Catalytic Converter Theft...

Living in the Central Valley of California where parking on the street is a really bad idea, I was concerned when I purchased my '13 about the catalytic converter thefts happening. You all know that out here we get to pay for much more expensive cats than say, anywhere else.

I have a guy I take all my exhaust issues to. When he looked at how easy a pipe cutter could circle around the pipe, or a sawsall if noise wasn't an issue for the bad guy and drop the cats out he suggested that he weld 5/8 cold roll the length of the exhaust system from just below the manifold all the way to the muffler. Cost me $75.00. This will (I hope) save me at the supermarket or mall parking lot, at a restaurant and maybe even at a theater, although I have never pushed my luck that far lol. No really it is bad out here. 4500 dollars to replace both cats. Of course a torch would defeat this measure, and at best this only slows down a dedicated theif. Try to get some pics up...

 

Never seen that done before, not a bad idea though! I was worried about that too about 4 years ago down here in texas when cat thefts were on the rise. I ended up getting the URD y-pipe and 02 simulators along with doug thorley long tubes, no more cats for anyone to steal lol

 

I got my cat stolen from the 2013 Tundra the first month I had the truck. After replacing the cat, the body shop had like a 3/4" metal wire welded to the whole system. With the wire wrapped around all the piping you probably couldnt cut it with a sawzall as itll probably bounce back.

 

Yeah living in a free state helps in these matters.

 

It happened at my work during daylight times so it really worries me all the time. Haven't had a chance to go get something welded in yet though.

 

Yup,

2 cats were stolen in my "gated" community just last week. One on a Dodge Ram 2500, other a Tundra............both parked in the driveway. Fortunately, my tacoma fits in the garage.

 

Yup,

2 cats were stolen in my "gated" community just last week. One on a Dodge Ram 2500, other a Tundra............both parked in the driveway. Fortunately, my tacoma fits in the garage.

 

Toyotas and Nissans are said to be the highest targeted vehicles due to better clearances and higher amounts of platinum/copper in cats.

 

My neighbor has a Dodge Cummins 3/4 ton he lost his in his driveway too. Think he paid 5g's with the tow. You can't run those engines without the back pressure...

 

Total bill on my Tundra was slightly over $3000. The cat alone was $1799 at the time.

 

This might be a dumb question but I'm going to ask anyway. What if the bad guy simply unbolts the at the flange and takes the whole y pipe (with cats) or exhaust? I installed my exhaust without using a jack.

 

thats a possibility but most thieves are gonna go for an easier job. they will probably look at this a move on as it's not just a simple one minute hack and go.

 

I did have the bolt ends welded to the nuts. Should have taken close-ups of that...I know I might regret this at some point, but the obvious like you pointed out had to be addressed.

 

I like it. I like the price tag too.

 

When was this? My numbers are about two years old.

 

This was the beginning of 2013. The cost was for full passenger side cat and exhaust since they cut the flange with the cat.

 

Wow that's the same time we were experiencing a rash of this crap out here in the valley. The busted a ring and closed down a muffler shop in Manteca, Ca. I think...

 

I work in Antioch, CA which is only about 45 mins from Manteca.

 

I knew I'd seen this once before. I found it in a 3-year old thread. Another members pics who did something similar in the past, a shop in Mesa, Az did it.

I've always worried about somebody steeling the cats. The replacement price tag is so expensive.

 

jezus.... is the world really coming to this?