Do thieves steal catalytic converters from 2019 Prius

Welcome to Prius Chat.

This is what I just bought for our 2019 Prime:

Cap City Muffler

Said it would ship on 2 day.

Found this thanks to @The Critic .

He and I will install once the shelter in residence ban has been lifted.

 

There has been previous discussion - I think the consensus was that they were harder to remove - maybe do a search (in GOOGLE, just include PriusChat in the enquiry - is often easier).

 

Yes, they do. And that's another reason I have full coverage insurance. I'm really hoping mine gets stolen in a few more years, with 200K miles on it Be great to get a new one about then ! Not sure how long these cats last, but with my last car, my cat went out at about 190K miles and that was whole reason I had to get a new car. It was like a $1500 deal in Cali. Not worth it on a car which was basically already worn out.

 

I heard the 2nd gen's have a lot more precious metals?

Maybe not that big a difference; I see @Raytheeagle is putting a shield on, on his Prime (when the COVID thing settles down).

Wouldn't comprehensive insurance cover this?

 

Do Thieves Steal Catalytic Converters from 2019 Prius?
Do bears defecate in the woods?

Same Answer.

Of course, I think "numbers" might take a while to catch up, as newer vehicles haven't been sitting on the streets as long, AND thieves may target older models.
But basically, unfortunately catalytic converter theft, overall is becoming a way too common theft.

You could check to try to find specific stats for your model/year. I'm sure insurance companies monitor such things.
But IMO, the sad truth is ALL OF US, who buy vehicles today, are at risk of becoming victims of this crime, the primary criteria being do you have a catalytic converter...period.

Insurance Coverage that covers the theft.
Shields, Alarms...might all be a good idea.

But sadly I don't think going forward, having a 2019 Prius, is going to make too much of a difference as to it's targetable desirability.
The criminals are pretty much just looking at the thing they want to steal. they could care less about the gift box.

 

Isn't this issue more prevalent in larger cities/suburbs?

 

I would assume your typical Catalytic Converter Thief, isn't driving out to the wide expanse of farmlands to steal Farmer Browns Catalytic Converter while he has his Prius parked next to the barn.

So yes....

 

While comprehensive would cover it, the shield cost is not that much.

And it saves dealing with the insurance company.

And the shield should act as a deterrent for thieves to move along.

 

Yeah look on my last post as "scattered, disconnected, disparate thoughts". As they so often are...

 

Wasn't there a comment on PriusChat that they're much harder to remove, particularly the first one, and having 2 small ones made it much less worth-while to bother. I think the first one is integral with the Exhaust Manifold, or able to be separated - not sure if it's Engine OUT to get to it.

 

I always love seeing that revised EGR inlet routing.

 

Maybe you'll own it soon enough too.

If you can move past it's dashing good looks that is.

 

The 2nd gens (that seem to be the primary targets) have 2 as well, and also the 3rd gen. It isn't about that, but rather their accessibility under the car. Jack up a 2nd gen and the second converter is right there in a straight section of exhaust pipe with both ends easily accessible for cutting--you can be in and out with a Sawzall in 30 seconds:



On the 3rd gen, the second converter is tucked up further; the front end is up higher and behind a heat shield. The back end is easily accessible but the front is harder to get to:



And on the 4th gen, it's tucked up into the deeper exhaust tunnel on TNGA:



All of which make the 2nd gen a more attractive target.

 

I find I resent the assumption that I know how thieves think and what they plan.

 

I don't understand your post. Access/speed are critical to theft. It's common sense.

Now what I DON'T understand is how the thieves can accomplish this task w/o waking up the world around them. A sawzall on an exhaust system is REALLY LOUD!

 

I worked in a School as Business Manager - anything which wasn't screwed down - or welded tight!! would disappear. And we had break and enters quite regularly. I got quite used to trying to think like a crook - and it sometimes paid off by beating them at the pass.

 

Ive seen frequent post about cats being stolen too on Neighbor/Ring App... anywhere from later model CRVs to Prius. Pretty concerned.

 

It's something to be concerned with when your car gets a little older - although somebody with a damaged G4 cat might "special order" a part from Joey Bagadoughnuts and his gang and see your car unprotected in the driveway.......

Tires are made out of rubber.
They make solar electric fence chargers.

Even if you live in an Orwellian state.....you don't HAVE to be a victim.


....juuuuust sayin.

 

Really loud, but with a new blade that is the proper type for the job, it's also sort of quick.

Here's a story from an actual 'hood in America. I was working as armed security (the hood was that bad of an area that they didn't just have security, but all security was armed), and it was about 1:20 AM in the morning. My job, previous to this, was selective demolition (this was during the recession, so I was taking jobs I could find) - which meant that I knew all too well what the sound of a gas cutoff saw sounded like.

Dead of night, really quiet out in the hood, then a gas-saw starts up, runs for like 15 to 20 seconds, then shuts off. It never starts again. Something within close range got stolen that night.

My guess is that, with a lookout, a parking garage is an ideal place to steal catalytic converters. At times like 9 AM, 2:30 PM, workers are usually indoors and working instead of being out on lunches or breaks. Or perhaps they are being stolen from people who just happen to leave their car parked for a day or three while they vacation, or take mass transit?