Just a Warning About Your Catalytic Converters

[Donna U.]

Just to remind you all, there are rings stealing catalytic converters. We had ours stolen off our motor home last month as it was parked in our driveway up near the house, during the middle of the night. We’ve never had a problem until now.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Donna U.

Just to remind you all, there are rings stealing catalytic converters. We had ours stolen off our motor home last month as it was parked in our driveway up near the house, during the middle of the night. We’ve never had a problem until now.

Good warning we had ours stolen - along with 6 others - from our storage facility last November. It cost $1800 to get an OE replacement installed and the converters were on an extended back order. Insurance paid for it but it was a huge hassle.insurance renewal rate was unchanged afterwards.

[Bob Denman]

This has (unfortunately) been reported on many times in here.
RVs sit high enough; to make the job easy for the criminals...
There are several different types of anti-theft guards that can be used to combat this. If you live in an area that is prone to this sort of thing: you may want to consider using them.

[HMCSW]

We had a RV storage facility hit with multiple cats stolen in one night. We have moved ours to a 40 x 14 garage. Very secure, power, electricity.

[EA37TS]

As Bob mentioned this is old news. South Carolina has new laws on the books specifically targeting Catalytic Converter theft and has charged a couple people this year.

Recommend finding a good storage facility rather than some fly by night storage location close to home because it is convenient. If you’re worried find and pay for a secure, patrolled storage facility.

[Pete'sMH]

I got over the theft issue quickly when I discovered that a single phone call to the insurance company could put us right again. It was the back ordered replacement that vexed me. Honestly, I think if Ford could have provided the part we’d be fully recovered in a few days. I might have been lucky though that my BG knew what she was doing and didn’t do any other damage.

[lwmcguire]

Insurance rates rise due to theft

Converter theft has been rampant in the Springfield MO area for 3 years so it isn't reported unless a charity or church gets hit

Only one theif caught and Karma prevailed, when the jack fell it killed him



No one else apprehended yet

This is not a good trend, it used to be flat screens until the price dropped, what is next?

[Chateau_Nomad]

Points to consider:

Take away the incentive. Make it less profitable. Don't be an easy target. You should have motion sensor alarms with loud sirens/flashing lights to ward off any would-be perps. Cameras are useless... the pros know how to hide.

For every thief/crew (they work in pairs/groups) you take off the street, you eliminate a huge portion of the problem. A very small percentage of theives are doing the vast majority of the stealing.

[petef]

My friend had his stolen at storage yard, he was able to find a muffler shop to replace it for about $900. He said he was going to put motion detector w/ siren, lights to run off his 12v system. My storage yard opens at 7am, close at 6 pm and lets out 2 guard dogs for the night. Additionally, they won't rent to landscapers or anyone who would be a frequent user and they watch everyone coming in during the day. So far so good..900 have been stolen since Jan 1st in Las Vegas area. A couple weeks ago a homeowner approached someone stealing his in driveway, they shot at him.. The police did catch that guy. Yes, its a problem all right..

It should be illegal to sell them to anyone but a police department, where they would check your ID, and receipt that you bought a new one for your vehicle and part numbers matched. Then the police dept could sell to the junk dealer. Some type of secure system, like they do for opiods..

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

So i have started locking my THOR 50 AMP cable also. There is a tremendous amount of copper in the cable and can easily be removed and walked away with. You can buy a simple bike lock from Walmart and string it through one of the three holes in the 50 AMP plug.

Folks, this cable alone cost over $300 to replace. So, you off watching your favorite NASCAR race and when you get back, both your Catalytic Converter and 50 Amp cable have been stolen.

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

BTW, be careful! It you shoot the victim stealing your Converter, you will go to jail for 20 yrs. Just a thought.

[Pete'sMH]

Try not to worry TOO much. It’s a recreational vehicle and it’s supposed to be relaxing to own! Take reasonable precautions but if it happens it happens. That’s why we have insurance…

[bry899]

Originally Posted by petef

My friend had his stolen at storage yard, he was able to find a muffler shop to replace it for about $900. He said he was going to put motion detector w/ siren, lights to run off his 12v system. My storage yard opens at 7am, close at 6 pm and lets out 2 guard dogs for the night. Additionally, they won't rent to landscapers or anyone who would be a frequent user and they watch everyone coming in during the day. So far so good..900 have been stolen since Jan 1st in Las Vegas area. A couple weeks ago a homeowner approached someone stealing his in driveway, they shot at him.. The police did catch that guy. Yes, its a problem all right..

It should be illegal to sell them to anyone but a police department, where they would check your ID, and receipt that you bought a new one for your vehicle and part numbers matched. Then the police dept could sell to the junk dealer. Some type of secure system, like they do for opiods..

In New York the scrap yard scans your license, or photo copies it.
The places that buy gold also do the same, but also have to take pics of the gold and upload the pics to police database.

I am sure the thieves have also found ways around this though.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

Try not to worry TOO much. It’s a recreational vehicle and it’s supposed to be relaxing to own! Take reasonable precautions but if it happens it happens. That’s why we have insurance…

I thought we buy insurance because it is the law? In Florida, they would NOT let me take possession of the RV until I had proof of Insurance; so technically I had to buy the Insurance before I did PDI. Florida did have a reciprocating registration plan with Texas; so not only did they process all my papers, taxes and title, I got a refund from the dealer as my taxes were cheaper in Texas

I know you are right about not worrying too much, but some folks simply can't afford to use their insurance because of other factors and rates will skyrocket for them; if they are not already.

For example lots of time the Insurance companies go by claims. Claims can be anything that anyone made against your policy valid or not, and when a claim is made it will last 5 years on your record.

So when someone broke into my Lincoln Navigator about 5 years ago, I did exactly what you say, file a claim paid a $500 deductible, our insurance went up $400/6 months over 4 cars. When I dug into it deeper, it turned out that the actual payout damage was $1,700 so less my deductible I netted $1,200. In hindsight I never should have reported that theft because I had to go 5 years with that increase. Do you think my policy is going to drop now that it is 5 years later? We had one hailstorm hit our home and cars not in the garage; but the way they slice and dice it, we had to have 7 claims numbers

I have painted my Catalytic converter; so I will see how it goes. If I can find a reasonable price motion detector with loud siren that will not be steady draw against my House batteries, I may try that next.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

You should have motion sensor alarms with loud sirens/flashing lights to ward off any would-be perps.

I just realized you are in Ohio, you should have hundreds of these motion sensors & sirens lying around. Can you hook me up?

I want something that will hook up to Chassis battery, that will be extremely loud but not overly sensitive.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

I just realized you are in Ohio, you should have hundreds of these motion sensors & sirens lying around. Can you hook me up?

I want something that will hook up to Chassis battery, that will be extremely loud but not overly sensitive.

I got out of Columbus about 5 years ago before all the shooting started in earnest. I'm down in the woods now, surrounded by hillbillies and Harleys. Well, not surrounded... but it's sure a different mentally, and crime is non-existent. I feel right at home, except for the Harleys... don't ask

Most PIR motion sensors draw very low milliamps. You can get cheapo systems off Amazon.

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

I just went to home depot bought 4' of 1/8' stainless steel cable and ends. I snaked the wire thru the catalytic converter holes and around my frame. Then hit with a hammer the lead ends.

This certainly will slow someone down cutting the muffler off or may just be snagged onto the converter as they take it off, to let em drop it and run....

12 dollar fix to a multi hundred dollar loss....

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

I just went to home depot bought 4' of 1/8' stainless steel cable and ends. I snaked the wire thru the catalytic converter holes and around my frame. Then hit with a hammer the lead ends.

This certainly will slow someone down cutting the muffler off or may just be snagged onto the converter as they take it off, to let em drop it and run....

12 dollar fix to a multi hundred dollar loss....

Pictures?

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

how do i attach a photo to a post?

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

how do i attach a photo to a post?

With patience
It is not that hard, take your time and play with it.

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/fa...l&titlesonly=0


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