catayltic converter anti theft

[Robert Raffety]

hi. i'm new here. sorry if this was asked before. my husband was the mechanic in the family. the cataytic converter was stolen from my 2007 Dodge Ram Diesel 3500. is there an anti theft device available. i've found a Cat Strap and a Cat Clamp. my husband died in december. he always called me a key turner. now i'm trying to protect my vehicle and not cause problems to the converter. thanks

 

[JR]

So sorry for your loss...

If this happened recently you may try calling your local scrap yards. If the thief is stupid enough to take the converter in the same way he cut it off your truck it would be easy to prove its yours. Plus they will have a copy of the photo ID of the thief, as required by law...

Is this an 07 or 07.5? Depending on whether or not you have smog checks, a converter is often replaced with a straight pipe. It does not change the way the truck runs. Just a thought.

If it is an 07.5 it gets a lot more complicated and will have to be replaced with what was removed.

The best solution is obviously not parking it wherever it was when the converter got stolen but that is probably not even possible. A sensitive car alarm may help, assuming it picks up the vibrations from the saw. You could also engrave the converter with an ID. Something unique - your initials or the VIN of truck for example. and take a picture. Again, Scrap yards are required by law to make copies of the ID of every individual that brings in scrap so it would be fairly easy to track down in the event it was stolen again.

 

[Tuesdak]

They do make some stuff, but, expensive. And then they may steal the whole truck.

https://catclamp.com/product/catclamp-heavy-duty-commercial-security-kit/

 

[Ozymandias]

Oh Yeah, that will withstand the sawsall for another 5 seconds...
How can one even think that these little ropes prevent theft from people that go through a 4" stainless exhaust pipe twice within a couple seconds.

 

[SnoKing]

A guy got his justice recently when a vehicle fell on him, and killing him while he was trying to steal another one. His get away vehicle had 3 or 4 in it. Our son who is in the wholesale exhaust system business is making a killing selling replacements. They could stop this the same way they stopped the stealing of copper wire, by going after the buyers, be it a metal recycler or muffler shop that is buying stolen goods.

Get one of those engravers and put your VIN number on it. https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-Var...jSknMhhaulg7N4-yWUxoCPJ8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[JR]

It actually probably works quite well...
The theory being the loose cable grabs the saw blade and moves with it negating the cutting. Just think of anything you've tried cutting that wasn't locked down solid....very difficult.
I am sure you could eventually prevail and get through it. Probably take a couple blades and 2 or 3 sets of hands and a heck of a lot of noise. Probably eaiser to just move on to the next one. Thieves are lazy.

 

[Tuesdak]

One could also "SLAM" the truck low rider style so no one can get under it when parked and dropped on the frame.

One of my CA buddies had his 1/2 ton that could be slammed to the frame when parked stolen. Thief brought their own battery to bypass the alarm system. Family he lent it too forgot to drop it on the frame when parked at the mall. They watched them steal it walking out of the mall so had it been lowered to the frame "time" could have stopped the theft. They recovered it stripped...

 

[Robert Raffety]

thanks everyone. lots of great ideas and help. i appreciate your time.

 

[Regcabguy]

In San Diego thieves are nailing Priuses every night. There is a guard for them for a reasonable price. Priuses are like Rodney Dangerfield. They don't get no respect.
On the other hand a F-250 had his stolen last night a couple of blocks away. Etching the vin# sounds like the only way.
I'm so sorry for your losses. In our society increasingly,criminals are not being punished. It's society's fault that made them do it.

 

[Ozymandias]

This catalytic converter theft is all over the place. Today I read an article about that in a swiss newspaper- they are stealing them even in Switzerland.
The article mentioned that a single converter is worth several hundred dollars right now for it's precious metals.
Several hundred dollar!

 

[JimB1]

Also lost my catalytic converter from the 2006, 2 clean saw strokes and probably under 1 minute. I understand that federal legislation is in the works to up this from misdemeanor to felony.

 

[SnoKing]

Deleted. Dupe

 

[Jim W]

I was worried about that also along with the DPF on my truck. So, I was proactive in preventing a thief from stealing my exhaust components. I lock them up in my garage attic for safe keeping been there since 2009.

 

[Robert Raffety]

thank you everyone. i now park the truck in the backyard.

 

[Cooper_D]

Mrs. Rafferty,

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband!

I am happy to see you have found a solution to your problem.

 

[Wiredawg]

Mrs Raferty and all,

My sincere apologies for my inappropriate joking... I had lost sight of the May post and forgot the circumstances surrounding the problem.

Please forgive my short-sightedness and accept my apology.

Very Respectfully Yours,

Ron

 

[bcbender]

Here in NC they are almost ready to pass a law making it a class 1 felony to steal a cat, of course they have to catch em!

 

[Wiredawg]

Here in NC they are almost ready to pass a law making it a class 1 felony to steal a cat, of course they have to catch em!

It would be a Federal crime for removing emissions equipment as well as the larceny charge for the replacement part and labor criminal charge.

 

[mwilson]

Mrs. Rafferty,

1) Very sorry for the loss of your husband, I as well had forgotten the original reason for the post.

2) I see my post has been removed, that is fine with me. Had that not been done already I would have requested it. Again, lost sight of the original post.
My apologies.

3) Backyard is probably the best bet, the druggies want quick and easy targets..Catalytic Converter theft here is through the roof…
I knew as soon as the Marketplace ads showing “Highest Prices Paid For Catalytic Convertors” popped up that we were all going to have a problem…and I was right.
They have arrested several people in the local area over the last month but as mentioned above it’s going to take accountability of the people BUYING the removed converters to stop it. Making it a felony is a wonderful idea if it applies to both perp AND buyer.

Again, my apologies..