Catalyst thefts have fallen by over 90 percent in just one year. There are several reasons why the long-fingered types are now disappearing.
- Thefts of catalytic converters have fallen by 91 percent, new figures show.
- The change may be due to falling prices of precious metals and fewer older cars.
- Thefts of other car parts, such as headlights and navigation systems, have increased.
Catalytic converters are no longer an attractive target for thieves. Or at least it has become a less lucrative business.
New figures from Larmtjänst in Sweden show that this type of theft has fallen by 91 percent in the course of the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year.
In the past, catalytic converters accounted for the largest share of all spare parts theft, but now the situation is different.
– A possible explanation could be that the raw material prices for precious metals such as rhodium and palladium, which are found in the catalysts, have fallen at the same time that the car fleet with the most vulnerable models has become scarcer due to age and scrapping, says Larmtjänst
This development contrasts with a tragic incident in Wales where a man lost his life in an attempt to steal a catalytic converter.
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The man, Daniel Stephens, was found dead under a BMW after the jack he used to lift the car collapsed.
"Stephen's leg stuck out from under the car, the BMW's owner subsequently explained to the police.
A friend of the deceased thief explained in court that Stephens had financial problems and had planned to steal the catalytic converter.
– Daniel was short of money, he had talked about stealing the catalytic converter from a parked BMW he had seen," the explanation went.
While catalytic converter thefts have decreased, thefts of other car parts have increased by 16 percent. Headlights, navigation systems and airbags are now in high demand among thieves.
Toyota is the car brand most prone to theft of catalytic converters, while Volvo owners most often have to do without their headlights. BMW owners are particularly vulnerable to the theft of navigation systems and airbags.
The police urge car owners to be aware of the risk of theft and take precautions to protect their vehicles.
Parking in a lighted area or in a garage can reduce the risk of theft. In addition, you can install an anti-theft alarm or an immobilizer to make the car less attractive to thieves.
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