Silverado Catalytic Converter Theft? (Here Is How To Prevent It)

You walk to where you parked your car and start it, but something sounds off.

Your vehicle is suddenly loud, which takes you back; your check engine light is on,  you come down to investigate, and your car’s engine is just fine.

You decide to check under the vehicle, focusing your attention on the exhaust manifold, and you see something cut out before the muffler.

That thing was your catalytic converter, and it has been stolen. 

The Chevy Silverado is usually a prime target for catalytic converter thefts. Catalytic converters are a hot commodity in the scrap metal business; buyers purchase them for a good amount of money. Their priciness is due to the presence of rare metals inside, such as Palladium, Platinum, and Rhodium. These metals help neutralize harmful chemicals from the engine.

Is catalytic Converter Theft Common?

Catalytic converter thefts are quite common. Let’s take the year 2018, for example. About 108 converters were reported to have been stolen every month, as recorded in a study by the NICB. 

In 2020 however, the reported theft cases increased by 652. That is 547 cases more than 2018 per month in January to 2,347 in December of the same year.

That’s a huge increase right there. It may be even more since not everybody reports cases of thieves stealing their converters.

Every gas-powered vehicle on the road has a converter, as required since 1975. But unfortunately, it simply means every car is a potential target for thieves.

In addition, some vehicles have an increased risk of getting their converters stolen because of how their manufacturers built them.

Catalytic converters are stolen by thieves mainly for sale in the black market for the rare metals inside them. Just how much do these rare metals worth?

Price in ounce, Palladium rose from a price of $600 in 2001 to almost $2,400 in 2021, platinum from $530 – $1,100, Rhodium from $1,600 to a whopping $26,000.

What Cars are Least Likely to Have Catalytic Converters Stolen?

Catalytic converters are very valuable in the scrap metal business. Their values are generally determined by the engine type, vehicle make, and year.

If there has been a surge of catalytic converter thefts in your area, and you’re looking at buying a vehicle, consider the mentioned factors.

Below are factors that make cars the least likely to be stolen;

#1. Diesel fuel model 

If you have a diesel vehicle, your car is safe from catalytic converter theft.

The reason is that diesel converters seldom have rare metals since what thieves target are the rare metals in the converter; yours has no value to them.

#2. Year 

The year a car was made plays a huge role in its safety. Cars manufactured before 1974 didn’t have converters. Therefore, vintage and antique vehicles are on the safe side.

#3. Electric vehicles  

Electric vehicles don’t use carbon-based fuel or produce any emissions. Therefore, they’ve got no need for catalytic converters. 

The following all-electric vehicles are a hundred percent safe from converter thieves:

• Audi E-Tron
• BMW i3
• Chevrolet Bolt EV
• Volkswagen e-Golf
• Tesla Model X, S and 3
• Fiat 500E
• Honda Clarity Electric 
• Hyundai Kona EV
• Hyundai Ioniq EEV
• Nissan Leaf
• Kia Soul EV
• Jaguar I-Pace
• Hyundai NEXO

 Also, if your car is lower to the ground, it makes it difficult for thieves to remove your converter.

The car made with the least risk of catalytic converter theft is manufactured with less valuable materials. Examples are;

• Chevrolet
• Subaru
• Jeep
• Mazda
• GMC
• Dodge
• Chrysler
• Hyundai
• Nissan

Which Cars are Most Likely to Have Catalytic Converter Stolen?

Catalytic converter thieves often target specific kinds of vehicles for their criminal activities.

Here is an overview of the type of cars on their lists.

#1. Hybrid vehicles

Hybrids require a higher concentration of rare metals, especially Palladium. The more emission-efficient a vehicle is, the more susceptible it is to criminals stealing its converter.

#2. Luxury cars 

The most expensive catalytic converter goes to a Ferrari F430 each (it has two converters) at a whopping $3,770 is enough reason to put luxury cars on our list.

Lamborghinis have pretty expensive catalytic converters, each costing about $3,000.

#3. Trucks and SUVs

Due to their huge sizes, they have big engines, which translate to a more valuable converter.

Take the Dodge Ram 2500, for example; its converter is worth almost that of a Ferrari, at $2,000.

Their height from the ground is another factor that makes them a huge target for thieves.

#4. Older vehicles

Since their eco-friendly technology is not that advanced, they have a greater concentration of rare metals in their converter.

As a result, their converters are bigger than newer cars.

Here are other models that have valuable catalytic converters;

• Toyota Tundra
• Toyota Auris
• Toyota 4runner
• Lexus SUVs
• All Lexus RX
• Honda Jazz
• Honda Element
• Toyota Tacoma
• Ford F-250
• Honda CRV
• Ford Mustang

How to Avoid Catalytic Converter Theft?

The cost of replacing your catalytic converter can be avoided by following these guidelines.

• You need to know if your car is a target for catalytic converter theft. I’ve listed cars likely targeted by converter thieves in earlier parts of the article. Go through them again to see if yours is on the list. You can also make inquiries at a decent local muffler shop to know what kinds of cars are targeted in your area.
• Set an alarm system or make use of CCTV cameras to catch thieves. You can set the sensitivity of your car’s alarm so that it’ll go off when someone shakes your car. The alarm could also disadvantage you, though, as the alarm can be tripped off by the slightest jostle like your cat jumping on it. It wouldn’t be a pleasant thing, especially in the middle of the night. 
• Motion-sensitive cameras can notify you when your vehicle is jacked up. They could also record the license plate of the thief. You could also install motion-activated lights in your driveway or a garage.
• Always park with your exhaust pipe close to the wall. In situations when you can, always park in a place with good lighting. A thief wouldn’t want to be caught.
• Install an anti-theft device; the device is probably cheaper than your converter. Don’t be greedy. Invest in a cable locking device. You can get an anti-theft device installed from $250 to $800.

Here are a few examples of popular anti-theft devices.

They include cages fashioned from rebar that is very difficult to cut and steel shields that cover the converter welded stainless steel cables from the converter to the car’s frame.

• Some experts advise that you paint your converter in a high temperature fluorescent orange paint, then inscribe your vehicle’s identification number where you sprayed the pain. By doing this, you can trace it. Moreover, an honest scrap dealer wouldn’t buy such.

Conclusion 

No one likes their stuff getting stolen, certainly not car parts, as they are often expensive to replace.

You can avoid or reduce the chances of thieves taking your catalytic converter by implementing the tips outlined in the article.

In an unfortunate incident where it’s stolen, you can consult your insurance company to see if it covers missing car parts.