Thankfully, I have not had this happen. A sloping, gravel driveway with CCTV seems to be a reasonable deterrent.
Personally, I would not shell out for a new OEM cat. I bought one some years back and it didn’t last like the original. For a car first registered before 1st March 2001 you don’t need a type approved cat. The last one I had fitted was a cheap a2a part and it’s been fine. It should also be much less attractive to thieves although you cannot guarantee that a thick oik will be that discerning.
I’ve heard good things about BM Catalysts and might look at their offerings next time I need one.
It’s unfortunate that late 940s have to have the cat replaced at all. I think on my 1994 B200FT I could get away with a straight pipe on a technicality, but I haven’t tried. The technicality being that for cars registered after 1/8/92 and before 1/8/95 the full cat emissions test only applies if they are listed in the annex of this document.
https://assets.publishing.service.go...th-edition.pdf
Under Volvo 940 in the annex it only mentions B230 engines. Not B200.
Good luck getting yours sorted.