Midwestern Members IA, IL, IN , KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI, KS, OK

Catalytic Converter Theft?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-25-2008, 11:49 AM
  #1  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Z Fury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 1,595
Received 10 Likes on 7 Posts

Default Catalytic Converter Theft?

Here's a story for you guys. I'm sitting here at work (east side of Indy)in my office, when one of my accountants comes up to me and asks "Do you have time to look at my Jeep?" Since she's pretty much in tears, I grab my coat, and go look at her Jeep. Just walking up to it, you can see the muffler sitting on the ground. Well, I get under this thing, and the catalytic converter is gone! The thing was cut out (had to be a Sawzaw or something) and everything else was left as-is. The remaining exhaust pipe is in fairly good shape, so rust wasn't the culprit, and the cut lines were far too straight to be anything but cut out.

Is this a wanted item or something? I know replacing them is not cheap, but since Indiana is free of emission testing, why would anyone risk cutting one out of a vehicle in a business parking lot in broad daylight? Thoughts?
Old 01-25-2008, 11:53 AM
  #2  
TECH Regular
iTrader: (5)
 
blackmaro99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yes there have been several series of thefts involving the cats because they fetch $100-$120 on the blackmarket. They are valuable because of some precious metals found inside that can be removed and sold.

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?se...cal&id=5378700
Old 01-25-2008, 12:16 PM
  #3  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (26)
 
Unstang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Waukee, Iowa
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I work in auto insurance claims, this is very common.
Old 01-25-2008, 12:17 PM
  #4  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Z Fury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 1,595
Received 10 Likes on 7 Posts

Default

Unreal... Thanks for the info guys.

Does insurance cover this sort of thing?

Last edited by Z Fury; 01-25-2008 at 12:39 PM.
Old 01-25-2008, 01:48 PM
  #5  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (26)
 
Unstang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Waukee, Iowa
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Z Fury
Does insurance cover this sort of thing?
Yes, if you have full coverage, it is a comprehensive loss.
Old 01-25-2008, 02:06 PM
  #6  
Restricted User
iTrader: (43)
 
NBM2001z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bourbonnais, Illinois
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

It happens a lot. In the city people do it at dealerships - A few people will give you $300 for a few different converters...
Old 01-25-2008, 02:06 PM
  #7  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (2)
 
BBM98C5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Oswego Il
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

People need to be shot!
Old 01-25-2008, 02:54 PM
  #8  
6 & 8 Second Club
 
mrdragster1970's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois, RT 66 dragway area
Posts: 2,284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

.

Big story every so often. Cordless sawzall, and a skinny kid is all they need. I blame the frigging scrapyards for buying them.
I used to get stuff stolen from my company all the time. Always ended up at the scrap place.
Agree^^^ frigging people do need to be shot.

.
Old 01-25-2008, 03:18 PM
  #9  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Z Fury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 1,595
Received 10 Likes on 7 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by mrdragster1970
.

Big story every so often. Cordless sawzall, and a skinny kid is all they need. I blame the frigging scrapyards for buying them.
I used to get stuff stolen from my company all the time. Always ended up at the scrap place.
Agree^^^ frigging people do need to be shot.

.
You'd think the scrapyard would question why Joe Nobody pulls up in his rusty pickup with about 10 catalytic converters. I guess the scrapyard guys want to make their money too, and don't care how they make it. That or these guys know someone on the inside...

Well, they're in for a let-down if they go to all the effort of getting under my Camaro...
Old 01-25-2008, 03:20 PM
  #10  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (8)
 
onyx_rock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fawn Twp, PA
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

go to the parts wanted section on this forum and search out "catalytic", there are 2 or 3 guys paying over 100.00 for them. They are recycling them. I dont know what they fetch from the recyclers but it must be pretty decent money.
Old 01-25-2008, 03:24 PM
  #11  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (4)
 
s346k's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: johnson co.
Posts: 3,433
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

i wish someone would do this to my 00 impala and 03 f-1fitty. the cats are "above threshhold" and causing my f'ing ses light to come on. full of precious metals. any thieves reading this - come get it.
Old 01-25-2008, 03:36 PM
  #12  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (35)
 
Rare99Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mokena, IL
Posts: 380
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

haha I knew there was a reason i don't have cats on any of my cars or my truck
Old 01-25-2008, 03:44 PM
  #13  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (13)
 
quadd2244's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: near rockford
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Theres a link in the parts wanted thread for a guy buying all cats I think you get 145 for a set of our cars off the ls1cars
Old 01-25-2008, 04:25 PM
  #14  
10 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
 
pddye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: brimfield, illinois
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I sold him a couple on this board. My local scrap yard only wanted to give me 5 dollars a piece so I laughed and shouldn't have even let them price them out.
Old 01-25-2008, 05:00 PM
  #15  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Z Fury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 1,595
Received 10 Likes on 7 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by s346k
i wish someone would do this to my 00 impala and 03 f-1fitty. the cats are "above threshhold" and causing my f'ing ses light to come on. full of precious metals. any thieves reading this - come get it.
Come get it. Awesome.
Old 01-25-2008, 07:01 PM
  #16  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (2)
 
can'tfindausername's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Mooresville, IN
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I work at a dealership, and we had an attempted theft. They would've got it had the blade not broke with a half inch left to cut...haha. They also took out the trans lines in the removal
Old 01-25-2008, 07:49 PM
  #17  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (9)
 
sixvi6-camaro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Awesome... Now I have an excuse to tell the neighbors, cops, and anyone else that questions why the car is soo loud. Simply say, "The Catalytic converters were stolen a week ago I'm working on getting new ones but they are soooo expensive it will take me a while to afford new ones"
Old 01-25-2008, 09:18 PM
  #18  
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
need ls1 not wankel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i have heard of people stealing them from the dealerships over the weekend pretty crazy think about it probly x2 cats for car X about 40 cars depending on the size of the dealer yeah... you would think when u take 80+ cats to a scrap yard they would know something was up but they just dont care
Old 01-25-2008, 09:23 PM
  #19  
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
ArrestMeRedZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by s346k
i wish someone would do this to my 00 impala and 03 f-1fitty. the cats are "above threshhold" and causing my f'ing ses light to come on. full of precious metals. any thieves reading this - come get it.
Check if there is an extended warranty on the cats. There are on the F-bodies and it's possible your cars are also covered. Since the cats are emission control parts, EPA really goes after GM if they fail in any numbers at all.
Old 01-25-2008, 09:38 PM
  #20  
'Bird Director
iTrader: (80)
 
y2k_ta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Central Indiana Honors: 4th grade spelling bee contestant
Posts: 12,824
Received 24 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by s346k
i wish someone would do this to my 00 impala and 03 f-1fitty. the cats are "above threshhold" and causing my f'ing ses light to come on. full of precious metals. any people by the name of Scott Robinson reading this - come get it.
Sean, just drive up to my place.......I'll cut them out for you



Quick Reply: Catalytic Converter Theft?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:11 AM.