Thieves targeting catalytic converters

[C flips]

Not sure if this has been posted before.

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dl...807100356/1140

Catalytic converter thefts - especially from Toyotas - are on the rise, according to Indio police. Five have been stolen in the past week, Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron said Wednesday. "It's been very popular in other parts of the county, and we're just starting to see it in Indio," Guitron said. Catalytic converters, designed to reduce emissions in the exhaust system, contain platinum and can be sold for scrap. "If you had to buy one, it may be upwards of $1,000. But on the scrap market, it may be worth $100," said Tom Hirsch, parts and services director at I-10 Toyota in Indio. "It's a phase. People are finding that it will make them a quick buck." Thieves are targeting SUVs, he said. "They're high off the ground so it's easier to take them," Hirsch said.

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[HardCharger81]

Last week every 5 yard dump truck in our yard got hit. 6 cats at around $800 a piece.... Tweakers are awesome...

[glamisrnr]

Yeah that happened a few months back in Milwaukee, there were two guys with Cordless Saw-Zalls and the police caught them with an armful of catalytic converters. I think getting a job would be easier than doing that all day and trying not to get caught.

[Tipracer]

A friend of mine interrupted some scumbags while they were in the process of cutting his off...at least he scored a cordless sawzall-- jackholes split so fast they left it behind

[dan200]

I heard that metal places are refusing to accept ones that are cut off. Anyone else heard this?

[glamisrnr]

I haven't heard that, well around here everything thing is rusted solid so you have to cut it off.

[swenny]

Just heard from a local dealership that they had $50,000 dollars worth of them stolen off there storage lot. any vehicle high enough, they were gone.

[Mike @ pit b]

They are at least three reports of theft in the local paper every week. Toyotas mostly because it's just four bolts.

Apparently there is platinum in them and the tweakers actually melt them down and take them to scrap yards.

[BRINGTHERUCKUS]

I LOVE HAVING A 70's truck! no cat! but thats just wrong, in tucson they were stealing mirrors and tailgates for awhile.

[jrtorres]

They are at least three reports of theft in the local paper every week. Toyotas mostly because it's just four bolts.

Apparently there is platinum in them and the tweakers actually melt them down and take them to scrap yards.

Yeah tell me about it! Actually mine was just two bolts because i already had my muffler gone and my tacoma is lifted so they removed that two bolts and were off...leaving me in need of a 350 dollar cat with no money....not to mention that now my truck is running like 60% power because the sensors that go on either side of the cat don't read right and confuse the ecu leaving me with a check engine light blaring in my face.....thanks alot...i was forced to just weld on a used flowmaster and deal with no power till i have enough money to replace it....life of a college student i guess