Catalytic convertors reduce the harmful emissions produced by vehicles with combustion engines and contain valuable metals like platinum, In new research, Gerald Foong, Stephen Machin and Matteo Sandi look at the relationship between global prices for these precious metals and autopart thefts. They find that when the precious metals within catalytic converters increased in price, thieves saw opportunities under cars everywhere. Stricter regulations directed at recyclers, they write, have subsequently been effective at reducing the theft of catalytic converters.

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8 July 2026

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LSE US Politics and Policy

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https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2026/07/08/catalytic-converter-thefts-rise-and-fall-with-global-metal-prices/

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