catalytic converter stolen
Dec 24, 2008 | 06:00 PM
#82
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: California Screw them smog laws.
Dude at work sent an e-mail about a month ago about his cat. being hacked off on his 2nd gen 4runner. We had 4 separate office buildings and between each one are parking spots. He was walking from 1 building to another for a meeting and heard a sawing sound and didn't think much of it. Then an alarm goes off and he noticed it was his 4runner. He walks over and sees this guy pull out from bottom of his runner, take off and jump into a GMC Jimmy.
This was in the middle of the day between 2 office buildings and lots of feet traffic. Crazy .
This was in the middle of the day between 2 office buildings and lots of feet traffic. Crazy .
If I saw the guy who stole my cat. I WOULD HAVE KILLED HIM ON THE SPOT NO KIDDING!!
Jun 24, 2010 | 08:31 AM
#85
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Joined: Jun 2010
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San Marcos Texas got hit again this week. Sunday night apartment complexes got hit, the police officer who was at my complex said mine was the 8th Tacoma/4Runner that has been hit.
They were cut off, not unbolted.
Trying to sort out my replacement options.
Nov 11, 2010 | 03:34 PM
#87
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Something to try
hey, new to the forum, but was wondering if anyone had thought about have a chain spot welded along the exhaust pipeing. Just from the bottom portion of the manifold to the bolts for the muffler. I was thinking that if you took the chain the length of the pipeing and have each link spot welded that it would be pretty difficult to cut thru and wouldn't be that expensive. Just from the bottom portion of the manifold to were the muffler bolts of to the piping comming from the catalytic convertors. Thoughts? I'm thinking of having this done.
Nov 15, 2010 | 07:53 PM
#89
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 108
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From: Florida
well me and my dad own a junk yard so this is all common for me to see... we buy them but were not near any of yall lol and the best thing to do is to go to your local junk yard(s) and see if anyone has an empty converter laying around they will sell you they should only charge about 10 bucks for one and put it on (much better then 119) and also cats go for 6-120 bucks or atleast thats what we pay for them each is different bc of how much platium, platinum, and also a little gold in them!
Nov 18, 2010 | 05:10 PM
#90
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Joined: Aug 2008
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Mine got stolen today at work, and a guy who works from me (and wheels with me) got his stolen last week on his 99 Tacoma.
-Dan
Jan 25, 2011 | 09:41 PM
#91
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Joined: Feb 2008
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I too fell victim to a cat thief today. Upon starting up my '99 this morning, sounded like a derby car. Filed a police report and 4 other Toyota's were hit too last night.
Must be the price of scrap metal has gone up and the crack heads are cashing in on our vehicle parts.
I'm pissed.
Must be the price of scrap metal has gone up and the crack heads are cashing in on our vehicle parts.
I'm pissed.
Jan 25, 2011 | 10:22 PM
#92
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Joined: Jan 2011
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bought my truck cat was stopped up making it run bad cut it off i was all excited thinking i would get some money back out of my truck ... well i got got 5 bucks for it at the scrap yard cause it was already aftermarket so mabye if you replace it with an after market cat they wont want to steal it lol
btw runs great now replaced it with a straight pipe has not set off the engine light or anything but i have no emmisions check here
btw runs great now replaced it with a straight pipe has not set off the engine light or anything but i have no emmisions check here
Jan 26, 2011 | 11:49 AM
#95
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 238
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From: Spokane, WA
i've heard of this problem locally as well. someone come up with a theft deterent, like 10,000 volts of electricity when they touch it. or maybe start going dexter morgan on these fools. just kidding, i just really don't like thieves. i had most of my tools stolen a few years ago and i'm still very bitter about it if you couldn't tell.
Jan 26, 2011 | 03:25 PM
#96
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,932
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From: DFW TEXAS BABY!
i've heard of this problem locally as well. someone come up with a theft deterent, like 10,000 volts of electricity when they touch it. or maybe start going dexter morgan on these fools. just kidding, i just really don't like thieves. i had most of my tools stolen a few years ago and i'm still very bitter about it if you couldn't tell.
We can legally shoot someone that is breaking into or stealing from our cars or homes in Texas, the next one that tries it will be in for a surprise.
Jan 26, 2011 | 03:36 PM
#97
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Spokane, WA
I don't care if its legal or not where I live, if I would have caught them in the act they would have regretted it. I haven't replaced them all either, every time I start a project on a vehicle I have to go buy a tool that I use to own, that sucks.
Jan 27, 2011 | 02:49 PM
#98
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Most of the Cats I've seen stolen were removed with a chainwrench pipecutter. When we first started to see it the thieves were using a sawsall, but that makes alot of noise; the pipe cutter is quick and quiet.
I was always very concious about where I parked my 4runner. After I put the lift on it I began to worry more about it, to the point of paying for a rental car from my work to go take my ASE tests, since the test location was not in the greatest part of San Jose. You should of seen the look on the girls face in charge of the rental cars when I told her I was worried about my cat getting stolen; I don't think she was thinking catalytic converter, lol.
Since then I've welded a chunk of rebar to the pipe directly in front of and behind the cat. If they want mine, they'll have to use a sawsall, and spend the extra amount of time to cut through the rebar. Of course they could just unbolt it, but that takes extra time too.
It's a simple deterent that I think makes most move on to an easier target.
I was always very concious about where I parked my 4runner. After I put the lift on it I began to worry more about it, to the point of paying for a rental car from my work to go take my ASE tests, since the test location was not in the greatest part of San Jose. You should of seen the look on the girls face in charge of the rental cars when I told her I was worried about my cat getting stolen; I don't think she was thinking catalytic converter, lol.
Since then I've welded a chunk of rebar to the pipe directly in front of and behind the cat. If they want mine, they'll have to use a sawsall, and spend the extra amount of time to cut through the rebar. Of course they could just unbolt it, but that takes extra time too.
It's a simple deterent that I think makes most move on to an easier target.
Jan 27, 2011 | 04:14 PM
#99
Contributing Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,666
Likes: 5
From: Oklahoma State
Most of the Cats I've seen stolen were removed with a chainwrench pipecutter. When we first started to see it the thieves were using a sawsall, but that makes alot of noise; the pipe cutter is quick and quiet.
...
Since then I've welded a chunk of rebar to the pipe directly in front of and behind the cat. If they want mine, they'll have to use a sawsall, and spend the extra amount of time to cut through the rebar. Of course they could just unbolt it, but that takes extra time too.
It's a simple deterent that I think makes most move on to an easier target.
...
Since then I've welded a chunk of rebar to the pipe directly in front of and behind the cat. If they want mine, they'll have to use a sawsall, and spend the extra amount of time to cut through the rebar. Of course they could just unbolt it, but that takes extra time too.
It's a simple deterent that I think makes most move on to an easier target.
