Motorists urged to protect their vehicles as lockdown fuels catalytic converter thefts
Criminals have been targeting cars parked during lockdown to fuel the illegal trade of precious metals, according to the RAC and Ageas, one of the UK’s biggest car insurers.
Ageas Insurance says it has seen a marked rise in theft of catalytic converters since the start of the first lockdown just over a year ago, with this type of crime now accounting for three-in-10 of all theft claims reported. Before the lockdown catalytic converter theft only accounted for around one-in-five, the company’s data shows.1
Most thefts have happened while cars have been parked at home, either on the driveway or the road, although in a very small number of cases thieves were brazen enough to steal them in supermarket car parks while the driver was shopping.
Catalytic converters form part of a car’s exhaust system. They contain a honeycomb coated with precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium which help to reduce and filter harmful gases from the vehicles’ exhaust systems.
But criminals steal catalytic converters so they can sell them on and make money from the precious metals inside them.
When global values of these metals go up it usually leads to a spate of thefts. Prices of rhodium hit a record highs earlier this year, up more than 200 per cent since March 2020.2
Robin Challand, Claims Director at Ageas, says: “While catalytic converters are just one component of a car, their theft can often result in a driver’s car being written off which is the last thing we want for our customers.
"We hope that by shining a spotlight on this type of crime, we can arm motorists with the information they need to protect their vehicles.”
- Catalytic converters: what they do and why they go wrong
- Catalytic converter theft - how to protect yours
- Catalytic converter cages are being fitted to combat rise in thefts
- Exhaust repairs
RAC spokesman Simon Williams says: “Drivers are often oblivious of their vehicle’s catalytic converter being stolen. Our patrols are often called to attend cars that have suddenly become excessively noisy.
"On investigation it’s very often the case that the car’s catalytic converter has been stolen.
“We’d strongly recommend motorists get in the habit of taking extra precautions to guard against this type of crime. Generally-speaking, most car crime takes place at night, so it makes sense to park a vehicle in a well-lit and residential location, or ideally in a garage if available.
"When away from home, look for car parks that have security patrols and are covered by CCTV. It’s also a good idea to look for the ParkMark logo at car parks as this shows they have met certain security standards.
“But unfortunately, as Ageas’ data shows, even taking sensible precautions may not necessarily make you immune to this type of crime. For this reason, having a strong, comprehensive insurance policy is a vital in case the worst happens.”
Find out how to keep your catalytic converter safe with our catalytic converter theft prevention tips.

Cheaper than AA Price Promise^
- Roadside cover from £5.29 a month*
- We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
- Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
*At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Roadside (Basic). ^T&Cs apply.
You might also like

Catalytic converters: what does a catalytic converter do?
A catalytic converter is one of the most important components of your car. But how does it work? And what happens if it goes wrong?

The ultimate guide to car parts and what they do - with pictures
How much do you really know about the inner workings of your car? Read the RAC's ultimate guide to essential car parts in a manual, fuel-powered car.

Catalytic converter theft rises as scrap metal prices soar - is your car at risk?

Put the cat in a cage – catalytic converter cages are being fitted to combat a huge rise in thefts
Vehicles across the country are being fitted with expensive catalytic converter cages to deter would-be thieves amid an alarming 1700% rise in thefts.

Parking guide: where you can and can't park
To avoid a parking nightmare and the fines that go along with it, read our simple guide to where you can and can't park.
Popular in News
1
Car buyers to save thousands as EV grant returns
2
Private parking companies issue a record 14.4m tickets to drivers in a single year
3
Drivers fined £1m from just 36 yellow box junctions in 2024
4
Road deaths on the rise in Great Britain
5
Private parking industry urged to publish ‘full and transparent’ complaints and appeals data
6
Drivers now able to search for new home that comes with EV chargers
7
Leicester’s Sean Kimberlin named as RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year
8
Number of drivers caught using unroadworthy vehicles jumps by 52% in a year
9
Warning to drivers across the UK over fake parking apps
10