Author Topic: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring  (Read 1605 times)

MillCreek

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Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« on: February 13, 2021, 09:36:59 AM »
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/climate/catalytic-converter-theft.html

I see a lot of posts on area FB sites about converter theft.  Apparently, someone with a battery-powered reciprocating saw can be in and out from under your car in about a minute with the converter. A neat trick is using a skateboard to slide under the car.
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Snohomish County, WA  USA


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WLJ

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2021, 10:03:43 AM »
Been quite a few people on the Nextdoor app complaining about  having theirs's stolen often in store parking lots. Nearly 100% of the vehicles, when they do mention what kind of vehicle, are trucks and SUVs since it's far easier to just roll under many of them to access the converters than with many cars.

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sumpnz

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2021, 11:01:01 AM »
That’s been a problem for a long time.  It kinda went away when scrap yards found the law clamping down on them.  Guessing covid has loosened that enforcement so it’s back to the status quo ante.

BobR

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2021, 01:02:59 PM »
Here is a thread from nevadashooters of a theft on Christmas morning. It doesn't take them very long to do the deed.


http://www.nevadashooters.com/threads/interesting-security-video-from-this-morning.157613/

bob

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2021, 12:13:08 PM »
That’s been a problem for a long time.  It kinda went away when scrap yards found the law clamping down on them.  Guessing covid has loosened that enforcement so it’s back to the status quo ante.

The scrapyards around here are often run by crooked owners so they turn a blind eye to what comes in...

Our field guys hate going to work on the equipment at these yards it’s a constant parade of tweakers eying the $180k service truck loaded with $60k of tools.
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brimic

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2021, 06:50:06 PM »
This has popped up in a bug way in my area as well.
I watched a video on it this morning. The fastest way to steal them is to jack up one side of the car and use a chain cutter to cut the exhaust in front and back of it.
A way to spoof these cutters is to rack weld a piece of angle iron onto the exhaust tube before and after the cat- it would probably wouldn’t slow down guys using a sawzall of angle grinder much though.
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DustinD

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2021, 03:02:17 PM »
Some sort of skid plate, even if just thick sheet metal?
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dogmush

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2021, 03:09:40 PM »
Packet of white phosphorus mixed with a friction ignition compound attached to the exhaust pipe?

kgbsquirrel

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2021, 03:25:43 PM »
Packet of white phosphorus mixed with a friction ignition compound attached to the exhaust pipe?

I like the cut of your jib.  >:D

JTHunter

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2021, 05:40:46 PM »
Packet of white phosphorus mixed with a friction ignition compound attached to the exhaust pipe?

Nice idea but, IIRC, most states have laws against boobytraps, esp. those meant for 2-legged animals.
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WLJ

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2021, 05:52:36 PM »
White phosphorus attached to the exhaust pipe? How temp sensitive is WP?
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sumpnz

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2021, 06:01:10 PM »
Nice idea but, IIRC, most states have laws against boobytraps, esp. those meant for 2-legged animals.

Well, depending on the quantity used, there is also the small matter of not having any car left by the time the WP burns itself out.

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2021, 06:04:09 PM »
Lose the car to maim a thief? No thanks. The resulting arrest and lawsuit would be a deal breaker for me.
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Fly320s

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2021, 06:17:53 PM »
Nice idea but, IIRC, most states have laws against boobytraps, esp. those meant for 2-legged animals.

Lose the car to maim a thief? No thanks. The resulting arrest and lawsuit would be a deal breaker for me.

I bet you guys are a ton of fun at parties.
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kgbsquirrel

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2021, 06:29:18 PM »
Lose the car to maim a thief? No thanks. The resulting arrest and lawsuit would be a deal breaker for me.

Wait, we were supposed to do it to our own cars?

WLJ

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #15 on: February 16, 2021, 06:32:45 PM »
"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us".
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Nick1911

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #16 on: February 16, 2021, 06:41:16 PM »
Wait, we were supposed to do it to our own cars?

 :laugh:

dogmush

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #17 on: February 16, 2021, 10:04:29 PM »
Meh. The car's insured. Same deductible to put new cats in (and fix related damage) as to total it and I go car shopping.

My way the theives thief's friends learn a valuable lesson that sometimes cars just catch fire while you're under them. Dangerous work a life of crime is.

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #18 on: February 16, 2021, 11:13:01 PM »
So... explosive bolts on the lower ball joints?
I might not last very long or be very effective but I'll be a real pain in the ass for a minute!
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Jim147

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #19 on: February 16, 2021, 11:18:05 PM »
Claymores and detcord.
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And sometimes goes on and on and on.

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RocketMan

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #20 on: February 17, 2021, 10:24:47 AM »
Rabid squirrels living in the drive train.
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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #21 on: February 17, 2021, 10:59:28 AM »
I think it should be legal to set out a trap car and seriously hammer anyone that tries to rob it, either the car itself or for parts.
I don't have any problem with hunting varmints over bait.
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JTHunter

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #22 on: February 17, 2021, 11:50:51 PM »
Hhmm? If there was a way to put a fine mesh of copper wires on the underside of the car then a second mesh on the ground, maybe when they squeeze under the car, each side of the mesh is attached to one side of the extension cord.  The perp would become the "filament" of light-bulb.  =D
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Fly320s

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #23 on: February 18, 2021, 08:03:56 AM »
If the perp is on the ground, you probably don't need a ground.  Increase the amperage just to make sure.
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kgbsquirrel

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Re: Theft of catalytic converters are soaring
« Reply #24 on: February 18, 2021, 04:43:21 PM »
This thread reads like a RoboCop movie commercial.  [popcorn]