Pricier than gold: why thieves in Malaysia want your catalytic converter

Most of these thefts were reported to have occurred in residential areas, public car parks and transit hubs.

Vehicles left unattended, especially overnight, are among the most vulnerable.

A senior manager at a car service centre said thieves were targeting catalytic converters, which are components beneath the car along the exhaust system, because they contain rare, expensive metals.

The component contains small amounts of platinum, palladium and rhodium – metals used to reduce harmful exhaust emissions.

“Although the quantities are small, just a few grams per unit can fetch high prices,” he said.