On Sunday morning, Anna Aguilar went out to get in her 1997 Toyota 4-Runner that was parked on Balboa between 24th and 25th Avenues. As soon as she turned the key in the ignition, she knew something was wrong.
“It was much louder than normal – sounded like a car without a muffler,” she says.
The muffler was still there, but the SUV’s catalytic converter had been stolen. The converter is a device that’s placed between the muffler and the tailpipe to reduce the toxicity of emissions from the car’s engine.
Why are they being stolen? For the small amounts of metal that are contained in the converters which can fetch anywhere from $50 to $200 on the black market.
“With the price of precious metals skyrocketing, thieves are helping themselves to catalytic converters that contain enough platinum, palladium or rhodium to make it worth the risk to cut it from the underbelly of your vehicle,” writes Nationwide Insurance on their website.
The catalytic converter on a muffler. Courtesy of Super Street.
SUV’s like the Toyota 4-Runner are attractive to thieves because they’re high enough off the ground for them to scoot under quickly. With just a few cuts of a battery-powered saw, the converter can be removed in less than a minute.
Aguilar says this was the second time the catalytic converter was stolen from their 4-Runner. But this time, she says, the thieves will not be rewarded for their crime.
“What little metal that is in these parts was not in the replacement converter – just the original. So the second thief got nothing for his efforts.”
While the thieves only make off with about a hundred dollars, the financial hit to the car owner is much greater. Replacing a catalytic converter can cost over $2,000. Aguilar says SF Toyota quoted her $2,500 to replace it and she’ll be filing an insurance claim to cover it, though she still has to pay her deductible.
“When this happened the last time, our insurance company told us that this is not a rare occurrence,” Aguilar says.
To combat the thefts, devices are available like the Cat Clamp which anyone can affix to their catalytic converter to deter thieves. These devices typically start around $150.
According to this Sacramento news article, catalytic converter thefts are becoming a big enough problem that laws have been put in place to try and curb the black market.
“This type of crime has become such a huge problem that lawmakers last year passed a law that requires recyclers and scrap yards to collect detailed information on converters and keep records for two years. They also have to take a picture or video of the seller.”
Sarah B.
Mine was stolen from my 97 Nissan quest @Fulton &20th. Never parked on Fulton again 🙁
Sorry to hear that, Sb. Sucks!
Sarah B.
Excellent reporting Sarah! Keep up the great work!
Mines was a 1998 Toyota 4Runner. I was hit out in 30th Ave on Anza couple months ago at night and parked at in a spot without streets lights(what was I thinking). People should watch do suspicous cars driving around the neighbor hood.
My 4runner’s Catalytic Converter was stolen on March 14, 2011 and it was in the sunset district. I think they are targeting 4runners because you have a 4runner and me too.
mine was stolen last night from my 91 Toyota 4-runner parked on Taraval and 29th. I filed a police report and turns out another one got stolen earlier on 28th avenue. thieves, hope they get caught.
Mine was stolen for the 2nd time in 6 months on Thursday 3/10/11 in Laurel Heights (Sacramento and Arguello). I have a 1996 Toyota 4Runner. I’m looking into the Cat Clamp and really need a garage spot!
@jerry i was the one who reported the one on 28th Ave
I finally bought a replacement catalytic converter online for about $150. The last thing I need now are bolts my mechanic said.
@sarrah I am considering purchasing the car cat clamp. Thanks!
I just noticed my fathers 1991 Toyota Pick-Up. I borrowed it from him and the tire was flat and I was just about to take it to get the flat pumped and when I started the truck it made a loud roaring sound. I looked underneath the truck and the catalytic converter is missing. This happened at Brookdale Way in Hayward, Ca. I noticed it at about 6:50am. Though yesterday there were two vehicles nag young guys hanging around a few yards from my vehicle. Never seen them before in our neighborhood.
mine was stolen tonight(5/16/2011) at 20th st and Alabama. My neighbors was stolen about a month ago at 20th Ave and Cabrillo. All 4runners. They are easy to get under and out quick. So FRUSTRATING 🙁
So sorry to hear that, Katy. 🙁
Sarah B.
I think they only steal from 4runners because those catalytic converter can be worth alot.
My 4Runner’s Cat got stolen 2 1/2 times on the same parking garage After the 2nd time I had welded the bolts and a U bar to secure it. The 3rd time the crook saw the bolts were welded so he cut the pipe but since i have a U bar to secure it he was not able to get it. After the 3rd time I added a welded steel bars parallel to the exhaust pipe to totally prevent them from being stolen. It only cost me $25 to have the bars/bolts welded. If you want pictures how i do it let me know..
Hey Mike Smith, can I see the pictures?
i would also like the pictures mine got stolen last tues night. Sick of this thievery. I wish there was a way they could all get caught!!
I just purchased a 1994 4Runner. The man I got it from told me he had purchased it cheap from a man who sold it cheap after the exhaust pipe was stolen. I think he meant to say the catalytic converter was stolen. But this must be happening often these days.
I had the Cat Clamp installed and I have had no problems for the last 1.5 years. It was well worth the money!