How to Protect the Catalytic Converters on a RAV4
- 1). Park in enclosed garages, staffed lots and well-lit areas. Thieves look for easy targets, which is why the RAV4 is popular due to its ride height. A closed garage and a well-lit area make it harder for a thief to get to your RAV4 without witnesses seeing him. Likewise, a parking lot with an attendant means there's a potential witness present, which sends many thieves elsewhere.
- 2). Install a protective cage or device around your catalytic converter. There are many protective devices available on the market, and most are designed to fit the majority of converters, including the RAV4. A cage or a cable lock around the converter is not a foolproof way of preventing theft, but such devices make the catalytic converter harder to remove, thus increasing your chances that thieves will move on to an easier target.
- 3). Etch your RAV4 vehicle identification number (VIN) into the catalytic converter with an etching kit. If thieves get caught with a converter, it is difficult to prove the part was stolen. But if the VIN is on it, it is verifiable proof of theft and you are more likely to get it recovered if the thief is located or if the converter turns up at a metal shop or scrap yard.