Beware of Catalytic Converter Thefts

[ultrarunner]

Ha… sounds like christmas vacation……

If you are bold and determined the odds of pulling it off increase.

Of course property crimes being a low priority is a breeding ground.

I think my neighbor may have lost her converter… sounded like no muffler this morning…

 

[ultrarunner]

Local small town caught several in the act of theft... armed and with sawed off cats in get away vehicle.

These guys usually work in pairs and carry guns...

One case the thief got away on foot but police nabbed get away car who said why I'm U being stopped but 3 cats in back seat...

 

[sd455dan]

At least we're trying to do something about it. This takes effect July 1.

New Indiana law seeks to stop catalytic converter thefts

A new Indiana law seeks to halt the rash of catalytic converter thefts across the Hoosier State by limiting where and how often used catalytic converters can be sold.

www.nwitimes.com

Same in Spokane. It has got so bad they passed a law that requires all information related to the Cat and to prove you are the owner if you try to sell to a pawn or metal recycler. Glad the local people got a law passed for once. Sale of catalytic converters to recyclers have dropped dramatically already.

 

[Jstpssng]

My state just passed a law which goes into effect on Aug 8. New anti-catalytic converter theft law coming soon to Maine

Dealers and recyclers are required to engrave the VIN # onto all cats. Now the thieves will have to drive to New Hampshire to get rid of them. And spend the money on some tax free booze for the ride back.

 

[Yogi05]

Those type of laws stopped the manhole cover thefts dead in their tracks in my area.
To the joy of local drivers and insurance companies.

 

[Jstpssng]

Those type of laws stopped the manhole cover thefts dead in their tracks in my area.
To the joy of local drivers and insurance companies.

That's good to know.

It must be a rude awakening to be driving to work in the early AM and drop a tire into an open manhole.

 

[Yogi05]

That's good to know.

It must be a rude awakening to be driving to work in the early AM and drop a tire into an open manhole.

There were some REALLY po'd people around that time.
Some nasty calls to local talk radio LOL

 

[sallyb]

My little Texas county is seeing an increase in thief, I am so frustrated some low life stole my 1978 Beaver III ,4/wd/3 cylinder,diesel. It wasn't running at the time and front tire was unfixable , have many more projects going on, tractor ran, but it wouldn't shift, I took shifter apart ,have them soaking, me and my brother were going to work on tractor this winter,he is certified diesel mechanic with several years working as tractor mechanic also. They drug the little tractor the marks were clear, sheriff's office took report, I would bet it went to a scrap yard.

 

[sallyb]

Uhhh, yeah. "Surprise" might go down as the understatement of the week.
I read some cities started tack welding the covers in place as a deterrent.
Of course with today's scrap prices for steel around 2¢/lb hardly worth the trouble...

My cat went out on my pu so I cut it opened cleaned it out welded it back together, the thieves would get a surprise,we have had quiet a few stole even on school vehicles.Oh cat not required for inspection here.

 

[Eagle1]

Still sucks to fix pipe even if it was a fake. Just fixed one on a Class C motor home, my daughter go a good deal after the cats was stolen while it was parked. No cat requirement here either, actually drove it home with the open pipe, no worse than the trucks with straight pipes around.

 

[5030]

I'm more concerned about fuel theft than cat theft. Just installed locking caps on everything. I'd gladly give a thief all the cats he wants, my wife has about 30 roaming around the farm.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm more concerned about fuel theft than cat theft. Just installed locking caps on everything. I'd gladly give a thief all the cats he wants, my wife has about 30 roaming around the farm.

Standard is poke a hole in the tank while laying on the ground...

Almost no syphoning anymore...

 

[5030]

Standard is poke a hole in the tank while laying on the ground...

Almost no syphoning anymore...

That might apply to my wife's Suburban but my buggy is so low to the ground, the thief would literally have to be a 'pin head' to access the fuel tank....lol Same applies to the converter. We really don't go anywhere where any of our vehicles would be subject to that kind of theft actually. I installed locking fuel caps as more of a preventive measure than anything else and it was time for new caps anyway as I'm sure the ability to seal was long gone with the original ones. Fuel caps to wear out. The sealing capability degrades over time and you loose fuel do to evaporation. Not so much with diesel but with gasoline, vapor evaporation can be a concern, plus with newer vehicles, an ill sealing fuel cap can throw a check engine light.

 

[cqaigy2]

They'll be disappointed pulling the cat of my sis's Tesla or trying to steal gas.

 

[Jstpssng]

They'll be disappointed pulling the cat of my sis's Tesla or trying to steal gas.

Put that sawzall right into the battery and get a downright jolting experience!

 

[cqaigy2]

Put that sawzall right into the battery and get a downright jolting experience!

Maybe once in a life time.

 

[Yogi05]

My cat went out on my pu so I cut it opened cleaned it out welded it back together, the thieves would get a surprise,we have had quiet a few stole even on school vehicles.Oh cat not required for inspection here.

They may get a surprise but your exhaust pipes will be just a destroyed. Sorry.

 

[MossRoad]

I remember about 10 years ago watching a video of an electric drag racer where someone dropped a wrench on the battery terminals and started a plasma fire. SWEET!

 

[cqaigy2]

I remember about 10 years ago watching a video of an electric drag racer where someone dropped a wrench on the battery terminals and started a plasma fire. SWEET!

Holy cow, that'sa lotta amps!

 

[PILOON]

I've seen what a metallic watch strap can do to a wrist that probed blindly under the dash of an aircraft.
Not pretty!