Thieves Targeting Ford F-Series In String of Catalytic Converter Thefts

Pricey Parts

The Ford F-Series line of pickups has long topped the annual list of the most stolen vehicles in the U.S., and thieves are just as keen to steal our beloved pickups as we are to buy them. Thanks to the fact that parts like tailgates and headlights are so expensive these days, it's only fueling this particular fire. However, there's another pricey part present on Ford trucks that thieves are after, too - their catalytic converters.

Photos: Ford

Big Mess

In fact, according to CarFax, the F-Series is the biggest target for catalytic converter thieves, particularly those built between 1985 and 2022. With theft of this particular item rising roughly 1,000 percent over the past few years, this is obviously a huge concern for owners, particularly since thieves generally leave a mess by simply cutting them out of vehicles.

Photos: Ford

Compiling Data

To determine which vehicles suffered from the most catalytic converter thefts, CarFax analyzed replacement jobs at 60,000 repair shops across the U.S. from 2019 to the first quarter of 2022. The vast majority of thefts took place in the West, Northeast, South, and the Midwest, with the F-Series being the most popular target.

Photos: Ford

Popular All Over

The F-Series was also a popular target for thieves no matter what geographical region we're talking about. Aside from topping the overall list, Ford's truck lineup also ranked second in the West, first in the Northeast, first in the South, and first in the Midwest in a rather "dominant" effort.

Photos: Ford

Making Money

The problem here, of course, is the fact that catalytic converters cost anywhere from $1,000-$3,000 to replace, though thieves generally get between $25-$1,400 for them. The value here isn't to sell these parts to shops or owners, but rather, to melt down the precious metals found in catalytic converters and sell them instead.

Photos: Ford

Precious Metals

Those items include platinum, palladium, and rhodium, while hybrid vehicles contain more of them than regular ICE models, which is why the Toyota Prius and other electrified models are also highly targeted on this list. Regardless, catalytic converter theft is increasing rapidly across the board, though there are some ways to prevent it.

Photos: Ford

Prevention Tactics

To prevent catalytic converter theft or help recover the part if it's stolen, experts recommend parking in well-lit areas, parking in a garage if possible, always being aware of where you're parking, installing a catalytic converter anti-theft device, using motion sensor security lights, and having a muffler shop etch your vehicle's VIN on the converter using high-heat paint.

Photos: Ford

>>Join the conversation about F-Series's Catalytic Converter theft problem right here in the forum.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section of Ford-trucks.com.