Catalytic Converter Theft Risk?

[HybridAffaciando]

Catalytic converter theft is reportedly increasing, with prior generation Toyota Prius vehicles often mentioned in media accounts. But knock on wood. I've not yet seen the FFH mentioned in individual converter theft reports, or included on lists of most frequently targeted vehicles. Would that simply be because of its relatively low population, or there something else about the FFH's converter that makes it less valuable/enticing to thieves?  Lacking a garage, I'm pondering removal of my FFH's hybrid badging as a somewhat of a deterrent.

[2014FordFusionSE]

I believe it's based on how easy it is to steal. Supposedly very easy on older Priuses.

I haven't heard of any FFH thefts yet. The weirdest one was from a Honda Odyssey.

[MeeLee]

chances are lower on FFH, they aren't as popular as Honda's or Toyotas.
They're also located right under the engine, as opposed to near the muffler on other vehicles.
Theft is still possible though.

[HybridAffaciando]

Thanks, 2014FusionFE and MeeLee.   I didn't know about the converter's nonstandard location.  Fingers crossed. 

[J.Frink]

Same question as OP, so thanks for this post and I'll be following. Just having the cat under the engine doesn't seem like it would deter thieves ... perhaps access is obstructed? Or it's just a less common/less valuable cat to steal?

[HybridAffaciando]

I'm no mechanic but just based on a few pics I've seen, FFH advantage may not just be cat location per se but rather that the cat assembly seems actually affixed to the engine. If so, that design  (along with relatively low population) might indeed be a benefit  in making it harder to remove.  By contrast, I recall reading the problem with the 2nd gen Prius is that the converter sits "downstream "amidst the exhaust pipe which can quickly clipped on either side. Whatever the reason, I'm glad we don't seem to be popular targets (yet). 

Edited April 22, 2022 by HybridAffaciando
Editorial improvement

[J.Frink]

Yeah, that's what I've found too. Looks like the cat is integral to the exhaust manifold, sort of like the cat is used as the manifold plenum. I'm guessing that this would put it in a pretty inconvenient place? In the attached image, I believe the cat is the un-numbered squat cylindrical-ish thing that's near (but not indicated by) the "5".

 

[MeeLee]

On 5/19/2022 at 4:10 PM, J.Frink said:

Yeah, that's what I've found too. Looks like the cat is integral to the exhaust manifold, sort of like the cat is used as the manifold plenum. I'm guessing that this would put it in a pretty inconvenient place? In the attached image, I believe the cat is the un-numbered squat cylindrical-ish thing that's near (but not indicated by) the "5".

 

The catalytic converter is on the left of 5, the can connected to the piece "11".
You'd have to squirm your way up the car, and open the hood to take it out.
Dumb thieves will think it's "17", but that's just the pre-muffler. It contains nothing but material for muffling the exhaust noise.

[Sky14FFH]

On 2/9/2022 at 12:08 PM, HybridAffaciando said:

pondering removal of my FFH's hybrid badging as a somewhat of a deterrent

Don't think it has to do with their being a hybrid being an easy target but their ride height.  The Honda element is a big target.  Fusion sits too low to get under there.