Is stealing catalytic converters a thing?
Discussion
Last year I sold two cats for a 350Z for £100 each. I'd advertised them on Gumtree and the guy who bought them turned up in a can full of used cats. No offers, just paid the price. He told me that was his main business. Based on what I got paid it's not difficult to see why they're attractive to thieves.
A year or two back we had catalytic converters stolen from 3 vans at work. Mercedes Sprinters, in a locked compound overnight.
While queuing in a supermarket car park in my CR-V I've had a kid no older than 10 shout through the window, "can I have your cat?". They obviously start training them young. It made me conscious that the cat on the CR-V (and most SUVs I suppose) is quite exposed and accessible.
While queuing in a supermarket car park in my CR-V I've had a kid no older than 10 shout through the window, "can I have your cat?". They obviously start training them young. It made me conscious that the cat on the CR-V (and most SUVs I suppose) is quite exposed and accessible.
I used to work for a large National chain of parts suppliers and we distributing a product which was specific to Sprinters. A cage made of high tensile steel that goes around the CAT/DPF and protects against theft.
One customer had dozens of Sprinters done over a weekend and the cost of the new silicone carbide combined DPF/CATs would make your eyes water. Hence the market for such a product.
As everything is now going or gone close coupled and some part of the manifold or even head it's not cuch a thing as it used to be. Although, for rare dealer only applications I am sure it still happens frequently.
One customer had dozens of Sprinters done over a weekend and the cost of the new silicone carbide combined DPF/CATs would make your eyes water. Hence the market for such a product.
As everything is now going or gone close coupled and some part of the manifold or even head it's not cuch a thing as it used to be. Although, for rare dealer only applications I am sure it still happens frequently.
Easiest way to avoid this happening to you is to take off the cat and save it till MOT time.
The materials used in catalytic converters often are mined conflict areas using destructive methods, people won't buy a conflict diamonds but will insist on a green car even though it's paid for in blood.
The materials used in catalytic converters often are mined conflict areas using destructive methods, people won't buy a conflict diamonds but will insist on a green car even though it's paid for in blood.
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underwhelmist said:
A year or two back we had catalytic converters stolen from 3 vans at work. Mercedes Sprinters, in a locked compound overnight.
Yeah I think these are popular. We were waiting to take delivery of 8 new sprinters at work and it was delayed because someone broke into the yard and took the the cats from the lot.Apparently this is becoming a larger problem. It's not just Golf R and Audi S3 owners that need to watch their car, but Prius owners and virtually every Uber driver as criminals focus on stealing cats from cars.
They can jack up a car and saw off the cat in 60 seconds.
And the UK public can't do much about it because you can't even defend your own property or home as you will be the one found at fault.
https://youtu.be/aUlikgzaDOE
They can jack up a car and saw off the cat in 60 seconds.
And the UK public can't do much about it because you can't even defend your own property or home as you will be the one found at fault.
https://youtu.be/aUlikgzaDOE
cib24 said:
And the UK public can't do much about it because you can't even defend your own property or home as you will be the one found at fault.
Completely untrue.You are perfectly entitled to defend your property using reasonable force. What you're not allowed to do is kill somebody for nicking your stuff.
rockin said:
cib24 said:
And the UK public can't do much about it because you can't even defend your own property or home as you will be the one found at fault.
Completely untrue.You are perfectly entitled to defend your property using reasonable force. What you're not allowed to do is kill somebody for nicking your stuff.
cib24 said:
Apparently this is becoming a larger problem. It's not just Golf R and Audi S3 owners that need to watch their car, but Prius owners and virtually every Uber driver as criminals focus on stealing cats from cars.
They can jack up a car and saw off the cat in 60 seconds.
And the UK public can't do much about it because you can't even defend your own property or home as you will be the one found at fault.
https://youtu.be/aUlikgzaDOE
The look out doesn't even bother covering his face.They can jack up a car and saw off the cat in 60 seconds.
And the UK public can't do much about it because you can't even defend your own property or home as you will be the one found at fault.
https://youtu.be/aUlikgzaDOE
untakenname said:
Easiest way to avoid this happening to you is to take off the cat and save it till MOT time.
The materials used in catalytic converters often are mined conflict areas using destructive methods, people won't buy a conflict diamonds but will insist on a green car even though it's paid for in blood.
The materials used in catalytic converters often are mined conflict areas using destructive methods, people won't buy a conflict diamonds but will insist on a green car even though it's paid for in blood.
Is any part of this post supposed to be taken seriously?
Who the hell would remove the cat and only refit it once a year for the MOT?
Is it even possible to buy a car without a cat these days? Buying diamonds is not quite the same as needing to own a car, cat-equipped or not.
This was the first post that came up with searching Cat theft and didn't see the reply above, people taking their CAT off when they buy a car is most definitely a thing in London.
New cars will pass the emissions test with just the precats by the manifold when warm and they have 3 years till the first MOT is due so it makes sense to buy a cheap £80 decat and store the original £2000+ cat in the shed.
The second part just because you need a car to travel doesn't make the harm done by the mining of precious metals in conflict zones by children any more just.
Searched for car theft to post this Karma in action:
Swindon catalytic converter thief was found dead under car
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-wiltshire-...
New cars will pass the emissions test with just the precats by the manifold when warm and they have 3 years till the first MOT is due so it makes sense to buy a cheap £80 decat and store the original £2000+ cat in the shed.
The second part just because you need a car to travel doesn't make the harm done by the mining of precious metals in conflict zones by children any more just.
Searched for car theft to post this Karma in action:
Swindon catalytic converter thief was found dead under car
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-wiltshire-...
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