Catalytic converter theft

Pythagorean · 31-01-2019 10:55pm #1

Catalytic converter theft seems to be an increasing problem. There was a piece on Liveline today about it. It appears that the Toyota Prius is a particular target. The thieves get under the car with a battery powered angle grinder, and cut the converter off in under a minute. They contain valuable metals, I think, Platinum, and maybe Palladium, hence have a high scrap value. So if your car sounds unexpectedly noisy, check underneath. They cost over €1000 to replace.

Atlantic Dawn · 31-01-2019 11:21pm

How much scrap value would they get?

Still waters · 31-01-2019 11:22pm

cats sell for between 40 to 200 euro depending on the type

Atlantic Dawn · 31-01-2019 11:29pm

That's a lot of effort and risk for little reward, they must be desperados.

aaakev · 31-01-2019 11:34pm

This has been a problem for years. We were selling 2 a week at one stage a few years ago and the whole system cost over 4k! Some vehicles are designed in a way to give easy access for shorter down time in the workshop, unfortunately that can be a help to the scum.... quite often they don't even need a cutting tool and make little or no noise

A couple of lads doing 10 a week is a good earner.

If your worried get a catloc

elperello · 31-01-2019 11:55pm

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mercedes-Sprinter-Armaplate-ArmaCat-Catalytic-Converter-Catlock-Stops-Theft/113308345353?hash=item1a61b42409:g:8scAAOSwGotWqf68:rk:2:pf:0

This type of thing.

I was wondering would it be practical to make a homemade version along the lines of a sump guard on a rally car?

aaakev · 01-02-2019 12:10am

Yeah thats the one. They have snap off bolts so need cutting off if you ever need to remove the exhaust. They force them to just move on to the next vehicle without one

selectamatic · 01-02-2019 12:12am

Still waters wrote: »

cats sell for between 40 to 200 euro depending on the type

Some are worth a nice bit more than 200.

I'd imagine the prius one must be worth a fair bit since they're really attracting attention.

The common as muck 1.9tdi cat is worth €100-150

elperello · 01-02-2019 12:16am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuuhgfIQ93E

Man at work stealing a Prius CC.

Any merit in my homemade deterrent idea?

TallGlass · 01-02-2019 12:18am

Still waters wrote: »

cats sell for between 40 to 200 euro depending on the type

I guess the damage these idiots cause in the process of forcefully removing the cat, is only adding to the bill.

punisher5112 · 01-02-2019 12:19am

Certain ethnic minorities at this for years.

They were targeting vans and 4x4 mostly as they are in large quite tubby so would have a hard time fitting under the smaller cars.

That and it was just more room under there which means much quicker exit too.

AudiAvant · 01-02-2019 1:19am

selectamatic wrote: »

Some are worth a nice bit more than 200.

I'd imagine the prius one must be worth a fair bit since they're really attracting attention.

The common as muck 1.9tdi cat is worth €100-150

I have 2 TDI cats from cars I broke
We're would I get that sort of money for them?
Cheers

Phileas Frog · 01-02-2019 1:50am

Find your nearest Cultural Center?

EdgeCase · 01-02-2019 1:55am

Whoever's accepting them as scrap needs to be gone after hard. It's the same with copper theft. They need to cut off the market.

selectamatic · 01-02-2019 9:29am

AudiAvant wrote: »

I have 2 TDI cats from cars I broke
We're would I get that sort of money for them?
Cheers

Clearway in sligo harbour

punisher5112 · 01-02-2019 10:42am

EdgeCase wrote: »

Whoever's accepting them as scrap needs to be gone after hard. It's the same with copper theft. They need to cut off the market.

Exactly this, there must be a paper trail and cut out cash in this business.

Gardai have the power but aren't using it.

zilog_jones · 01-02-2019 4:41pm

The 2nd generation Prius (2003-2009) seems to be a particularly popular target as the cat can be easily accessed and has good scrap/resale value. I don't believe the newer ones are being targeted, as I suspect the exhaust heat recovery system may be in the way of the cat (Gen 2 doesn't have this).

It's a common issue in California and the UK too. Some suggest either etching the reg or VIN onto the cat as a deterrent (or security devices like mentioned above), though I'm not sure how effective that is.

aaakev · 01-02-2019 6:40pm

Catloc are a great deterrent as they need time, tools and to make noise to remove them so they won't risk it usually

lawred2 · 01-02-2019 6:42pm

elperello wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuuhgfIQ93E

Man at work stealing a Prius CC.

Any merit in my homemade deterrent idea?

Brazen out

EdgeCase · 01-02-2019 6:43pm

It's a shame that Toyota didn't somehow manage to route a high voltage cable through the middle of it.

Del2005 · 01-02-2019 6:48pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Exactly this, there must be a paper trail and cut out cash in this business.

Gardai have the power but aren't using it.

What power have the Gardai to make scrap dealers require photo ID when buying? And even if they do catch them all that will happen is a day in court for the Garda and the person will still be stealing while on bail and as soon as they get out of prison, if they even end up there.

Our justice system is flawed and corrupt, solicitors and barristers make good money doing free legal aid cases so what's the incentive for reforming offenders, and it won't be fixed from the inside and our politicians don't have the guts to fix it.

elperello · 01-02-2019 6:56pm

aaakev wrote: »

Catloc are a great deterrent as they need time, tools and to make noise to remove them so they won't risk it usually

I agree.
A physical barrier will deter them and they will move on to somebody else's car.
Anything that the legal system can do to disrupt the market for stolen CCs should be done also.

corks finest · 01-02-2019 7:15pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

EdgeCase wrote: »

Whoever's accepting them as scrap needs to be gone after hard. It's the same with copper theft. They need to cut off the market.

Exactly this, there must be a paper trail and cut out cash in this business.

Gardai have the power but aren't using it.

Won't stop it gardai can't be bothered, mostly e Europeans/ and our own ethnic minority whos only 'travelling' is from rob to rob

punisher5112 · 01-02-2019 8:05pm

Del2005 wrote: »

What power have the Gardai to make scrap dealers require photo ID when buying? And even if they do catch them all that will happen is a day in court for the Garda and the person will still be stealing while on bail and as soon as they get out of prison, if they even end up there.

Our justice system is flawed and corrupt, solicitors and barristers make good money doing free legal aid cases so what's the incentive for reforming offenders, and it won't be fixed from the inside and our politicians don't have the guts to fix it.

Where did I say they did.

I was stating the obvious they have the power to catch them and most likely even know who is at it.

We need what I said in the scrap trade these changes could be brought in.

orm0nd · 01-02-2019 8:13pm

EdgeCase wrote: »

It's a shame that Toyota didn't somehow manage to route a high voltage cable through the middle of it.

a pity the ram didnt fail on the jack and squash the ba$%^"

darragh o meara · 01-02-2019 8:18pm

They don’t even do it under the cover of darkness in some places. Cheeky gits.

https://youtu.be/32a2LL38BBk

AudiAvant · 01-02-2019 9:32pm

selectamatic wrote: »

Clearway in sligo harbour

You know anywhere around Dublin? Thanks

Still waters · 01-02-2019 10:08pm

AudiAvant wrote: »

You know anywhere around Dublin? Thanks

Hammond lane should buy them off you

Crock Rock · 01-02-2019 10:10pm

This is why I voted for Peter Casey.

Pythagorean · 01-02-2019 10:25pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Exactly this, there must be a paper trail and cut out cash in this business.

Gardai have the power but aren't using it.

It's possibly eastern Europeans robbing them, so maybe they get sold to some scrap dealer over there, a Transit load of scrap would probably make the trip worthwhile.

Still waters · 01-02-2019 10:29pm

Pythagorean wrote: »

It's possibly eastern Europeans robbing them, so maybe they get sold to some scrap dealer over there, a Transit load of scrap would probably make the trip worthwhile.

I've seen a cubic metre container of cats sell for 16 thousand euro cash, so well worth their while and the risk

Catalytic converter theft

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