The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reports a spike in catalytic converter thefts across Ontario and warning motorists to protect their vehicles.
A catalytic converter is a component of the exhaust system on your vehicle that helps reduce both emissions and noise from the vehicle. They’ve been built into every car since 1993. Because the devices contain precious metals that are part of the exhaust conversion process and are expensive to buy, thieves have been targeting them to make money by selling them for around US$500.
The Toronto Police Service also issued a public advisory warning of the increase in catalytic converter thefts, adding the vehicles of interest to thieves are Japanese and Korean makes. It’s not just a Toronto or Ontario problem either; catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise across Canada for months.
In Ontario, a mandatory car insurance policy is comprised of four primary coverage types:
Vandalism or theft of a vehicle is not protected by a basic policy. To safeguard your vehicle against these potential threats, consider adding optional comprehensive insurance to your policy, as it will pay for damages related to vandalism, theft, or if your car is damaged as a result of a natural disaster, like a flood or hailstorm.
The OPP recommends drivers take the following actions to protect their vehicles:
Anyone with information on catalytic converter thefts can contact the OPP by calling 1-888-310-1122 or online via OPP.ca/reporting. You can also report any crime anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.