Catalytic Converter Theft

I just installed the Desert Eagle $350 shipped, 10 minute installation and hopefully this will deter the thieves. With Rhodium currently the most precious metal on earth and Russia as one of the main producers, our cats are worth more then gold. Someone needs to invent/create a camera/motion sensor activated pepper spray system for underneath protection.

 

Cat strap uses an adhesive and banding. I opted to use exhaust hangers and multiple layers of stainless rope.

 

Since I was close by, I went by the dealership to check a possible CAT ETA.
He made some phone calls and told me POSSIBLY mid-June.
Day 165 without my Tundra.

 

here’s the footage…of course they’d be driving a dodge

 

Dude. That just sucks.

 

The footage I have is grainier- that’s pretty good quality.

 

That dude was in no hurry at all. If that saw is like my friend's portable battery operated band saw it is surprisingly quiet too. Much quieter than the reciprocating saws-all.

 

That’s absolutely infuriating to watch. I was hoping that car at the 50 second mark was going to pull in and not see his legs sticking out and run them over. Would’ve been awesome!

 

It’s super tough to watch and the scenarios of “what I would have done” never end.

The back door to my business is directly at my drivers side tail light. So opening the door at the right moment would have put me within 6 feet of his ankles. A fantastic target for ruining his day.

Nonetheless, who knows what these guys are willing to do? I do carry, and I consider myself a bigger boy who can handle himself, but in the end, I’m glad I didn’t catch them. It’s just not worth it.

 

I 100% agree with all you said. I carry as well in my personal time, but when I'm at work I don't because I work at a large corporation and well, I won't go into that corporate BS. Anyway, that's where mine got stolen was at my work parking lot.

 

Damn. I put shields on my wife sequoia and my tundra

 

Dude acted like he was working on his own truck....did he only get one side? Looks like only 1 cat

 

Yeah, his whole performance was very amateur.

1. He approached from driver side and took the passenger side rear catalytic converter only.

2. He glanced up upon entry under the truck but still decided to go far-side.

3. He did this all “belly-down” which just seems incredibly uncomfortable.

 

Even my wife said "Why is he on his stomach???"

 

If that's my biggest life problem, I'm pretty doing pretty good..

At least Toyota is paying for my rental/loaner Tacoma.
Just think of all the money I'm saving on gas.....

 

Many years ago, I got a discount on my insurance premium for installing a car alarm. Seems like the insurance companies should offer a discount by now if you have installed a cat shield. Something like, save $5-10 a month with proof of purchase?

 

Got any pics of your setup...

 

I love this!!!! Nice job!
What if I don't have stainless exhaust???

 

Here's a thought. After you install your protection spray everything up real good with wool wax.

 

All of these stories and I made up my mind to buy the MillerCat shields. Just sucks. Sorry man !

 

What made me do it is the lead time for new cats. $500 deductible and wait 200 days for new cats OR $600 for shields and not have to worry. I did the shields.

 

Traveling back home to Texas from a wedding in Wisconsin, I stopped at the half way point in Olathe Kansas for a night of rest at a hotel in a decent neighborhood. I walked up to the hotel lobby door and noticed a no firearms allowed on premises. Being a licensed conceal carry holder, I was hesitant, but I was tired and was feeling like a sinus infection was taking hold (got home and tested positive for the vid), so I got a room anyway. I noticed cameras on the front of the building so I drove through the entire parking lot and noticed cameras on the building in several places, so I parked directly in front of one of the exit doors with a camera pointed directly at my truck. I discretely put my weapon in my luggage and headed to the room. I always try to reposition my truck in a place that I can see it from the hotel room window; this occasion it was not possible, as my room was on the other side of the building. I know I could have been in serious trouble if I was caught with my firearm in the room, but I wasn't about to leave it in the console safe in the truck. I should have heeded to my gut feeling when I first walked up to the lobby. The next morning I packed up, grabbed a couple of bad hotel waffles, checked out and when I fired up the ignition, my gut wrenched (and kinda jumped a little) when I heard the tornado bellowing out from under me. I immediately knew what happened, but turned off the truck and jumped out and took a look under the truck. Both sides of open pipe exposed, gd thieves got all the cats. Reported to the hotel manager, called police. The officer was nice enough and took the report. He told me he wasn't going to check all the other vehicles in the parking lot, but I seen him do so anyway. On his way to the front to check the cameras, he stopped to tell me I was the only one hit during the night, which didn't make me feel any better. I drove next door to the gas station a stones throw away to fill up. Afterwards I stopped back by to check in to make sure the officer had all my info and found him behind the counter with the manager reviewing the security cameras. It was a loud and long 750 mile drive home with plenty of time to think what if this and what if that. The moral of my story is to never stop at a hotel that doesn't allow firearms on the premises and that you cannot see your truck from the room so if you do hear sawing and metal clanking in the middle of the night, you can come out with gun blazing. And, get catalytic converter protectors before it's too late.

Insurance claim made before I even left the parking lot. Called several of the insurance company's "preferred body shops" only to find what I figured was accurate, many body shops either don't do the cats, or if they do them, it's subbed out and adds more down time. I've been told it can be up to a 2.5 month wait for cats. Currently having covid, I'm staying home and not exposing those at the shops that can handle the job. Waiting on insurance to look at my uploaded photos to give me their cash out estimate. Called a muffler shop down the street for a rough estimate and time frame (as well as an estimate to remove the single exhaust out behind the passenger tire to true dual exiting the rear) and was happy with the estimates and the time frame (5 days out for a full day job). I was also told that the stock cats are four, but the O2 sensors are only on the front ones, so I can get by with just two new cats (along with two new sensors and wires). My questions are as follows: is this accurate (in Texas), that I only need two cats? Will it not affect the yearly emissions test? Will only having two cats affect the engine performance?

 

Cats have nothing to do with performance. They are only there to "clean the air". You drove 750mi without them, did it change the performance?

 

A lot of states have passed laws and domestic scrap yards are not buying them. The problem is there are large theft rings that are now shipping cats overseas.

 

That's right and the reason so many get swiped in Texas anywhere near the port. But it's getting worse everywhere.

 

Pictures please.

 

Just ordered a Cat Security shield for my Tundra 5 minutes ago, and I'll be looking at Blanchard's post as an idea for my older 4Runners.

Edit: @blanchard7684 Can you post a pic

 

Does the desert eagle plate cover well? Many others have wings or extensions, does this one cover as well as Talon or Millercat?

 

Is there a shield that covers all the catalytic converters ? Front and back ?

Watching theat video it sure didn't take long to cut the one off. 20 seconds? Wow

 

CAT Security ships fast and are helpful when you need it! If my husband can install them anyone can lol.
Good luck!