Cat converter theft

[vermacelli]

I saw a story on the news last night talking about thefts of factory catalytic converters in the Sacramento and surrounding areas. They interviewed muffler shops that installed replacements for victims and reported that the majority of the vehicles targeted were Toyotas which they said are a lot easier to remove especially on trucks and suvs with the extra clearance. Has anyone else heard of this happening in their area?

[42GAMI]

not yet. id fiure they would steal the 02 sensors as they cost bank to replace.

[1990 toyota pickup]

YES, just this morning i noticed that my catalytic converter had been hacked off my truck parked near 2nd ave and franklin blvd in sacramento.

Need to find out where the theves are recycling the converters for cash. the recyclers could be busted for buying stolen goods.

['06' Tundra]

Mine were stolen on January 31, 2007 between 2 and 5pm. I knew instantly because when I started the engine, it sounded like I had just entered the Baja 1000! Needless to say, it was very loud. Looks like they used a "saws-all" with new blades. This happened in a fairly quiet part of a busy parking lot in Sacramento, CA 95826 (corner of Florin-Perkins and Jackson Rd.) The O2 sensor was gone as well.

2006 Tundra’s with V8s have two catalytic converters. Parts alone are $1,600 each add labor on top of that.

Two other Toyota trucks were hit at the same time. They got the catalytic converters form both of those vehicles and an O2 sensor from one of them.

Luckily, I have good insurance with a low deductible. However, this is taking a lot of time and I could do without the hassle... I recommend if you have a newer Tundra, make sure you have good comprehensive coverage and pay for the lower deductible.

[msr1011]

It seems "tweakers" are stealing anything they can get their hands on to feed their meth habit. In Vegas, copper theft is a really big problem. In broad daylight these guys will go up to "hot" light poles and steal the copper wire. Alot of these recycling yards (I did not say all of them) are just as shady as the scrods who drop stuff off there. I mean come on, a guy with no job drops off catalyic converters and they don't question him. I know they are not police officers, but lets use some common sense.

I hope you get your truck back up and running soon.

[07taco]

Originally Posted by vermacelli

I saw a story on the news last night talking about thefts of factory catalytic converters in the Sacramento and surrounding areas. They interviewed muffler shops that installed replacements for victims and reported that the majority of the vehicles targeted were Toyotas which they said are a lot easier to remove especially on trucks and suvs with the extra clearance. Has anyone else heard of this happening in their area?

==========

WOW..! guess I'll have to air mine down every night..!

Bruce

[Elton]

Originally Posted by '06' Tundra

Mine were stolen on January 31, 2007 between 2 and 5pm. I knew instantly because when I started the engine, it sounded like I had just entered the Baja 1000! Needless to say, it was very loud. .

i bet cant you just get some universal ones and have them weled in place ? heck of alot cheaper

[Byte-Man]

I got hit yesterday in San Mateo, about 110 miles south of Sacramento. My truck is a '91 4WD. I can't even believe converters that old are so valuable.
My mechanic told me previously that I had a crack in the exhaust manifold, so I thought it had blown. Imagine my surprise when he told me what really happened.

[shawn1263]

Hey im in redwood city and my wife called me and said my 4runner was loud. I went under expecting any thing but that. they cut the converter out that really sucks! Does anybody know how there could be such a market for 1997 4 runner converter? I called the muffler place and he told me what car and make I had what gives.

[gen-x]

Originally Posted by '06' Tundra

Mine were stolen on January 31, 2007 between 2 and 5pm. I knew instantly because when I started the engine, it sounded like I had just entered the Baja 1000! Needless to say, it was very loud. Looks like they used a "saws-all" with new blades. This happened in a fairly quiet part of a busy parking lot in Sacramento, CA 95826 (corner of Florin-Perkins and Jackson Rd.) The O2 sensor was gone as well.

2006 Tundra’s with V8s have two catalytic converters. Parts alone are $1,600 each add labor on top of that.

Two other Toyota trucks were hit at the same time. They got the catalytic converters form both of those vehicles and an O2 sensor from one of them.

Luckily, I have good insurance with a low deductible. However, this is taking a lot of time and I could do without the hassle... I recommend if you have a newer Tundra, make sure you have good comprehensive coverage and pay for the lower deductible.

Holy Smoke!!

[Tacoma34]

Tehy got me last night in Baltimore Maryland in the light rail parking lot. I parked at 7:30am and returned at 5:00pm. I bought a 96 Tacoma with 147,000 miles as a beater. Cost me $1500 to put back the parts that were sawed off.

[Death]

Hello. Well I drive a 91 Corolla sedan and this morning when I went to start the car I noticed a loud exhaust noise. Needless to say thieves hacked the exhaust pipe and took the converter. This is the first time this has happened to me in regards to theft. I was thinking on maybe getting an alarm to at least scare people away but was told that there's a good chance alarm might not go off cause it wont detect someone stealing the converter. Sucks cause I work overnight and the car just sits there in the dark. I have a feeling it's going to happen again but I have to keep driving the car to work. I live in Springfield MO BTW.

[Blondie333]

Well, I had never heard of this before either until today at the mall when I started my car after having lunch with a friend. The sound was something like a cross between a Harley and a freight train. Someone has cut off my catalytic converter on my 4Runner in a busy parking lot.
Valley Fair Mall in San Jose, CA

[bdperrone]

WOW! This is a pretty scary and depressing thread. Any ideas of why it only seems to be happening up north? I haven't heard anything about this in So Cal, but I think I am gonna google it just to be sure.

Does insurance cover this stuff or are they balking at picking up the tab?

[checksix]

Mine was unbolted from my '88 4x4 at work on June 28. I noticed it right away when I saw the exhause pipe hanging down. I work in Anaheim where security makes regular patrols, just not frequent enough.