Prevent catalytic converter theft
By Antioch police Department
Thieves don’t need your keys to steal something valuable from your car.
A catalytic converter—the emissions-control device in your exhaust system—can be stolen in minutes. Here are five ways to make your vehicle harder to target:
Put a barrier in their way.
Ask a reputable repair shop about a catalytic converter shield, cage, or security device designed for your vehicle. These add an obstacle to removal, but no device makes a converter theft-proof.
Find out what actually triggers your alarm.
Ask your dealer or installer whether your alarm detects the vehicle being lifted or disturbed underneath. A tilt sensor or suitable vibration sensor may provide protection your current setup doesn’t.
Make your next oil change a prevention opportunity.
While your vehicle is on the lift, ask whether the shop can mark the converter with your vehicle identification number or install a purpose-made identification kit. Have the shop photograph the marking, and complete any required registration. Identification can help police link a recovered converter to your vehicle; it cannot physically stop removal.
Check what your camera can actually see.
Look at the live view after dark. Does it cover your parked vehicle and the approach to it? Check motion-detection zones and notifications, and consider motion-activated lighting. A camera aimed at the front door may miss activity in the driveway.
Plan for the hours your vehicle sits unattended.
At work, apartment complexes, or long-term parking lots, choose visible spaces with regular activity and camera coverage when available. Ask property managers about dark areas, broken gates, or cameras that don’t cover parking spaces.
Suspect a theft in progress? Call 911. Stay somewhere safe and do not confront or follow anyone. Give dispatch the location and any descriptions you can safely observe.
Save this post for your next service appointment.
Antioch Police Department – Service • Integrity • Community
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Catalytic Converter Theft Protection flier
