On January 6th at 6:23 pm, Cloverdale Police posted a “Beware of Catalytic Converter Thieves” post on the department's Facebook Page to warn citizens about the increase in thefts of this device from Toyota Prius vehicles. Since that posting, three additional catalytic converters from Toyota Prius vehicles were reported stolen within the Cloverdale community.
Thieves specifically target the Toyota Prius because it’s a cleaner-burning car and the catalytic converter contains a very high concentration of palladium (a precious metal needed to convert harmful exhaust gases like carbon dioxide into water vapor)
Palladium is running about $2,000 per ounce and it takes roughly 3 minutes or less to remove a catalytic converter from a Prius.
To prevent further thefts, the police department recommends parking inside a garage if possible, or under well-lit areas, preferably areas with surveillance cameras if available. Another deterrent is the purchase and installation of a CAT SECURITY SHIELD or similar device which is a robust aluminum plate that, once installed, provides a strong barrier against catalytic converter theft. This device makes stealing your catalytic converter nearly impossible without some serious time, making it less appealing for would-be-criminals.
For more information on the Cat Security Shield, refer to the link below.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cat+security+shield+for+prius&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS860US860&oq=cat+security+shield&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0l3j0i22i30.7731j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
If you witness unusual activity, please report to the Police Department by calling (707) 894-2150.
