Mercedes Sprinter Catalytic Converter Theft

[Perik Omo]

Know somebody in Letchworth who had the cat stolen from his Ford Explorer last week in broad daylight on his drive. He saw him from an upstairs window but by the time he got downstairs and outside the perp jumped into a black BMW and was off. Plod said that three other cars were done in the same road that morning.

[Glassman]

Here's one recorded on CCTV in Ilkeston

FB

[Fast Bug]

You can buy various types of guards and locks, although in my experience it will either a) just slow them down or b) they'll cause more damage getting the cat off.

We've had some Master vans done on site, and I've had a fair few customers had cats stolen from their vans. Scumbags!

[BMR]

Our fleet of Sprinters were fitted with guards over the Christmas period. And the fitter proceeded to lose one of the van keys to which we had no spare, by time it was realised he was hundreds of miles away and denied having them.

[Glassman]

Fast Bug said:

You can buy various types of guards and locks, although in my experience it will either a) just slow them down or b) they'll cause more damage getting the cat off.

Same with having window guards put on vans, or cars with laminated glass all round. If there's something in/on the car/van that they want, they'll have a go at getting it and you'll be looking at more damage.

[JonnyFive]

Don't say anything about the type of person that commits this crime.. PH staff gets protective over them, can't even call them by their name without it being censored.

s.

[Glassman]

JonnyFive said:

Don't say anything about the type of person that commits this crime.. PH staff gets protective over them, can't even call them by their name without it being censored.

s.

Anyone who buys stolen property is just as much of a as the knicking it.

[scarble]

g3org3y said:

it appears the guy was under the van trying to steal the cats when then owner got in and drove off, running over a couple of limbs in the process and dragging him a couple of hundred meters down the road! My sympathy was minimal.

I "didn't see him"

[Krikkit]

Surely a duraluminum guard would be the best way? Bolt it onto the chassis with a million of those weird security fasteners and that should put them off, surely? Crime of opportunity and all that.

I remember at Uni a bunch of 4x4s etc got done on our street, looked like they turned up with some big tin snips.

[scarble]

Krikkit said:

Surely a duraluminum guard would be the best way? Bolt it onto the chassis with a million of those weird security fasteners and that should put them off, surely? Crime of opportunity and all that.

I remember at Uni a bunch of 4x4s etc got done on our street, looked like they turned up with some big tin snips.

What's to stop them snipping off the guard?
I've got a far better idea, fit sideskirts so they can't get under
it'll make your van go faster too

[Glassman]

Someone I know had his Land Cruiser stripped of its cat. He said it was done with a battery powered disc cutter/grinder.

[scorcher]

Animal said:

Motorrad said:

Do diesel vehicles actually require a C/C to pass an MOT?

Obviously this doesn't detract from the fact the fkers have violated your vehicle but I wonder what the motive is?

I think they'd fail on emissions without a cat.

Smoke test only for diesels! No cat required.

[kingofherts]

Just found this thread after a google search of 'mercedes sprinter cat theft' as for the last few months I have been looking at a few of the newer shape Sprinters to replace my current transit van.

I've now pretty much decided to stay with Ford again, as I have had a LOT of people tell me there own experiences relating to sprinter CAT's.. For instance, one mate who works at DHL Yodel in Borehamwood said all of their sprinters were done in a weekend.. I've also been told about thieves being able to access the OBD port from underneath the wheel arch and being able to unlock and start your van without the key... Scary stuff.

It's got me thinking though, these cat guards that are being sold don't seem to offer much other than a slight delay in the scrotes nicking it, so why not protect the whole underside?

I was thinking if you wrapped your exhaust with barbed/razor wire that would surely be a deterrent?! Honestly though, would it be illegal? Maybe not the best idea, but there's gotta be a way?

Any sprinter owners out there with advice?

[SRi Slim R]

So lets say if i was scrapping a car, i should take off the cats and then sell them seperately?

Will i get more than the scrap value? Or is the scrapvalue so high because of the cats?

[anonymous-user]

I had 8 of my vans drilled and drained last year (secure compound with cctv), police not interested and insurance company promptly upped my premiums.

So, I decided to replace the 'lockable' filler caps with cheap crappy twist on/off jobby's. I've had a couple of vans drained since, but nothing has been drilled and my lads know not to fill the vans more than a quarter full.

Luckily my vans are mostly too old to have cats.

[scarble]

D3fender said:

I had 8 of my vans drilled and drained last year ('secure' compound with cctv), police not interested and insurance company promptly upped my premiums.
So, I decided to replace the lockable filler caps with cheap crappy twist on/off jobby's. I've had a couple of vans drained since, but nothing has been drilled and my lads know not to fill the vans more than a quarter full.

FTFY

[braddo]

I think a really effective cat guard is going to be expensive.

[ali4390]

I know of two effective deterrents against theft of catalytic converters: first is a product called CatLoc (no affiliation to me whatsoever) that bolts on and takes a good 10 minutes to remove with an angle grinder.

I can't remember the name of the other one but its an alarm that connects to the cat and if it senses any kind of cutting or attempted removal (be it with an angle grinder or a hacksaw), it goes off. I'll try and the name.

[Herbs]

We had our work van done over the Christmas period by fking s. Happy days........