Another catalytic converter theft

Squish!

 

There is a full-on Cartel that's sponsoring the thefts. The converters are not typically being turned in to above board recyclers. The draw is for the remaining, raw precious metals inside which include Palladium, Platinum, and Rhodium plus others. The older the cat, the less value it draws as the metals are "consumed" in the process over time. I installed a Cat Security skid on my now 2.5 month TRD OR. A nice shiny, new, high clearance truck is just too easy a target, IMO. It works as a nice transmission skid plate, too. Install is easy even when drilling and setting the 4 rivnuts.

Just when you thought it couldn't get more stupid...I just saw a video the other day where it's been reported in some third world country, the internals are being crushed and ground into dust and then SNORTED by people to get some sort of crazy high!

 

It would be simple enough to stop converter theft. But people no longer have the necessary guts to do it.

 

At least there is some justice in the world...

https://bronx.news12.com/neighbors-man-crushed-by-car-as-he-tried-to-steal-catalytic-converter

From the story: "Neighbors tell News 12 they heard screams around 2:30 a.m. today. They say a man was trying to steal a catalytic converter and the car collapsed on him and killed him." Glad to hear that pos suffered in his last few miserable minutes in this world.

Another one:

https://www.latimes.com/california/...ed-of-trying-to-steal-its-catalytic-converter

 

Proving it and knowing it are two different things. Especially if you consider a lot of times vehicles that are new and totalled have their cats cut off a lot of times prior to going to a scrapyard.

Plus, as mentioned before, a lot of these guys have other means of offloading the cats and the typical scrap yard doesn't ever see them.

 

Watching videos on the matter it seems that the cats are being stolen for the precious metals that coats the honeycomb inside. The precious metals then are reused to make new catalytic converters...

 

Factory skids? Doesn't seem like they go anywhere close enough to covering the cat.

 

No pictures because I just ordered it last night. I'll post some pictures once I get it in, though. It's already shipped so it shouldn't be long now

 

Talons garage works with TRD skid plate

 

Does that mean just run without a cat at all? Sounds good to me if it doesn't make the truck run worse.

 

Strapping a claymore to your cat is frowned upon my guy.

post pics

 

I'm glad I don't live in any of the crime infested cities.

Just keep vehicles in a locked garage and the chances of cat theft probably will go way down.

 

It may be, but i bet its the most effective means of reducing cat theft all the while replacing your entire vehicle

 

Seems to me that it would have been quicker to unbolt than to cut. Not to mention a lot less visible unless it is on the Canadian version of the 4th of July.

 

If i ever catch someone under my car, I'll kick the jack and walk away then report a dead body under my car the next morning

 

I have heard a couple loud Prius' drive by in my neighborhood. It is happening regularly now.

 

I hope the thief gets uncontrolable diarrhea with frequent sneezes.

 

I think I read that the Arizona A.G. was gonna go after car manufacturers to make these
much harder to remove, and/or affix some identifier on them to trace them back to the
specific vehicle.

I think making people register the sale of these things would cut into this as well. I mean
who buys these for scrap right? Perhaps requiring one to be a licensed 'dealer' in scrap
converters with hefty fines would help deter the thieves to selling to anyone, and the licensed
'dealer' of used converters would have to register the 'buy' ... check some identifier against a D.B.
to see if it was stolen.

More government regulations yea I know but this is costing consumers billions, and I bet the
insurance industry would get behind it too.

Oh... see Arizona Law 13-3728... a misdemeanor... bump it to a felony.

 

here's some good reads on the subject:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/theft-prevention-catalytic-converter.555978/

and links to some cat shields:

https://www.talonsgarage.com/product-page/3rd-gen-toyota-tacoma

https://getcatsecurity.com/purchase...-2016-2021-4wd-qv3z/v/CAT-SCR-TAC-3-4WD-6-CYL

 

Classic AG move. Why put in the footwork to protect your citizens when you can wave a pen and make someone else to do it.