Following increasing reports of Catalytic Converter theft on vans or commercial vehicles, aide automotive have introduced a alram system to protect this costly part.
All vehicles produced after 1993 must have a Catalytic Converter fitted by law to help reduce the harmful gases from polluting the atmosphere.
In the early part of 2008 as a result of the credit crunch in the UK, prices on scrap metal and precious metals increased dramatically. At the same time the theft of Catalytic Converters followed suit with thieves just simply cutting each end of the system and removing the CAT completely, with the demand for precious metals, and parts as a result, the risk of theft of catalytic converters is on the rise again.
Taller vehicles (4x4s) are particularly vulnerable as the converters are more accessible and, because they tend to have larger engines, they contain more of the precious metals too.
Once an unmarked converter has been removed from a vehicle it’s quite difficult to match it to that vehicle as there aren’t any distinguishing marks.
Vehicles that sit higher from the ground, such as trucks, pick-ups and SUVs, are particularly vulnerable to catalytic converter theft because thieves can slide underneath without having to jack up the vehicle to gain access to the converter. With just a few cuts of a battery-powered saw, the converter can be removed in less than a minute.
Thieves typically look for vehicles that are parked for prolonged periods of time in large lots, such as shopping centers, mass transit commuter lots or company parking lots. ?Corporate fleets are particularly vulnerable, because thieves can hit multiple vehicles in a single location,? says Ekiss. ?And if that happens, it can shut down a business for days.?
“It’s not unusual for a new converter to cost in the region of £1,000.”
If thieves attempt to remove the Catayltic Converter, CatGuard alarm will be activated. This will result in a 114 decibel siren or voice alarm giving a deafening warning along with a high intensity flashing strobe to drive the thieves away.
With the low cost of the CatGuard at £169.00 + vat, this device can hopefully prevent high repair costs to the unlucky owner.
Contact aide automotive for a fleet quote by clicking Catalytic Theft
