Catalytic Converter Theft!

[VikingKen2]

The catalytic converter on our Hurricane 29M was stolen last week along with the cats from every other motorhome in our storage facility. It's a $2800 repair job, with a current 3 week lead time for the $2000 converter. I plan to install a CatClamp converter lock when I get the motorhome back. Here in Central Ohio, thieves are hitting all of the storage lots. They can cut the converter out in less than two minutes, even in a Walmart parking lot. The CatClamp may not be perfect, but will certainly be a hefty deterrent. This should be a standard option for every owner.
Pretty good insurance for under $200.

[Bob Denman]

Sorry to see that you got hit!
(I still wonder if you could raise your rig, remove the wheels, and drop it down onto blocks: JUST off the ground!)

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f8...ter-24241.html

[taylorbob1]

Please help me understand...
Who buys these used & stolen cat converters?
And, how much cash is paid for a used & stolen cat converter?

If there’s a market for used & stolen cat converters, why not replace yours with a used one?

On edit...
I now see the market
https://yscatalyticrecycling.com/price-list/

And the way to reduce theft
https://www.amazon.com/CatClamp-Stan.../dp/B00HPZTCMA

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by VikingKen2

The catalytic converter on our Hurricane 29M was stolen last week along with the cats from every other motorhome in our storage facility. It's a $2800 repair job, with a current 3 week lead time for the $2000 converter. I plan to install a CatClamp converter lock when I get the motorhome back. Here in Central Ohio, thieves are hitting all of the storage lots. They can cut the converter out in less than two minutes, even in a Walmart parking lot. The CatClamp may not be perfect, but will certainly be a hefty deterrent. This should be a standard option for every owner.

Pretty good insurance for under $200.

Welcome to the club! Mine was stolen in November and they are still on back order from Ford (at least the one for my 2019 chassis). Latest estimated availability was Feb 8 but it’s been pushed back twice since I got in line. I was lucky to find one in stock locally just last week. Ford price is about $1700 plus another $50 for the oxygen sensor. It is a simple two bolt installation because it comes with several feet of pipe attached and includes the hangers. I looked at the Catclamp but I don’t see any way to keep it from rattling. I’m going to use a Catstrap with the optional undercarriage motion activated alarm. My insurance guy said he has a dozen claims pending and the police department said they had about 2 dozen cases in the few weeks prior to mine being stolen. RVs and pickup trucks being the most often pinched. We lost 6 from our storage lot when mine was hit. I’ve moved to a more secure lot now and hope it helps. Good luck!

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by taylorbob1

Please help me understand...
Who buys these used & stolen cat converters?
And, how much cash is paid for a used & stolen cat converter?

If there’s a market for used & stolen cat converters, why not replace yours with a used one?

On edit...
I now see the market
https://yscatalyticrecycling.com/price-list/

And the way to reduce theft
https://www.amazon.com/CatClamp-Stan.../dp/B00HPZTCMA

I believe a stolen catalytic converter brings $50 - 100 for most and a bit more for Toyota Prius models. It’s a vile way to make a living. I’d pay the guy $200 to leave mi e alone!!

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

I I’d pay the guy $200 to leave mi e alone!!

Hopefully he'd overdose on the drugs he bought with your money...

[VikingKen2]

They gave me the Feb 8 date too. That does not bode well for a quick turnaround. What a bummer.

[Bob Denman]

Even though I wouldn't buy one: there are the aftermarket alternatives...

[The_Breeze]

I don't know if there's an aftermarket for them in as much as the metals inside. It's one of the reasons they're so expensive to replace.

Motorhomes seem to have much more ground clearance than automobiles, making the job quick and easy.

[Bob Denman]

Suspension mods can fix that ground clearance concern...

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1610730463

[lwmcguire]

Neighborhood where some of the kids live just had numerous cars broken into overnight

More damage than goods in most instances

Unfortunately someone typically has a gun in the console glove box which encourages the decrepit theif or thieves

A few weeks prior thieves hit a large storage lot

Way more damage to doors than goods stolen as they used a large pry bar and sledge hammer

I have mentioned before that in the Springfield area it is simply another cost of ownership regarding the catalyst thefts

How can insurance rates not jump?

[MJC62]

Wonder if their was some way to electrify the exhaust system like a cattle fence. Touch the cat converter and get a jolt like a tazer.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by VikingKen2

They gave me the Feb 8 date too. That does not bode well for a quick turnaround. What a bummer.

FWIW my Ford parts fellow said that the current back order issue is unusual and probably temporary. They blame COVID and a dramatic increase in thefts nationwide. Might be because so many folks are out of work and/or the police have bigger issues to address. I’m a strong supporter of the blue but the officer who took my report was pretty disinterested. He said security camera are not a deterrent because thieves wear gloves, hoodies and masks and ignore cameras. He’s even seen where the BG waves at it. It’s all rather dispiriting.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by MJC62

Wonder if their was some way to electrify the exhaust system like a cattle fence. Touch the cat converter and get a jolt like a tazer.

Give them a full 50 amps worth of a lesson: you won't have to do it twice!

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Give them a full 50 amps worth of a lesson: you won't have to do it twice!

If you invent it I’m down for it!!

[ducksface]

just a story:
My Peugeot 504 was broken into twice.

Only The radio stolen.

One thief kicked in the dash and destroyed it and ripped out the wiring.
40 bucks at the salvage yard and a half day labor to fix.

Other thief neatly took the dash apart, saved all of the scews and connections for me in the ashtray, broke nothing, gently unplugged the radio and left the cover plate on the dash for me.

By putting the cage on that cat, you're REALLY REALLY going to piss off a VANDAL.
You'll lose wiring and brake lines with a simple 2 second wild swing of a sawzall.
None of this matters if you have insurance. A missing cat or cut brake lines and radiator lower tank ...a claim is a claim.
Does a v10 have an aluminum oil pan?

Think twice,
Anyone with a sawzall probably isn't that nice hungry kid who saved scews for me.

[Bob Denman]

You don't want me designing anything for your RV...
I seem to recall a story out of Florida about 25 years ago: a fella wired up his "Un-welcome" mat, and he killed a burglar with it...
He got arrested...

[PictureTheSouth]

I'm lucky to be able to keep my RV parked behind my house - but I have installed security cameras around after several vehicle break-ins throughout the neighborhood some months ago. But I do rent a storage unit for some things I had to move when kids and grandkids moved back in early in the pandemic - which leads me to a question to the OP......

My storage unit cost includes a monthly premium for insurance. Does your storage lot have that? Check your paperwork - you may have already paid for insurance and don't realize it (and the lot owner's may not "volunteer" that information".

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by ducksface

just a story:
My Peugeot 504 was broken into twice.

Only The radio stolen.

One thief kicked in the dash and destroyed it and ripped out the wiring.
40 bucks at the salvage yard and a half day labor to fix.

Other thief neatly took the dash apart, saved all of the scews and connections for me in the ashtray, broke nothing, gently unplugged the radio and left the cover plate on the dash for me.

By putting the cage on that cat, you're REALLY REALLY going to piss off a VANDAL.
You'll lose wiring and brake lines with a simple 2 second wild swing of a sawzall.
None of this matters if you have insurance. A missing cat or cut brake lines and radiator lower tank ...a claim is a claim.
Does a v10 have an aluminum oil pan?

Think twice,
Anyone with a sawzall probably isn't that nice hungry kid who saved scews for me.

Pretty good point actually. My thief WAS pretty considerate, all things considered and he did an impressively tidy job. What the heck is WRONG with people these days that we have to post stuff like this!

[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.