SANDY — To say there's been an uptick in catalytic converter thefts really undersells the crime.
In 2019, victims reported a hundred "cat" thefts in Utah. By 2020, that number grew by over 600%. And then 2021's figures more than doubled that haul with 1,361 thefts, according to figures shared with the KSL Investigators by the Utah Attorney General's Office.
Criminals looking at your car to make a buck can leave you with some pricy repairs. So, other than comprehensive insurance and keeping the car locked up in the garage, is there anything drivers can do to avoid a hefty replacement cost?
To find out, the KSL Investigators put three devices that promise to protect your car to the test.
The hassle for car owners
Few people understand the headache of a catalytic converter theft like Marla Love of Arte Primero Studio in Sugar House.
"It's been a huge hassle," Love said.