Lock for catalytic converter.

irishgirl19 · 22-10-2019 7:23pm #1

With the rise of catalytic converter thefts in toyotas, does anyone know where I can buy a lock for one?

Can't seem to find anywhere that sells them so far.

Thanks

Gorgeousgeorge · 22-10-2019 7:26pm

irishgirl19 wrote: »

With the rise of catalytic converter thefts in toyotas, does anyone know where I can buy a lock for one?

Can't seem to find anywhere that sells them so far.

Thanks

If they can cut the cat out of the car they would have no problem cutting any sort of lock off I'd say

PsychoPete · 22-10-2019 7:27pm

Fairly pointless to "lock it" as they just cut the cat out anyway

FluffPiece · 22-10-2019 7:27pm

Google cat clamp. Pricey but would be a deterrant.

http://www.catsafe.org.uk/

pablo128 · 22-10-2019 7:28pm

I think I read somewhere that Toyota themselves supply something to prevent theft.

ShadowHearth · 22-10-2019 7:29pm

Beat them at their own game! Bring 2000s back! Take the cat out yourself and put it back in when you need to go for nct!

pablo128 · 22-10-2019 7:33pm

It also depends on the model of Toyota. What car have you got?

irishgirl19 · 22-10-2019 7:42pm

pablo128 wrote: »

It also depends on the model of Toyota. What car have you got?

Prius 2nd gen.

Thanks, have heard if they want it bad enough they will take the extra time to cut through the lock. Would hope it would be a deterrent though.

punisher5112 · 22-10-2019 7:45pm

Best option would be to get onto the guberment and get it regulated....

Certain ethnic minorities are big into this....

It use to be easy targets such as vans and 4x4 for height but they will squeeze in for the good stuff off the hybrids too.

Irish rail, ESB, eir etc are all targets to for services and it causes huge issues.

irishgirl19 · 22-10-2019 7:52pm

Yeah it's gone crazy. My friends was stolen recently. Guards said she was one of many reported that week. She has to get a new car because Toyota told her they have a backlog and she'd be waiting months for a new one

pablo128 · 22-10-2019 8:01pm

irishgirl19 wrote: »

Yeah it's gone crazy. My friends was stolen recently. Guards said she was one of many reported that week. She has to get a new car because Toyota told her they have a backlog and she'd be waiting months for a new one

They are available through exhaust centres and motor factors. You don't have to go to Toyota for a catalytic converter.

punisher5112 · 22-10-2019 8:04pm

Wonder why they can't go into the sites and do them.

irishgirl19 · 22-10-2019 8:12pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Wonder why they can't go into the sites and do them.

Yup the usual suspects I'd say
Edit: never mind, picked that up wrong I think ðŸ˜‚

irishgirl19 · 22-10-2019 8:14pm

pablo128 wrote: »

They are available through exhaust centres and motor factors. You don't have to go to Toyota for a catalytic converter.

That's what I thought but she said she tried a few places and didn't have much luck

punisher5112 · 22-10-2019 8:16pm

irishgirl19 wrote: »

That's what I thought but she said she tried a few places and didn't have much luck

Try few breaker yards, try all exhaust repair places.

I'd be ringing around.

irishgirl19 · 22-10-2019 8:21pm

Just hoping mine escapes it. Don't live in the best area for it

pablo128 · 22-10-2019 8:26pm

irishgirl19 wrote: »

That's what I thought but she said she tried a few places and didn't have much luck

I would try a few more. They are definitely available.

Interslice · 22-10-2019 8:27pm

I wonder could you connect the hybrid battery to the exhaust or would it be causing more damage...

Lewis_Benson · 22-10-2019 9:14pm

Interslice wrote: »

I wonder could you connect the hybrid battery to the exhaust or would it be causing more damage...

Fit a very loud motion sensing alarm to your car and purchase a large menacing weapon, that's about all that may deter them should you catch them in the act, and maybe a big angry dog.

Guards will be able to do damn all about it

Atlantic Dawn · 22-10-2019 9:16pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Wonder why they can't go into the sites and do them.

They sometimes do but it normally requires the ERU, public order unit, local Gardai and a helicopter gunship hovering above.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 22-10-2019 9:25pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Best option would be to get onto the guberment and get it regulated....

Certain ethnic minorities are big into this....

It use to be easy targets such as vans and 4x4 for height but they will squeeze in for the good stuff off the hybrids too.

Irish rail, ESB, eir etc are all targets to for services and it causes huge issues.

What are they doing with them? I assume its to sell on again but where are they being sold?

irishgirl19 · 22-10-2019 10:01pm

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

What are they doing with them? I assume its to sell on again but where are they being sold?

I heard they're being sold abroad but not really sure. Guards are saying get the engraved but whoever is buying them obviously knows they're stolen anyway

mickdw · 22-10-2019 10:02pm

It to sell the rare metals contained within so they are not being sold on as car parts.

punisher5112 · 22-10-2019 10:03pm

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

What are they doing with them? I assume its to sell on again but where are they being sold?

Precious metals inside are really really sought after.

irishgirl19 · 23-10-2019 8:02am

I came across a site called catstrap.net which claims to be resistant to cutting. They are expensive though and you wouldn't know how much extra customs would whack on top of that

https://youtu.be/4twiRnYVvVY

Sleeper12 · 23-10-2019 8:23am

irishgirl19 wrote: »

With the rise of catalytic converter thefts in toyotas, does anyone know where I can buy a lock for one?

Can't seem to find anywhere that sells them so far.

Thanks

I didn't know that this was a thing till a family members 12 year old Honda Jass got done. Garage owner tells me that they can fetch up to 700 scrap value for some of the realy old ones

garv123 · 23-10-2019 9:19am

Are the catalytic converters worth the same as the converters from the other thread?

irishgirl19 · 23-10-2019 9:40am

Sleeper12 wrote: »

I didn't know that this was a thing till a family members 12 year old Honda Jass got done. Garage owner tells me that they can fetch up to 700 scrap value for some of the realy old ones

Yeah it's crazy. Seem to be hearing of them being done everywhere now.
Apparently the prius and one of the Ford hybrids are being done alot

zilog_jones · 23-10-2019 9:53am

pablo128 wrote: »

I think I read somewhere that Toyota themselves supply something to prevent theft.

Toyota GB do sell "Catloc" devices for various models, I asked Toyota Ireland about this and they do not.

But it might be worth enquiring them about it - if enough people say something then they might do something about it:

customerservice@toyota.ie

I installed a dashcam (front and rear) with permanent wiring and parking mode, as a result of recent thefts near work. I can't imagine someone could easily get to the side of the car without passing the front or rear.

TheBoyConor · 23-10-2019 10:05am

irishgirl19 wrote: »

I came across a site called catstrap.net which claims to be resistant to cutting. They are expensive though and you wouldn't know how much extra customs would whack on top of that

https://youtu.be/4twiRnYVvVY

Doesn't matter, locks, deterrents are futile. The people don't give a crap and are pretty much a law unto themselves. If they can't unbolt the cat they will cut it out. If they cannot cut it out do to lock devices, they will have no problem hooking a tow-chain onto it and onto the back of their Transit or Dmax and then pulling the whole exhaust off of the car, possibly doing many thousands worth of damage or even writing off the car.
I've seen this kinda thing before, if a gate or shed door is locked and can't be opened, it will just be ram raided and demolished. Or if a hitch lock on a trailer can't be defeated it will be just pulled away with a short chain. Even if a wheel clamp is on the trailer it will just be driven away with the clamp tearing along the road.

These people don't give a shít.

If you are in a high theft area it might be better just to leave the cat unprotected and take the chance, or put in a bad cat and keep your good one safe for NCT time. The above alternative of having the whole exhaust wrenched from your car by a transit and tow chain could end up costing you an awful lot more.

redcup342 · 23-10-2019 10:17am

would it be worth wrapping the pipes and the cat in razor wire.

Would at least make them thing "wtf is this" move on to the next one

zilog_jones · 23-10-2019 10:19am

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Doesn't matter, locks, deterrents are futile. The people don't give a crap and are pretty much a law unto themselves. If they can't unbolt the cat they will cut it out.

They're already using angle grinders to cut them out. But if there's something in the way that turns a 3 minute job to 10-20 minutes, they won't bother. These are being stolen in broad daylight in public carparks or roadsides in urban areas - they don't want to hang around.

It's the same way my laptop at my desk at work is locked to the desk with a cable. Sure the cable can be cut, desk could be disassembled, etc. - but it turns an easy job into a job that actually requires effort, time and tools.

They're deterrents, and that's how deterrents work.

Whocare · 23-10-2019 11:02am

Is only petrol cars that are targeted

dkd21 · 23-10-2019 11:21am

Whocare wrote: »

Is only petrol cars that are targeted

No diesels with easy access to catalytic converters are targeted too especially Hiaces and Hilux's

dkd21 · 23-10-2019 11:35am

An idea to prevent or deter a (or another) theft would maybe get a wide flat steel plate welded to the bottom of the exhaust pipe . This reduces access and increases the cutting time . Unfortunately with battery grinders or reciprocating saws at hand the only chance is to deter them , restrict their access or increase the time spent cutting

irishgirl19 · 23-10-2019 12:13pm

Thanks for all the replies. Definitely going to look into some of the options.
I called my local Toyota they said they don't do them and don't know where does. I emailed Toyota too and they just sent me a generic, contact your local dealership message

TheBoyConor · 23-10-2019 2:03pm

zilog_jones wrote: »

They're already using angle grinders to cut them out. But if there's something in the way that turns a 3 minute job to 10-20 minutes, they won't bother. These are being stolen in broad daylight in public carparks or roadsides in urban areas - they don't want to hang around.

It's the same way my laptop at my desk at work is locked to the desk with a cable. Sure the cable can be cut, desk could be disassembled, etc. - but it turns an easy job into a job that actually requires effort, time and tools.

They're deterrents, and that's how deterrents work.

dkd21 wrote: »

An idea to prevent or deter a (or another) theft would maybe get a wide flat steel plate welded to the bottom of the exhaust pipe . This reduces access and increases the cutting time . Unfortunately with battery grinders or reciprocating saws at hand the only chance is to deter them , restrict their access or increase the time spent cutting

You are missing my point. They wouldn't care. If they can't dismantle or cut it wouldn't take them 2 minutes to take a tow chain out of the back of the van, loop it around the cat/exhaust, take off in the van and yank the whole exhaust off of the car. Then a fella waiting with the consaw at the ready will have the section with the cat gone in 30 seconds. Chain and cat into the van and gone.

Meanwhile you car is literally torn to bits which god only knows what damage done.

redcup342 · 23-10-2019 2:35pm

TheBoyConor wrote: »

You are missing my point. They wouldn't care. If they can't dismantle or cut it wouldn't take them 2 minutes to take a tow chain out of the back of the van, loop it around the cat/exhaust, take off in the van and yank the whole exhaust off of the car. Then a fella waiting with the consaw at the ready will have the section with the cat gone in 30 seconds. Chain and cat into the van and gone.

Meanwhile you car is literally torn to bits which god only knows what damage done.

Pretty sure that would look a little suspicious.

Del2005 · 23-10-2019 2:52pm

redcup342 wrote: »

Pretty sure that would look a little suspicious.

You'd be surprised with what a high viz and a barrier will allow you to do.

TheBoyConor · 23-10-2019 3:07pm

Looks suspicious?
They don't care less. All probably with 40 or 50 convictions already and they know gardai will take some time to come to the scene if they even show up at all. You might say a neighbour or the owner would pursue them - they would likely be confronted with slash hooks. they have no fear because they will most likely get away with it no matter what they do.

Even if you get the reg plate of the van it is likley false or from a scrapped van or some other fiddle. No tax, insurance, nct and probably no licence to drive it either. No one owns the van and the driver from no-fixed abode. They have their tracks well covered by default and they know this.

ebbsy · 23-10-2019 5:43pm

irishgirl19 wrote: »

Yeah it's gone crazy. My friends was stolen recently. Guards said she was one of many reported that week. She has to get a new car because Toyota told her they have a backlog and she'd be waiting months for a new one

Try Whelans breakers yard in Laois. You can email them. It's all computerised. They are very good.

martyc5674 · 23-10-2019 6:58pm

What you need is a cat tracker.

https://tractive.com/en/pd/gps-tracker-cat?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwMuAtfqy5QIVTcDeCh3uIwYpEAAYASAAEgLns_D_BwE

Cee-Jay-Cee · 23-10-2019 7:51pm

The only deterrent is to fit air bag suspension on your car and park it with the suspension dropped onto the wheels, either that or park on top of an oil slick or pile of Shiite as they won’t want to get their good tracksuits dirty.

FionnK86 · 30-10-2019 11:47pm

Mine stolen from my Yaris at 1930 in Ben Dunne gyms Northwood today.

punisher5112 · 31-10-2019 12:48am

FionnK86 wrote: »

Mine stolen from my Yaris at 1930 in Ben Dunne gyms Northwood today.

What year and was it hybrid?

FionnK86 · 31-10-2019 12:55am

punisher5112 wrote: »

What year and was it hybrid?

2001 & no a thoroughbred petrol guzzling yaris

granturismo · 31-10-2019 4:31pm

irishgirl19 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. Definitely going to look into some of the options.
I called my local Toyota they said they don't do them and don't know where does. I emailed Toyota too and they just sent me a generic, contact your local dealership message

I hate when posters start 'I think' but I think I heard that Toyota NI fit a guard. A work colleague got one fitted on a prius up there and also got a tilt alarm fitted if the scum decide to jack the car up.

zilog_jones · 31-10-2019 4:50pm

Yes, Toyota GB sell them: https://blog.toyota.co.uk/catalytic-converter-theft-how-to-protect-your-car

Toyota Ireland do not.

FionnK86 · 31-10-2019 4:57pm

Guards said they won’t be able to catch car that took mine and were hesitant to even go the gym in Northwood to get CCTV.

5 reported in last 2 days.

I’ll be buying proper dash cam and do rounds myself of car parks to see if I can catch anyone.

listermint · 31-10-2019 5:26pm

FionnK86 wrote: »

Guards said they won’t be able to catch car that took mine and were hesitant to even go the gym in Northwood to get CCTV.

5 reported in last 2 days.

I’ll be buying proper dash cam and do rounds myself of car parks to see if I can catch anyone.

You can ask for the the number of your complaint and then ask to speak to the sergeant to push your case. Sometimes thats what it takes. They do play a resource game and will push off any investigation possible if they can get away with it. not that i blame them theyve a tough job. But tbh thats not an excuse for ignoring this sort of crime. its wide spread and its probably only a small group. If caught it stops it cold. (for a while)

Keith186 · 31-10-2019 10:25pm

If I saw them in action stealing one I'd love to have the balls to 'accidentally' tip off the car if I was driving by and maybe it might come off the jack. Would serve them right.
No one else is doing anything to stop them so the problem is going to get worse I'd say.

Lock for catalytic converter.

Comments