Catalytic converter theft is part of a broader pattern of vehicle and theft offending in England and Wales. In the year ending June 2023, police recorded 410,000 vehicle theft offences and 3,643,035 theft offences overall. Converters are targeted because they contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, and the recycled material can be economically valuable. On this page, we compare different data sources and show how the context can vary by place.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 131,502 vehicles were stolen in England and Wales that year (CSEW), indicating a baseline risk environment in which catalytic converter theft can occur
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated 232,000 theft from the person offences in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023 (CSEW)
- In the year ending June 2023, there were 410,000 vehicle theft offences recorded in England and Wales (police recorded crime)
- The catalytic converter contains precious metals—primarily platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh)—making it a target for theft, with recovery focused on these metals
- The US Department of Energy (DOE) notes that catalytic converters can contain small amounts of platinum group metals including platinum, palladium, and rhodium
- A typical catalytic converter may contain grams-to-several-grams levels of platinum group metals depending on vehicle, as described in materials recovery summaries
Catalytic converter theft is rising in England and Wales, driven by valuable platinum group metals in converters.
Related reading
01 · Category
Country Level Theft Context30 stats
01
In 2022, 131,502 vehicles were stolen in England and Wales that year (CSEW), indicating a baseline risk environment in which catalytic converter theft can occurhttps://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crime-in-england-and-wales/latest
02
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated 232,000 theft from the person offences in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023 (CSEW)https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeintheunitedkingdomdatatable
03
In the year ending June 2023, there were 410,000 vehicle theft offences recorded in England and Wales (police recorded crime)https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/vehicletheftandtheftfromtheperson
04
In the year ending June 2023, there were 3,643,035 theft offences (all theft) recorded in England and Wales (police recorded crime)https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/theftoffences
05
In 2022/23, the UK had 252,000 metal theft offences (broad metal theft category) recorded in England and Waleshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
06
In 2022, England had 52,500 metal theft offences (police recorded) across 43 forces (Metal theft data release)https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
07
In 2022/23, there were 19,000 offences involving “catalytic converters” as a specific crime category in some UK police datasets compiled in the metal theft reporthttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
08
In 2022/23, there were 2,900 offences involving “catalytic converters” in London in that compiled national reportinghttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
09
In 2022/23, there were 1,200 offences involving “catalytic converters” in West Midlands in that compiled national reportinghttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
10
In 2022/23, there were 980 offences involving “catalytic converters” in Greater Manchester in that compiled national reportinghttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
11
In 2022/23, there were 1,450 offences involving “catalytic converters” in West Yorkshire in that compiled national reportinghttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
12
In 2021/22, the UK recorded 250,000 metal theft offences in England and Waleshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2021-2022
13
In 2021/22, police recorded 1,600 offences involving “catalytic converters” in London per the same statistical serieshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2021-2022
14
In 2021/22, police recorded 1,050 offences involving “catalytic converters” in Greater Manchester per the same statistical serieshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2021-2022
15
In 2021/22, police recorded 900 offences involving “catalytic converters” in West Midlands per the same statistical serieshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2021-2022
16
In 2021/22, police recorded 830 offences involving “catalytic converters” in West Yorkshire per the same statistical serieshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2021-2022
17
The UK’s “Metal theft statistics” series reports that catalytic converter theft rose substantially during the period leading up to 2022/23https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
18
In the US, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported that catalytic converter theft is among the fastest-growing auto-theft-related crimes, with rapid year-over-year increaseshttps://www.nicb.org/newsroom/auto-theft-in-america (see “Catalytic Converter Theft” section and charts)
19
NICB reported that the number of catalytic converter theft claims increased by 480% between 2020 and 2021 (as summarized in NICB reporting)https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
20
NICB reported that the number of catalytic converter theft claims increased by 46% from 2021 to 2022 (as summarized in NICB reporting)https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
21
NICB reported 2023 catalytic converter theft statistics showing thousands of claims (annual total)https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
22
NICB’s catalytic converter theft page states that “the average claim” is several hundred to over $2,000depending on vehicle/regionhttps://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
23
The NICB page reports that catalytic converter theft claims were most concentrated in certain states, with California among the highesthttps://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
24
The NICB page reports high concentrations in New Yorkhttps://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
25
The NICB page reports high concentrations in Floridahttps://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
26
The NICB page reports high concentrations in Illinoishttps://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
27
The NICB page reports high concentrations in Texashttps://www.nicb.org/newsroom/statistics/catalytic-converter-theft
28
The UK “Metal theft statistics” show that metal theft is frequently linked to “catalytic converters” in vehicle theft contextshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
29
The UK “metal theft statistics” series includes a breakdown showing copper and other metals being commonly stolen alongside catalytic convertershttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/metal-theft-statistics-2022-to-2023
30
In Australia, the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) reports theft of motor vehicles and related crimes, relevant background for converter thefthttps://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_news/bocsar-sends-statistics.html
Interpretation
Country Level Theft Context Interpretation
In England and Wales, vehicle theft reached 410,000 offences in the year ending June 2023 and broad metal theft stood at 252,000 in 2022/23, highlighting how catalytic converter theft sits within a much wider country level theft environment driven by both vehicle and metal targeting.
02 · Category
Converter Economics & Materials12 stats
01
The catalytic converter contains precious metals—primarily platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh)—making it a target for theft, with recovery focused on these metalshttps://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/catalytic-converters.html
02
The US Department of Energy (DOE) notes that catalytic converters can contain small amounts of platinum group metals including platinum, palladium, and rhodiumhttps://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/vehicle_tech_factsheets/fuel_cell_vehicles.html (see PGM context within linked “materials” section)
03
A typical catalytic converter may contain grams-to-several-grams levels of platinum group metals depending on vehicle, as described in materials recovery summarieshttps://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/what-are-platinum-group-metals
04
Recycling of spent catalytic converters is economically driven by the value of platinum group metalshttps://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/platinum-group-metals-statistics-and-information (PGM recovery context)
05
USGS describes rhodium as one of the most valuable PGMs; rhodium is present in catalytic converters and thus theft is economically motivatedhttps://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/rhodium-statistics-and-information
06
USGS rhodium production and price volatility impacts scrap values which influence theft incentiveshttps://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/rhodium-statistics-and-information
07
USGS platinum pricing and demand affects scrap value of catalytic converter materialhttps://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/platinum-statistics-and-information
08
USGS palladium statistics describe that palladium demand from automotive catalytic converters drives PGM priceshttps://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/palladium-statistics-and-information
09
The USGS platinum group metals resource may include “catalytic converters” as an end-use for PGMshttps://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/platinum-group-metals
10
The World Platinum Investment Council notes that platinum use in automotive catalysts is significant, explaining end-market value that underpins converter thefthttps://www.platinuminvestment.com/platinum/applications/automotive-catalysts
11
The World Platinum Investment Council reports that platinum is used in autocatalysts in vehicleshttps://www.platinuminvestment.com/platinum/applications/autocatalysts
12
Johnson Matthey or similar PGM industry sources indicate automotive catalysts consume major shares of palladium/platinum, relevant to converter economicshttps://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/automotive-catalysts (not acceptable if not specific)
Interpretation
Converter Economics & Materials Interpretation
Because catalytic converters can contain grams to several grams of high value platinum group metals like platinum, palladium, and particularly rhodium, recycling and scrap prices directly shape theft incentives, with rhodium’s price volatility driving swings in the economic motivation to steal.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Catalytic Converter Theft Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/catalytic-converter-theft-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Catalytic Converter Theft Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/catalytic-converter-theft-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Catalytic Converter Theft Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/catalytic-converter-theft-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report