Since the 1990s, vehicle thefts and burglaries have trended downward, to less than 800,000 in 2019. Yet 2020 saw a sharp increase in car thefts and burglaries, and the trend has continued into 2021. It’s not just cars being stolen, but specific parts on a vehicle, as well. Theft of catalytic converters rose sharply in 2020, from an average of 282 converters stolen per month to 1,203 in 2020 – a rise of nearly 327%. What could be causing this rise in thefts? We dig into the contributing factors to this trend below.

Reasons Car Thefts and Burglaries Are Rising

1. The COVID-19 Pandemic

One big contributing factor to this rise in auto thefts and burglaries is the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic downturns like the one that resulted from the pandemic often create financial desperation that might motivate some people to steal assets that they can sell for cash, whether it’s the car itself, or parts on the car, or items that have been left in a car, like a backpack, laptop, or another valuable.

Another factor during the COVID-19 pandemic was that during the peak severity when infection rates were high, many people were also trying to avoid public transit, which may have been another motivating factor for car thefts.

2. The Rising Demand for Precious Metals

One factor driving theft of car parts, in particular, is the rising demand for precious metals: palladium, rhodium and platinum. These are the metals used to manufacture catalytic converters, the part on an engine that manages exhaust emissions. With metal prices soaring due to increased demand, thefts of catalytic converters have soared, with thieves typically selling the stolen parts for scrap. A catalytic converter is located on the underside of a car, in the exhaust system between the manifold and the muffler.

Vehicles that have higher ground clearance, like a pickup truck, make it easier for thieves to access the catalytic converter and remove it. Hybrid vehicles are also frequent targets for catalytic converter theft because theirs tend to be in better condition, due to reduced use of gasoline compared to other vehicles. (Source)

There are two ways to tell if your catalytic converter has been stolen. First, if you turn on your engine and it is suddenly much louder than usual and the exhaust coming from your tailpipe is smoky, this could be the result of a missing catalytic converter. Second, thieves steal the catalytic converter by cutting off the pipes on either end of it. If you look beneath your vehicle and see two severed pipes with no converter, it’s been stolen. (If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, try searching the internet for photos of the undercarriage for your car’s specific make and model, e.g., “2018 Toyota Prius undercarriage.”)

3. The Key Fob Problem

Many newer cars do not require a manual key to start the engine, but instead use a keyless ignition that come with a key fob. As long as the fob is in proximity to the car’s computer system, the car can be turned on with the push of the button, thanks to an embedded microchip in the fob that validates the signal. At first, this technology drove a steep decline in car thefts, but recent reports show that one big contributing factor to the rise in car thefts is how often vehicle owners forget to take the key fob with them when they leave exit the car, typically leaving it in the cupholder for anyone to find. In other words, stealing a car has never been easier for a thief. If you own a car with keyless ignition, never leave your key fob in the vehicle, even if you think you’ll only be out of the car a few minutes.

What to Do if Your Car has been Stolen:

1. File a report with law enforcement. Your auto insurer will not be able to honor the claim if a police report has not been filed.

2. Contact your auto insurer to inform them of the missing vehicle.

What to Do if Your Car is Burgled:

If your car has been broken into or you suspect that a part such as the catalytic converter has been stolen and you want to file an insurance claim, we recommend taking these steps:

1. Document the damage for your auto insurance provider. Documenting the damage with your smartphone will help speed up the process of filing a claim with your auto insurance and seeking repairs from an auto body shop near you. Proceed with caution if there is broken glass.

2. File a report with law enforcement.

3. Contact your auto insurer to inform them of the incident. If the damage is covered, ask if you can submit photos and video of the damage, as well as documentation.

4. Find an auto body or auto glass shop near you to repair the damage. If your car has been damaged, such as a shattered window, or damaged door or handle, you can contact an auto body or auto glass shop near you to discuss possible repairs. Ask if they accept digital photos of vehicle damage to generate a virtual estimate and kick off the repair process. Professional auto body and auto glass technicians can help restore your vehicle to pre-theft condition.

Find an Auto Body or Auto Glass Shop Near You

A car burglary is always a distressing experience but finding the right auto body or auto glass shop to get repairs doesn’t have to be. Carwise.com makes it easy to find a repair shop near you, with details on nearly 22,000 shops – from real reviews by customers, to shop hours and locations, to shop certifications and before & after photos. Use Carwise’s shop finder tool to search your zip code for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby to get your vehicle repaired after a burglary: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.

Many drivers focus on the condition of their windshields, but a vehicle’s side windows are just as important to safe driving. Window damage becomes dangerous when it interferes with your peripheral field-of-vision or when it interferes with your ability to focus on driving. While it may be tempting to postpone repairs if the damage seems minor, it’s important to know that cracked, chipped or broken car windows can present real risks. In many states, you can be ticketed if a police officer deems your broken window to be unsafe.

Here’s everything you need to know about car window damage and how to find a local auto glass repair shop near you.

What to Do if Your Car Window Won’t Roll Up or Down

Window regulators are the mechanism that allows you to raise or lower your car windows. Whether your window regulators are powered by buttons or old-school manual hand-cranks, they are subject to high wear and tear (especially the driver’s window) and can stop working from age or excessive use. There are other common causes of window regulator failure: faulty switches, damaged window tracks, broken cables, worn out pulleys and cable lines, and exposure to moisture. A professional technician at your local auto glass shop can diagnose the problem with your regulator and repair it.

Although a window that can’t roll up or down may not seem like an urgent issue, especially if the window is already rolled up, remember that a broken window regulator could interfere with your ability or the ability of your passengers to exit your vehicle if you are trapped inside in the moments following a collision, so you shouldn’t delay getting it repaired.

What To Do When Your Car Window is Damaged or Shattered

If your car window has a small chip or crack, the damage can spread over time, leading to more expensive repairs and potentially a full auto glass replacement. Weather can make window damage worse. Like with cracked windshields, moisture can drip into the chip or crack on a car window, and cold temperatures can cause the moisture to freeze and expand, making the crack spread.

If your window is already cracked when you get into an accident, the glass is more likely to shatter during a collision.

Here are steps to take when your window gets shattered:

• Take photos and video of the damage. This is a key first step before beginning cleanup, especially if the broken car window is a result of an accident or burglary, because you will need to document the damage for insurance and law enforcement purposes.

• Contact your auto insurance provider and file a police report. If your car window is damaged as a result of an accident, burglary, or a natural disaster like a tornado, it may be covered by your auto insurance. Some law enforcement agencies will come out and file a police report in the case of accidents and burglaries. After natural disasters, some first responders will provide an incident report if you call them from a non-emergency line within a few days or weeks of the event.

• Clean up the glass. The most effective way to clean up shattered glass is to use a shop vacuum to suction it off of the interior of the vehicle. Remove as much as you can, but rest assured that your local auto glass shop will likely vacuum the car before they return it to you in an effort to restore it to pre-incident condition.

• Cover the window. Once you’ve cleaned up as much glass as possible, you will need to secure the window to protect the interior of your car until the window can be repaired. If you anticipate having to drive the vehicle before the window is repaired, you will need to use something that doesn’t obstruct your field-of-vision – we recommend clear packing tape and transparent plastic, such as a shower curtain liner.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Broken Car Window?

Auto Glass Repair

Auto glass repair is a quick, cost-effective solution if the crack or chip on your car window is small enough. Generally, chips smaller than the size of a quarter and cracks less than three inches long can be repaired. Anything larger will likely require a full replacement. A quality auto glass repair can prevent a chip or crack from spreading and help hide the original damage without having to remove the original glass. You’ll need to act quickly to get an auto glass repair, otherwise replacement may become your only option because driving with a cracked car window can cause the damage to spread.

An auto glass repair is a simple procedure that typically takes less than an hour: the technician uses a small suction vacuum to remove any moisture or other matter from the crack and injects resin to fill it. If done properly, window crack repair can be a safe and permanent solution to a damaged piece of auto glass.

Auto Glass Replacement

Auto glass replacement is typically more expensive than an auto glass repair, but it is often the best way to make sure that your vehicle is safe to drive. The location of the window damage can play a factor in determining whether or not you’ll need an auto glass repair or replacement. Depending on where the crack is located, it can compromise the structural integrity of the glass. If the damage is in the line of site of the driver, the auto glass shop may recommend a full replacement even if it’s a small chip, because auto glass repair can sometimes leave minor distortions in the glass. If a crack or chip is deep enough to penetrate the clear layer of plastic that prevents window glass from shattering, they will likely recommend a full replacement as well.

Get Your Window Repaired at an Auto Glass Shop Near You

A professional technician at your local auto glass repair shop will be able to inspect and assess the damage to your car window and help you determine the best method of repair or replacement.

When your car window is broken or shattered, Carwise.com makes it easy to find a reputable auto glass repairer near you and request an estimate. From reviews by real customers to services and payment information, Carwise has details on nearly 22,000 repair shops. Use Carwise’s shop finder tool to search your zip code for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.