Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why it's not illegal for junkyards to pay anyone for these. RV storage lots around us have been hit.

Because they don't sell them to junkyards.

They cut the catalytic converter honeycomb out and send it to a smelter to recover the precious metal.

I don't understand why it's not illegal for junkyards to pay anyone for these. RV storage lots around us have been hit.

The reason Prius catalytic converters are particularly vulnerable is that they are easily accessible under the car, and a Prius does not use its engine as often as other cars so the catalytic converter does not lose as much of the precious metal inside.

Anonymous wrote:How do you know it’s been stolen? Will the car not start? What happens? It’s under the car so I would not even see it.

Oh, you'll know. The car (Prius or any car) will start but will be super loud as the exhaust is no longer going through the muffler/tailpipe.
Generally, the catalysts are not stolen to be used on another car. It usually gets sold for peanuts to a recycler who will recover the precious metals. Someone with a cordless sawzall can remove the catalytic converter in about a minute.

These things seem to go in waves as a group of thieves will hit an area until there's too much attention and they move on to another local. The part that's odd is the Prius angle. The Prius has a tiny catalytic converter. More or less, the bigger the engine the bigger the catalyst. They should be hitting F-150s. Maybe a guy learned how to get the catalyst out of a Prius easily and is just doing what he know.

I have a Prius and will not lose sleep over this not-the-end-of-the-world sort of crime.

This article has some ideas.
https://www.allstate.com/tr/car-insurance/catalytic-converter-theft.aspx

How do you know it’s been stolen? Will the car not start? What happens? It’s under the car so I would not even see it.

Anonymous wrote:Catalytic converters are being stolen off all models of cars, not just the Prius. FYI.

Yes, but apparently they're particularly vulnerable from being stolen from underneath from Priuses.

Anonymous wrote:OK, so I basically.live I'm a mole.hole. Why would anyone want to steal.catalytic converter's???

$200 per converter at junk yards. Palladium and platinum prices are through the roof.

How is it taken? Is it just on newer models?

OK, so I basically.live I'm a mole.hole. Why would anyone want to steal.catalytic converter's???

Catalytic converters are being stolen off all models of cars, not just the Prius. FYI.

Of the 3 Prius’ in our neighborhood, all 3 had their catalytic converters stolen in the last week.

We are in Rockville.

They are not cheap to replace and you can spend $100 on a part to guard it from theft.

These are very hot items for thieves right now. Please spread the word !!