Catalytic Converter Theft

[Kernal]

A relative of mine has a few ARLO cameras, he puts one up in a tree near the street looking back at the house and driveway and the others angled in such a way that he'll more likely get the license plate from a vehicle. FWIW.

I would be upset if someone did this to me, for a few minutes, until I remembered the cost difference between aftermarket and OEM replacements.

Personally I wouldn't want to harm the thief, just too much potential liability in today's world, "he was just stealing to buy gas to drive to the store to get baby formula--- and now he's in a wheelchair, ----". Then you become the next guy on C, N, N who's made out to be a nut with a gum, -----.

It also could be risky (as mentioned above), the perp might be armed and get off a lucky shot hitting someone in the house or the neighbors. I recall when a good samaritan tried to intervene in a robbery at a gas station, he was shot straight in the heart by the perp, dropped like a sack of potatoes, dead before he hit the floor. Not worth it for a couple of 25 year old cats, IMHO.

I'd first call the cops (while looking out the window holding my Gl o ck), take some photos of the thief and then the damage, then call my insurance company. After that I'd start checking prices for a new bumper, wheels, leather interior, ----.

The tech part of this post; what we need is a Wits End solution (laser etched
serial number kit, prefabed titanium cage,---) @NLXTACY

 

[SaturnAscends]

I wonder how much platinum etc. can be left in some of these cats after 30 years of service. I know they were overbuilt for the task, but still. Doesn’t seem like it’d make anyone rich.

It’s also maybe worth pointing out that most Australian FZJ80s didn’t even have emissions equipment to begin with. If you remove them, you’ll notice more of a raw exhaust smell at times and it’ll sound kind of like an outboard motor.

 

[gummycarbs]

There are a couple of XJ Cherokees around here running without cats. It's disgusting being stuck anywhere near them. Filthy plebs.

 

[zapatius]

I thought most places were now requiring proof of ownership of the vehicle the cats came from for a sale to try to cut down on the thefts. Anyone know if this is the case?

That is the case here in Indiana, but no surrounding states. So all our turd birds steal them and then go across the river to Kentucky.

 

[aclos3]

A relative of mine has a few ARLO cameras, he puts one up in a tree near the street looking back at the house amd driveway and the others angled in such a way that he'll more likely get the license plate from a vehicle. FWIW.

I would be upset if someone did this to me, for a few minutes, until I remembered the cost difference between aftermarket and OEM replacements.

Personally I wouldn't want to harm the thief, just too much potential liability in today's world, "he was just stealing to buy gas to drive to the store to get baby formula--- and now he's in a wheelchair, ----". Then you become the next guy on C, N, N who's made out to be a nut with a gum, -----.

It also could be risky (as mentioned above), the perp might be armed and get off a lucky shot hitting someone in the house or the neighbors. I recall when a good samaritan tried to intervene in a robbery at a gas station, he was shot straight in the heart by the perp, dropped like a sack of potatoes, dead before he hit the floor. Not worth it for a couple of 25 year old cats, IMHO.

I'd first call the cops (while looking out the window holding my Gl o ck), take some photos of the thief and then the damage, then call my insurance company. After that I'd start checking prices for a new bumper, wheels, leather interior, ----.

The tech part of this post; what we need is a Wits End solution (laser etched
serial number kit, prefabed titanium cage,---) @NLXTACY

The problem with the cameras is that the thieves won't be apprehended by the police in 99% of these cases even with clear evidence. Also, the vehicle they show up in is certainly stolen.

I had this happen at the Portland airport and replaced with the magnaflow y pipe. I just went with the single cat and have the O2 sensors in their stock location. No codes!

 

[zapatius]

Unfortunately my cats were cut off recently while my 80 was left in a parking lot for mechanical work (it's a long story, but unfortunately I have to work through my insurance). They got the O2 sensor and even nicked my frame a little with their sawzall

That being said, I am likely not going to be able to afford going OEM. I see that Magnaflow has a cat replacement.. should I go with that and one of their mufflers? Or are there better non OEM options I should consider?

TIA.

What year is your Cruiser? The Magnaflow y-pipe and cat has been great on my '94. It's not a direct fit, I had to get a little adapter pipe bent.

I put the O2 sensors in the PAIR holes and have never had a code.

 

[SaturnAscends]

There are a couple of XJ Cherokees around here running without cats. It's disgusting being stuck anywhere near them. Filthy plebs.

Yeah it’s not something I would do. But then again it’s anyone’s guess how much CO mine are actually filtering at this point.

 

[AndrewInf]

Yep, the local Nextdoor is a total s*** show but one thing I have learned from it is that the PD around here won't/can't do anything with even great quality stills/videos. "We have to see it happen ourselves or there's not really anything we can/will do." Criminals know this and are emboldened by it.

IMO a 25 year old cat is not worth shooting someone over, for the reasons mentioned by @Kernal . Let's suppose in the best case that you shoot some scumbag and no one else is harmed. You stopped him from stealing a $$$ or low-$,$$$ item from you; even in a place like my home state of TX, you are likely looking at $$,$$$ in legal fees to get yourself clear of things, and it could be much worse if the perp is survived by someone with an inclination toward frivolous litigation. Just not worth it. This is something that was driven home very strongly in concealed carry license courses, back before TX basically eliminated that requirement. You may be in the right legally when you pull that trigger, but it will likely be a very costly action, so you should make sure that what you're buying is worth that price: your life or someone else's life; not a 25-year-old clapped out catalytic converter imo. The thief has made that decision that maybe getting shot is worth the $$$ scrap payout. As a non-loser, you really should not have that same mental economics, you have much more to lose in a violent confrontation.

By the way, I looked at various options after I had one stolen out from under a Prius on a well lit "safe" residential street. Here was one, keeping in mind you probably need 2 for an 80:

Shop CatClamp Catalytic Converter Protection - Find Your Model

Find catalytic converter shield protection for Ford, Toyota, Honda, trucks, heavy duty diesel engines, and more. Be sure CatClamp® will fit your vehicle.

catclamp.com

Could DIY something also. The cost of a single cat clamp installed is probably still less than my deductible, but not two. Ultimately I started parking the Prius off the street and eventually got rid of it. Missing that mpg today though.

 

[jpoole]

As a non-loser, you really should not have that same mental economics, you have much more to lose in a violent confrontation.

Nice way to say it and painfully true in too many areas of life. The adage that often comes to my mind when I have to avoid comparable bull**** is: "Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty but the pig likes it."

 

[FMC80]

A relative of mine has a few ARLO cameras, he puts one up in a tree near the street looking back at the house amd driveway and the others angled in such a way that he'll more likely get the license plate from a vehicle. FWIW.

I would be upset if someone did this to me, for a few minutes, until I remembered the cost difference between aftermarket and OEM replacements.

Personally I wouldn't want to harm the thief, just too much potential liability in today's world, "he was just stealing to buy gas to drive to the store to get baby formula--- and now he's in a wheelchair, ----". Then you become the next guy on C, N, N who's made out to be a nut with a gum, -----.

It also could be risky (as mentioned above), the perp might be armed and get off a lucky shot hitting someone in the house or the neighbors. I recall when a good samaritan tried to intervene in a robbery at a gas station, he was shot straight in the heart by the perp, dropped like a sack of potatoes, dead before he hit the floor. Not worth it for a couple of 25 year old cats, IMHO.

I'd first call the cops (while looking out the window holding my Gl o ck), take some photos of the thief and then the damage, then call my insurance company. After that I'd start checking prices for a new bumper, wheels, leather interior, ----.

The tech part of this post; what we need is a Wits End solution (laser etched
serial number kit, prefabed titanium cage,---) @NLXTACY

Yep, the local Nextdoor is a total s*** show but one thing I have learned from it is that the PD around here won't/can't do anything with even great quality stills/videos. "We have to see it happen ourselves or there's not really anything we can/will do." Criminals know this and are emboldened by it.

IMO a 25 year old cat is not worth shooting someone over, for the reasons mentioned by @Kernal . Let's suppose in the best case that you shoot some scumbag and no one else is harmed. You stopped him from stealing a $$$ or low-$,$$$ item from you; even in a place like my home state of TX, you are likely looking at $$,$$$ in legal fees to get yourself clear of things, and it could be much worse if the perp is survived by someone with an inclination toward frivolous litigation. Just not worth it. This is something that was driven home very strongly in concealed carry license courses, back before TX basically eliminated that requirement. You may be in the right legally when you pull that trigger, but it will likely be a very costly action, so you should make sure that what you're buying is worth that price: your life or someone else's life; not a 25-year-old clapped out catalytic converter imo. The thief has made that decision that maybe getting shot is worth the $$$ scrap payout. As a non-loser, you really should not have that same mental economics, you have much more to lose in a violent confrontation.

By the way, I looked at various options after I had one stolen out from under a Prius on a well lit "safe" residential street. Here was one, keeping in mind you probably need 2 for an 80:

Shop CatClamp Catalytic Converter Protection - Find Your Model

Find catalytic converter shield protection for Ford, Toyota, Honda, trucks, heavy duty diesel engines, and more. Be sure CatClamp® will fit your vehicle.

catclamp.com

Could DIY something also. The cost of a single cat clamp installed is probably still less than my deductible, but not two. Ultimately I started parking the Prius off the street and eventually got rid of it. Missing that mpg today though.

@Kernal @AndrewInf lots of goodness in both of your posts.

Nice way to say it and painfully true in too many areas of life. The adage that often comes to my mind when I have to avoid comparable bulls*** is: "Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty but the pig likes it."

I can honestly say, I have never heard this before, but I like it!

 

[leonard_nemoy]

Haha, I can't help it, I am literally going to post this everytime I see a thread about stolen converters...

 

[shocktower]

I have a 94 and have considered cutting out my cats and selling them before someone else does... how dumb does this idea sound?

I sold one for $478 and no I did not steal it I got it from a swap I was working on

 

[shocktower]

I wonder how much platinum etc. can be left in some of these cats after 30 years of service. I know they were overbuilt for the task, but still. Doesn’t seem like it’d make anyone rich.

It’s also maybe worth pointing out that most Australian FZJ80s didn’t even have emissions equipment to begin with. If you remove them, you’ll notice more of a raw exhaust smell at times and it’ll sound kind of like an outboard motor.

When they are from $1000- $250 a pop 2 or 3 a nigh could be a pretty lucrative life of crime

 

[landcruisertx]

I sold one for $478 and no I did not steal it I got it from a swap I was working on

Was it off a 94? Do you know the cat number? I need to take off my cover to find out

 

[shocktower]

Was it off a 94? Do you know the cat number? I need to take off my cover to find out

Yes off a 94 and do not remember the numbers

 

[120mm]

Yep, the local Nextdoor is a total s*** show but one thing I have learned from it is that the PD around here won't/can't do anything with even great quality stills/videos. "We have to see it happen ourselves or there's not really anything we can/will do." Criminals know this and are emboldened by it.

IMO a 25 year old cat is not worth shooting someone over, for the reasons mentioned by @Kernal . Let's suppose in the best case that you shoot some scumbag and no one else is harmed. You stopped him from stealing a $$$ or low-$,$$$ item from you; even in a place like my home state of TX, you are likely looking at $$,$$$ in legal fees to get yourself clear of things, and it could be much worse if the perp is survived by someone with an inclination toward frivolous litigation. Just not worth it. This is something that was driven home very strongly in concealed carry license courses, back before TX basically eliminated that requirement. You may be in the right legally when you pull that trigger, but it will likely be a very costly action, so you should make sure that what you're buying is worth that price: your life or someone else's life; not a 25-year-old clapped out catalytic converter imo. The thief has made that decision that maybe getting shot is worth the $$$ scrap payout. As a non-loser, you really should not have that same mental economics, you have much more to lose in a violent confrontation.

By the way, I looked at various options after I had one stolen out from under a Prius on a well lit "safe" residential street. Here was one, keeping in mind you probably need 2 for an 80:

Shop CatClamp Catalytic Converter Protection - Find Your Model

Find catalytic converter shield protection for Ford, Toyota, Honda, trucks, heavy duty diesel engines, and more. Be sure CatClamp® will fit your vehicle.

catclamp.com

Could DIY something also. The cost of a single cat clamp installed is probably still less than my deductible, but not two. Ultimately I started parking the Prius off the street and eventually got rid of it. Missing that mpg today though.

You ever hear of the 3 S's?

Shoot, shovel and Shut Up.

No legal fees. No more filthy sub-human thief.

 

[SoCal80series]

I was talking to the rep at a trade show from Magna Flow and he said that the catylic converters that thieves want to steal are from the Prius's. Each converter in a Prius has about $600 in pallidium in them. They can sell them for around $200 to those that fence the palladium.

 

[Plains Cruiser]

His 94 has both of his O2 sensors placed up stream of his cats, (unlike the 95-97 that has one O2 sensor before, and one after the cats) so removing both cats should not cause any codes to be thrown.

Unfortunately they unnecessarily cut one of the O2 sensors on my '94.

If anyone is interested, the local dealership quoted me roughly $4,500 for an OEM repair. Am I counting on getting anywhere near that from insurance? Definitely not, but still waiting to see what they can do.

 

[Plains Cruiser]

What year is your Cruiser? The Magnaflow y-pipe and cat has been great on my '94. It's not a direct fit, I had to get a little adapter pipe bent.

I put the O2 sensors in the PAIR holes and have never had a code.

Mine is the same year, so that's good to know. I actually have White Knuckle sliders with cat skid plates on order. Hopefully they still fit with whatever solution I end up going with.

 

[thatcabledude]

What exactly does someone do with a used cat? Take the precious metals out of it and make molds for their teeth? Asking for a friend.

There’s probably small bits of recycled catalytic converter inside your phone.