Catalytic converter theft prevention

[rdhogg]

Around here they don't do it in mall lots or garages, too many people coming/going.

They usually do it overnight, at auto repair shop lots or while it's parked at home on the street.

Can this red paint not be removed?

Same here, but they are always looking for the easy ones, mine is always garaged, but I worry about road trips and having to park in Motel/Hotel parking lots. They are getting braver and hitting in the daytime. The VHT paint is baked on during the curing process and is harder to remove than the basic rattle can paint.

 

[MassHoe04]

In my area, a couple of car dealerships were targets. Much easier than moving from driveway to driveway, crawling under dirty old vehicles, Ring cameras, potential encounters with dogs that bite... Probably can get 10 cats in 20 minutes in a well-lit dealership lot, they can get in and out before anyone notices. Going house to house is too much work for the average knit-wit thief.

 

[rdhogg]

In my area, a couple of car dealerships were targets. Much easier than moving from driveway to driveway, crawling under dirty old vehicles, Ring cameras, potential encounters with dogs that bite... Probably can get 10 cats in 20 minutes in a well-lit dealership lot, they can get in and out before anyone notices. Going house to house is too much work for the average knit-wit thief.

The Honda Element and the Tundra trucks are the top targets here. However the Silverado trucks are being hit. The 2013 Tahoe is easy on the back side of the Cat but the up side is a little more difficult but can be done. I had not thought about the car dealers, easy pickings.

 

[MassHoe04]

The Honda Element and the Tundra trucks are the top targets here. However the Silverado trucks are being hit. The 2013 Tahoe is easy on the back side of the Cat but the up side is a little more difficult but can be done. I had not thought about the car dealers, easy pickings.

Just so happens, that the dealers hit in our area were... Wait for it.... Honda and Toyota.

While the occasional home or single vehicle theft incidents happen, it seems the majority of thefts are by out of state organized theft rings and are planned out pretty well. There was a big organized theft ring from CT busted last year, but that doesn't mean they are out of commission.

Local scrap yards won't take anything from Joe Schmo, without proving where it came from. Local shops have them picked up by scrap companies as part of a regular collection service. Just showing up at the scrap place with a hot one for cash is not easy to pull off without having police knowing about it. The larger rings are collecting in volume and somehow processing in bulk. Maybe out of country, even. Sounds like a good movie plot!

 

[rdhogg]

Just so happens, that the dealers hit in our area were... Wait for it.... Honda and Toyota.

While the occasional home or single vehicle theft incidents happen, it seems the majority of thefts are by out of state organized theft rings and are planned out pretty well. There was a big organized theft ring from CT busted last year, but that doesn't mean they are out of commission.

Local scrap yards won't take anything from Joe Schmo, without proving where it came from. Local shops have them picked up by scrap companies as part of a regular collection service. Just showing up at the scrap place with a hot one for cash is not easy to pull off without having police knowing about it. The larger rings are collecting in volume and somehow processing in bulk. Maybe out of country, even. Sounds like a good movie plot!

 

[iamdub]

Plus you get to put your long tube headers on with your electric cutouts.

Had to fill the gap with something cheaper!

 

[iamdub]

Quick thought off the top of my wrinkle-free brain: Have some metal tags made with something like "FAKECATS.COM" with "MADE IN CHINA" stamped onto them. Tack weld them to your cats, over the serial and/or part numbers. Weld an obviously non-factory bead on the pipe ahead and behind the cats to simulate them being welded in.

 

[rdhogg]

Quick thought off the top of my wrinkle-free brain: Have some metal tags made with something like "FAKECATS.COM" with "MADE IN CHINA" stamped onto them. Tack weld them to your cats, over the serial and/or parts numbers. Weld an obviously non-factory bead on the pipe ahead and behind the cats to simulate them being welded in.

I like it

 

[gooffeyguy]

My insurance will replace stolen cats and repair any damage done under my comprehensive coverage in the highly unlikely event it happens to any of my cars.

I've got other things to think about and spend my time doing, lol

 

[rdhogg]

My insurance will replace stolen cats and repair any damage done under my comprehensive coverage in the highly unlikely event it happens to any of my cars.

I've got other things to think about and spend my time doing, lol

Good point, but I am retired and enjoy doing my maintenance , etc . Plus I would enjoy jacking some idiot up for messing with my truck, ha.