In a recent incident reported in Birmingham on Christmas Eve, West Midlands police officers spotted a stolen Toyota Prius that had been taken from its owner just hours earlier.
Following a short pursuit the driver thought he would have better luck running.
After a brief pursuit, the driver attempted to escape but was apprehended, resulting in one individual in custody for theft.
The surge in Toyota Prius thefts has been noted, with a particular focus on catalytic converter thefts. According to a Forbes report, older Prius models, specifically those from 2004-2009, have become frequent targets, experiencing over a 40-fold increase in theft claims in 2020 compared to 2016. This stands in stark contrast to other vehicles from the same period, whose theft claims remained relatively stable.
The catalytic converter, a crucial component of the car’s emissions control system, has become an attractive target for thieves due to its recyclable value, housing precious metals like rhodium, platinum, and palladium. The escalating prices of these metals, with palladium reaching £1,300/oz and rhodium at £4,000/oz, according to metals merchant FJ Church and Sons, contribute to the growing trend of catalytic converter thefts from Toyota Prius vehicles.