Catalytic converter theft from cars isn’t a new crime, but it has increased significantly in recent times.
Police forces around the UK, including those in West Yorkshire, London and Nottinghamshire, are advising owners of any car fitted with a catalytic converter to take precautions.
Any car fitted with a catalytic converter within the exhaust system could be at risk. In the case of Lexus, we are aware that the second-generation Lexus RX 400h models (2005-2008) and the Lexus CT 200h have been a target for thieves.
Below we’ve gathered the best advice for Lexus owners who may be concerned.
What is a catalytic converter?
The catalytic converter is part of the car’s emissions control system. It cleans up the exhaust gases before they are expelled from the car through the exhaust pipe. Its internal elements react with the gases, breaking them down into less harmful substances and water vapour. All cars sold in Europe since 1993 have had to be fitted with catalytic converter by law.
Why are they a target for thieves?
The police are best placed to offer advice on the motivation behind crimes. But we understand that the recycling value of catalytic converters is the primary attraction to thieves because it contains precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium.
What is Lexus doing to stop its cars being targeted?
In May 2021, Lexus (GB) announced that it would be covertly marking more than 100,000 catalytic converters in order to combat theft. By working with police and Smartwater, catalytic converters can be tagged with an invisible yet traceable marking, meaning that a stolen catalytic converter can be traced to a specific crime, helping police in their attempts to fight the organised gangs responsible. It also raises the risk to all those handling the devices along the criminal chain, from theft to eventual disposal and recycling.
It is free to get the catalytic converter marked, all customers need to do is call their local Toyota or Lexus retailer to arrange a visit.
In addition to this, Lexus has issued 20,000 Smartwater kits to police to support their local anti-catalyst theft initiatives. The company is also working with the AA, Toyota’s roadside partner, so its patrols can point customers to where they can get a free kit.
We have also developed and reduced the price of a ‘Catloc’ device which can deter theft and make it more difficult. Lexus teams in the UK and other countries are urgently exploring new technical possibilities to deter criminals as well.
We are working with the police, as well as talking to government about changes in the law around scrap metal sales that would make it harder for criminals to sell stolen catalysts for cash.
However, these are criminal operations and our scope is therefore limited. A number of police forces are taking action and some forces, such as Nottinghamshire, are also starting awareness campaigns. It is vitally important for anyone who is a victim of this crime to report it to their local police force as quickly as possible.
In the main, it remains older cars that are targeted because advances in efficiency and technology mean the latest generations of Lexus catalytic converters contain vastly lower amounts of precious metals, whilst still doing their job just as well or even better; this means their value for recycling is very low and they are not attractive to thieves.
We’re doing all we can. We’ve shared police guidance with customers, and are seeking technical solutions, although for obvious reasons we would like to refrain from talking about specifics.
We are also working with the police, as well as talking to government about changes in the law around scrap metal sales that would make it harder for criminals to sell stolen catalysts for cash.
However, these are criminal operations and our scope is therefore limited. A number of police forces are taking action and some forces, such as Nottinghamshire, are also starting awareness campaigns. It is vitally important for anyone who is a victim of this crime to report it to their local police force as quickly as possible.
In the main it remains older cars that are targeted because advances in efficiency and technology mean the latest generations of Lexus catalytic converters contain vastly lower amounts of precious metals, whilst still doing their job just as well or even better; this means their value for recycling is very low and they are not attractive to thieves.
How much does it cost to replace a catalytic converter?
Our priority is to do all we can to support Lexus customers who have been the victims of catalytic converter theft.
We have reduced the prices of catalytic converters to a level where Lexus UK does not make any profit from their supply to customers.
Your nearest Lexus centre can advise on exact costs after inspecting your vehicle.
How long will I have to wait for replacement parts?
The rapid rise in this crime is one we could not have envisaged set against many years of low incidence of thefts. It has impacted our ability to source a sufficient quantity of replacement parts, for which we sincerely apologise.
However, we are taking urgent action with our suppliers to secure increased supplies, which we hope will allow us to effectively tackle the supply issue and repair customers’ cars more quickly.
Who can I contact if I’m worried about my Lexus?
If you are worried about potential catalytic converter theft from your Lexus, we recommend you use our locator tool to find your nearest Lexus centre and contact them to discuss the best way to protect your car.
This article was last updated on 14 May 2021, so some of the responses to reader comments below have been superseded by more recent information.
2nd catalytic convertor stolen from my RX400h (2008) in the last 4 months. I waited three months for the last one to come in and now this has happened again. This was in a retail outlet car park, and it took 1 minute from when I drove into the car park for it to be stolen. I’m so upset by this, and the inconvenience it will cause. I need to sell this car now, once fixed, as I can’t afford the inconvenience this is causing. I just hope the part is available quicker than last time.
Hi Sanj,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We are incredibly sorry to hear you have been a victim of this crime for a second time. We are doing all we can to support our customers in this and we will email yo directly in order to gain additional details and put you in touch with our customer relations team.
We can also now confirm that Catlocs are available for RX400h and the Lexus CT. We would recommend contacting your nearest Lexus centre for more information. You can find your nearest centre via this link: https://www.lexus.co.uk/forms/find-a-centre
Thanks.
Hi Sanj,
We have tried to email you directly in order to open a case with our customer relations team, however unfortunately it has failed to send. In this case, we would recommend contacting our team directly. You can find their contact details via this link: https://www.lexus.co.uk/concierge-tool/contact-us/
Thanks.
Thank You – I have sent a message through to customer relations. I don’t think there is anything you can really do unless you alter the design and provide a catloc as default. When I called Lexus they said a catloc was £250….
Had mine stolen last night on my drive RX 400H ..Lexus your price is way too much £750 You have to better for your customers..Why were we not informed more of this epidemic .
Hi Gaz,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry to hear you have been a victim of this crime. We would like to help you further by putting you in touch with our customer relations team and we will email you directly regarding this.
Thanks.
I had mine stolen yesterday, from Leatherhead Station Car Park.
When I phoned my nearest Lexus dealer and asked about the reduced replacement price of £750, they hadn’t heard of it.
They had a reduced price of £821.54 for the part, and with labour they quoted a total of £935.
Either the information in the article above is wrong or the information hasn’t been rolled out to all of the dealerships. Either way it isn’t great.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been impacted by this crime. We appreciate your concerns and will email you directly in order to gain additional details and open a case with our customer relations team on your behalf. They are best placed to help with your queries.
Thanks.
The catalytic converter on my Lexus Rx400H was stolen this afternoon. The vehicle was parked not far from my flat on a central London residential road. I would like to get my car back on the road asap but don’t want to spend £750 and then see it happen again (as I have heard has happened to others). Also, just looking at the images online, it isn’t clear to me how a catloc is going to stop somebody with an angle grinder. Can you please have somebody at Lexus contact me to discuss this. I called Lexus Nine Elms this afternoon and nobody picked up. Thanks
Hi Jeremy,
We’re very sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves. We will of course put you in touch with our customer relations team. In order to do that, we will email you directly requesting further information.
Thanks
We had our rx400h catalytic converter stolen yesterday in daytime outside my inlaws house in a cul de sac. Their neighbour has the same car. They stole both within minutes with an angle grinder/ electric saw. They didn’t care that the people in the road came out to stop them. They just carried on. Cctv cameras on the drives but they knew where they were and clever avoided facing them. Police didn’t show up. Insurance said it’s a right off at first but I argued the toss and they’re going to replace it. Everyone knows it’s likely to happen again As it’s so easy for them- so it’s going to have to be time to replace the car soon before it happens again. I wasn’t aware of a cheaper Chinese version which may come in useful next time!
Hi Ravi,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been impacted by this crime and for the distress this may have caused. We are working to support all our customers who have been impacted by this situation and we will email you directly in order to put you in touch with our customer relations team.
Thanks.
Silly question but how can we tell whether the cat con has been stolen?
Hi Vim,
Thanks for getting in touch. That’s not a silly question at all. If the catalytic converter has been stolen, as you turn the car on and start to drive you will notice a much louder noise coming from underneath the car. In addition, if you were to then inspect where the noise is coming from you would notice some damage from the theft and be able to see the area where the Catalytic converter was.
Thanks.
Hi Lexus,
I pretty much have same issues as some of the commenters above. My cat converter was stolen last monday and i have been to the Lexus at Rayleigh in Southend but they do not appear to know about this £750 price package. Please can you advice.
Hi Marianne,
Thanks for contacting us. We are so sorry you have been impacted by this crime. Our customer relations team are best placed to help you further with this and we will email you directly in order to put you in touch with them.
Thanks.
Mine was stolen yesterday outside my house. Which is the best way to go? Insurance or fork out for Chinese make.
James Mubirigwe
Hi James,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are incredibly sorry you have been a victim of this crime. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details and put you in touch with our customer relations team. They are best placed to support you further with this.
Thanks.
I own a Lexus RX 350 (2007). The cat converter was stolen today in a car park. The police informed me this was a very common problem with the Lexus’s of this age and they had received multiple reports. I quick search brought me here.
I have to stay I am astonished that Lexus has not been proactive in warning owners of this issue — somehow I knew nothing about it.
My insurance is helping but I will pay a significant excess.
Does the cat protector work (more expense).
Mike
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are deeply sorry you have been impacted by this crime. We are working to support all our customers who have been impacted by this crime and we will email you directly in order to put you in touch with our customer relations team. They are best placed to discuss your situation in more detail and offer support in any way we can.
Thanks.
The catalytic converter on my Lexus Rx400H was stolen a few days ago too….. It is quite shocking how common this problem appears to be and may be time to sell and buy another car.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been a victim of this crime. We are working to support all our customers who have been impacted by this crime and we will email you directly with more details.
Thanks.