As of: February 12, 2024, 5:30 a.m
By: Sebastian Oppenheimer
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Catalytic converters are still a popular stolen item.
They contain many precious metals.
What drivers should consider if their “catalytic converter” has been stolen.
Cars are stolen again and again in Germany, and luxurious SUVs are particularly popular.
But the entire vehicle doesn't always disappear straight away.
Criminals can also make a lot of money from parts.
It can happen that the next morning the sports car is standing on wooden blocks instead of wheels or that a Porsche Taycan suddenly finds itself without headlights.
Also still very popular with thieves: catalytic converters.
But what do you do if your car has fallen victim to criminals?
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Several hundred catalytic converter thefts in 2023 - but the number of unreported cases is high
According to ADAC,
the number of catalytic converter thefts in 2023 decreased compared to the previous year with 666 stolen examples
.
However, the count only includes the cases in which the Yellow Angels were called to help.
The number of unreported cases is estimated to be significantly higher.
The catalysts are attractive to criminals because they contain valuable precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium.
The target of catalytic converter theft is primarily older vehicles with petrol engines in which the “catalytic converter” is installed in an easily accessible manner.
According to the automobile club, diesel vehicles are hardly at risk.
According to experts, the catalytic converter in newer vehicles is less easy to install - and also contains fewer precious metals.
What drivers should pay attention to if their car's catalytic converter has been stolen
But what should you watch out for if your car is the target of catalytic converter thieves?
The ADAC recommends the following:
Report it to the police
Have the car transported to the workshop on a trailer.
Because the vehicle no longer has any emissions control system and exceeds the noise limits, the road registration has expired
Before placing the repair order, be sure to have an offer drawn up.
There may be a total economic loss.
Depending on the model, installing a new catalytic converter costs between a few hundred and several thousand euros.
It's better to stay away from used catalytic converters from online promotions.
According to the automobile club, they are often unprofessionally separated.
If it ultimately turns out that the used part is stolen, it will be really expensive.
Because of the precious metals they contain, catalytic converters are a popular stolen item.
(Symbolic image) © Pond5 Images/Imago
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As a rule, partial comprehensive insurance covers the damage caused by the theft of a catalytic converter - but of course you have to find out whether your own contract actually covers the costs.
If the car only has liability insurance, the victims are left with the damage.
To minimize the risk of theft, the
Auto Club Europa (ACE)
recommends parking the vehicle in a lockable individual garage.
According to the ACE
, if the vehicle must be parked in public, it should
be parked on busy and well-lit streets.