Stopping CAT theft

[Collectingbrass]

I discovered today that I've had my CAT nicked, and recently too looking at how fresh the cuts are. As much as I would like to claim I've had the full CSI:PH treatment and Gene Hunt has let me have a go in the Quattro on the way to nicking the perp, no such luck nor did I expect as much. It is what it is and I am not complaining about that.

I was wondering though whether anyone has had any success in securing a CAT against theft like this as I will obviously replace it and I don't want them turning up next weekend to nick it again. The car is in a shared car park and while I can fit a dashcam I don't think I can fit CCTV - I suppose a wildlife camera hidden in the hedge would be aganst GDPR? Also, is a scrappy who takes CATs likely to pay attention to "Stolen from XX XX XXX" being stamped on it?

[Ed.]

Have read on here that aftermarket replacements are less valuable so future theives who know what they are doing won't touch them.

[Adrian E]

Depends what car you have and ground clearance - seems to be a trend to take them from Japanese cars (as the OEM cats are high grade in terms of precious metal content) and/or higher ground clearance, as easier to get under without tools

There are commercial vehicle solutions to cover cats/DPFs as they have space and often chassis mounting points that can be borrowed to fit security covers with, but don’t think it’s all that easy for cars

Cheap aftermarket cats generally do have the minimum precious metal content they can get away with (there’s a good reason they’re often 1/20th the cost of OEM!) so need to factor the 2 MOT life expectancy vs cost of replacing more often than OEM

[NGee]

Is this yours? Just found it on Ebay.

[anonymous-user]

I was thinking the All creatures great and small section was a more appropriate place for a stolen moggy thread.

[Chris32345]

The industry need heavy regulation
Ban private individuals from selling them
Make it so only registered garage's and vehicle dismantlers can sell them
And introduce big fines to scrap yards found buying them without proof of the seller and reccords of sales

[Vickers_VC10]

It isn't an acronym.

[Burnzyb]

You can buy a thick wire netting and also a wire rope to wrap round it for security. Not sure how much of a deterrent they are though.

[Zetec-S]

I doubt CCTV would make much difference anyway.

If you park in the same space every night perhaps smear dog st on the ground?

[Mr Pointy]

This company will pay you £250 if you have your cat stolen after they have fitted their device:
http://www.catsafe.org.uk/index.html

[Gompo]

Mr Pointy said:

This company will pay you £250 if you have your cat stolen after they have fitted their device:
http://www.catsafe.org.uk/index.html

'Up to £250', after you have spent £500 isn't great. I'm sure these will deter some but I don't think it will stop all attempts.

[BobSaunders]

Been to Chester Zoo recently?

https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-chesh...

[The Ors]

If it's low enough that you can't get under without jacking it up you could try parking on a slope. Much more difficult/dangerous to jack it up then.

[Fatball]

BobSaunders said:

Been to Chester Zoo recently?

https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-chesh...

Someone from Burnley was arrested at a petrol station at Morrison’s in Warrington today in connection with the cat thefts from Chester Zoo.

[A1VDY]

Zetec-S said:

I doubt CCTV would make much difference anyway.

If you park in the same space every night perhaps smear dog st on the ground?

A bucket of dog st in the boot it is then. Smear a load around the door handles too..

[Dont like rolls]

or buy a Hydraulic Citroen and set it to low when you get out ...........

[MB140]

One of these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KuTi-Kai-Stainless-Slings...

Plus a bag full of ball bearings. Or better still one of the fishing high power catapults with a bucket on it that will allow you to go full on stealth scattergun approach. I don’t even mind damaging my own car so long as the fkers get it.

Also if you were quite they would never know where you were hiding.

[Escapegoat]

Last month the cat from my RX400h was nicked. While parked overnight on a main road (an A-road arterial into the city centre).

Currently have a through-pipe fitted (£100) because the thieves are very likely to do it again. The RX and CRV are common targets the exhaust guy said. :-/