Posted on 08/14/2021 11:56:45 AM PDT by doug from upland
I purchased some bright colored hi-temp spray paint, crawled under my trucks and painted each CC. Then engraved my license plate number on the converters.
Ouch. Many years ago, walked up to my car and saw a window broken out, and my stereo unit literally kicked out of the dash, damaged my dash. And my stereo speakers ripped out of the ceiling, damaged my ceiling fabric. Lots of damage for an easily purchased stereo and speakers.
A friend of mine lamented that he always left his car doors unlocked on his convertible car, so thieves would not damage the top. Yep, they slashed his ragtop to get inside, despite the fact that the doors were unlocked.
Quietly kick the jack out.😎
I had a ragtop Jeep CJ-7 many years ago. The “doors” were fabric over a steel rod frame and just lifted off of the car. I was in California where we didn’t get any rain from May to November, so most of the summer the top was down and the doors off. I installed a cheap radio / tape player on a slide-out mount so I could take it indoors with me.
One night I forgot to take it inside and, wouldn’t you know it, the thieves took it.
I filed an insurance claim and the State Farm agent said to me “You aren’t supposed to have a stereo in your car.” I switched agencies and never looked back.
It’s quite a big crime here (Western Washington). They are moving on to tires per the local fish wrapper.
When there are NO consequences for crime - or criminals can not be arrested unless they are caught in the act (per a new WA state law), it is open season for what ever they want to steal.
I would just cut out the CC myself and replace it with a straight pipe. Pawn shop proceeds should pay for the straight pipe plus some extra.
From what I can see in this thread, NO ONE is talking about why any sane person NEEDS a CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
This is nothing more than the clean air mandates folks.
States with emission testing are the worst.
Just say no.
supposedly that’s illegal.....bwahahahaha
Yeah it’s not like the thieves are big on the environment or anything. They have platinum in them so that is where some of the value is in stealing them.
If you have a link please post it so those who need it may use it in their defense.
;)
Welding any part of the exhaust to the vehicle’s frame will probably result in broken exhaust parts.
There’s a reason why the exhaust hangs on rubber mounts.
Why don’t they go after the people who buy the catalytic converters? Seems like that would shut down the practice pretty quick.
Our next move. The part is about $279.
They require my photo ID and fingerprints just to by my crushed beer cans in Indiana. One would think trafficking in cats would be a tad more difficult. Who knows? Maybe the auto manufacturers are the end market. Won’t be long till microchips are all the rage for thieves.
At a minimum, a DL for steel at the yards here.
Other metals, an additional permit from the Sheriff’s department (free) in addition. Good for a year.
In California the catalytic converter can cost upwards of $2000! A stolen one can fetch a few hundred dollars. That’s a lot of meth to a talented, hardworking scumbag!
Any muffler shop can probably weld it back together for about $50
Be glad they did not get it all the way off.
Unless you’ve lived in Seattle/Portland area in the last 5 years, most Americans have no idea how dangerous these cities have become.
I saw the beginning of this once Obama became President.
He was clearly building an army and he was testing them out in Portland and Seattle.
I got out before it got really bad.
I have a soultion. Make it legal to replace a stolen converter with a straight pipe and a car ECU update. The greenies will lose their minds and demand the death penalty for theives.
Remember, a catalytic converter gets very hot. Trapping in more heat may not be advisable.
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