New research has revealed that hybrid cars face a significantly higher risk of catalytic converter theft, with seven of the top 10 most-targeted vehicles in 2023 having at least one hybrid version available on the market.
Experts are calling on owners of hybrid vehicles to take additional security measures to protect their cars from criminals.
Toyota Auris owners suffer the most thefts overall, with a catalytic converter being stolen from one in every 157 of these cars within a year, according to the study.
The data was collated through freedom of information requests to police forces across England and Wales, calculating theft rates by comparing reported incidents against the number of each model on the road.
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Hybrid vehicles are the most commonly targeted by criminals trying to steal catalytic converters
GETTY/PA
Other hybrid models featured in the top 10 most-targeted vehicles include the Lexus CT, Toyota Prius and Lexus RX. The Honda Jazz, Mitsubishi Colt and Honda CR-V were also identified as frequent targets.
Premium brands are particularly vulnerable, with Lexus vehicles experiencing the highest theft rate among manufacturers, with one in every 326 owners reporting a theft.
The research suggests thieves target specific makes and models to become more familiar with removing catalytic converters quickly from particular vehicles.
Tom Banks, car insurance expert at Go.Compare, noted that hybrid vehicles are particularly valuable to criminals as the metals in the catalytic converters are less likely to corrode.
This is because they are used less frequently, making them more valuable for thieves to take advantage of, with Banks describing them as "highly sought after".
The study noted that theft figures drop significantly outside the top 10 targeted vehicles, with thieves clearly focusing on specific models rather than opportunistic theft.
Banks offered practical advice for owners of targeted vehicles, saying: "If your car is one of the more targeted models, there's no need to worry, but you could take some extra precautions to protect it."
He also recommended parking in a garage or next to a wall in well-lit areas, as well as avoiding mounting the kerb, as this would give criminals better access to the underside of the vehicle.
He added: "It could be worth fitting an alarm with a tilt sensor, too, or marking the catalytic converter with spray paint or a SmartWater pen to make it harder for thieves to sell it on."
Owners affected by catalytic converter theft will typically be covered by comprehensive car insurance policies, according to Banks.
"If you do suffer a theft, report it to the police and get a crime reference number, then contact your insurer and explain the situation," he advises.
Claimants will need to provide their crime reference number and any available evidence before waiting for their payout.
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Cambridgeshire has been named as the area with the most catalytic converter thefts per vehicle
GETTYModels with the highest ratios of catalytic converter thefts (number of cars per theft)
Toyota Auris - 157:1
Lexus CT - 162:1
Toyota Prius - 196:1
Honda FR-V - 196:1
Lexus RX - 213:1
Honda Accord - 253:1
Honda Jazz - 299:1
Honda S2000 - 310:1
Mitsubishi Colt - 310:1
Honda CR-V - 388:1
