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US Car Thefts Plummet, But Catalytic Converter Thefts Remain High

Vehicle thefts in the U.S. have decreased significantly, reaching multi-decade lows in 2025. Despite this overall decline, catalytic converter theft remains a persistent problem, with over 137,000 reported stolen in 2025 alone. These thefts are driven by the valuable precious metals within the converters, such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, making them a lucrative target for thieves who often dismantle vehicles in "chop shops" for parts. AI

RANK_REASON Article discusses trends in car theft and catalytic converter theft, citing data from NICB and Carfax, but does not report on a new event or development.

Read on Forbes — Innovation →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

US Car Thefts Plummet, But Catalytic Converter Thefts Remain High

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Article discusses trends in car theft and catalytic converter theft, citing data from NICB and Carfax, but does not report on a new event or development.
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97 days old
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Forbes — Innovation TIER_1 English(EN) · Jim Gorzelany, Senior Contributor ·

    Car Thefts Are Down, Data Shows, But One Component Remains A Hot Item

    Overall, fewer vehicles were stolen last year than in recent decades, though thieves are still after a main element in a car’s emissions system for its precious metals.