Thieves are stealing their catalytic converters from Toyota Prius vehicles ranging from model years 2001 to 2020.

Who is getting their Toyota Prius catalytic converter stolen? 

We are seeing Toyota Prius clients have their catalytic converters stolen almost everywhere in the SF Bay Area.

The clients' catalytic converters have been stolen while parked on the street or in their driveway. People who park in parking garages, apartment buildings, and even at work or school campuses during the middle of the day are also targeted because the theft can happen so quickly.

You can watch a video of someone stealing a Toyota Prius catalytic converter and it only took them a few minutes.

Why are people stealing a Toyota Prius Catalytic Converter?

People are stealing Toyota Prius catalytic converters because they are packed with expensive precious metals which include palladium among others. Unfortunately, the location of the Catalytic Converter on the Prius makes it's are easy to access.

At the time this article was written, Palladium's value is $1957.85 per ounce which is at a value greater than gold $1717.75 per ounce. 

Once the catalytic converters are stolen, the thieves harvest the metals and sell them on the black market.

What can I do to protect my catalytic converter from being stolen?

We have investigated and tried a few security devices to protect from catalytic converter theft. After using all of the options, we have settled on a great product call the catalytic converter security plate or catalytic converter security shield.

The catalytic converter security plate (Cat Security) has several models that will fit all of the Toyota Prius ranging from 2001 to 2020. This plate can be installed with a cost of under $400 while saving the client from dealing with a stolen catalytic converter at a price of something around $1,500 - $4,000 for parts, labor, and taxes!

A+ Japanese Auto Repair in San Carlos is an approved supplier and installer of the Toyota Prius catalytic converter security plate. We keep them in stock and it will cost roughly $400 for parts, labor, & tax.  

How much does a new catalytic converter cost?

New catalytic converters can range from $400 to $1400 depending on the size of the gasoline engine. Larger catalytic converters end up costing more money because they hold more precious metals. 

Toyota Prius catalytic converter replacement can cost anywhere from $1500 to $4000 depending on where the catalytic converter was cut and what other items need to be replaced with the converter. 

What should I change with the catalytic converter on a Toyota Prius? 

When the thieves steal a catalytic converter on a Toyota Prius, they typically cut off the exhaust pipe (and catalytic converter) in a spot that is easiest for them. The oxygen sensor, the catalytic converter, exhaust gaskets, exhaust hangers, and the retaining hardware on a Toyota Prius will all need to be replaced.

If you have any additional questions or would like to have a catalytic converter security plateinstalled on your Toyota Prius, please reach out to us. 650-946-1856 or www.aplusjapaneseautorepair.com

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