Catalytic converter stolen while at storage lot

[besweeet]

Photo attached. Several other vehicles were hit at the fenced and gated lot that we park it at. What a mess.

We've got a three-week trip coming in less than two, so hopefully this doesn't mess with it.

Anyone else have experience with this?

[Too Tall]

Yes, I have. Apparently there's a shortage of the rare metals found in these things. I wish someone would steal mine along with the DPF filter while they are at it, ha.

[F.R.O.G.]

That's a huge problem right now, not just with RVs but with all kinds of vehicles. A dealership just outside of St. Louis just had some dirtbag cut through a fence and remove five of them from vehicles.

[besweeet]

Is one even needed? Our county doesn't check emissions. We'll get one eventually, but if we don't truly need it for our upcoming trip, we may just fill in the pipe and worry about it later.

[Sunseeker16]

I've seen on a past pot that if you paint it with high heat paint they can't sell it. Might be a deterrent. Not sure if that is true.

[D W]

Originally Posted by besweeet

Is one even needed? Our county doesn't check emissions. We'll get one eventually, but if we don't truly need it for our upcoming trip, we may just fill in the pipe and worry about it later.

The way the system is set up, without a CAT it will not go into closed loop. The engine will run on a set of default values and engine efficiency will be greatly reduced. Your downstream O2 sensors will cause your CEL to stay illuminated.

[fuzzball]

Originally Posted by F.R.O.G.

That's a huge problem right now, not just with RVs but with all kinds of vehicles. A dealership just outside of St. Louis just had some dirtbag cut through a fence and remove five of them from vehicles.

I live just west of St. Louis. Had an appointment down at Sunset Ford a few weeks ago. They suggested I not drop it off the night before. I went anyway but spent the night in their lot as a precaution. They said they've had a few instances there too. Luckily my storage unit is enclosed and locked. Crazy what people will do...

[Jdb95650]

For your trip just weld a straight pipe in there. Someone stole mine from my work van. I live in Tennessee part time and just registered the van there were its not required.

[nomad297]

Here is a link to a very recent article by NPR about the recent increase in catalytic converter thefts. The thieves get from $50.00 to $250.00 for each one and it costs an average of $2,000.00 to have them replaced.

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/08/99465...tic-converters

Bruce

[Reverse_snowbird]

It's a huge problem in the Houston area. They hit vehicles parked in residential driveways as well as parking lots and storage areas. They are recommending that you engrave your VIN number on the converter or have metal retention cage installed. I'm wondering who's buying these things.

[MMMndp]

YES, we were just notified a few weeks ago someone tried to steal our catalytic converter in our locked, gated, monitored storage facility. Obviously someone interrupted them as they only cut 1 pipe but did not get away with the converter. There were 5 others cut but not removed. Unfortunately this was the 2nd time they attempted to do this over a 6 month period at our facility. The police were notified and they took everyone’s info but they also stated this is a real issue and happening all over to car dealers, storage lots and even residences. There is money to be made apparently from the few precious metals used to manufacture the converter. Obviously there should be design changes made to address this theft issue. We were told not to drive it as it could damage other parts and of course the noise is deafening. We paid $400 to repair it and $200 for a rebar ‘cat cage’. Only time will tell. Keep on camping 😎

[Bob2019]

Going to a straight pipe will just have a lot of noise, screw up sensors as noted in previous post. Emissions will increase a lot without the cat. You may be able to put up without a replacement, but let me remind you we all have a duty to reduce emissions.

[Dave S]

It is illegal for a repair facility to install a straight pipe in place of a converter.

[jpowers199]

We were waiting to receive our new FR3 tomorrow. Got a call that the cc was stolen with 8 others. This was on the dealers lot with 8’ fence topped with razor wire!

[KyDan]

Painting it won't help as they are now jamming them with something and pouring out the precious metal. They then toss the housing.
RVs and high clearance trucks are especially prone because it's so easy for them to roll under there with a battery saws all.

[rsdata]

I spent about an hour or two of time under my 4 wheel drive vehicle using about 20 feet of 3/16 inch aircraft cable bought at Home Depot and a bunch of muffler clamps and cable clamps. I wove the wire around the CAT and thru nearby frame member and forward and rear of the CAT itself. Would not have to just cut the pipe forward and rear of the CAT but would also have to cut the wire in 4-5 more places.

That hour of work I did... did not make my CAT impossible to steal, but it made it MORE difficult to steal. I don't think sneak-nite thieves want a challenge, and would hopefully leave mine alone and go to someone's stock setup. High ground clearance trucks and RV's are more likely to be hit then a low-slung auto.

[besweeet]

I wonder if it's worth putting a storage skirt along the bottom gaps...

I guess the only real way to prevent this is to store it in an enclosed single-vehicle garage.

Originally Posted by rsdata

I spent about an hour or two of time under my 4 wheel drive vehicle using about 20 feet of 3/16 inch aircraft cable bought at Home Depot and a bunch of muffler clamps and cable clamps. I wove the wire around the CAT and thru nearby frame member and forward and rear of the CAT itself. Would not have to just cut the pipe forward and rear of the CAT but would also have to cut the wire in 4-5 more places.

That hour of work I did... did not make my CAT impossible to steal, but it made it MORE difficult to steal. I don't think sneak-nite thieves want a challenge, and would hopefully leave mine alone and go to someone's stock setup. High ground clearance trucks and RV's are more likely to be hit then a low-slung auto.

Do you have any photos?

[Desertsquid]

Huge problem here in California. Lowlifes stole one from the local ambulance company rig when it was parked overnight for repairs.

[itat]

It’s also a problem here north of the border. I work for a municipality and thieves will jump the fence at our maintenance yard and steal them off the equipment parked outside. Not good when you have a snowfall event and the plow truck can’t be put into service because the cc is gone.

[TitanMike]

This will be a problem until law enforcement goes after the people that are buying the cat's.

Here in WA they just arrested a group with a huge truckload of stolen cats. A start anyway.