It is a security device with a series of cables that prevent your catalytic converter from being removed. While products like the Cat Strap and the Cat Clamp are worthy products for keeping a cars catalytic converter in place, Donut Media concluded that the ultimate product is the cat shield. Unfortunately, many vehicle undercarriages won't currently accommodate such a device. As with all insurance policies, its important to read the fine print to identify what is and isnt covered by your policy. (Great for protecting your gas tank too.) A car alarm does not have the ability to physically stop thieves from stealing your cat converter, however, it does act as a strong deterrent. Since their widespread adoption in the 1970s, catalytic converters are emissions devices used on gasoline engines to convert toxic exhaust pollutants into less harmful emissions. Thats the van pulling in, said Rachele Mongiovi, of Mongiovi and Son Plumbing in Kennedy Twp. The CatClamp is by far the best engineered and most versatile converter lock on the market offering multiple layers of security and features that the competition simply cannot offer. The cable is then routed through both split clamps and around or through a durable portion of the vehicle chassis wherever possible and back through both split clamps again. The first thing you should do if you discover the theft is to file a police report with the local authorities. From East Liberty to Seven springs to Hempfield Township, thieves are targeting catalytic converters, those small devices underneath your car that help control emissions. The stolen car parts can cost about $1,500 each to replace. Thieves are more than aware of the antitheftboss.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Subscribe for news & resources about 2023 security innovations, Top 5 Car Alarms to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft, Best Alarms for Catalytic Converter Theft Reviewed, #2) Compustar CS7900-AS All-in-One 2-Way Remote Start + Alarm Bundle, #3) Prestige APS997Z Two-Way LCD Confirming Remote Start & Alarm, #4) Wsdcam Wireless Anti-Theft Bicycle Motorcycle Alarm, #5) Directed Electronics 508D Install Essentials Dual Zone Motion Sensor. The CatClamp is by far the best engineered and most Andrea is an insurance writer with 4+ years of writing and editing experience. For added assurance, Compustar provides a 1-year warranty on its remote. Regarding functionality, this handy alarm detects both motion and vibration. Once installed, youll receive alerts directly to the beautiful OLED display. Suitable for any type of transport, has a minimum configuration. So how effective are catalytic converters? On a vehicle with a frame, the frame and/or cross members are used as durable attachment points, on a vehicle without a frame (unibody construction) anti-sway bar and/or engine/transmission brackets are utilized as durable attachment points. As you might have guessed, certain cars have more valuable cats than others. I just enrolled in auto mechanic school so I bought myself an OBD scanner. But also be mindful that even someone bumping into your vehicle can set it off. But experts told Earle there are some things you can do to protect your converter. The Cateye is programmed to require, 5-15 seconds of "sustained, purposeful movement". A good security device will be designed to suit a specific vehicle, made from material that cant be easily cut through and cant be easily bypassed or removed. Primarily, an alarm is a great deterrent since the high-dB alarm sound will tell thieves to scram. And if you dont have access to a secured parking facility, your next best option is to, install a camera or other security device to help deter thieves, . Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published. Other highlights include the multi-tone alarm, automatic arming/locking, and remote panic in all modes. Steel Shields are There are several different types of underbody alarms designed to protect against catalytic converter theft. How is car insurance determined by insurance companies? Our car experts choose every product we feature. The best type is probably with metal shields around the catalytic converter so the thief wont be able to cut it easily. There are several security devices to prevent catalytic converter theft with varying effectiveness. protect against catalytic converter theft, Can be difficult to install a lift and multiple people are recommended for ease of installation, Cables can rub together to make a rattling noise when the car is driven, May have to modify it to fit some vehicles, Looks messy if the car is viewed from underneath, May be able to be cut through with an angle grinder (but will likely stop a Sawzall), Multiple kits will be needed if your vehicle has more than one catalytic converter, If the cables become loose they could potentially catch on debris, damaging the underside of the vehicle, Some have to be manually armed and disarmed, Not waterproof and computer components can be sensitive to moisture, Potential for false alarms and could be set off by animals, Motion sensors may need wiping/cleaning regularly to avoid degradation, Can be attached anywhere and to any vehicle, Thieves can potentially not look for them, Offers no physical security system to prevent catalytic converter theft, The best catalytic converter security system for your vehicle, Can be fitted with optional extras like tamper-proof screws for even greater security, Can be easily removed with the supplied security key, Not all catalytic converter shields offer the same level of protection. In the case of catalytic converter theft, youll always know when someone tampers with your car. Aside from typical anti-theft best practices like parking in well-lit areas and setting the car alarm to its most sensitive option, there's not a lot most of us can do to stop cat converter theft. These suspects terrorized our neighborhoods and our businesses for months, said Westmoreland County District Attorney, Nicole Ziccarelli. I know it doesnt really matter to me personally, but I hate clutter! As the bolts are tightened, the clamps tighten down equally on the exhaust pipe and cable. Below, we answer common questions related to using a car alarm to prevent catalytic converter theft and other important topics. Last year? The strip steel is as hard as band saw blade material, causing the blade to overheat and dull. They arrested the individuals in the van that were still sleeping in the van with sawzall blades and everything in the van, said Pasquarelli. Lastly, the four bolts are tightened with a standard socket and the included tamper-proof installation tool. he Physical Barrier, The Cateye works by using a specialized motion sensor that detects motion under your car. I have a Mini Cooper as a rental car for the next week, and theres a whole bunch of stuff in the Bluetooth menu from previous users. After witnessing thousands of dollars of metal theft during his 15 years in business, the owner saw an opportunity to assist people in protecting themselves and their vehicles from these offenders. Otherwise, when a thief armed with a battery operated saw attempts to remove your catalytic converter, the Catstrap converts what is normally a 45-60 second theft into an extremely difficult-to-cut operation requiring multiple blades. Theres no way that anyone in the vicinity wouldnt hear this alarm once its been triggered. The best course of action would be to put your vehicle in a garage, said Detective Pasquarelli. Which Types of Vehicles Are Prone to Catalytic Converter Theft? Today, the Wienermobile is based on a Chevrolet W4 truck platform (Isuzu NPR) and is powered by a 6.0-litre V8 (242kW). Depending on the target, they dont even need a jack to raise the Other ways to tell if your catalytic converter has been stolen include: Increased exhaust fumes (or odd exhaust smell), Uneven acceleration due to lack of exhaust regulation, depending on the vehicle, but aside from the cost of replacing the actual converter itself, you also have to tack on labor costs and replacement of any parts that were damaged while the thief was trying to get your catalytic converter., The average cost to replace a catalytic converter ranges from about, Find insurance savings it's 100% free, Compare Free Quotes (& Save Hundreds per Year! While converter theft can happen to anyone, some vehicles are targeted more closely by thieves. The strip steel is as hard as band saw blade material, causing the blade to overheat and dull. #1) Viper 5906V Responder HD. The printed warning may indicate the fitment of a GPS tracker, engraved part, or other theft deterrent system. By controlling the whole development process from A-Z, we can ensure continuous improvement and excellence in our products. The main thing is to consider how prevalent cat converter theft is in your area and whether you own a heavily targeted vehicle, such as an older Prius. The most effective solution to catalytic converter theft. Webdodge ram catalytic converter protection port authority to monticello bus / thanksgiving at the abbey resort / dodge ram catalytic converter protection csfa league table When the guys at Donut Media tried it out, they noted that the alarm was mainly an annoyance, and it ended up stopping eventually. Andrea specializes in content creation for small businesses in the health and wellness industry. Why are people stealing catalytic converter? 2023 Cox Media Group. The included remote features an LCD with clear updates and notifications. The other common targets for converter theft are pickup trucks and SUVs. Our proprietary strip steel is designed for maximum cutting resistance (55 Rockwell-C hardness: 4.5X harder than 304 Stainless Steel). Thieves can remove a catalytic converter in minutes armed with nothing else but a wrench or a saw. View Details . Outside of work, Andrea plays mom to two amazing (and devious) rescue dogs from Mexico and St. Lucia, and loves spending her time in the gym, outdoors, and traveling to expand her knowledge about other countries and cultures. When choosing a car alarm to prevent catalytic converter theft, there are several routes to take. Check out the selection of cat shields and covers below, as well as a couple of other suggestions: a device designed to "lock" your catalytic converter in place and a motion-sensitive alarm to sense when the cat itself it being messed with. But as we all know now, it is as anyone whos been a victim of catalytic converter theft. However, for owners of trucks and SUVs, the addition of a motion sensor is advisable to prevent catalytic converter theft. The base package includes Vipers Stinger DoubleGuard Shock When a thief attempts to jack up the car, the alarm will sound off with 113 dB to scare them away. Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides released from a vehicle enter the catalytic converter and are broken down into less harmful compounds like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor before being released into the air. Most commonly, an alarm is wired to a motion detection sensor that activates when the exhaust system is jostled or motion is detected. Install an antitheft device or metal protective cage around it. Just attach leads to the battery. Just attach leads to the battery. We didnt get any refund back from it, but its still satisfying knowing that the person was caught, said Mongiovi. No wiring work required that can impact your vehicle's electric system. Suitable for any type of transport, has a minimum configuration. Choose either the Standard Model with a 1-Year Warranty or the Stainless Steel MAXX Model with a Lifetime Warranty. But it could take a thief to double the time to steal your cars catalytic converter, which is a good thing. .css-1aqli77{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:redDark;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#fff;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;display:inline-block;background-color:#000000;font-family:Paralucent,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.75rem;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0.2rem;padding:0.625rem 0.9375rem;text-transform:uppercase;width:auto;}.css-1aqli77:hover{color:#fff;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#cb1418;opacity:1;}.css-1aqli77:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}Watching a Catalytic Converter in Action Is Absolutely Mesmerizing. Block watches, communicate with your neighbors, cameras specifically on your vehicle on your vehicle if you can. Store vehicles in a garageSecure lots with fencing and good lightingPost Property Under Surveillance signageMonitor your property with security camerasInclude VIN or license plate numbers on your catalytic converterInstall security devices, such as cat straps or cat clamps While products like the Cat Grab Some Swag Today.css-17kabay{display:block;height:0.625rem;margin-top:0.625rem;position:relative;width:1.25rem;}.css-17kabay:after{content:'';height:0.625rem;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:1.25rem;}.loaded .css-17kabay:after{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/autoweek/static/images/diamonds.322aecf.svg);}, Best Portable Jump Starters for 2023, Tested, Best Portable Tire Inflators of 2023, Tested, Essential Items for Your Car's Winter Survival Kit, How to Keep Your Driveway Snow- and Ice-Free, Walmart Drops Prices on Goodyear All-Season Tires, Top OBD-II Scanners to Give Your Car a Checkup, 20 Essentials for Your Next Winter Road Trip, These Portable Tire Inflators Will Lift Your Mood. 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