Washington among hotspots for catalytic converter thefts

Washington was among the states identified as hotspots for catalytic converter thefts after data showed a staggering 470.5-percent increase in thefts this year compared to 2020.

BeenVerified, a company that collates public and proprietary data sets, reported that Washington iss among the top states for catalytic converter thefts as of Sept. 30 based on data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Google Trends.

Thurston County is not exempt 

See links to related stories of catalytic converter thefts here. According to BeenVerified, catalytic converter thefts in Washington have been steadily rising from 42 in 2019, 592 in 2020, to 3,379 in 2021.

The state saw 117 thefts per 100,000 registered vehicles this year, much higher than the 21 thefts per 100,000 registered automobiles recorded in 2020.  

Nationally, catalytic converter thefts “have more than tripled so far this year,” BeenVerified said, noting that “2021 is on track to more than quadruple catalytic converter thefts.”

“We estimate the number of thefts by year-end will approach 70,000, compared to the 14,433 reported stolen in 2020,” the company said.

Catalytic converters contain high-value precious metals that thieves resell.

The top cars that figure in catalytic converter thefts include Toyota Prius, Toyota 4Runner, Honda Element, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Accord. To deter thefts, BeenVerified recommends the following:

• Install a catalytic converter anti-theft device in your vehicle.
• Park your car in a locked garage or in a well-lit area. You can also install motion-activated lights and security cameras.
• When parking in public garages and lots, park near the entrance or in an area with high pedestrian traffic.
• In public parking garages and lots, park near the front of the building entrance or other areas where pedestrian traffic is high.
• Engrave your vehicle VIN and phone number into your catalytic converter.