Stolen Catalytic Converters

[slowgreen99]

I know its been an ongoing trend and has been going on for a long time, but I wouldve never thought people to be so brave. Today, one of the drivers I work with went to leave and came back in and said his truck sounded bad and thought the engine was making noise. I went out there and looked under the truck and the converter was cut out.

This was anywhere beween 1030am-415pm today, in the rainstorm. The worst part is that we have office personnel that are in the building with huge windows about 40 foot from where his Tundra was parked. My manager that was inside was very busy today, but he did notice a white neon or cavalier parked next to the Tundra, and when he looked again, about 15 minutes later, it was gone. We're guessing that the rainstorm overcame the sawzall noise, which was smart on their part.

Just letting everyone know that these thiefs are getting brave as shit and I guess we all have to pay more attention to whats going on.

[chrisheltra]

They'd be pissed if they took the time to get under my truck.

[slowgreen99]

They'd be pissed if they took the time to get under my truck.

thats another thing. There was a ford ranger slightly lifted right beside the Tundra, but they mustve known that the import vehicles are worth more than the domestics. And yea, no cats after gettin under a lowered truck would suckk haha

[Audie1]

To catch some shithead like that stealing would probably land me in jail...oh....but the fond memories it would bring! :twisted:

[BAD BOB]

they aint dumb. they wouldnt fight with a ford f series truck bc they are some of the harder ones to take. chevy silverados bring good money but the foreign cars and german cars are the best to get

[MonteC]

Good luck getting the one from my truck, its sitting on a self in my shop, lol. And if they can get under my acura without a jack and then fit a sazall in that tunnel then they EARNED that cat.

[Mustangscotty]

The Mexicans are doing that in my area.

Maybe a few options besides putting a cap in some wetback a$$,
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Catalytic_20Converter_20Theft_20Deterrent


a humorous but true article on the subject,http://www.brakeandfrontend.com/Article/68300/tech_feature_curbing_catalytic_converter_thefts.as px

There have been a few instances where someone has caught a thief red-handed stealing their converter. "There have also been a few instances of someone getting into their vehicle, starting it up and driving over the thief underneath (accidentally, of course!)."


this one has a few pics of a theft prevention device
http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2010/03/08/tundra-catalytic-converter-thieves/

[BigHemi]

A while back, someone broke into (jumped the fence) the maintenance yard at the district office and cut the converters out from under all the SCDOT trucks, lol.

[blubyu87gt]

It's not as much an import thing its a Toyota (and the other suv companies under them) and some newer Nissan trucks use higher amounts of rhodium that can be extracted from the converter and sold a premium. That being said most (all that I am aware of) converters use some kind of precious metal in them so none are safe.
To keep my car from being victimized I decided it was in its best interest to just put on an off road h-pipe :)

[blubyu87gt]

Oh and I hope to come on this board soon and see a post with a title "found the bastard stealing converters and stuck his saw up his ass!" That would be awesome.

[Illusions]

since i live in a mexican neighborhood I'll keep an eye out for #1 missing persons (guy who stole Rob's Dolley) and #2 guy with stock pile of converters in his garage/backyard

[gearmesh, inc.]

Only if there was a way to crank the vehicle up and get it in gear fast enough to run the f-ing thief over while he's still under there.............OOOPs!, sorry dude...didn't see you there!

We need a remote start system with a gearshift and brake option!

[Derek]

I cut mine gutted and welded them back together they'd be pissed.:hysterical:

[LXtasy]

send them to my house to take the cats off the silverados so i dont have to. BUT LEAVE THE SPARE TIRE. rumor is that they are stealing spare tires from fs silverados

[Darryl Buckner]

Gerald replaced the one stolen out of my astro service van..

[04ctd]

the real culprit is the metal guy buying a dozen at a time, knowing they are stolen

[BAD BOB]

send them to my house to take the cats off the silverados so i dont have to. BUT LEAVE THE SPARE TIRE. rumor is that they are stealing spare tires from fs silverados

i can help

[BAD BOB]

the real culprit is the metal guy buying a dozen at a time, knowing they are stolen

you dont always know and cant pick and choose. we sell sometimes 15-20 a month on a good one

[gearmesh, inc.]

Maybe a few options besides putting a cap in some wetback a$$,
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Catalytic_20Converter_20Theft_20Deterrent



I read about some ideas at that link. The one I really like is a proximity or vibration sensor linked to an airbag suspended car or truck. The thief starts his deed, then all the air gets dumped out of the airbags!

There's nothing like instant justice!

[Mustangscotty]

Wish there was some kind of "Road Warrior" theft deterrent/ mitigation system. Something that injures the thief with a unique injury so everyone knows he/ she is a thief. :Group Hug: