The first six months of 2023 saw catalytic converter thefts decline more than 30%, according to State Farm, which had 14,500 claims for catalytic converter thefts during the period. In comparison, the first half of 2022 saw more than 23,000 such claims. This is the first drop in catalytic converter thefts since 2019, a year in which State Farm saw just 2,500 claims for these events. The average claim cost following a catalytic converter theft was $2,900 during the first half of 2023, State Farm reported. This is 16% higher than the average cost for the same period in 2022 and more than 52% higher than 2019's average costs. This is likely reflective of the higher price for the materials that catalytic converters are made from, along with other supply chain and inflationary pressures driving these costs up. The above slideshow details the states with the most catalytic converter theft during the first half of 2023 as well as the total costs from those claims, according to State Farm data. To prevent catalytic converter theft, State Farm recommends the following: |

• Park inside a garage or in well-lit areas.
• Install a sensitive alarm system.
• Have a security camera pointing at your car in its usual parking spot.
• Engrave your VIN on your car's catalytic converter.
• Talk with an insurance professional to make sure that your auto insurance policy covers the theft of your entire vehicle or of its parts through comprehensive coverage.

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