{"id":32568,"date":"2023-02-21T03:24:14","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T19:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carsome.my\/news\/item\/car-spare-parts-stolen-in-malaysia"},"modified":"2023-06-09T10:48:45","modified_gmt":"2023-06-09T02:48:45","slug":"car-spare-parts-stolen-in-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carsome.my\/news\/item\/car-spare-parts-stolen-in-malaysia","title":{"rendered":"Commonly Stolen Car Spare Parts and How to Prevent It"},"content":{"rendered":"

Picture this \u2013 you had just finished a long day at work and were looking forward to heading home. As you walked to your car, you noticed something was off. Your car was sitting lower to the ground. Upon starting the car and putting a little pressure on the gas pedal, the exhaust growled louder than usual. After pulling your vehicle to the side and checking out your exhaust, you found out your catalytic converter is <\/span>missing<\/span><\/a><\/span>!<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Car theft and stolen car spare parts in Malaysia usually go hand in hand in which most cases the car gets stolen first before it\u2019s stripped for parts. Occasionally, swift-handed thieves would just steal one part while leaving behind your vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you drive a cheap, economy car, there is a higher chance it might get targeted due to a lack of safety features installed, unlike most continental cars. Here are the car spare parts that are commonly stolen from your vehicle and here\u2019s what you can do to prevent its theft.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read More: <\/span>Best Items to Keep In Your Car for Your Self-Defense Kit!<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Catalytic Converter<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"Catalytic converters in cars have been consistently stolen from vehicles no matter the vehicle\u2019s make and brand. For the uninitiated, a catalytic converter is prized among scrap thieves due to the precious metals used in it like platinum, rhodium, and palladium. Catalytic converters are used to filter out harmful exhaust gasses produced by the engine mandated by global emission laws. However, scrap thieves and drug junkies looking to make a quick buck soon discovered the precious metals inside a catalytic converter. If you\u2019re driving a <\/span>hybrid car<\/span><\/a><\/span>, the chances of getting it stolen are twice as high due to more precious metals used to accommodate higher standards of clean emissions produced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A quick search on e-commerce sites shows a used catalytic converter for a car goes for less than RM800 in Malaysia. Usually, the thief will hoist up the car with a car jack, then it’s removed with a saw or blowtorch. A good way to prevent theft on your catalytic converter is to install an anti-theft device that locks it in place. In addition, investing in an <\/span>anti-theft vehicle system<\/span><\/a><\/span> such as a vibration-triggered vehicle alarm would deter anyone who tries to tamper with your car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alloy Rims<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"SportAlloy wheels are a prime target for thieves because they are <\/span>easy to remove<\/span><\/a> and sell and most of all, untraceable. They\u2019re the easiest to steal out of this given news about tires and rims stolen in <\/span>Malaysia<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Genuine sport rims, depending on design and brand, could cost a <\/span>small fortune<\/span><\/a> on the resale market. Take the Volks Racing TE37 wheels for reference, Ray\u2019s <\/span>official website<\/span><\/a> says one set of 19-inch Rays TE-37 Ultra M-Spec wheels in bronze goes for 428,000 Yen (RM 14,058.58, excluding import taxes).<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"RaysAll you need is a few simple tools and a brave individual to steal your rims. To deter this, get wheel locks in place of your rim\u2019s lugnuts. Wheel locks are special lug nuts installed with a specialized key that is needed to remove them. They can be purchased at most auto parts stores or any e-commerce site in Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read More: <\/span>5 Popular Sport Rim Brands in Malaysia<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Car Engine and Batteries<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"CarStolen car engines have also been reported missing around Malaysia. Car engines are also harvested for the precious car spare parts inside to be resold to <\/span>workshops<\/span><\/a><\/span>. Older, discontinued, and high-demand vehicles like cheap economy cars tend to fall prey to car thieves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, the lack of a safety system which is commonly absent in economy cars, makes your vehicle more prone to be stolen. A common way for thieves to steal an engine is to steal the whole car first. Then, it\u2019s driven to somewhere quiet where the parts-stripping process begins. Stolen engines and dismantled car spare parts are even harder to track down once it’s harvested. It could be anywhere and in several different cars by the time you found your car back.<\/span><\/p>\n