Catalytic converter theft
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 180
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From: Cupertino, CA
2003 e320 wagon (210 chassis NOT a 211))
Catalytic converter theft
Wow. First stealing copper pipes from houses, now stealing cat's from cars... I got this from a grad student friend of mine. Check it out...
FYI I removed references to the actual location.
So, maybe welded cats are the better choice? I don't know about Tacoma and 4Runners, but our '95 Land Cruiser had a bolt-in cat/pipe assembly that would be really difficult to carry / hide after a theft. IIRC you couldn't just take the cat's only, you'd have to take the whole assembly which was about 5 feet long or so. I wonder if these guys were cutting the cats out, or if the cars they were targeting had bolt-in cats...
Regardless, I just thought it was pretty interesting.
Date: September 8, 2009
To: University Community
From: Department of Public Safety
Re: Incident Resolution Notice
In an effort to better communicate with the campus community about public safety issues, we are pleased to provide the following Incident Resolution Notice.
Notices of this nature detail instances in which DPS and/or local PD have been able to bring a resolution to reported illegal acts affecting our community members. We look forward to providing you with more updates of this nature.
Incident: Catalytic Converter Theft Suspects Arrested
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 1:00 PM
Location: Parking Structure B
Description: On September 4, 2009 at about 1 PM, two male suspects were arrested by local PD for the recent series of catalytic converter thefts at University and surrounding areas.
With assistance from DPS and University police, local PD detectives were led to a common suspect vehicle description, a dark colored 1990’s BMW 740.
In the early afternoon of September 4, 2009, officers saw the suspects removing a catalytic converter from a parked car on the University campus. With the coordinated efforts and outstanding communication between campus officers from DPS, University PD, and several local PD patrol divisions, the suspects were arrested, and are being held on $20,000.00 dollars bail.
The two may be responsible for stealing at least 60 catalytic converters from Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner pickup trucks parked in the local metro area over the course of the last few months.
Sincerely,
University Department of Public Safety
To: University Community
From: Department of Public Safety
Re: Incident Resolution Notice
In an effort to better communicate with the campus community about public safety issues, we are pleased to provide the following Incident Resolution Notice.
Notices of this nature detail instances in which DPS and/or local PD have been able to bring a resolution to reported illegal acts affecting our community members. We look forward to providing you with more updates of this nature.
Incident: Catalytic Converter Theft Suspects Arrested
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 1:00 PM
Location: Parking Structure B
Description: On September 4, 2009 at about 1 PM, two male suspects were arrested by local PD for the recent series of catalytic converter thefts at University and surrounding areas.
With assistance from DPS and University police, local PD detectives were led to a common suspect vehicle description, a dark colored 1990’s BMW 740.
In the early afternoon of September 4, 2009, officers saw the suspects removing a catalytic converter from a parked car on the University campus. With the coordinated efforts and outstanding communication between campus officers from DPS, University PD, and several local PD patrol divisions, the suspects were arrested, and are being held on $20,000.00 dollars bail.
The two may be responsible for stealing at least 60 catalytic converters from Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner pickup trucks parked in the local metro area over the course of the last few months.
Sincerely,
University Department of Public Safety
So, maybe welded cats are the better choice? I don't know about Tacoma and 4Runners, but our '95 Land Cruiser had a bolt-in cat/pipe assembly that would be really difficult to carry / hide after a theft. IIRC you couldn't just take the cat's only, you'd have to take the whole assembly which was about 5 feet long or so. I wonder if these guys were cutting the cats out, or if the cars they were targeting had bolt-in cats...
Regardless, I just thought it was pretty interesting.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Cupertino, CA
2003 e320 wagon (210 chassis NOT a 211))
This theft was observed by cops in the early afternoon last Friday... in a fairly high-traffic area. I'd be surprised if they were brazen enough to use something as loud as a sawzall... especially given how many they'd stolen recently. But you never know!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 5
From: West Virginia
2001 E320 RWD - Brilliant Silver/Ash: 100,000+
One of the MB dealers here lost a few cats overnight to thieves; seems like 10-12 cars were affected. The criminals can sell them for a couple of hundred each, or so I was told.
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 203
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From: No. Calif., SF Bay Area, Orinda
2001 E430, Obsidian Black w. Ash/Orion Grey, 195,000 mi.
On the bright side, (for us) theives usually target SUVs with high enough ground clearance so that you don't have to jack up to get underneath.
Fred
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,803
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From: Charleston, SC
GL450
I've read that most thieves use a battery operated Sawzall. It's fast through most cars. Through a Mercedes it's slow, because the steel is so strong. I've seen it burn out Sawzall blades. But on most cars, it'll go right through. And definitely, the metals in a converter, such as platinum, are very expensive these days.
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1
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4-Runner
A good theft prevention product.
I came across this thread and thought I would add some information for you guys. I own a 4-Runner, one of the highest targeted vehicles for catalytic converter thefts, and had my cat stolen about a year ago. These guys are going under cars with a sawzall just as Saintz is saying, and only taking about 30 seconds to cleanly remove a catalytic converter from a vehicle. To make a long story short, after mine was stolen I purchased an anti-theft device for catalytic converters called the CatClamp. I saw the CatClamp being shown on the Speed Channel on a few of their programs. This thing is amazing. It's engineered and constructed in a way that no thief is going to get his dirty hands on my cat again. I simply called them and placed an order over the phone at 419.478.1313, I believe they have a website also. Hope this helps.
