Plain and simple. Recycling company's need to be held accountable. They need to force anyone turning in material to have a current VIN number and record identification for every one. Otherwise no payment. Nothing wrong with taking a cat in on donation to be recycled cleanly, but if someone wants to sell scrap, then they need to cough up a vin. And if the recycling company's don't want to comply, hit them with e healthy fine.
Sadly it's more complicated than that. I believe there are also foreign actors involved that have their own way of processing the stolen cats out of the country. Cracking down on local salvage yards wouldn't solve the problem as a result.
@@ETCG1 it will make it harder. The typical low life, drugged out thiefs don't have the knowledge or means to ship these things elsewhere. You say it in your video, make it harder for them and the thugs will go elsewhere. If they had half a brain, they would make a living repair cats, not stealing them.
@@flashesbuck the typical low life, drugged out thieves don't have the knowledge of recycling centers. They sell them to someone quickly, who collects them and ships a container full out of the country. It happens with everything, computers, bicycles, stereos.
I agree. Just like how junkyards REQUIRE you to have a legit, current title in hand in your name for that VIN to sell them a junk car carcass. My ex tried to sell his old car with a blown transmission. They would not come pick it up and buy it until he got the title transferred from his mom's name into his and had the title in hand. Very ethical and cat recyclers need to do this too. I absolutely agree. The almighty dollars compels unethical people to do immoral things.
Yeah I agree it’s a two-way street because if the people that buying them know that they’re stolen stop buying them then turning people away the thieves wouldn’t keep on stealing them.
A VIN number stamp isn't gonna accomplish much of anything... You hand a cat over to a metal recycler, they weigh it quick and toss it in a crate with several others that are a couple hours away from being shredded. They could care less what is stamped on it. What automobile manufacturers could do is design converters and install them in a way that makes them quite hard to remove. For example some vehicles already have catalytic converters that are built into the vehicles exhaust manifold(s). Instead of having the cat dangling right out in the open underneath the middle of a vehicle, when the cat is built into the manifold it sits up underneath the hood next to the engine. This means instead of a thief sliding under a car and spending 30 seconds making 2 slices with a sawzall before running off with the cat, they'd have to actually get the hood open and then disassemble the entire front half of the vehicles exhaust system, turning a 30 second job into a 3 hour job. They're looking for a quick easy payday, take the quick and easy part away for them and they're gonna move on to something else.
The tweakers stealing the converters are not shipping them to China! The local scrapyards are the ones buying the stolen merch. They should be forced to verify where tha converter came from or do a max cash payment of $30 like some states are starting to do.
A buddy had 3 stolen in as many months.. He took a cheap motion detection unit mounted it above the converter, and wired it to his horn.. It's gone off twice now, and he still has the latest Catalytic Converter he put on.. Bet the attempted thief soiled himself!!!
Every state needs to increase the penalties/jail time/fines for thieves who get caught doing this and recyclers who get caught accepting stolen property.
I'd like to see cops actively targeting scrap yards. Make them absolutely terrified of so much as having one come through their door without a stack of documentation. Do sting after sting on them. The honest wont have any issues as they'll refuse the stolen goods. Only the shitbags will get hemmed up.
Best way to stop it? Outlaw acceptance for recycling of any catalytic converter not removed by a dealership. That or make the penalty for metal theft death. (I prefer the last one).
Good idea in theory. Except there's going to be underground seedy chop shops ect that don't care about the laws, and will figure out loopholes around the law.
Someone tried to steal mine in broad daylight on a Saturday afternoon, car parked in my driveway. My neighbor just happened to be on the way to his car and scared the guy off. Ran off without his jack. It’s mine now.
I was told, that doing anything that causes more harm to these pricks then my car will result to me seeing jail time. They won't prosecute anyone in California. So they're running a muck
It wasn't a catalytic converter, yet, years ago a friend of mine in town had a problem with a person stealing gasoline out of his truck. My friend got one of those electric cattle fence chargers, along with a pair of handle insulators and the wire. He secured one end of the wire to the frame of his truck, ran a short length of wire from the frame to a pair of handle insulators that allowed the wire to be disconnected. He disconnected his "system" when he had to go somewhere in his truck. Before he went to bed, he plugged that cattle fence charger in. A few days later he saw the person he suspected of stealing the gas from his truck at the grocery store. The guy had burn marks on his fingers. So endeth the lesson.
@@nunyabiznes5792 They fak'd my tundra 2 nights ago and cut the fuel line in the process, sliced couple heat shield and left two broken Sawzall bades underneath my Tundra. $270 towing fee later, it's sitting in front of my house while going back and forth with my insurance. I support shooting these scumbags.
I have a converted shuttle bus, and had mine stolen because it’s high off the ground. After that I installed a BLINK outdoor security camera underneath stuck to the side pointing at my converter. It gives me an alert at any motion detected within that area when I arm it. Since doing this I’ve interrupted THREE attempts! The alert gives me time to run outside, or the TALK function on my camera allows me to talk through my camera telling them they are being recorded and police on way - the reaction by the way is priceless! Cameras aren’t too expensive and even without a plan to save recorded clips, you get real time notifications free. Highly recommend this technique.
I remember a long time ago I had a sudden issue with my vehicle seemed like fuel delivery or tune up related. The mechanic immediately said my catalytic converter was plugged. I doubted it, but he convinced me to cut it out and weld in some straight pipe, for a better sound a more power, so he said. It didn't solve the issue, but I'm sure he took my perfectly good catalytic converter to a junkyard and got some good money for it.
So your mechanic told you to do something that's quite possibly illegal? Some states will fine heavily for no catalytic convertor. What. Slimy mechanic.
@@christopherhendricks4369 Yeah, in retrospect, it was a bad idea, he seemed a bit shade. He probably resold my catalytic converter to someone else or took it for scrap. I would not agree to that now.
Mine was stolen 2 weeks' ago; I'm in Canada. Catalytic converter theft is on the rise all over the place. Thieves were caught on our apartment security cameras; police were contacted/report made, but who knows if the a**hats will be apprehended or not. Thanks for posting this and yes - recycling companies should be held accountable; so should manufacturers - VIN number needs to be on them when they come off the assembly line.
@@candace27co vin number won't help because after the thieves remove the precious metal from the converter, they dispose of the shell on which the vin number is inscribed.
I replaced my girlfriend's Honda Element one with a California compliant Walker converter. I then installed a cat shield on it and had to put some new exhaust and stuff. On my Tundra, it has two cats! So, I got steel and made two steel shields for it to deter thieves from trying. Cat thieves suck so much! Tons of work. The Honda Element was estimated at $5400 for the repair! So, I did it myself for her, and it was about $600 worth of parts, including the cat shield. It should be a felony or hideous punishment to cat thieves that are caught!
My 2007 Honda Element targeted a day ago. I went all creative. Lockable cable skirt around the tires outside. Hid Five loose-lidded jars of ants (which I remove easily) A thick replaceable oil slick under the front end of the car. Invisible thin sheet of nails sharp side up on the pavement. I am in an apartment and have an assigned spot. Not well-lit. Paid $3K for my replacement CC in California.
I'm the crime analyst for the PD in my city, I'm gonna show this video in our TUE morning brief. This is a problem here and these people are bold af. We had a converter stolen from a Honda Element in a grocery parking lot at 2PM. Honda Elements are a pretty common target but there can't be a Tacoma or a Tundra left in this city that still has a catalytic converter.
Dude it's simple, rig up a small pepper spray bottle system with vibrations senor's and boom 💥 all your going to hear is my eyes 👀, my eyes are ❤️🔥 and them screaming really loud that would deter them once word gets out now vehicles are armed with under body protections when parked.
Paint and etching will not work, they take the precious metals out and throw away the casing. Best bet is physical barriers which will add to the time taken to remove it. It won't add much time, but thieves are lazy, unless your cat is particularly valuable. Most Toyota cars put them under the front suspension so it is difficult to get to, and for many that do not such as the trucks and SUVs, you can buy a cat shield plate that bolts on, or the "cat clamp" which is basically plates on each side and a bunch of cables you run parallel to the converter so they have to cut the cables to get it out as well.
Unless you drive a classic car of course. Do you daily drive a 1970s or older vehicle? 🙃 Probably not. It's illegal to remove a cat that was factory equipment.
@@mannys9130 it is not a federal issue. It varies state by state. Some states don't even require emission inspections. Some states if the vehicle is 25 years or older then they don't require it.
I engraved my VIN on mine using a stencil, painted yellow with high temperature paint, then painted the VIN using a stencil and high temperature paint. Now I pray.
Also, if you wrap a tow chain around front and rear neck of converter and use padlocks to lock it through frame holes on both sides, you can use key to take the chain off for servicing… Better than welding cage around it.😬👍🏼
thanks for that tip and will work, my van sits real low to the ground by design,it has ground effects and they come through my neighborhood and took a lot of converters,did not get ours due to height of the vehicle,getting stuck under a van would suck,i'm glad they didnt take mine as my exhaust right now is very quiet,and i like it that way
@@CarlosGonzalez-gm8rh That and it would most likely rattle as you drove down the road cause you could never get it tight enough. Engraved numbers would just be ground off by the thief's too! Acetone would quickly remove any paint you apply too.
@@Seegalgalguntijak you're assuming they get a next try... Dog is oddly suspicious of strangers food if you can believe that. Hopefully I'll notice what's up on CCTV before that.
Nothing a knife can't fix. I always laugh when people rely on dogs as security. Local K9 officer almost died when the officer handler unleashed him on a suspect and the suspect stabbed him multiple times. Had to rush the K9 to the emergency vet, almost didn't make it. Local nonprofit donated K9 stab proof and IIIA vests for the K9 force. Dogs are easily neutralized. Never rely on them for security or self defense.
Install clamps on both sides of the Catalytic converter(s) and make it look like it is an aftermarket that was installed with clamps. Thieves will see the clamps (at a glance) an determine not worth it if it is not OE.
I have been a scrapper as a side job for 20 yrs taking everything from literally the kitchen sink to cars and trucks and scrapping them and you are absolutely correct nobody asks questions they just inspect them at the salvage yard if it's OEM equipment it could net as much as $500 each aftermarket one's are smaller and only net about $5 each of course thats up here in Western Massachusetts
I have a co-worker that ended up getting his catalytic converter stolen office 2010 Jeep Wrangler...... As he and I are welders we did what we do best. He ended up welding barbed wire around his converter and he hasn't had a problem in the 7 years that has been welded to it.... On two occasions, his security cameras at his house have caught people attempt to steal it only to look at it. Have second thoughts and then move on. It's not the best answer, but it's an option that has worked for him.
I feel for anyone who has had their expensive to replace Catalytic converter stolen by low life scumbags. We don't have smog tests here Down Under so thankfully Catalytic converter theft is not really an issue.
People need to make a stand . The law can only protect so much. Neighborhoods should be more united and look out for one another. Set a trap for these thieves.
Another idea I had when we got hit last time with 5 taken was to get some thick steel cable and weld it tight at both sides leaving the center flexible. Think those saws jar your teeth lose with just cutting through pipe. Wait till they try and saw thro steel loose cables. Hope that saw jerks them forward just in time for it to go backwards and finishes the job.
Sawzall blades last way more than just one converter cut off. Have you seen Project Farm's test of the Diablo Sawzall blades?! They'll cut right through that cable in 2 minutes and then the cat in another 45 seconds. Gone. They'll grind the cables off at their garage and sell it like any other converter. You need hardened steel, AR500 or AR600. That's wayyyyyyyy harder to cut through and it will ruin a standard blade very quickly.
@@quincyq7420 2 minutes isn't worth the effort. That's still worth a few hundred to the thief. 10 minutes? Now THAT will make the thief keep on walking.
I had mine stolen on Sunday, cost me £1100 to replace., Thieves stole it in 35 seconds off my BMW 320i Convertible. Mechanic said they are less likely to steal the aftermarket one they've put on as a replacement. What a ball breaker. Horrible theives, deserve to be jailed long term. Ruined Christmas. Long story short: I agree with you.
Simply mount a H Freight ($15.00) "drivewary alarm" on either (or both) your drive way (pointing at the car) AND one mounted UNDER your car (pointed down). These are simple, cheap, & self contained motion detectors. They will set off an audible alarm wherever you keep the base unit (in your house OR the car). Pets or animals might set off some false alarms sometimes, but (if you can live with that) it might be worth the "creative engineering". Another possibility is that you might be able to attach some sort of (heat resistant) vibration activated sensor to it. When the key is off, if a certain amount of vibration occurs on the converter, a LOUD alarm goes off??? Just a thought.
@@ray34O better question is “In Texas are you prepared to be shot over stealing a catalytic converter?” It’s the criminals decision if they want to be shot or not. No one is forcing them to do anything, except accept the consequences of their actions.
One thing I wondered about would be preparing a parking space with a raised area in the middle, leaving only a few inches' clearance between the bump and the catalytic convertor. You'd have to be a bit more careful when parking, but if you own a driveway or parking space, perhaps adding a 2-3 inch high rectangular slab would be possible. With my replacement Prius -- the first one had its convertor stolen, but at least it had 340,000 miles on it -- I had a shield attached, and I'm also backing into my sloping driveway, so it's not as easy to get underneath it. Oh, and the new one happens to be a Touring Edition, which seems to have a couple inches less clearance than the regular version.
I do car recycling so i go through a lot of cats. And #3 option is VERY good because aftermarket cats are only recyclable for 20-60$ depending on size. Where as the OEM ones can be 40-1800. When my brother bought his prius the very first thing we did when we got home was order a aftermarket for 100$ and go to a muffler shop and have them replace it. Get to it before they do lol.
3 very good tips Eric, I personally would go down the Kevin McCallister route and rig pressure plates just under the car so if someone get under it, they set off a little charge of high visibility paint or something that won't wash off that easy and boom 😀
Hmm wonder if those exploding dye packs are avaliable to public...oh here in calif yea new cats have a serial num om them...yea for price we pay here three times or more what rest of country pays....and before someome says its a politacal party ...no...both run government remember that just diffearant names
Weld a cage, but use a hollow metal tube on part of the cage so that it can be filled with a few ounces of gasoline or your favorite flammable liquid, then cap off the end. Now once the cutting sparks fly, and the fuel air mix is just right it will ignite and spill on to their clothing. When you hear screaming, just sit back and enjoy the show. Oh dont forget to video it. :)
I thought about it, and what you said about thieves not stealing aftermarket converters makes more sense when you think about straight/test pipes. A lot of people with shiny stainless steel under their car have usually replaced their catalytic converters with a test pipe to get more fast and furious. Maybe when they don't see a brown, thick piece of metal underneath they just figure its not worth the trouble of accidentally cutting out 10 dollars of steel.
I picked up an old guy hitch hiking last month, he was on his way to get his Honda car after a new catalytic converter was installed, $ 2500. His was stolen.
OEM converters are frickin insane. Had mine recently replaced. Cost me just shy of $1000 and an aftermarket where only bout $200-$500. So I'm sooooo glad my area don't have many people stealing those darn things.
I know a guy who was living in his Honda Element and had some d-bag actually cut his cat off while he was inside. He heard a loud vibrating sound and opened his door to find the guy underneath his car with a sawzall. Crazy !
@@NYPATRIOTBX -- He certainly should have but apparently he was sound asleep when all this started and was a bit dazed and confused as to what was actually going on. As the story goes, when he opened his side door and saw the guys legs under his truck slid out from underneath and just sort of looked at each other for a few moments. The vehicle owner said "WTF man..." and the guy said nothing and just casually walked away got in his car and sped off. He took note of his plate number but the car was stolen anyway and nothing further came of it. Personally, I think a good beat down was called for.... but that's just me ;-)
This is a GOOD video. Funny enough I own a 2003 pilot myself. I install automotive security. I've adapted an impact sensor on my exhaust to detect the vibration of Sawzall. Mine still has the oem cat. But it's never parked outside overnight anywhere. And second to your video I have a mechanic friend who will tell any customer that's had his oem cat stolen get a cheap aftermarket one put on, he says you will likely have to replace it every 2 yrs. But still cheaper than losing an expensive oem cat each time.
Vibration alarms work really well too. If your car starts making extremely loud noises all while they focus on cutting the catalytic converter, it will draw attention to them, potentially getting them caught in the act which is their biggest fear.
I just got mine stolen off my 2007 Element. Any suggestions on a Cat cover to replace it. Also any insurance companies covering it? I have Amica and they are denying my request for a Cat steel cover to prevent future theft.
Cool video, actually I did this to my old Prius , put in an aftermarket Converter and am keeping the Original one in my place . Now when it is about time to get the next smog certification 2023 for me, I will then install the original one and get the smog check. Hopefully by 2023 this horrible situation is being resolver by our Incompetent Authorities. They should give them lifetime jail to those losers who are doing this.
A tip that just came to me regarding after-market converters... Inscribe the phrase "You're being watched" on the casing of the after-market converter to help deter converter thieves.
The thieves usually remove the shell and remove the ceramic biscuit from the CC before they sell the biscuit to a recycler. So, marking the shell only helps if they get caught before they remove the shell to retrieve the biscuit.
Wrapping the cat in steel cable with the cable also looped through some holes in the frame works pretty good. It's a nice compromise between ease of installation, cost and ease of repair. Steel cable is very hard to cut through as it wiggles around with the saw blade. It should easily be enough to make a thief move on.
@@ecomotive6158 thanks how much would it run and can u tell me how to secure the cable and your idea of how to utilize the cable to secure my cat on my accord
@@ebsa123123 Some stores will sell cable by the foot and others are in packages of a fixed length. About 6ft of 1/4" cable should be plenty and I'd be surprised if it was more than $1 per foot. I'm not sure about an Accord because they're unibody vehicles. I wrapped the cat on my truck where there was an actual frame with holes already in it. On your car you might have to look around for a subframe or something else solid that you can wrap the cable around. You may have to drill some holes. One hole near each end of the cat should be enough. Be careful that you aren't interfering with the suspension or steering movement. Then just wrap up your cat a few times in the cable while making a couple of passes up througj your hole and back. The cable going between should be taught but not super tight. Give the cable a wrap around the smaller diameter exhaust on each end too. Just as long as it's a tangly mess for someone to try to pull the cat out from. If I was a thief I would move on to another car as soon as I saw it. When you're done wrapping, bundle up the two ends of the cable and clamp them together. You should find the clamps right next to the cable. They look like U-bolts and you buy one for the same size cable that you used. If you can, tuck the clamped bundle up out of sight somewhere and you're done. It's actually kind of easy to defeat if you're prepared and have some time to spare but it should keep back most thieves.
I like the Rebar option. Instead of welding it to afix to the car, attach it with a variety of specialty fasteners. Torx, Metric, SAE, Allen, etc. Be a pain to remove lying under the car, but your mechanic properly informed and possibly provided with the special sockets, etc will result in you paying a little more labor If you even have to have it replaced. I had 180k miles on a Toyota Sienna and the cat never came up for repair. In fact nothing but maintenance on that one.
That's brilliant, switching up the fasteners. Even on the chance that a thief happens to have one or even two of the bits as well as a tool to remove them, they're likely going to pass on it as it'll be too much headache and too much time under the vehicle.
Maybe I misuderstood...So, remove a perfectly good OE converter, replace it with a junk (arguably) aftermarket converter, turn in your perfectly good OE converter for core/scrap just so your perfectly good OE converter doesn't get stolen? Sorry, but that just makes no sense to me. What happens in a year (or sometimes less) when the MIL comes on for a cat efficiency code because the aftermarket cat was garbage (as most of them are?) I don't know what the solution is to this issue but that option doesn't seem very good to me.
Because a good aftermarket CAT might contain less materials, so it doesn't last for 100.000 miles, but maybe for 55.000 miles. Replacing that once in 3 years beats replacing it every 6 months because it gets stolen. Depending on how much you drive.
In the Subaru community we consider installing an aftermarket high flow cat to be a free upgrade lol. I sold my OEM downpipe with 2 cats (some of the most valuable on the market) for the equivalent of buying a downpipe with high flow cats and an Accessport to tune the car.
I wonder if some kind of "dye pack" could be installed in order to identify, and deter a thief from even attempting to steal the converter? Just a thought.
Your idea reminds me of what I did back in the 70s when 4 speed transmissions were being stolen. I switched out all the mounting bolts on my 1966 Shelby 4 speed for Allen head cap screws. Thief is going to dive under armed with the normal wrenches, not a big Allen wrench. Same idea, make it just difficult enough they will move on.
The Toyota Prius is one of the prime targets for converter theft despite it being low to the ground. There's a perception that the materials are less "corroded" on hybrids thus more valuble.
In a span of 1 year, 3 catalytic converters got stolen from my Honda Element in a decent neighborhood in Portland, OR. The second and third catalytic converters were aftermarkets and clearly had no effect on theft deterrence. Thieves who steal them are obviously not the brightest.
Great advice Eric!!! If someone is determined enough, they will get what they want at any cost. Just stay safe, and maybe add a motion sensor alarm on the vehicle that also has an electric charge to zap the criminal and also hidden cameras that are motion activated to get a great picture of the would be thief!!! Being creative is the key, just smarter than the average thief!!!
What will happen is he gets tazed, then the cell linked alarm trips and dials my cell. Then he gets shot for "assault with a sawzall". Presto. One dead criminal meat-sack. Problem solved.
If the Cat -Converter was Wired to a 24 Volt Source like some Personal Armored Vehicles that can Shock anyone who tried to Yank on the Door Handle, it might Short-out the Sawzall or Cutting Tool, Hopefully the Thief most likely wouldn't get ZAPPED Sawzalls and Cutting Tool Bodies are sometimes Covered in Non-conductive Material 🙃🤭😬
Consider this innovative proposal: What if we took decisive action against catalytic converter thieves, as well as other criminals like carjackers armed with guns or knives, by ensuring they face appropriate consequences? Catalytic converter thieves could be sentenced to a minimum of 3 years, while those resorting to firearms or other weapons during carjackings could face a minimum of 15 years. It prompts us to ponder the notion of a civilized society, an idea that seems increasingly unfamiliar. How swiftly and profoundly has our society descended into a realm where we find ourselves allocating significant resources to safeguard our fundamental human rights-such as the peaceful coexistence and ownership of vehicles and businesses-rather than addressing the root issue of criminal behavior.
According to a local Chevy dealer, my daughter's 2017 Chevy Tahoe needs a new catalytic converter, price,$1900.00. I just checked and theft of a converter is covered by comprehensive insurance. Parked in the right place, it's bound to be stolen, no need to jack it up.
Hey Eric! Here's an idea you might want to try and even patent. If successful it could be francized to dealerships, repair shops, and muffler shops. My idea is to clamp a loose-fitting ring around the exhaust pipe where the thief would normally cut the exhaust pipe. A hand-held or pneumatic clamping tool could be used. The idea behind the loose rig is, when you try to saw thru the ring it spins on the exhaust pipe so the sawblade can't cut into it. Not being a mechanic, I'm not sure how this could be adapted to all cars. As for me, I'm going to engrave my VIN on mine and paint it red with high heat brake caliper paint I have laying around.
I recently learned of a mechanic who admitted he had so many catalytic converters he was able to buy a nice RV with the profits. Thought it was very weird. He boosted about it. Of course at the time he was working on our SUV. So had me very worried. He actually said you can take one, put something in place and no one knows until servicing. Not sure what that is but never again will I go there! All my vehicles now have sensor alarms on them. And of course I carry.
Good video Eric. May I suggest a car alarm or a tracker that sends an alert to your cell phone if someone is tampering with your car? I searched "car alarm with phone alert" and many options came up. Some for less than fifty bucks.
Very good and informative video. Since it was the Feds’ legislation that mandated catalytic converters in the first place, they need a new initiative and legislation to change how they are made. It’s time for new technology that doesn’t require “precious metals” that are highly coveted.
I know this doesn't help most people ..BUT my Chevy p/u Cat was taken last year from my yard...I didn't replace it ..I took it to my muffler shop & they welded a pipe in it's place ..I live in Arizona so they don't check under the vehicle at the inspection station here...
That is so true. My "after market" makes my check engine light stay on. I was told by the mechanic that is one of the downfalls of them. They work but not at the full compassity of a known brand one. Didn't know it was an aftermarket as I was price conscious & just had to have one.
My muffler mechanic said to go to a marine shop (am on the east coast) and get a piece of marine board and shape and bolt it under the car. Kind of like an after market shroud.
We had a prius come to our shop that had cat stolen, owners didn't even known when it had been taken because they had been only using electricity. Cold weather and putting on heater caused engine to start and then they noticed...
Didn't use the AC either? My understanding was that the plug-in hybrids have electric compressors, but they draw a big load in addition to the drive motor so the engine will run to add range or extra juice intermittently. Could be wrong. Teslas run their electric AC compressor off the battery just fine. 🤷🏻♂️ Idk.
I replaced mine with CARB Magnaflow cat. Still got stolen in front of C.Fillet early in the morning in Buena Park,so I replaced it at the muffler shop for$600 this time it was welded in the muffler and manifold.So far it is been 5 years and it is still there.
Are use a remote control vibration alarm which is waterproof… Change the batteries once a year. Mounted in a dry place on the frame near the converter as soon as they touch the saw button, it goes off at 120 dB with four different chimes like a car alarm!
1. Cut it off cleanly yourself. 2. Make a test pipe. 3. Make adapters to put cat on to pass emissions test. 4. Remove cat install test pipe until next year.
Sometimes I think maybe the best way is beat them to it and take your original cat off and cash it in, then replace it with a cheaper aftermarket unit if that's suitable for the car you have.. I just watched the rest of the video and saw you have the same idea haha!
The uptown shop wanted $1400 for replacing my toyota prius converter. Got mine on ebay for less than $150. works fine for last 2 years. seasoned thieves don't want the aftermkt, You are correct and i have an inner peace not having to worry. Good video, thanks.
The shopping center I work out of leases part of the parking lot for car dealership 'overflow'. You guessed it! In one night they had about 75 cars jacked and hacked. When you have one sleepy security guard, Anything can and will likely happen. The guys at the local parts houses where telling me about the after shocks. The dealership (Kia and Hyundai) where calling every auto parts store they could think of in order to order in the replacement converters. Seems they didn't want to go 'OEM' themselves? I'd love to kick some of these so called "Prosecutor's" in their happy sack for not taking any real action. They look over the police report and rarely does anything happen. We've several recycling shops that purchase converters... And it doesn't occur to them that a 'brand new' converter might be *gasp* stolen?? Someone had to cart in about 75 new and shiny converters that day!! And nothing was said or done.
@@budsodastoriesI read the story about the dishonest scrap dealer, his business was burned down along with his cars and trucks. His insurance only covered so much, could not get back into business and his partners in crime moved on. Karma is a real bitch. Same thing should happen to the rest of them....
I had a lowered honda prelude with an alarm system that was parked in my driveway in a gated community. Thefts managed to get my entire exhaust from the headers back. I had a welded on expensive hks aftermarket exhaust. The car was low man, i have no idea how they did it and the alpine alarm never went off. So much for alarm systems and gated community.
Good video . The reason for bright paint is that if the police see that at a shop or wherever, they will automatically take it. So no one will buy a painted Converter simply because the shop or whoever will loose the part and the cash they paid for the part. So yes, paint and put the markings on.
I always carry a box of them in the back of the truck so they don't steal them. I have a sign that says "only take 1 per thief" Thank you. Less work for em.
After i sent a friend your installed shield video, he came up with a homebrew solution. A curved plate of stainless steel with tool steel rods welded on the inside. I'm actually thinking about installing one myself.
In the UK this crime is so common that many people with sports/SUVs, resort to removing the cat and use a straight connection in its place. Only replacing it for the annual vehicle test. Only last week a married couple were charged for having a 20foot shipping container full of cats ready to ship into Europe, breakers yards are more controlled in the UK, that's not to say they are all whiter than white.
Using a straight connection is a good idea only problem is you have to be able to keep the ECM or PCM from throwing a catalytic code that puts the car into limp mode and seriously kills your gas mileage and I don’t know what the laws are in Europe but here in America we have a federal law that says tampering with a vehicles emission system is a 10,000 to 50,000 dollar fine for each occurrence and it can even land you in federal prison
Thanks for mentioning that higher vehicles are generally more vulnerable because they won't necessarily have to be jacked up to access the converter. I have an Audi TT that I assume is low enough that it would have to be lifted so I'm glad this makes it less of a target. If manufacturers want to help, they could design new vehicles to directly interfere with easy removal while still allowing adequate cooling, since they seem to have no difficulty making all manner of thing under the hood quite difficult to access. I suppose it's too much to ask that expensive vehicles have suspensions that can lower the vehicle while parked to reduce access, and such a vehicle can still be jacked up. But aside from the extra difficulty and time that the jacking introduces, I'd think it would be easy to build an alarm system that can sense jacking. If your car is close enough to where you are to use Bluetooth communication, it could even notify you directly in addition to sounding the horn. And the BT communication could have its own battery so it would work even if the thieves disabled the horn or interfered with the cars own battery. And to make jacking more difficult, parking on a pitched surface might help. If either your driveway or street are more pitched than the other, you could choose to park on the steeper one to make jacking more difficult.
Plain and simple. Recycling company's need to be held accountable. They need to force anyone turning in material to have a current VIN number and record identification for every one. Otherwise no payment.
Nothing wrong with taking a cat in on donation to be recycled cleanly, but if someone wants to sell scrap, then they need to cough up a vin.
And if the recycling company's don't want to comply, hit them with e healthy fine.
Sadly it's more complicated than that. I believe there are also foreign actors involved that have their own way of processing the stolen cats out of the country. Cracking down on local salvage yards wouldn't solve the problem as a result.
@@ETCG1 it will make it harder. The typical low life, drugged out thiefs don't have the knowledge or means to ship these things elsewhere. You say it in your video, make it harder for them and the thugs will go elsewhere.
If they had half a brain, they would make a living repair cats, not stealing them.
@@flashesbuck In my 50 years on this planet I can say with complete confidence, life is not fair. Thanks for your comments.
@@flashesbuck the typical low life, drugged out thieves don't have the knowledge of recycling centers. They sell them to someone quickly, who collects them and ships a container full out of the country. It happens with everything, computers, bicycles, stereos.
I agree. Just like how junkyards REQUIRE you to have a legit, current title in hand in your name for that VIN to sell them a junk car carcass. My ex tried to sell his old car with a blown transmission. They would not come pick it up and buy it until he got the title transferred from his mom's name into his and had the title in hand. Very ethical and cat recyclers need to do this too. I absolutely agree. The almighty dollars compels unethical people to do immoral things.
First I've rarely seen a converter thief caught. The guys buying these things should be prosecuted. It's just enabling the thieves.
Are you a police officer?
@@sephiroth7818 already have had mine stolen.
@@ls66 I ready the original comment wrong
Yeah I agree it’s a two-way street because if the people that buying them know that they’re stolen stop buying them then turning people away the thieves wouldn’t keep on stealing them.
@@ls66 oh dang that sucks car do you have?
Option 4. Manufacturers need to start stamping VIN numbers on an inaccessible area of the converters so they can easily be tracked.
A VIN number stamp isn't gonna accomplish much of anything... You hand a cat over to a metal recycler, they weigh it quick and toss it in a crate with several others that are a couple hours away from being shredded. They could care less what is stamped on it.
What automobile manufacturers could do is design converters and install them in a way that makes them quite hard to remove. For example some vehicles already have catalytic converters that are built into the vehicles exhaust manifold(s). Instead of having the cat dangling right out in the open underneath the middle of a vehicle, when the cat is built into the manifold it sits up underneath the hood next to the engine.
This means instead of a thief sliding under a car and spending 30 seconds making 2 slices with a sawzall before running off with the cat, they'd have to actually get the hood open and then disassemble the entire front half of the vehicles exhaust system, turning a 30 second job into a 3 hour job. They're looking for a quick easy payday, take the quick and easy part away for them and they're gonna move on to something else.
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 agree
@@21Million for $699 they will, Oh wait that is for window tinting .
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 You Pass a LAW just like pawn shops where they have to take down your license info. It's quick and easy
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 like was done with hubcaps
Also the companies buying these converters should be held accountable as well.
U mean the ones in China?...good luck
The tweakers stealing the converters are not shipping them to China! The local scrapyards are the ones buying the stolen merch. They should be forced to verify where tha converter came from or do a max cash payment of $30 like some states are starting to do.
@@johnruiz6743 Naw they're going to Mexico.
@@johnruiz6743car makers need to place these in a hard to get spot..
A buddy had 3 stolen in as many months.. He took a cheap motion detection unit mounted it above the converter, and wired it to his horn.. It's gone off twice now, and he still has the latest Catalytic Converter he put on.. Bet the attempted thief soiled himself!!!
Id love to know what area he was in during the thefts.
That's brilliant.
Bet he has fun driving anywhere with his horn continuously going
@@highlandrab19 he probably has a switch he can arm when he parks the car
I can see that only slowing down 10% of the people.
Every state needs to increase the penalties/jail time/fines for thieves who get caught doing this and recyclers who get caught accepting stolen property.
I'd like to see cops actively targeting scrap yards. Make them absolutely terrified of so much as having one come through their door without a stack of documentation. Do sting after sting on them. The honest wont have any issues as they'll refuse the stolen goods. Only the shitbags will get hemmed up.
Every state needs to enact right to repair laws so that you can legally fix your vehicle.
California welcomes, protects, and enables crime at all levels.
Best way to stop it? Outlaw acceptance for recycling of any catalytic converter not removed by a dealership. That or make the penalty for metal theft death. (I prefer the last one).
People who commit crimes expect not to be caught so the penalty is not a deterrent.
That's putting the cart before the horse. It's already illegal to steal a cat and damage property in the process. Start there.
Good idea in theory. Except there's going to be underground seedy chop shops ect that don't care about the laws, and will figure out loopholes around the law.
@@bradkay4794 If you chop off parts if you are caught like they do elsewhere it would be.
Just what we need more laws n government
Someone tried to steal mine in broad daylight on a Saturday afternoon, car parked in my driveway. My neighbor just happened to be on the way to his car and scared the guy off. Ran off without his jack. It’s mine now.
Perhaps we should punish thieves as they do in some eastern countries; Can't imagine a one-handed thief doing very well.
Yessss
I was told, that doing anything that causes more harm to these pricks then my car will result to me seeing jail time. They won't prosecute anyone in California. So they're running a muck
🏆🥇 best comment award
It wasn't a catalytic converter, yet, years ago a friend of mine in town had a problem with a person stealing gasoline out of his truck. My friend got one of those electric cattle fence chargers, along with a pair of handle insulators and the wire. He secured one end of the wire to the frame of his truck, ran a short length of wire from the frame to a pair of handle insulators that allowed the wire to be disconnected. He disconnected his "system" when he had to go somewhere in his truck. Before he went to bed, he plugged that cattle fence charger in. A few days later he saw the person he suspected of stealing the gas from his truck at the grocery store. The guy had burn marks on his fingers. So endeth the lesson.
I protect my catalytic converters with several high velocity projectile emitting devices.
Not possible unless you live 23/7 in your car.
It happens so fast.
@@hamzterix oh ya, I sleep in my van so I'm in it 24/7 and my cat is way to difficult to get out that fast
@@nunyabiznes5792 then yeah, no chance
@@nunyabiznes5792 They fak'd my tundra 2 nights ago and cut the fuel line in the process, sliced couple heat shield and left two broken Sawzall bades underneath my Tundra. $270 towing fee later, it's sitting in front of my house while going back and forth with my insurance. I support shooting these scumbags.
@@hamzterix holy shit $270 tow bill. WTF that's ridiculous.
I have a converted shuttle bus, and had mine stolen because it’s high off the ground. After that I installed a BLINK outdoor security camera underneath stuck to the side pointing at my converter. It gives me an alert at any motion detected within that area when I arm it. Since doing this I’ve interrupted THREE attempts! The alert gives me time to run outside, or the TALK function on my camera allows me to talk through my camera telling them they are being recorded and police on way - the reaction by the way is priceless! Cameras aren’t too expensive and even without a plan to save recorded clips, you get real time notifications free. Highly recommend this technique.
Just happened to my mothers car, this is just so frustrating these thiefs need to be prosecuted
The government should pay for this damage, they are the ones requiring catalytic converters.
I remember a long time ago I had a sudden issue with my vehicle seemed like fuel delivery or tune up related. The mechanic immediately said my catalytic converter was plugged. I doubted it, but he convinced me to cut it out and weld in some straight pipe, for a better sound a more power, so he said. It didn't solve the issue, but I'm sure he took my perfectly good catalytic converter to a junkyard and got some good money for it.
So your mechanic told you to do something that's quite possibly illegal? Some states will fine heavily for no catalytic convertor. What. Slimy mechanic.
A plugged catalytic converter does put chevy cars and trucks into de-rate mode.
@@christopherhendricks4369 Yeah, in retrospect, it was a bad idea, he seemed a bit shade. He probably resold my catalytic converter to someone else or took it for scrap. I would not agree to that now.
Wow, what a crook!
You should have asked him for your old " plugged" cat back! 💯 percent CROOK
@@WestCoastUSA546 Yes, I agree, in retrospect that all makes sense. Oh well, live and learn!
Mine was stolen 2 weeks' ago; I'm in Canada. Catalytic converter theft is on the rise all over the place. Thieves were caught on our apartment security cameras; police were contacted/report made, but who knows if the a**hats will be apprehended or not. Thanks for posting this and yes - recycling companies should be held accountable; so should manufacturers - VIN number needs to be on them when they come off the assembly line.
Exactly 💯
@@candace27co vin number won't help because after the thieves remove the precious metal from the converter, they dispose of the shell on which the vin number is inscribed.
I replaced my girlfriend's Honda Element one with a California compliant Walker converter. I then installed a cat shield on it and had to put some new exhaust and stuff. On my Tundra, it has two cats! So, I got steel and made two steel shields for it to deter thieves from trying.
Cat thieves suck so much! Tons of work. The Honda Element was estimated at $5400 for the repair! So, I did it myself for her, and it was about $600 worth of parts, including the cat shield. It should be a felony or hideous punishment to cat thieves that are caught!
They got my Element too brother.
yeah like a 12 gauge at close range, then drive over them with a bull dozer to put them out of their drug addict misery. Bird food. Maggot pie.
Jesus Christ!
They got my Element last friday. My quote was almost the same 5300.00
My 2007 Honda Element targeted a day ago. I went all creative. Lockable cable skirt around the tires outside. Hid Five loose-lidded jars of ants (which I remove easily) A thick replaceable oil slick under the front end of the car. Invisible thin sheet of nails sharp side up on the pavement. I am in an apartment and have an assigned spot. Not well-lit. Paid $3K for my replacement CC in California.
I'm the crime analyst for the PD in my city, I'm gonna show this video in our TUE morning brief. This is a problem here and these people are bold af. We had a converter stolen from a Honda Element in a grocery parking lot at 2PM. Honda Elements are a pretty common target but there can't be a Tacoma or a Tundra left in this city that still has a catalytic converter.
Wow, I just had my Honda element's Cat stolen today. That's why I am here for this video. Maybe that was why mine was stolen and not my neighbors.
Dude it's simple, rig up a small pepper spray bottle system with vibrations senor's and boom 💥 all your going to hear is my eyes 👀, my eyes are ❤️🔥 and them screaming really loud that would deter them once word gets out now vehicles are armed with under body protections when parked.
My friend has a Honda Element & recently had her cat stolen. I heard it’s common with Impalas as well at least where I live
Paint and etching will not work, they take the precious metals out and throw away the casing. Best bet is physical barriers which will add to the time taken to remove it. It won't add much time, but thieves are lazy, unless your cat is particularly valuable. Most Toyota cars put them under the front suspension so it is difficult to get to, and for many that do not such as the trucks and SUVs, you can buy a cat shield plate that bolts on, or the "cat clamp" which is basically plates on each side and a bunch of cables you run parallel to the converter so they have to cut the cables to get it out as well.
would love a DIY complication where viewers submit their cages or homemade cages and you analyze it
Can't steal my converter If I don't run one!
smell you later
That's illegal on a federal level in the US. It's also immoral.
Unless you drive a classic car of course. Do you daily drive a 1970s or older vehicle? 🙃 Probably not. It's illegal to remove a cat that was factory equipment.
@@mannys9130 maybe they should do more to stop theft if they actually care that much
@@mannys9130 it is not a federal issue. It varies state by state. Some states don't even require emission inspections. Some states if the vehicle is 25 years or older then they don't require it.
I engraved my VIN on mine using a stencil, painted yellow with high temperature paint, then painted the VIN using a stencil and high temperature paint. Now I pray.
My option is to just removed the damned thing and put it in a safety deposit box in the bank. I might make some interest on it.
Or weld a safety deposit box to the car with the cat inside it. 😂 sorry, I could not resist.
😂
Lol
Also, if you wrap a tow chain around front and rear neck of converter and use padlocks to lock it through frame holes on both sides, you can use key to take the chain off for servicing… Better than welding cage around it.😬👍🏼
thanks for that tip and will work, my van sits real low to the ground by design,it has ground effects and they come through my neighborhood and took a lot of converters,did not get ours due to height of the vehicle,getting stuck under a van would suck,i'm glad they didnt take mine as my exhaust right now is very quiet,and i like it that way
That's actually a good idea! 👍
if they can cut the CC out with a metal cutter, then they can cut the tow chain too.
Won’t tow chain come off when cut ?
@@CarlosGonzalez-gm8rh That and it would most likely rattle as you drove down the road cause you could never get it tight enough. Engraved numbers would just be ground off by the thief's too! Acetone would quickly remove any paint you apply too.
100+lb Akita sits under my truck..big surprise for any catalytic thieves.
Next try, they bring a raw steak and maybe even have it infused with tranquilizer before...
@@Seegalgalguntijak you're assuming they get a next try... Dog is oddly suspicious of strangers food if you can believe that. Hopefully I'll notice what's up on CCTV before that.
@@xephael3485 If it were me coming by, I'd be more interested in playing with your dog, don't care about your cat it can stay where it is.
Nothing a knife can't fix. I always laugh when people rely on dogs as security. Local K9 officer almost died when the officer handler unleashed him on a suspect and the suspect stabbed him multiple times. Had to rush the K9 to the emergency vet, almost didn't make it. Local nonprofit donated K9 stab proof and IIIA vests for the K9 force. Dogs are easily neutralized. Never rely on them for security or self defense.
@@mannys9130 you're easily neutralized as well...
Install clamps on both sides of the Catalytic converter(s) and make it look like it is an aftermarket that was installed with clamps. Thieves will see the clamps (at a glance) an determine not worth it if it is not OE.
I have been a scrapper as a side job for 20 yrs taking everything from literally the kitchen sink to cars and trucks and scrapping them and you are absolutely correct nobody asks questions they just inspect them at the salvage yard if it's OEM equipment it could net as much as $500 each aftermarket one's are smaller and only net about $5 each of course thats up here in Western Massachusetts
Only $500? They have been up around $1200 for some wjere I I atleast
Not in my part of Massachusetts
@Adam Joseph do you not read before you type? I have a job I Scrap as a hobby or do you comment random stuff to be a prick?
@@jaredlyons3453 ppl like him and all these ones leaving stupid comments they just don't know any better
I have a co-worker that ended up getting his catalytic converter stolen office 2010 Jeep Wrangler...... As he and I are welders we did what we do best. He ended up welding barbed wire around his converter and he hasn't had a problem in the 7 years that has been welded to it.... On two occasions, his security cameras at his house have caught people attempt to steal it only to look at it. Have second thoughts and then move on. It's not the best answer, but it's an option that has worked for him.
I feel for anyone who has had their expensive to replace Catalytic converter stolen by low life scumbags. We don't have smog tests here Down Under so thankfully Catalytic converter theft is not really an issue.
So why bring it up?
New vehicles don't run properly without the cat! They are usually sold for drug money.
@@dogsense3773 Because many assume the cc MUST be replaced. A section of exhaust pipe can be installed in its place in most. $80 vs $1500.
People need to make a stand . The law can only protect so much. Neighborhoods should be more united and look out for one another. Set a trap for these thieves.
Unfortunately, booby traps are illegal. Common law sucks
Another idea I had when we got hit last time with 5 taken was to get some thick steel cable and weld it tight at both sides leaving the center flexible. Think those saws jar your teeth lose with just cutting through pipe. Wait till they try and saw thro steel loose cables. Hope that saw jerks them forward just in time for it to go backwards and finishes the job.
I like the cable idea.. Hopefully they dont have a grinder also.
Sawzall blades last way more than just one converter cut off. Have you seen Project Farm's test of the Diablo Sawzall blades?! They'll cut right through that cable in 2 minutes and then the cat in another 45 seconds. Gone. They'll grind the cables off at their garage and sell it like any other converter. You need hardened steel, AR500 or AR600. That's wayyyyyyyy harder to cut through and it will ruin a standard blade very quickly.
@@mannys9130 2 minute slow down? That's pretty good if you find the cable cheap enough
@@quincyq7420 2 minutes isn't worth the effort. That's still worth a few hundred to the thief. 10 minutes? Now THAT will make the thief keep on walking.
I just have my wife sleep outside on patrol. Cheap security.
I had mine stolen on Sunday, cost me £1100 to replace., Thieves stole it in 35 seconds off my BMW 320i Convertible. Mechanic said they are less likely to steal the aftermarket one they've put on as a replacement. What a ball breaker. Horrible theives, deserve to be jailed long term. Ruined Christmas. Long story short: I agree with you.
Simply mount a H Freight ($15.00) "drivewary alarm" on either (or both) your drive way (pointing at the car) AND one mounted UNDER your car (pointed down). These are simple, cheap, & self contained motion detectors. They will set off an audible alarm wherever you keep the base unit (in your house OR the car). Pets or animals might set off some false alarms sometimes, but (if you can live with that) it might be worth the "creative engineering". Another possibility is that you might be able to attach some sort of (heat resistant) vibration activated sensor to it. When the key is off, if a certain amount of vibration occurs on the converter, a LOUD alarm goes off??? Just a thought.
Here in Texas "Stand your Ground" law works good too.
@@ray34O : Yes, we also have a very strict gun control : Gun control in Texas, "One shot On Target!".
@@ray34O in many places you can shoot someone legally in order to protect yourself, someone else and your property.
@@ray34O maybe the thief should "just" not try and steal it.
@@ray34O better question is “In Texas are you prepared to be shot over stealing a catalytic converter?” It’s the criminals decision if they want to be shot or not. No one is forcing them to do anything, except accept the consequences of their actions.
Stares in British
The police need to start going after the places that are buying stolen converters
It's not the police that goes after them. It's the DA and judges. Keep voting in democrats and all issues like this will get worse.
One thing I wondered about would be preparing a parking space with a raised area in the middle, leaving only a few inches' clearance between the bump and the catalytic convertor. You'd have to be a bit more careful when parking, but if you own a driveway or parking space, perhaps adding a 2-3 inch high rectangular slab would be possible.
With my replacement Prius -- the first one had its convertor stolen, but at least it had 340,000 miles on it -- I had a shield attached, and I'm also backing into my sloping driveway, so it's not as easy to get underneath it. Oh, and the new one happens to be a Touring Edition, which seems to have a couple inches less clearance than the regular version.
You can buy skid plates made specifically for protecting the catalytic converter. Easier than any cage or metal housing.
I do car recycling so i go through a lot of cats.
And #3 option is VERY good because aftermarket cats are only recyclable for 20-60$ depending on size. Where as the OEM ones can be 40-1800.
When my brother bought his prius the very first thing we did when we got home was order a aftermarket for 100$ and go to a muffler shop and have them replace it. Get to it before they do lol.
I have a 2005 Prius. Mine got stolen, do you have one?
I just had mine stolen now I told them to get the cheapest converter. I am not sure if they'll do it again
@@PeacocknRose get a magnaflow
What you did with the original?
@@alameri563 Recycle it
3 very good tips Eric, I personally would go down the Kevin McCallister route and rig pressure plates just under the car so if someone get under it, they set off a little charge of high visibility paint or something that won't wash off that easy and boom 😀
Oh, I like this idea a lot. My son in law's CC was stolen last night. Just put $400 into the car. Now it will cost $1200 to get replaced.
Why do all the possums and stray cats in our neighborhood glow? lol
Paint stolen on it. Lol but seriously Be careful daytime theft is very common. Not just at night as one would think..
Hmm wonder if those exploding dye packs are avaliable to public...oh here in calif yea new cats have a serial num om them...yea for price we pay here three times or more what rest of country pays....and before someome says its a politacal party ...no...both run government remember that just diffearant names
The paint may not wash off but IT CAN be removed with a wire brush or sand blaster "BOOM" problem not solved 😂
Weld a cage, but use a hollow metal tube on part of the cage so that it can be filled with a few ounces of gasoline or your favorite flammable liquid, then cap off the end. Now once the cutting sparks fly, and the fuel air mix is just right it will ignite and spill on to their clothing. When you hear screaming, just sit back and enjoy the show. Oh dont forget to video it. :)
I thought about it, and what you said about thieves not stealing aftermarket converters makes more sense when you think about straight/test pipes. A lot of people with shiny stainless steel under their car have usually replaced their catalytic converters with a test pipe to get more fast and furious. Maybe when they don't see a brown, thick piece of metal underneath they just figure its not worth the trouble of accidentally cutting out 10 dollars of steel.
I picked up an old guy hitch hiking last month, he was on his way to get his Honda car after a new catalytic converter was installed, $ 2500. His was stolen.
OEM converters are frickin insane. Had mine recently replaced. Cost me just shy of $1000 and an aftermarket where only bout $200-$500. So I'm sooooo glad my area don't have many people stealing those darn things.
The Federal Legislation mandated this stupid idea is the REAL PROBLEM.
Hey, it's my birthday, and guess what, I woke up to a missing catalytic converter! These tips should come in handy when I get my car fixed
I know a guy who was living in his Honda Element and had some d-bag actually cut his cat off while he was inside. He heard a loud vibrating sound and opened his door to find the guy underneath his car with a sawzall. Crazy !
Did he stomp he stomp the thief’s face in ?
@@NYPATRIOTBX i would have dropped the jack on him
@@NYPATRIOTBX -- He certainly should have but apparently he was sound asleep when all this started and was a bit dazed and confused as to what was actually going on. As the story goes, when he opened his side door and saw the guys legs under his truck slid out from underneath and just sort of looked at each other for a few moments. The vehicle owner said "WTF man..." and the guy said nothing and just casually walked away got in his car and sped off. He took note of his plate number but the car was stolen anyway and nothing further came of it. Personally, I think a good beat down was called for.... but that's just me ;-)
Dave 2D
@@Glocktard -- Well spotted... You are correct !!!
I protect my cat by sleeping in my car. It’s a $2000 installing, now I’m living in it.
This is a GOOD video. Funny enough I own a 2003 pilot myself. I install automotive security. I've adapted an impact sensor on my exhaust to detect the vibration of Sawzall. Mine still has the oem cat. But it's never parked outside overnight anywhere.
And second to your video I have a mechanic friend who will tell any customer that's had his oem cat stolen get a cheap aftermarket one put on, he says you will likely have to replace it every 2 yrs. But still cheaper than losing an expensive oem cat each time.
Well, the auto industry needs to start putting vin numbers on them when they put these in. Makes more then sense to me!! 🤔
Vibration alarms work really well too. If your car starts making extremely loud noises all while they focus on cutting the catalytic converter, it will draw attention to them, potentially getting them caught in the act which is their biggest fear.
Bonus if the alarm sounds like a shotgun being racked, followed by the sounds of shotgun blasts.
I just got mine stolen off my 2007 Element. Any suggestions on a Cat cover to replace it. Also any insurance companies covering it? I have Amica and they are denying my request for a Cat steel cover to prevent future theft.
link in the description. Check with your insurance company about coverage.
Cool video, actually I did this to my old Prius , put in an aftermarket Converter and am keeping the Original one in my place . Now when it is about time to get the next smog certification 2023 for me, I will then install the original one and get the smog check. Hopefully by 2023 this horrible situation is being resolver by our Incompetent Authorities. They should give them lifetime jail to those losers who are doing this.
A tip that just came to me regarding after-market converters... Inscribe the phrase "You're being watched" on the casing of the after-market converter to help deter converter thieves.
That doesn't help. They're pretty good at avoiding cameras. th-cam.com/video/b2IKVryajcw/w-d-xo.html
Connect a 220 volt "theft deterrent" to the converter.
I tried that with my Trump sign by hooking up a cattle fencer to it. The city did not like that at all when somebody squealed on me
@@johnnyshd8250 snitches get stitches..also don't blab and video record it🤪
@@geocam2 it was electrified as a science experiment to see if it helped prevent corrosion... Not my fault a trespassing person messed with it
@@geocam2 it's very easy, especially if you document it and provide warnings around the sign post.
Just make sure there's only one story when the cops show up... yours.
The thieves usually remove the shell and remove the ceramic biscuit from the CC before they sell the biscuit to a recycler. So, marking the shell only helps if they get caught before they remove the shell to retrieve the biscuit.
Tell your mechanic to run some weld beads around the pipe. It can take several blades to go thru a a weld
Wrapping the cat in steel cable with the cable also looped through some holes in the frame works pretty good. It's a nice compromise between ease of installation, cost and ease of repair. Steel cable is very hard to cut through as it wiggles around with the saw blade. It should easily be enough to make a thief move on.
Yep, and it's cheap. That's the best option.
Where to purchase this steel cable from?
@@ebsa123123 It should be available in most hardware stores. It's more commonly called aircraft cable than steel cable.
@@ecomotive6158 thanks how much would it run and can u tell me how to secure the cable and your idea of how to utilize the cable to secure my cat on my accord
@@ebsa123123 Some stores will sell cable by the foot and others are in packages of a fixed length. About 6ft of 1/4" cable should be plenty and I'd be surprised if it was more than $1 per foot.
I'm not sure about an Accord because they're unibody vehicles. I wrapped the cat on my truck where there was an actual frame with holes already in it. On your car you might have to look around for a subframe or something else solid that you can wrap the cable around. You may have to drill some holes. One hole near each end of the cat should be enough. Be careful that you aren't interfering with the suspension or steering movement. Then just wrap up your cat a few times in the cable while making a couple of passes up througj your hole and back. The cable going between should be taught but not super tight. Give the cable a wrap around the smaller diameter exhaust on each end too. Just as long as it's a tangly mess for someone to try to pull the cat out from. If I was a thief I would move on to another car as soon as I saw it.
When you're done wrapping, bundle up the two ends of the cable and clamp them together. You should find the clamps right next to the cable. They look like U-bolts and you buy one for the same size cable that you used. If you can, tuck the clamped bundle up out of sight somewhere and you're done.
It's actually kind of easy to defeat if you're prepared and have some time to spare but it should keep back most thieves.
I like the Rebar option. Instead of welding it to afix to the car, attach it with a variety of specialty fasteners. Torx, Metric, SAE, Allen, etc. Be a pain to remove lying under the car, but your mechanic properly informed and possibly provided with the special sockets, etc will result in you paying a little more labor If you even have to have it replaced. I had 180k miles on a Toyota Sienna and the cat never came up for repair. In fact nothing but maintenance on that one.
That's brilliant, switching up the fasteners. Even on the chance that a thief happens to have one or even two of the bits as well as a tool to remove them, they're likely going to pass on it as it'll be too much headache and too much time under the vehicle.
@@vincebrogan2878 Thanks. It does seem like these guys want the quick grab.
I like razor wire best
Wow I happen to see this on the last minutes of my 30th bday and that intro hit a spot lol. Instasubscribed
Maybe I misuderstood...So, remove a perfectly good OE converter, replace it with a junk (arguably) aftermarket converter, turn in your perfectly good OE converter for core/scrap just so your perfectly good OE converter doesn't get stolen? Sorry, but that just makes no sense to me. What happens in a year (or sometimes less) when the MIL comes on for a cat efficiency code because the aftermarket cat was garbage (as most of them are?) I don't know what the solution is to this issue but that option doesn't seem very good to me.
Because a good aftermarket CAT might contain less materials, so it doesn't last for 100.000 miles, but maybe for 55.000 miles.
Replacing that once in 3 years beats replacing it every 6 months because it gets stolen. Depending on how much you drive.
My brother got 130k out of a cheap ebay cat on his prius. 100 bucks brand new.
lay person nonsense
@@Tyshkevich A "Prius". lol I would hope so since they are part electric.
Umm don't use a trash part for the replacement?
In the Subaru community we consider installing an aftermarket high flow cat to be a free upgrade lol. I sold my OEM downpipe with 2 cats (some of the most valuable on the market) for the equivalent of buying a downpipe with high flow cats and an Accessport to tune the car.
I wonder if some kind of "dye pack" could be installed in order to identify, and deter a thief from even attempting to steal the converter? Just a thought.
How about blood red, dispensed by a 9 mm gun?
@@dave8599 Absolutely. Solutions need to be addressed for gun violence as well. Murderers and thieves are a big problem.
How about 10 pounds of c-4
@@sylviaisgod6947 Absolutely. Gun violence, theft, and terrorism has gotten way out of hand.
Dye pack exploding in the face?! I like it
Your idea reminds me of what I did back in the 70s when 4 speed transmissions were being stolen. I switched out all the mounting bolts on my 1966 Shelby 4 speed for Allen head cap screws. Thief is going to dive under armed with the normal wrenches, not a big Allen wrench. Same idea, make it just difficult enough they will move on.
The Toyota Prius is one of the prime targets for converter theft despite it being low to the ground. There's a perception that the materials are less "corroded" on hybrids thus more valuble.
They have more expensive materials because they need to heat up quicker. The engine starts and stops often
Can you get a system that lowers your vehicle to the ground when you turn off your vehicle and raises it when you start your vehicle.
Great Advice.
You give 1000 times more thought regarding CCs than the Bad Guys .
In a span of 1 year, 3 catalytic converters got stolen from my Honda Element in a decent neighborhood in Portland, OR. The second and third catalytic converters were aftermarkets and clearly had no effect on theft deterrence. Thieves who steal them are obviously not the brightest.
Did you put a cage or shield on the second and third ones to deter the thieves? What did you do after the third one got stolen?
Great advice Eric!!! If someone is determined enough, they will get what they want at any cost. Just stay safe, and maybe add a motion sensor alarm on the vehicle that also has an electric charge to zap the criminal and also hidden cameras that are motion activated to get a great picture of the would be thief!!! Being creative is the key, just smarter than the average thief!!!
An alarm that zaps a criminal is illegal. You can't set boobytraps designed to harm someone when triggered.
Just enough to shock, not kill...just like a shock collar. On a pet.
@@mannys9130 what he (thief) gonna do call police? 😅
What will happen is he gets tazed, then the cell linked alarm trips and dials my cell. Then he gets shot for "assault with a sawzall". Presto. One dead criminal meat-sack. Problem solved.
If the Cat -Converter was Wired to a 24 Volt Source like some Personal Armored Vehicles that can Shock anyone who tried to Yank on the Door Handle, it might Short-out the Sawzall or Cutting Tool, Hopefully the Thief most likely wouldn't get ZAPPED Sawzalls and Cutting Tool Bodies are sometimes Covered in Non-conductive Material 🙃🤭😬
Consider this innovative proposal: What if we took decisive action against catalytic converter thieves, as well as other criminals like carjackers armed with guns or knives, by ensuring they face appropriate consequences? Catalytic converter thieves could be sentenced to a minimum of 3 years, while those resorting to firearms or other weapons during carjackings could face a minimum of 15 years. It prompts us to ponder the notion of a civilized society, an idea that seems increasingly unfamiliar. How swiftly and profoundly has our society descended into a realm where we find ourselves allocating significant resources to safeguard our fundamental human rights-such as the peaceful coexistence and ownership of vehicles and businesses-rather than addressing the root issue of criminal behavior.
According to a local Chevy dealer, my daughter's 2017 Chevy Tahoe needs a new catalytic converter, price,$1900.00. I just checked and theft of a converter is covered by comprehensive insurance. Parked in the right place, it's bound to be stolen, no need to jack it up.
Hey Eric! Here's an idea you might want to try and even patent. If successful it could be francized to dealerships, repair shops, and muffler shops. My idea is to clamp a loose-fitting ring around the exhaust pipe where the thief would normally cut the exhaust pipe. A hand-held or pneumatic clamping tool could be used. The idea behind the loose rig is, when you try to saw thru the ring it spins on the exhaust pipe so the sawblade can't cut into it. Not being a mechanic, I'm not sure how this could be adapted to all cars. As for me, I'm going to engrave my VIN on mine and paint it red with high heat brake caliper paint I have laying around.
Not a bad idea, but lots of vibration in exhaust pipes and you'd be surprised how loud the rattle of this device would be. Great idea though.
Not a bad idea, but lots of vibration in exhaust pipes and you'd be surprised how loud the rattle of this device would be. Great idea though.
@@kevinlondon9783 and then there's that... 🙄
I prevented the theft of my Kitty Cats by Installing LongTube Headers, works like a charm
I recently learned of a mechanic who admitted he had so many catalytic converters he was able to buy a nice RV with the profits. Thought it was very weird. He boosted about it. Of course at the time he was working on our SUV. So had me very worried. He actually said you can take one, put something in place and no one knows until servicing. Not sure what that is but never again will I go there! All my vehicles now have sensor alarms on them. And of course I carry.
Good video Eric. May I suggest a car alarm or a tracker that sends an alert to your cell phone if someone is tampering with your car? I searched "car alarm with phone alert" and many options came up. Some for less than fifty bucks.
Have an alarm theives still Trying
@@benotdecived2013 make one take a dirt nap. They'll stop.
@@imjustanotherguy2007 😂💯
Low tech solution. Collect all the dog shit piles in your neighborhood and put it under your car.
THIS!!!!! I also think a large oil spill kept under the car would be nasty. Like Wesson Oil from my kitchen.
Very good and informative video. Since it was the Feds’ legislation that mandated catalytic converters in the first place, they need a new initiative and legislation to change how they are made. It’s time for new technology that doesn’t require “precious metals” that are highly coveted.
The FEDERAL MANDATE LEGISLATION is the REAL problem.
Electric vehicles?
I know this doesn't help most people ..BUT my Chevy p/u Cat was taken last year from my yard...I didn't replace it ..I took it to my muffler shop & they welded a pipe in it's place ..I live in Arizona so they don't check under the vehicle at the inspection station here...
That is so true. My "after market" makes my check engine light stay on. I was told by the mechanic that is one of the downfalls of them. They work but not at the full compassity of a known brand one. Didn't know it was an aftermarket as I was price conscious & just had to have one.
My muffler mechanic said to go to a marine shop (am on the east coast) and get a piece of marine board and shape and bolt it under the car. Kind of like an after market shroud.
We had a prius come to our shop that had cat stolen, owners didn't even known when it had been taken because they had been only using electricity. Cold weather and putting on heater caused engine to start and then they noticed...
@Faggot Rotten 2019 prius plug-in, and yes that can go pure EV at all times
Didn't use the AC either? My understanding was that the plug-in hybrids have electric compressors, but they draw a big load in addition to the drive motor so the engine will run to add range or extra juice intermittently. Could be wrong. Teslas run their electric AC compressor off the battery just fine. 🤷🏻♂️ Idk.
12 Guage while they are under the car helps too
I replaced mine with CARB Magnaflow cat. Still got stolen in front of C.Fillet early in the morning in Buena Park,so I replaced it at the muffler shop for$600 this time it was welded in the muffler and manifold.So far it is been 5 years and it is still there.
Seriously? I just bought a Magnaflow CAT now I’m nervous.
In California?Better put a shield or alarm.
Are use a remote control vibration alarm which is waterproof… Change the batteries once a year. Mounted in a dry place on the frame near the converter as soon as they touch the saw button, it goes off at 120 dB with four different chimes like a car alarm!
you can also install a good loud alarm system, any movement will trigger it.
Unfortunately those car alarms have become a nuisance and mostly ignored.
1. Cut it off cleanly yourself. 2. Make a test pipe. 3. Make adapters to put cat on to pass emissions test. 4. Remove cat install test pipe until next year.
Sometimes I think maybe the best way is beat them to it and take your original cat off and cash it in, then replace it with a cheaper aftermarket unit if that's suitable for the car you have.. I just watched the rest of the video and saw you have the same idea haha!
The uptown shop wanted $1400 for replacing my toyota prius converter. Got mine on ebay for less than $150. works fine for last 2 years. seasoned thieves don't want the aftermkt, You are correct and i have an inner peace not having to worry. Good video, thanks.
Not having any trouble passing the emissions test with the aftermarket piece?
The shopping center I work out of leases part of the parking lot for car dealership 'overflow'.
You guessed it! In one night they had about 75 cars jacked and hacked. When you have one sleepy security guard, Anything can and will likely happen.
The guys at the local parts houses where telling me about the after shocks. The dealership (Kia and Hyundai) where calling every auto parts store they could think of in order to order in the replacement converters. Seems they didn't want to go 'OEM' themselves?
I'd love to kick some of these so called "Prosecutor's" in their happy sack for not taking any real action. They look over the police report and rarely does anything happen. We've several recycling shops that purchase converters... And it doesn't occur to them that a 'brand new' converter might be *gasp* stolen?? Someone had to cart in about 75 new and shiny converters that day!! And nothing was said or done.
In that case they'd spread out when they took them and where and mix them in with older beat up ones but yeah a newer looking one is a huge red flag
@@budsodastoriesI read the story about the dishonest scrap dealer, his business was burned down along with his cars and trucks. His insurance only covered so much, could not get back into business and his partners in crime moved on. Karma is a real bitch. Same thing should happen to the rest of them....
*etches "i have a camera and a gun" on the cat*
it's like the honor system with incentives
The only time it's great to have a vehicle that sits on the ground .
is that really the only time?
I had a lowered honda prelude with an alarm system that was parked in my driveway in a gated community. Thefts managed to get my entire exhaust from the headers back. I had a welded on expensive hks aftermarket exhaust. The car was low man, i have no idea how they did it and the alpine alarm never went off. So much for alarm systems and gated community.
@@canyonero2050 viper alarm sells an add on tilt sensor so if they jack the car up it goes of when car is tilted
@@canyonero2050
Thugs jack the cars up.
So, low doesn't really matter
Good video . The reason for bright paint is that if the police see that at a shop or wherever, they will automatically take it. So no one will buy a painted Converter simply because the shop or whoever will loose the part and the cash they paid for the part. So yes, paint and put the markings on.
Another option would be to weld a long piece of very hard material along the intake and exhaust that couldn't be easily cut with a saw.
A wire connected to the top of the pipe, out of sight, connected to a blank shotgun shell trigger would make poopy pants/deaf cat thief
The nutbar in me thinks of packing it with c4 and having a proximity detonator. Highly illegal, but man it would be cathartic
Legalize booby traps! That would probably cut down on all kinds of theft.
I like your solution.
I always carry a box of them in the back of the truck so they don't steal them. I have a sign that says "only take 1 per thief" Thank you. Less work for em.
After i sent a friend your installed shield video, he came up with a homebrew solution. A curved plate of stainless steel with tool steel rods welded on the inside. I'm actually thinking about installing one myself.
ooooof.
Excellent implementation. Hardened steel must be incorporated into the cage or plate to deter cutting.
Another possible good idea would be to write in highly visible paint on the converter the words" SMILE FOR THE CAMERA THIEF!!! 🤣😍
In the UK this crime is so common that many people with sports/SUVs, resort to removing the cat and use a straight connection in its place. Only replacing it for the annual vehicle test. Only last week a married couple were charged for having a 20foot shipping container full of cats ready to ship into Europe, breakers yards are more controlled in the UK, that's not to say they are all whiter than white.
Using a straight connection is a good idea only problem is you have to be able to keep the ECM or PCM from throwing a catalytic code that puts the car into limp mode and seriously kills your gas mileage and I don’t know what the laws are in Europe but here in America we have a federal law that says tampering with a vehicles emission system is a 10,000 to 50,000 dollar fine for each occurrence and it can even land you in federal prison
@@Djsj1313 You're right. Maybe the prosecutors ought to apply the same tampering fines and penalties to the thieves "tampering" with the CATs.
I'm amazed. The upload date is 9-27, but I first viewed this Today (10-2, my 51st birthday).
Amazing!
Remarkable!
Astonishing!
Thanks for mentioning that higher vehicles are generally more vulnerable because they won't necessarily have to be jacked up to access the converter. I have an Audi TT that I assume is low enough that it would have to be lifted so I'm glad this makes it less of a target.
If manufacturers want to help, they could design new vehicles to directly interfere with easy removal while still allowing adequate cooling, since they seem to have no difficulty making all manner of thing under the hood quite difficult to access. I suppose it's too much to ask that expensive vehicles have suspensions that can lower the vehicle while parked to reduce access, and such a vehicle can still be jacked up.
But aside from the extra difficulty and time that the jacking introduces, I'd think it would be easy to build an alarm system that can sense jacking. If your car is close enough to where you are to use Bluetooth communication, it could even notify you directly in addition to sounding the horn. And the BT communication could have its own battery so it would work even if the thieves disabled the horn or interfered with the cars own battery.
And to make jacking more difficult, parking on a pitched surface might help. If either your driveway or street are more pitched than the other, you could choose to park on the steeper one to make jacking more difficult.
I had an aftermarket cat stolen, so forget about changing it