Cat shields for the Priuses thieves target.
It takes about three minutes to cut a converter off. A shield turns that into a slow, loud job most thieves skip.
Which Priuses, and what a shield costs.
We are set up as a dealer for the Cat Security shield and keep them in stock.
2004-2009: the top target.
The most valuable converters, and millions still on the road. A shield for a Gen 2 is $364.21 installed.
Book a drop-off2010-2015: also hit often.
For the same reasons, a little less often. A shield for a Gen 3 is $384.21 installed.
Book a drop-off2016 and newer: still hit.
Newer converters are worth a little less to thieves, but these cars still get hit, and we shield plenty of them. Text us for a price.
Text 503-969-3134It happened in our own lot.
Fenced, lit and on camera. In January 2020 it made no difference.
On the news for fighting it
In January 2020, KGW, Portland's NBC station, featured our work against catalytic converter theft.
Behind fences and on camera, they still take them. Less than two weeks later, it was us
On January 29, thieves got into our gated lot overnight and cut the converters off two customers' Priuses.
So we stocked the shield
Travis emailed every Prius customer on our list and ordered more shields. He told KGW: “There needs to be some sort of overarching change with law enforcement or recycling or something to close down the market for this stolen stuff.”
Other things that help.
Park where it's seen.
A garage is best. On the street, pick a busy, well lit spot over a dark side street.
Report it, every time.
File a police report online. If nobody reports it, nobody in law enforcement knows it is happening.
Don't confront anyone.
If you see it happening to your car, call 911 and don't let the thief know you have seen them.
Tell other Prius owners.
Send them a link to this page. The factory alarm does not go off when a car is jacked up.
Catalytic converter questions.
Why are Toyota Prius catalytic converters stolen so often?
Hybrid converters contain a higher concentration of precious metals than conventional cars, because the engine runs only part of the time and the converter operates cooler. That makes a Prius converter worth much more on the scrap market. High value plus a two-minute theft is why the Prius is the most targeted vehicle in the country for this crime.
Which Prius years are targeted most for catalytic converter theft?
The 2004-2009 (second-generation) Prius is the number-one target because its converter carries the most valuable metal load and millions are still on the road. The 2010-2015 (third-generation) Prius is also frequently hit. Newer Priuses, including the Prius Prime and AWD-e, are targeted less often, but they still get stolen.
Does a catalytic converter shield really prevent theft?
A shield doesn't make the converter impossible to steal, but it makes the job slow, loud, and awkward, and thieves depend on being fast and quiet. In practice that's usually enough for them to move on to an unprotected car. Pairing a shield with tamper-resistant hardware makes it harder still.
How much does it cost to protect my Prius versus replacing a stolen converter?
A shield installation is a small fraction of the cost of replacing a stolen catalytic converter, which can run into the thousands once you include the part and the labor. That's why we recommend a shield as preventive protection, especially on the higher-risk model years.
My Prius is suddenly really loud. Was my converter stolen?
Very possibly. A stolen converter leaves the exhaust wide open, so the car roars loudly the moment you start it. You may also get a check engine light. Don't drive it far; have it inspected, and have a shield installed along with the replacement so it doesn't happen again.
Can you install a cat shield I bought myself?
Yes. We install both customer-supplied shields and shields we provide, mount them solidly, and test drive the car afterward to make sure everything is secure.
Text us, or book a slot.
A text with a photo of the dash gets you an answer fastest. Booking online holds a day and a time.