Catalytic converter theft, just a CA problem?

[Ronnie]

I’ve been seeing a lot of stories about this on the news lately and have gotten several next door neighborhood notices recently which makes me wonder if this is only a big problem in CA it’s an issue in other states as well.

by the way, all my cars are a few years old so I thought they were safe but some people in my city have had catalytic converters stolen out of 10+ year old cars.

the way one news station put it, emissions regulations have increased in other countries like japan so the black market for such parts has and is increasing.

 

[fatboyroy]

Looks like thats only one reason, others are harvesting precious metals. I believe it is countrywide issue now, probably more widespread in bigger cities.
As precious metals prices soar, Minnesota becomes hot spot for catalytic converter thefts | MPR News

 

[Woodsy]

I think its everywhere. One gets cut out of my companies fleet trucks every month or two.

 

[Ronnie]

Interesting, I thought people were stealing them to reuse them not for the precious metal they contain. I also assumed CA was a hot spot since most cars have them and need them to pass smog tests every two years.

Here is an ironic story from two months ago. The story is that the thief had a partner in a car who could not get him out from under the car so the partner just left him there.

 

[AZMark]

That’s been an issue here for a long time.
They contain platinum, palladium, etc so very expensive.
My coworker had them cut off his truck in the parking lot outside our office & it’s surrounded on 3 sides by windows...ballsy

 

[RobbieO]

Here in Rio, the dealers are offering free etching of your Vin# into your cats while your vehicle is being serviced. Also, they are breaking into RV storage facilities and taking them there. If your cats bolt in, spot weld the nuts, then they have to cut them, making noise. They will avoid them.

 

[Neutron]

Been quite a few here in NC

 

[Jimmers]

It’s a problem in Minneapolis. I wanted to have some work done on my SUV and drop it off the night before. They said absolutely not, somebody will grab the converter. They have a well lit lot on a fairly busy street.

 

[anmut]

Priuses seem to be the main target here in our podunk central WI town. Reminds me of the 08-09 era when copper was being stolen from everything.

 

[mark_m]

Hmmm… somebody stole the cat from my wife’s 1975 corvette…. ?

 

[AboveTheBest]

I had one stolen about 10-years ago while living in Alabama, but heard about it happening when I was in VT and remember it being a thing while growing up in Indiana.

Basically, it’s a problem everywhere.

The cost to replace the one I had stolen was insane, as it was for a diesel F250. I decided to go the straight pipe route instead... for fuel efficiency of course

 

[Ronnie]

Well I’m both sad and happy to read it’s not just a CA problem. One on my neighbors just had one stolen off of a car in his driveway at 3 in the morning a few nights ago (the guys pulled up in car, put a Jack under his car and cut the converter out with a saw saw in less than 5 minutes). He got footage off a ring camera but nothing detailed enough to ID the car or the thieves . He said the part is expensive and on back order from Honda so now he has got a car that he can’t / won’t use for an undetermined amount of time that is also not worth selling as is. He also can’t sell it as is/operational because ca requires it pass a smog test within 90 days of the sale, if it doesn’t seller is responsible to get it into smog test passing condition/to get it smogged.