Catalytic Converter Theft!

[MLP]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

If you invent it I’m down for it!!

The problem is it is illegal to do. Quite a few years ago I did have a professor who's son had his new weals stolen twice in three days in his garage. He locked all doors, but it was not effective at all. He used a old TV fly back transformer and an oscillator. 3/4 jules for great pain and not to kill. One jule will kill. He was woken up with a most ungodly scream. They ended up with a few nice tools that the crook left. No more problems with the crook. If a child, cat, dog, or miss calculation on the weight of the crook was done, they all would have been killed. So I do not recommend it. That is why it id illegal.

[Homer3]

We live in central California and catalytic converter theft is rampant according to Ring and Nextdoor apps. Apparently, they can be sold for a handy profit with little work involved for removal.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Homer3

We live in central California and catalytic converter theft is rampant according to Ring and Nextdoor apps. Apparently, they can be sold for a handy profit with little work involved for removal.

In my research (since mine was stolen) I’ve discovered that it only takes 30 - 60 seconds to remove one and they fetch $50 -100 each (and more for one from a Toyota Prius!). I guess if you can bring a truck full to someplace that will pay for them you can make a tidy sum. It’s a vile way to make a living but, apparently pretty low risk.

[SemperFi]

Our converter, along with four others in storage, was also cut off days after getting back from Florida. This is the third time the storage facility has been hit in three years. Thieves cut through the fence each time. Quotes for replacement vary from $1400-3700. Price did not correspond with quality of product or warranty. Unfortunately, the dealer has the part on back order until Feb. 8 (like others have mentioned). I looked into a variety of theft prevention items, but few seem to be effective. Simply putting more fill under the area while in storage is a start. My storage has cameras, but law enforcement has not ID or located thieves yet. Sensors are planning to be installed along fence. If someone knows of other ideas, I look forward to reading them. Planning trips to Michigan in July and Oregon in August. Hope everyone's New Year is going well!

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by SemperFi

Our converter, along with four others in storage, was also cut off days after getting back from Florida. This is the third time the storage facility has been hit in three years. Thieves cut through the fence each time. Quotes for replacement vary from $1400-3700. Price did not correspond with quality of product or warranty. Unfortunately, the dealer has the part on back order until Feb. 8 (like others have mentioned). I looked into a variety of theft prevention items, but few seem to be effective. Simply putting more fill under the area while in storage is a start. My storage has cameras, but law enforcement has not ID or located thieves yet. Sensors are planning to be installed along fence. If someone knows of other ideas, I look forward to reading them. Planning trips to Michigan in July and Oregon in August. Hope everyone's New Year is going well!

Catstrap sells a motion activated alarm that you can install above the converter so it will alarm when anything moves underneath. Might not stop a thief but hopefully it’ll startle her enough that she’ll smack her head on the undercarriage! Probably would alarm for mice or raccoons though.

[MLP]

Check this out. Now Harbor Freight has a exhaust pipe cutter. Only 1/4 turn. Silent and quick. Cheep too. They now made it easier and quicker to steal the converter. $24.99!
https://www.harborfreight.com/exhaus...ter-58678.html

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by MLP

Check this out. Now Harbor Freight has a exhaust pipe cutter. Only 1/4 turn. Silent and quick. Cheep too. They now made it easier and quicker to steal the converter. $24.99!
https://www.harborfreight.com/exhaus...ter-58678.html

That's way too slow for a thief. A battery powered saws all takes muuuuuch less time to cut exhaust pipe.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by JoefromGa

Did your RV throw a code after the missing convertor? Mine has a MIL set and it's related but I haven't looked under there yet.

If you start it and it makes noise it's missing

[ducksface]

I've been thinking about these as almost absolute protection.
Leave a tiny bit slack and it'll rip the saw right out of his hand.

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Moto...s%2C440&sr=8-4

They're all but impossible to cut with a sawzall.
They'd be a really easy install.

Security bolts. Hardened, rounded, special drive.
https://www.amazon.com/Security-Stai...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

But
As I've said before:
I'd rather lose a cat cleanly than piss off a guy laying under my coach who has a sawzall.
90 seconds max to cut hydraulic lines and radiator and drive shaft and brake lines and valve stems and trans pan and bell housing and oil pan and wiring harness...m
He'd be swinging that thing around hittiing everything he could reach.

[lwmcguire]

Some might recall back when thieves were drilling gas tanks

We had the early flat screen thieves

Converter theft heading towards 10 years as a easy target

Several folks noted $500 insurance increases. Wonder why?

We either need to get tough on criminals or set up a Converter dispensary next to the Drug addict pick up area

That way we don't have the guilt of a vehicle crushing someone

This is just crazy

I think battery theft might be the next big thing

We all need to respect each others property as these Forum members do

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by ducksface

I've been thinking about these as almost absolute protection.
Leave a tiny bit slack and it'll rip the saw right out of his hand.

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Moto...s%2C440&sr=8-4

They're all but impossible to cut with a sawzall.
They'd be a really easy install.

Security bolts. Hardened, rounded, special drive.
https://www.amazon.com/Security-Stai...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

But
As I've said before:
I'd rather lose a cat cleanly than piss off a guy laying under my coach who has a sawzall.
90 seconds max to cut hydraulic lines and radiator and drive shaft and brake lines and valve stems and trans pan and bell housing and oil pan and wiring harness...m
He'd be swinging that thing around hittiing everything he could reach.

Could you imagine if we let all the air out of the tires and had the motorhome up on Jack's and if someone went underneath the Jack's malfunctioned and retracted that would be terrible. I guess that's why they say to use jack stands to be safe

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

That's way too slow for a thief. A battery powered saws all takes muuuuuch less time to cut exhaust pipe.

45 seconds on a well lit street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3N4RwHd5k

[Chateau_Nomad]

A comment from the video... and a fairly easy way to make the practice not worth the effort. Remove the monetary incentive.

There are only so many scrap yards, if they could get a handle on taking certain parts with documentation only, all of this would stop. It's obvious when a catalytic converter is cut off as a stolen item. Documentation only, if you dont own the vehicle with registration for the vehicle in hand, or budget brake and muffler/ other repair shop invoice, you get no money, but feel free to drop it off for recycling like a good citizen.

I'd follow this up with language to the effect of:
If receiving property which requires verifiable documentation proving ownership AND there is monetary exchange for said property AND the property is later determined to be stolen... [insert criminal charges/steep fine here].

Besides... "Receiving stolen property" is ALREADY a crime in most jurisdictions. FORCE your local elected "representatives" to start enforcing existing laws.

The REASON they are being stolen is because of the incredible return - easy money for thieves. The ONLY way to stop this in it's tracks is to remove the monetary incentive for the thief. Make it a VERY expensive penalty on the receiving end... it's done with pawn shops to cut down fencing stolen goods... it could EASILY be done here.

[ducksface]

As I've said before:
It is all a false 'The cobblers window' Type financial scheme created purposefully by your local government.
The cure is too easy to imagine anything else other than governmental support.
It's a non violent crime creating jobs and CHURNING money.

The plan has been implemented variously for centuries.

The glaziers kid breaks the cobblers window,
The glazier replaces window. Gets paid.
The glazier buys bread.
The baker buys a taco.
Taco vendor buys horsemeat.
Cheval butcher buys shoes from the original cobbler.
The glaziers kid breaks the cobblers window....

We stopped spraying paraquat on Mexican marijuana due to the immediate financial deprivation it put on low-end neighborhood residents in the USA and whole villages going broke in Mexico.

Poppies were/are grown extensively and without intervention in Afghanistan during our military command of the country.
Our chance to stop heroin production was stymied by the financial loss of growers and nyc Heroin sellers and taco vendors on Kensington Ave in Philadelphia. (Well maybe not taco vendors. Heroin addicts aren't big eaters)

You weren't hurt by the theft. Few, less than a smattering, are physically accosted dyring this crime.
Insurance company FROM OUTSIDE THIS ARTIFICIAL FINANCIAL ZONE/TOWN dumps $2,000+- into the local economy at each theft.
Thief gets $150+-
Thief buys a taco.
Taco guy tells thief about an rv storage lot.
On and on.

Simpler:
The moral of the story is now called:
churning.

[MLP]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

That's way too slow for a thief. A battery powered saws all takes muuuuuch less time to cut exhaust pipe.

Perhaps you need to reread. Wrap, and 1/4 turn. Extremely fast and silent. Sawzall know matter how good the blade takes more time and makes noise.

[MLP]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

A comment from the video... and a fairly easy way to make the practice not worth the effort. Remove the monetary incentive.



I'd follow this up with language to the effect of:
If receiving property which requires verifiable documentation proving ownership AND there is monetary exchange for said property AND the property is later determined to be stolen... [insert criminal charges/steep fine here].

Besides... "Receiving stolen property" is ALREADY a crime in most jurisdictions. FORCE your local elected "representatives" to start enforcing existing laws.

The REASON they are being stolen is because of the incredible return - easy money for thieves. The ONLY way to stop this in it's tracks is to remove the monetary incentive for the thief. Make it a VERY expensive penalty on the receiving end... it's done with pawn shops to cut down fencing stolen goods... it could EASILY be done here.

In San Jose, CA, it took a few years to do an investigation and arrest catalytic converter thieves. They got the entire operation and wrecking yard that payed for them. Two weeks no converters stolen. It now started again. Catch and release with no cash bail. Must have all been, my guess, reduced to a single misdemeanor.

[Bill Johnson]

Make it illegal to recycle catalytic converters even for junk dealers unless they pay scrap metal prices for them. That would be about 80 cents

[ericmac450]

I hate a thief! Seems this may need to be our next upgrade on our RV's...

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by ericmac450

I hate a thief! Seems this may need to be our next upgrade on our RV's...

I thought about the same thing and wire tie it in a few places so they can't just pull it out. We would probably get in trouble for hurting the poor thief

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by ericmac450

I hate a thief! Seems this may need to be our next upgrade on our RV's...

Defeatble by a blanket or jacket.
Buyers Will supply free blankets.
Or
Blankets
will become the new grab taken by the
It doan matta
Walk out shoplifters,

They will not be defeated until the government stops supporting it.