Attention: Toyota Truck and SUV Owners

“Catalytic Converter Theft Warning” (Courtesy of a local Boeing employee)

Just when you thought you’ve heard it all, something else comes along. Thieves are stealing catalytic converters off parked cars at an increasing rate. This is a trend that is happening all over the country and has recently found its way to El Segundo and other surrounding South Bay communities.

Chances are most vehicle owners don’t even know that they have a catalytic converter. But scrap metal thieves do. This device, mounted beneath your vehicle, helps control emissions as part of the exhaust system.

Catalytic converters contain small amounts of expensive precious metals like platinum – which is worth up to $1,290 an ounce, palladium, which is worth up to $370 an ounce and Rhodium, the most valuable of them all. It can trade for up to $6,000 an ounce on the market.

The vehicles, specifically mid 90′s Toyota Trucks and SUV’s which have higher stock ground clearance, have been targeted within the past few weeks. When our victims started their cars, upon returning to them, they heard very loud exhaust sounds. If you hear this, you may have been victimized.

It is our goal to prevent this from happening to you and avoid the expense of having to replace a stolen catalytic converter for approximately $300 – $1,200 in repairs.

So what can you do to protect your vehicle? For less than fifty dollars, most automotive repair shops or muffler shops can tack weld the nut and bolt which should prevent most thieves from easily unbolting the assembly. Also, try to park in a safe and secure place, where a stranger seen crawling beneath your car would instantly appear suspicious and cause a passerby to call “911″. Whenever possible, the best prevention of theft from your vehicle is to keep your car off the street or driveway and parked in your secure garage.