Crime Car thefts in Japan on the rise

There were 173 thefts of mufflers or catalytic converters in Chiba Prefecture last year, 16 times more than in 2021, according to local police. About 90% of those were from Prius's, they said. Thefts of catalytic converters, exhaust emission control devices that reduce pollution, have risen across the world over the last few years in tandem with increases in the prices of platinum and palladium that are contained in them. Older Prius models contain more of those metals than many other cars, making them a prime target. The war in Ukraine provided a further price bounce, as Russia accounts for about 40% of the world's freshly mined palladium and is also a significant platinum producer.

Click to expand...

According to Kanagawa Prefectural Police, 35 incidents of theft or attempted theft of sports cars took place between June and September last year, mainly in Yokohama. Targeted models included the Nissan Skyline, Toyota Supra and Honda NSX, all of which were manufactured between 1989 and 2003. The total value of the thefts was in excess of 100 million yen (about $765,000). Last September, police arrested two suspects, men aged 57 and 58, on suspicion of attempted larceny after the two allegedly tried to steal a sports car that had been parked at an auto repair shop in Yokohama. The pair is suspected over more than 10 additional incidents, but the rash of thefts has continued even after their arrest, leading police to investigate whether an organized crime element is involved. One of the suspects confessed, saying that their motivation was to earn money, and that there is a market for older model cars. One factor is that the value of the vehicles has been soaring.

Click to expand...