Stealing Cats

I live near Chicago and take the train to work, there has been a rash of CC's being stolen from 'Metra' parking lots. They are targeting Toyota and Lexus suv' and trucks. I park on an end in a very visible spot, but am freaked out every day! Anybody know why they target Toyota CC's? I heard there is zinc in them or something like that. Any thoughts on how to defend my cats?

 

Its the platinum in the cat also trucks are higher than a car so it's easy for the jerk who is stealing them to access the exhaust

 

Not to mention the ones on our Tacomas are pretty much hung out in the breeze, they're so accessible.

Unfortunately, this isn't a new thing there. I was on vacation in Chicago last summer and got my cat stolen at the Forest Park station off Des Plaines Ave. The police officer who took my report said he'd seen quite a few that month already. Luckily my insurance and the local mechanic were amazing so my weekend away wasn't completely wrecked and I still got back home on schedule.

I like this solution: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/14077-my-way-stop-cat-theft.html

 

animal cruelty for leaving your cats in the vehicle all day! lol

an expensive fix for this is some DT long tube headers

 

I was starting to think the local chinese restaurants were doing better but then I saw that this was actually about catalytic converters and not pussy cats. As to your question, I think there is something in Toyota cats that makes them more expensive...which causes the exhaust to smell like rotten eggs sometimes. But, metal recylcers are supposed to get proper ID and copy it before taking them in case the police come asking who has been selling cut off converters....and I am sure they all do this ;-)

 

I wonder if you can etch the VIN onto it somewhere.

 

Thanks for the replies and the ideas.

 

cat cuffs and cat claw are an easy detterant.

 

Someone tried to steal my cats in my school parking lot yesterday. i came out and there was a car next to me on jack stands without tires/wheels and my cat bolts were off. someone scared em and saved me a headache

 

Cost my neighbors $1900 for their Lexus suv to replace the cats.

 

There is a company near where I live that buys "old " cats from scrap yards, garages, etc. and cuts them open to get to the catalyst. They have a process to seperate the platinum from the ceramic monolith. They then sell the platinum to preciuos metal companies. At $1781.00 an ounce, they are multi millionaires. The cat thiefs are probably getting a little more than scrap weight pricing for the cats. Pisses me off when low lifes mess with another persons property for the little they will gain.

 

^ wow...how many ounces are in a cat?

 

Depends on the size of the Cat!!

 

If your thinking about having something made I posted a picture of my cat protection here...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/4-cylinder/161692-my-dads-cat-got-stolen-help-3.html#post3308920

 

A coworker of mine had the cc stolen off of his 4runner a few years ago He was in his house for acouple hours and when he started it he couldn't believe how loud it was. Must not be too hard to remove them since the theif took it while the owner was only seconds away.

 

Just long tube headers and delete all cats!! Oh, guess you guys can't do that in the city.

 

I'd laminate a piece of paper that says, "Smile, you're on camera ass hole" and tape it under your truck near the cat. Should do the trick.

 

I was checking cat prices on my old taco thinking they were bad. Called autozone in CA, first response from customer service at "they get stolen". She told me it was very common especially tacomas.

 

I live in chicago (moving to skokie next week) and I just got my taco. Ive been looking for taco clubs and (somewhat close) mild - moderate offroading parks/ trails?

Any suggestions?

 

Stolen Toyota cats...45 pages worth!
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/redwood-city-ca/TI0QUTIGUCQU05FSV