Catalytic converter thieving bastards

I made an order for a front and rear set today. I figure they'll eventually find where I hide my ride so the least I can do is try to make it more of a hassle.

 

Aluminum skids most likely?

 

Pretty sure it’s illegal in most states to run without cats. It is in Texas. Would you ever get pulled over for it? I don’t know but it would suck to go get the state inspection done and fail

 

Many states don't have inspections. Those who live there generally know if they need them.

 

i just did the same thing.

 

one was steel one was aluminum. these guys are fearless. they'll make all the noise because they know most of the population on question a thing

 

it is. but we get the ol plug in.. a resistor or 2 and the computers happy. i'd like to not have my truck totaled by cats being stolen. but we'll see what i do.. thieves suck

 

What about the idea of hitting your cats with some brightly colored high-temp paint? I've seen some articles about PDs doing this as a service to the community. One even stenciled the department name onto the cat "**PD". Supposedly, the cats are hard sell if they have paint markings. Seems like a cheap deterrent.

 

Same here…given where I live, it’s OBVIOUS when/if someone is where they aren’t supposed to be….and given the firearm laws in our state, let’s just say odds aren’t in their favor if they get caught and decide to get violent or threatening. Even still, I’d far rather have the plates as a deterrent.

 

Another thread said the thieves aren’t selling locally. They are putting them in containers and shipping overseas. If thats the case, painting them pink or etching them wouldn’t do anything to stop the thieves.

 

I know plates aren’t 100% and more of a deterrent, but I thought most thieves want a quick in and out and wouldn’t take the time to try to cut through a plate. Wouldn’t that also ruin their blade so they couldn’t keep going with it getting a new one?

 

Is there a paint that will withstand the heat?

 

I am assuming you are being sarcastic. I'm sure there are Law enforcement on this board.

So, if I look outside and see someone stealing my cat, can I go out with a firearm and shoot them. I would think not.

 

This new generation of cordless tools is amazing. A 60V Dewalt reciprocating saw with a Diablo carbide tipped blade will eat through a 3/16" mild steel plate AND any part of the truck frame or transmission cross member it's bolted to. 1/4" aluminum will be even easier.

Check out Milwaukee's M18 8" metal cutting circular saw. It's a circular saw that will cut 1/2" steel like it's 1/2" plywood.

I'm sure these protection plates will deter some, but the tools are out there to very easily get past them. Hell, someone could saw your truck frame in half with a little effort if they wanted to.

 

I have converted several vehicles to convertibles with a Sawzall through the a,b,c pillars and a couple minutes, they are certainly impressive.

 

Happy I don't live in a city, though I worry when I do go.

 

Wouldn't it be easier to just quietly walk up, twist the handle and lower their jack? That should keep them there until the EMTs show up.
Granted they don't need a jack on the Tundras.

On a side note, the scrap yards have records of everyone they've bought CATs from for the last X years. What would it take for an enterprising investigator to get that data cross ref it to criminal records. The ones that are still on probation, have their probation officer do a home visit/inspection. Of course for every one that gets taken off the street, there's at least 2 more to take their place.

If these are really getting loaded into sea containers, then organized crime is more than likely involved...

 

I really wish there was a better solution that doesn't reduce payload by 100 lbs and trap transmission heat.

 

my cat shields arrive today front and rear, level of difficulty and installation time ? I was thinking I could use my lift jack to hold in place while I start the bolting down etc and was thinking if I need to to drive the front onto my ramps to give me more room as well ...... any input as i'm looking to either install them tomorrow or Wednesday as I do my 1k oil change and install of the metal filter cap and drain valve

 

I am headed to El Paso Tx in 2 weeks for a bike race, decided to paint them bright yellow, and engraved my last 8 of my VIN into them. Do I think this will rpevent them from being stolen, heck no! Do I hope it will raise a red flag when they try and sell them, or an officer sees them in a pile, and further action can happen, yes.

 

Is this a regional thing? Have only heard of Cat theft on the forum. Never heard of it in person, SC.

 

I'm not too concerned in the city. My trucks in my garage 95% of the time. I'm concerned about leaving it in rural areas when I go fishing or travel.

 

Yeah, it's only in regions where there are criminals

 

Oh, makes sense then that it hasn’t happened to anyone I know South Carolina

 

Do you know this guy?

https://www.postandcourier.com/colu...cle_1c038cf0-2221-11ec-a871-87be51e097b6.html

Since 2019, 1,169 converters were swiped from vehicles under the Richland County Sheriff Department’s jurisdiction,

 

A lot of it go un-reported, it's happening up in Canada too, in some of the least expected towns, they hit a Kia dealership around me bad, took 28 cars' cats but new never reported, I only knew about this because I was at my local exhaust shop and the conversation was brought up.

They are also targeting people who go for activities on Crown lands (land owns by the government, like BLM), they know those folks will be gone for a while and most entrances are on more quiet roads, they just go under and cut them off, movie theaters are also popular now since they know exactly how long you'll be in there for.

 

They do make exhaust paints that claim 2000°

 

Really easy, find a machine shop/welding shop that does tungsten hardfacing on drilling and digging equipment like ditchwitch chains/wheels, horizontal drilling bits, etc. They can simply lay a few beads of hardfacing wire along the pipes where they would be cut. You can also have a muffler shop weld some sawzall blades along the tubes. They are high carbon material that another sawzall blade will not cut. Cheaper than plates and it sounds like plates are getting cut too.

 

I"m also thinking something along these lines. Maybe getting some steel eyelets welded to the cats and some cable that's resistant to saw blades.

 

The eyelets will need to be hardened too.