California Experiences Rise in Catalytic Converter Thefts

April 18, 2019
California tried to diminish thefts on catalytic converters a decade ago, where it was almost made illegal to sell them to auto repair shops or recyclers. 

April 18, 2019—California is seeing a surplus in catalytic converter thefts for Toyota Priuses. KPIX-TV reports that San Francisco shops and police departments are aware of the theft surplus. 

“We got in the car Sunday morning to go to Walnut Creek and we heard this horrible grinding sound,” San Francisco resident Sarah Weil said to KPIX-TV.

A mechanic diagnosed her Prius' problem over the phone, said Weil.

“He told us to drive in and they’d take care of it. But then we got there, the parts on back order because this is so common. We’re not getting our car back for four days now,” Weil explained.

California tried to diminish thefts on catalytic converters a decade ago, where it was almost made illegal to sell them to auto repairs shops or recyclers. 

“The precious metals inside make them worth money,” Greg Jones, a mechanic at Luscious Garage in San Francisco said to KPIX-TV.

A Toyota spokesperson told KPIX-TV that they were just learning about the rise in thefts and were not aware of any shortage in the replacement parts.

Sponsored Recommendations

How one auto shop was able to order 20% more parts

Learn how one auto shop talks about the benefit of using PartsTech in their shop.

Vehicle Inspection Checklist For Auto Shops

Vehicle inspections, whether digital or on paper, are crucial for auto shops, ensuring thorough assessments and fostering trust by transparently revealing a vehicle's condition...

6 Reasons Why A Digital Vehicle Inspection Is A Must-Have

In an era of growing technology and innovation, auto repair shops must keep pace with the latest advancements to meet customers preferences and remain competitive.

How Your Auto Shop Can Now Connect To 30 Tire Suppliers For Free

Yep! We have over 50 tire suppliers in our network. And PartsTech is the only platform where you can access more than 30 of those suppliers FREE OF CHARGE.