Ford Tackles Catalytic Converter Theft with VIN

Believe it or not, thefts of catalytic convertors are on the rise in the UK and elsewhere. And if you’re wondering why the answer is hidden inside the catalyst as the precious metal content is usually platinum that can fetch around £100 or €130 / $200 for just a few minutes’ “work”. Until now, since there was no way of identifying one converter from another, thieves ran a very low risk of being charged, even if caught.

To deal with this problem Ford’s UK arm joined forces with Retainagroup, a car security marking and registration systems specialist. The catalyst converters are marked with a unique 7-digit code and a 24-hour telephone number. Marking and registration packs are offered at Ford dealerships either as individual customer kits priced at £11.87, or ‘fleet packs’ containing material for 30 vehicles, priced at £136.85.