State Farm says catalytic converter thefts are down by 74% in the first half of 2024, compared with 2023 data.

The second half of 2021 marked the beginning of a trend where people would go out to their vehicle, only to be greeted by a loud noise they've never heard before.

The cause? Catalytic converter theft.

That year saw 32,000 State Farm auto customers file a claim, resulting in the company shelling out $73.7 million to replace them. It only got worse as 2022 saw 45,000 claims, costing the company $115.4 million.

The newly-reported data, measured from Jan. 1 to June 30, marks 2024 as the second consecutive year of theft decline, with fewer than 4,000 claims as of June 30, compared with 14,800 claims in the first half of 2023.

Illinois was ranked the second highest state with 540 claims; second to California with 2,000. However, Illinois saw a significant decrease between 2023 and 2024, with 2023 reaching 1,300 claims.

To continue to prevent catalytic converter theft, State Farm recommends parking in garages or well-lit areas, installing a sensitive alarm system or security camera and engraving your vehicle identification number on your car's catalytic converter.