catalytic converter thefts so far in 2021. That's already $3 million more compared to the costs in the full year of 2020, according to the report.

  According to State Farm, in 2020, Texas ranked fourth in the number of claims made for catalytic converter thefts. This year, though, Texas is ranked second for the number of claims -- totaling $2.6 million.  

  First half of 2021 Claims | Cost

  1. California: 3,805 | $8.7M
  2. Texas: 1,380 | $2.6M
  3. Minnesota: 736 | $1.1M
  4. Washington: 619 | $960,000
  5. Illinois: 593 | $850,000

  Why are catalytic converter thefts on the rise?

  State Farm says it's because they're relatively easy to get to and steal; it can be done in less than 10 minutes. 

  Secondly, the metals used to make the catalytic converts include platinum, palladium and rhodium, all of which thieves sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars per ounce.

  Here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Irving police released a video of a catalytic converter theft where the suspect slides under the truck and cuts off the piece of metal within 60 seconds. One car dealership said thieves stole more than 20 converters from cars off the lot in a matter of minutes. And one theft even turned deadly, after a Fort Worth father tried to stop it from happening to his car.

  As of July 10, there had been 800 catalytic converter theft calls so far, with 300 thefts in the last two months, Dallas police said.

  In Texas, Toyota Tundra and Prius seem to be the choice vehicle for catalytic converter thefts for both 2020 and 2021, according to State Farm.

  Tips to prevent catalytic converter thefts

  State Farm recommended anti-theft protection, like a cable-locking device or a steel shield that runs along with the exhaust system on the bottom of a car. Additionally, inscribing the car’s VIN on the converter, so it's traceable, is another option. Using a $6 can of bright, high-temperature spray paint could also save money in the long run.

  Other tactics are to park inside the garage at night, or making sure a home’s outside lights are on and bright to deter thieves. You can also turn up the sensitivity on your car alarm so that if a thief jostles your car, it will activate. 

  If you are out running errands, park in a well-lit and public area. Consider installing motion-sensing lights for your driveway. Although lights may not provide complete security, they can make thieves think twice.

  Police also warn to be aware of the sound of a saw being used - that could be a sign that a thief is trying to cut off a catalytic converter. If you hear it, you should call police.

  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) — More catalytic converters are stolen in California than any other state and the number of thefts of these devices from cars and trucks has soared more than 1,000% in the past five years, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

  Earlier this month, police recovered at least 300 catalytic converters from a recycling business in Fremont. Investigators believe they had been stolen from vehicles and sold to the company.

  This August at the Delta Shores shopping center in Sacramento, a shopper claims he caught a woman in the act trying to steal someone’s catalytic converter after sliding under their car in a busy parking lot in broad daylight.

  Victims and law enforcement say that the theft of this auto part leaves them with the challenges of repairing damaged vehicles and having more organized thefts occurring throughout the state.

  For Katrice Christian of Sacramento, her 2007 Toyota Sequoia helps her navigate a busy schedule as a single mother of four.

  “This is my freedom. This is what gets us to where we’re supposed to go every day,” Christian said to FOX40 News.

  But just last month — in broad daylight — Christian became another victim of increasing catalytic converter thefts in Northern California.

  What vehicles are most targeted for catalytic converter theft?

  “I came outside, started my car like my normal schedule before I have to go to work and my car sounded like a race car,” she commented.  

  Home surveillance cameras captured the vehicle Christian believes dropped off the person who stole her catalytic converter, but he was in a blind spot and was not fully recorded on surveillance video.  

  Her SUV has two catalytic converters. The thief took the one on the right side. It cost Christian $2,000 for a new one, but she says that the emotional cost to her kids was much more.

  “We were doing sports but since we had to pay for a new catalytic converter, there is no football or cheer right now,” Christian lamented.  

  Catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed in California, from 1,300 reported thefts in 2018 to more than 52,000 in 2021. That is a 1,215 percent increase, according to data from Carfax.

  Own one of these vehicles? They are the most-stolen ones in California.

  Brian Cazares with Vega Auto Repair in Sacramento says he first noticed a spike in catalytic converter thefts last year. Since then, the number of victims walking into the shop has been rising, too.  

   “We get between 6 to 8 every month,” Cazares said to FOX40 News.  

  A catalytic converter changes the harmful compounds from your engine’s emissions into safe gases before they’re released into the air. Without it working properly, your car won’t pass a smog check, which is needed to register your vehicle.

  So why is it that thieves are after your catalytic converter? They want precious metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium that are inside of these catalytic converters. The value of these has drastically increased over the last few years.

  While any vehicle can be a target…some are more enticing than others.

  Cazares says that the cars most often missing a catalytic converter are different Honda and Toyota models.

  Stockton records more homicides in last two months than previous four

  According to Carfax, the ten most targeted vehicles on the West Coast include Toyota Prius, Ford F Series, Honda Accord, Ford Econoline, Chevrolet Silverado, Subaru Outback, Jeep Patriot, Honda Element, Subaru Forester and the Toyota Tacoma.

  “All it takes is someone rolling underneath your car with a tool and within 30 seconds they can be gone with a catalytic converter,” Sgt. Nick Goucher of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said to FOX40 News.

  For law enforcement agencies investigating catalytic converter thefts, these crimes pose unique challenges.

  “Not a lot of easy, usable fingerprints, not a lot of evidence left behind,” Goucher said. “They usually take all their tools and the catalytic converter with them so there’s not a lot left for us to go on unless we get lucky and there happens to be surveillance in the area.”

  In San Joaquin County alone, calls for catalytic converter thefts have increased more than 10 times since 2018.

  In the county, the number of thefts went from 38 in 2018 to 92 in 2019, 210 in 2020 and then in 2021, 512 people reported their catalytic converter had been stolen, and they’re on track to reach similar numbers this year with 227 theft reports made so far.

  Sgt. Goucher tells FOX40 News that these crimes usually come in clusters, with thieves often hitting multiple cars in a neighborhood or parking area.

  “Each catalytic converter, they’re not serialized, there’s no markings to identify which vehicle they came from so one of the things we encourage people to do is etching license plate numbers or driver’s license numbers into the catalytic converter so if we do happen to recover them, we have something to tie it back to an actual victim.”

  There are some ways for you to try and prevent your precious metal from being snatched. Safety devices like a catalytic converter motion-based alarm goes for around $30.

  There are also other options like a protection shield that costs about $60 or a cat clamp that’ll cost you a couple hundred dollars.

  As for Christian, she knows she’ll likely never see her stolen catalytic converter again, a situation that others face and that leaves them figuring out how to pay thousands of dollars for a new one.

  “It’s frustrating because we’re lower income families trying to make it through life. Please stop taking from us.,” Christian pleaded. “We can’t afford it. It’s rough. If you want to go steal from someone, steal from yourself. Take your own catalytic converter and go cash it in.”

  Where is catalytic converter theft the highest?

  In 2021, they paid over $23 million for 9,057 catalytic thefts..

  California - 10577..

  Texas - 5867..

  Illinois - 3299..

  Washington - 2390..

  Minnesota - 1976..

  Oregon - 1643..

  Ohio - 1494..

  Pennsylvania - 1363..

  What cars are most targeted for catalytic converter theft?

  These cars are most targeted for catalytic converter thefts in the Midwest.

  1985-2021 Ford F-Series..

  2007-17 Jeep Patriot..

  2011-17 Chrysler 200..

  2005-21 Chevrolet Equinox..

  2008-14 Dodge Avenger..

  1990-2022 Ford Econoline..

  1997-2020 Honda CR-V..

  1999-2021 Chevrolet Silverado..

  Where are catalytic converters located in most cars?

  Your catalytic converter is located on the underside of your car, in the exhaust system between the exhaust manifold and muffler.

  What cars are least likely to have catalytic converter stolen?

  The Most And The Least Targeted Cars For Converter Theft American cars such as Jeep, Chrysler, Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet are least likely to be targeted as they have less valuable converters. Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, and Hyundai also limit the amount of precious metals used in the converter designs.