Catalytic converter theft vulnerability

[Jeff43]

I've just had a message from our Safer Neighbourhoods police team to say that they are offering free marking this week.  It goes on to say that the most frequently targeted vehicles are hybrids plus a few other specific models that are mentioned - Honda Jazz, Lexus XR etc.  How vulnerable is the converter on my new Yaris?

 

[Bernard Foy]

The Yaris is the least vunerable to CAT theft because of its location on the car.

[Jeff43]

Thanks - that's very reassuring.  I won't bother this time round then, as they offer it every few months or so.

[MardyMarvin]

On 6/24/2024 at 9:24 AM, Bernard Foy said:

The Yaris is the least vunerable to CAT theft because of its location on the car.

Where is it located, I just thought they went under the car at them with an angle grinder and off they went.

[Parts-King]

On the manifold, however, the average thief is thicker than pig **** and have been known to cut out the exhaust silencer "thinking" it is the CAT

This is the CAT, it forms part of the manifold 

[flash22]

The Prius and auris are the most targeted Toyotas anything newer than 2020 has lower value material in the cat plus the cats are serialised from the factory (laser etched)

[Cyker]

2 hours ago, MardyMarvin said:

where is it located, I just thought they went under the car at them with and angle grinder and off they went.

The Auris and Prius were most targeted as it was underneath the car; I don't know why it was put there, I guess packaging reasons? Most companies stopped doing that because it means they take a lot longer to start working because they only work when really hot.

In almost all the other Toyotas, the main cat is attached directly to the exhaust manifold so they heat up much faster, and that means any thief will need to cut through your under tray and probably a bit of the chassis firewall to get at it, not to mention fluid lines, electrical cables and other hoses - Definitely not a 2 minute job and a lot more hazardous!

 

[TonyHSD]

Gen 3 hybrids 1.8 - 2010 onwards up to 2019 Prius, Auris, ct200h, these are the most common cat thefts cars including all Lexus suv and the reasons are because of the cat location and metal content, the metal traders pay the highest price so thieves get best 💰. 

[Unityone]

What's the best way to protect the 'cat' on a Prius+? I think it's 4th gen (2016)

[TonyHSD]

1 hour ago, Unityone said:

What's the best way to protect the 'cat' on a Prius+? I think it's 4th gen (2016)

Prius plus is gen 3 hybrid similar to Auris hybrid. 
You can buy a cat plate off eBay and security bolts from Peugeot . 
There are many posts about this. 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224417697741?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=apGN8aAWRAS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=p34UK1z2T4m&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Unityone]

6 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

Prius plus is gen 3 hybrid similar to Auris hybrid. 
You can buy a cat plate off eBay and security bolts from Peugeot . 
There are many posts about this. 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224417697741?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=apGN8aAWRAS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=p34UK1z2T4m&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Thanks Tony! You're a star!

[TonyHSD]

2 hours ago, Unityone said:

Thanks Tony! You're a star!

You are welcome 

[Simplehart]

Morning. Is the thinking, the later model Yaris Hybrids are no longer an easy target? Mines a 2024.

[flash22]

per the above diagram, the cat comes straight off the engine, the Yaris is not a target

 

Cat thefts only really affect the prius and Auris, after 2019 the cat's have a different metal formula and is not worth a great deal

[Kental]

Are the thieves clever enough to ignore a Yaris Cross with a private plate?  Would they think it is older?

[forkingabout]

1 hour ago, Kental said:

Are the thieves clever enough to ignore a Yaris Cross with a private plate?  Would they think it is older?

Thieves know its pointless targeting a Yaris Cross for the cat.

It's not worth much scrap value plus it's far to difficult to get at let alone remove quickly.

 

[TonyHSD]

If you have a bad luck thieves can stop by and cut your exhaust pipe and gpf thinking they are gets your cat. All that has had on other models like Corolla. 
Any damage to the exhaust system will cost the same to the car owners as full exhaust pipe system is needed, cat, gpf, middle silencer all three comes together. 

[flash22]

the GPF is after the Cat and exhaust coupling on the Mk4 yaris/Mk1 cross), The Yaris and Cross are the same car under the skin the Yaris Cross is 2022 onwards, production started late 2021

cats have a much lower value on newer cars, plus the scrap trade is more tightly controlled

[Cyker]

The Mk4 Yaris and YC are not really vulnerable to this - I drive through Tottenham regularly and if it were, mine would have been nicked 5 times over by now while I'm waiting at traffic lights