The catalytic converter is a unique automotive part used to break down pollutants in vehicle exhaust. There is - or should be - on every truck, SUV, and hybrid vehicle to reduce the pollution involved in operating the vehicle.
How it works, however, is by passing the exhaust through chambers coated in a thin layer of rare, highly valuable metals. It's like serious palladium-coated bling for a vehicle that should be hidden - but some enterprising criminal found out and there has since been an epidemic of recent catalytic converter thefts in order to sell scraps of the rare material inside.
As an owner and operator of a commercial fleet, your vehicles may be the most at risk. We're diving into the criminal world of catalytic converter thieves and how to keep your fleet safe from this costly crime.
"Cat" Burglars Target Commercial Lots
It can take less than two minutes for an experienced thief to slip under a vehicle and detach a catalytic converter, but getting caught is still an issue. So thieves looking to make it big target a large lot of vehicles in an unmonitored nighttime parking lot. That means commercial fleets. An enterprising thief can get a half dozen or twice that in converters in a single evening from just one unmonitored lot.
Why? Because each of the metals inside rivals or exceeds the cost of gold per ounce. Especially the palladium and rhodium. Hybrid catalytic converters are especially prized because they will be cleaner and less used due to the reduced need for gasoline engine operation.
The Cost of Replacement
A catalytic converter can set you back $1,000 or more per part to replace each one that might be stolen from your fleet. There is also the risk that the thieves were not careful and damaged other things in the undercarriage like slicing the brake or fuel lines.
If this has happened, your repair costs will continue to soar. No fleet manager has the time or the budget to spare for this mess, and the best way to prevent it is with preliminary defensive maneuvers.
How to Protect Your Fleet from Catalytic Converter Theft
1) Shield or Cage Your Converters
One of the best ways to prevent part theft is to install an undercarriage shield. You can cover your entire undercarriage which provides protection from bumps and curbs, or you can just install a special cage over the catalytic converter itself.
2) Etch the VIN Into All Often-Thieved Parts
Any part that has a high chance of being stolen, etch it with the car's VIN and perhaps your company name. If the car is stolen or the part resurfaces having been caught after pawning, the thieves may be caught in the act of transporting marked stolen property. You might even get your property back, or seeing the etching might discourage a would-be thief.
3) Place Bright Lights and Cameras on Your Parking Lot
Let thieves know they are visible and being watched. Dark parking lots are the ideal spot for catalytic converter thefts, which means bright flood lights are a good deterrent. Add visible cameras with a glowing light and make sure the resolution and angle are good enough to clearly identify brash thieves who decide to "call your bluff" and thieve under the cameras.
4) Use Motion-Reaction Lights in the Lots
Thieves hate motion sensors. Even just a motion-reaction light says "I see you" each time one activates. A motion-reactive light in a commercial parking lot can be enough to discourage a thief, and is certainly enough to spotlight moments on your security footage.
5) Install Bump-Reactive Alarms on the Cars
Place vibration-sensor alarm systems on your fleet vehicles. Just a beep or an automated "Step away from the car" voice message can send a thief packing. And, if not, sending a wireless signal may alert the cameras and/or any live security on duty to check out what bumped your fleet.
6) Gate and Lock Your Lot
Minimize access to your lot with a simple tall fence and age lock. If your lot isn't public parking, then a fence that is not easy to climb will be a simple and valuable upgrade that will increase the difficulty level - and therefore decrease the desirability - of stealing from your fleet.
7) Ask that Take-Home Vehicles be Enclosed or Well-Lit
Finally, if fleet vehicles go home with employees, ask that they be parked inside the garage or kept in a well-lit parking spot - ideally with a camera trained on the driveway.
Don't Be The Next Victim; prepare Your Fleet with Wilmar Inc
Here at Wilmar, we know feet management from nose to tip - which includes fleet security. If you want to modify your fleet with undercarriage shields for the multi-purpose benefit, we can help. If you need to source a stolen converter, we can help there, too. If you want to talk about planning the security for your fleet's parking lot, our experienced fleet managers will help you make the best decisions for your space, vehicles, and budget.
Contact us today to help secure your fleet from "cat" burglars.
