There has been an epidemic of catalytic converter thefts in San Francisco in particular, and in Northern California in general. Thieves use power saws to cut off the catalytic converters in the middle of the night. Police estimate that for some vehicles it only takes a few minutes to steal one.
Frequently targeted vehicles
It seems that Prius Gen 2 is the most likely target, but other cars are at risk as well, especially Honda Element. Police estimate that thieves get somewhere between $100 to $200 for the precious metal recovered from the stolen catalytic converters. In some cases, the scrap value is as much as $450.
Preventative steps you can take
To avoid having your car become a statistic, we recommend parking your car in the garage, not leaving it outside. If you must leave a car outside, try to leave it near security cameras or in well-lit or busy areas.
What to do if your catalytic converter is stolen
If your car does have its catalytic converter stolen, call us and we will figure out what needs to be done to restore your car to its former condition. Sadly, catalytic converter replacement is an expensive proposition. Partially because of the cost of the materials that go into manufacturing catalytic converters, partially because California has stringent laws regarding replacement catalytic converters. These laws drive up the cost of replacing catalytic converters.