Somebody Tried To Steal My Catalytic Converter

[tarcone]

I recently heard about this on the news. Thieves are stealing catalytic converters. My FIL borrowed my truck and took it to Kansas City to get some of his stuff from his brother. We went to pick it up from him and give his car back back. He told me the check engine light was on. I got in the truck and it sounded terrible and it was lacking some power. I had driven to Florida before he took my truck. I had changed the air filter in Florida. Im known for not being very mechanical. So Im thinking maybe I put it in wrong. Who knows.
Took the truck to the mechanic and get a call. There was a oxygen sensor that was causing the check engine light. Caused by the thieves trying to get the converter. The thieves were unsuccessful. The mechanic had to weld it back together. $85 later, my truck is back to normal. Stupid thieves.

[JediKooter]

Wonder if these are the same people that hacked into your email?

[Lathum]

I work for a major insurance company and it is becoming very common.

[CAsterling]

When I saw the title of this thread I thought - What a great title that would make for a country song :)

What can I say I have wierd thoughts some days

[spleen1015]

When I saw the title of this thread I thought - What a great title that would make for a country song :)

What can I say I have wierd thoughts some days

:D

[nilodor]

Great country song title!

Why are people stealing catalytic converters? Is it the metal inside of them? Do they have some other weird purpose?

[spleen1015]

Great country song title!

Why are people stealing catalytic converters? Is it the metal inside of them? Do they have some other weird purpose?

Yeah, the metal.

[DanGarion]

It's better than them trying to steal your kidney...

[Rizon]

I work for a major insurance company and it is becoming very common.

Great country song title!

Why are people stealing catalytic converters? Is it the metal inside of them? Do they have some other weird purpose?

It's better than them trying to steal your kidney...

When crackheads ran out of kidneys to steal they moved onto copper wires. Now that every inch of copper wire has been stolen and converted into critty they are after catalytic converters. Peepas depreciate, you know, and have to be replaced every so often.

Next ... stealing dogs and selling them to local Chinese restaurants.

[stevew]

Okay-What came first....people stealing catalytic converters for money, or the media blowing this up so badly that even the laziest thief knows to steal catalytic converters.

I can't wait until some thieves scrap the Statue of Liberty.

[JediKooter]

Looks like from some reading, it take about 10-30 seconds to saw one of them off. However, I have to question the risk/reward ratio. One article I read said that it is because of the precious metals in the converters (rhodium and platinum). They said rhodium sells for over 9K an ounce, however, these thieves are selling the converters for 100-150 a pop. Not sure how much rhodium is in those things, but, sounds like they could ask for a bit more than 100-150 dollars.

[Rizon]

Looks like from some reading, it take about 10-30 seconds to saw one of them off. However, I have to question the risk/reward ratio. One article I read said that it is because of the precious metals in the converters (rhodium and platinum). They said rhodium sells for over 9K an ounce, however, these thieves are selling the converters for 100-150 a pop. Not sure how much rhodium is in those things, but, sounds like they could ask for a bit more than 100-150 dollars.

It happens quite a bit where I live. Thieves will steal these from multiple cars in one neighborhood in broad daylight, then take them down to the local corrupt recycling center. They do the same thing with shopping carts and they're even stealing urns and flower vases from cemeteries. The recycling center doesn't even bat an eye to it.

[JediKooter]

It happens quite a bit where I live. Thieves will steal these from multiple cars in one neighborhood in broad daylight, then take them down to the local corrupt recycling center. They do the same thing with shopping carts and they're even stealing urns and flower vases from cemeteries. The recycling center doesn't even bat an eye to it.

I've heard about the urns and vases, didn't know about the shopping carts. I wonder if that's why I see more and more plastic looking shopping carts than the metal ones nowadays?

[Rizon]

I've heard about the urns and vases, didn't know about the shopping carts. I wonder if that's why I see more and more plastic looking shopping carts than the metal ones nowadays?

Could be. Back when I did a tour of duty with Grocery Outlet, they were being stole and melted down all the time. Those damn things were $200 each.

I noticed Target has all plastic carts now. It's like pushing around a mini Hummer and they're much more fun to ram people with.

[stevew]

I took down this ugly aluminum awning from my side porch and was going to go scrap it. Except that it was maybe worth 60 cents a pound. Not even worth driving it over to the scrapyard. Some junker guy from Craigslist came and got it.

[spleen1015]

Ask Bubs how valuable scrap metal is. :D

[JediKooter]

Could be. Back when I did a tour of duty with Grocery Outlet, they were being stole and melted down all the time. Those damn things were $200 each.

I noticed Target has all plastic carts now. It's like pushing around a mini Hummer and they're much more fun to ram people with.

Where would you get a grocery cart smelter? Yes, those carts are freaking expensive. Way more than I thought they would be.

Oh man, no kidding. They are lightweight enough to get some good speed out of them too.

[Rizon]

Where would you get a grocery cart smelter?

Probably at a grocery cart smelter store.

[JediKooter]

Probably at a grocery cart smelter store.

Ah! The answer was right in front of my face. Rookie move on my part.