Have you seen the videos of catalytic converter thieves sliding under a vehicle, sawing it out and walking away nonchalantly with their easily-carried score in less than 2 minutes? I’ve seen multiple videos like that.

Have you seen any videos of people sliding under a Tesla and somehow sawing out the ~800 pound battery pack and walking away?

Much of the reason why catalytic converter theft is so widespread is that it’s quick and easy. Not so for swiping an EV battery.

Underneath a Tesla, and I imagine other EVs with similarly located batteries, there is a titanium plate. It is there to prevent road debris from penetrating the batteries and starting a fire, but it is precisely the sort of thing people install to prevent catalytic converter theft.

This is setting aside a larger problem: If you're under a car nabbing a catalytic converter you can quickly cut it loose, grab it, and run. If you're under en EV and manage to break the battery pack loose after several hours work, your remains will be pinned to the ground under that car later when the police come to investigate. People won't be stealing batteries and leaving EVs stranded for the same reason they aren't stealing diesel truck motors and leaving the trucks stranded.

Easier to steal the car.

Yes and they poke a lithium battery accidentally and car catches fire instantly.