Cat Theft!!!!

Using Sawzalls.

 

Probably takes longer to cut through the exhaust than to cut through that angle iron.

 

City of Houston welded metal plates over our previously stolen cats. This is the result not long after that.

 

How about frangible suspension bolts? Cut through the exhaust and bang, the vehicle drops to the ground.

 

Welp, guess it's about time to scavenge up the junk metal laying around. If cats are being stolen then scrap is up.

 

Houston PD has formed a special squad to hunt them down, but out of up to 100 or so stolen from our fleet vehicles, not one has been recovered at any scrap yard in a city of 4 million or so.
They're obviously getting them out of here.

 

Doesn't government normally react quickly when they become the victim? I'd love to see some fast tracked legislation and declaration of war on cat thefts. I have no problem if no-knock warrant serving swat team just bust open cat thieve's den

 

I've been following this thread since this morning. Truly I mean no disrespect, but I have an off-topic question; honestly curious.


Why are all your posts formatted in this manner?





Morning, afternoon, whatever. time zones....

 

What are you talking about?

 

All your font is bolded, italicized and in a random color for me. I just didn't know if that was intentional or not.

 

That's gangster right there.

 

Steel pipe, but inside is heat-treated 01 rods. That rod will just spin with a Sawzall. The grinder would still go through it, but a thin wall steel pipe, aluminum pipe, then the 01 rod means a pita to cut through. You want to slow them down.

Got get some high temp paint and paint a stripe down the cat. Helps cops have some traceability. Engrave VIN# or LICENSE PLATE with TX xyx123. Lets cops trace it.

For our Tacoma's, the FSM calls them "secondary cats" which is confusing, as the cats are up next to the exhaust manifold with a sensor fore and aft of the cat. The "secondary cat" seems to be a resonator, with no sensor after that. Hence why aftermarket companies can sell the "Y" pipe for the V6.

Another reason for skid plates.

Sadly no floor jack needed, but I can slow them down think of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" as you hear "Nixon" as the Rotties are let loose.

 

That's what I was thinking

 

Depending on which metal was used, thieves can sell the converters to metal recyclers for $20-$200. The recyclers then extract the metal and resell it for as much as $6,000 an ounce, as in the case of rhodium.

 

I have read theories that this is a massive multistate organized effort, and that there is a big brain somewhere that is extracting the precious metals so they dont have to involve the scrappies.

My theory is that there might be more than one ring. It takes a brain to extract precious metals, but its not as difficult as they would make it seem. You just need to know your acids and a basic understanding of electrochem.

 

This was last summer.

https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/07/21/catalytic-converter-theft-raid-elk-grove-300k-cash/

About 2,000 catalytic converters were recovered, deputies say. About $300,000 in cash was also seized.

 

For example... this FB ad in PA used the same photo as the guy here in Hawaii...

I report the posts as likely stolen item...

 

If the tweakers were smart, they'd steal from the scrap yard.

 

That's a really rough cut, must be a pretty powerful tool!

 

Pro Tip: it’s easier to steal the whole truck