Catalytic Converter Theft. Toyota Truck/SUV owners beware!

[Ray]

Just got my catalytic coverter stolen today Aug 14 from Carpool parking lot at Friutvale and 580 in Oakland. I wonder if there are any Toyota truck models years immune to this problem?

[Jenna]

Any folks from the Dallas area
I have a saw blade and a comb with probably some DNA on it
That were left on the ground after they got my catcon
Any body know some honest cops who really want to catch these guys

[irked]

I got mine stolen last night . The 1999 Toyota Tacoma was parked in my driveway and I was in the garage. I heard some noises outside but I figured it was the neighbor. I went outside as the culprit was heading to his car. He sped away and in the morning I looked under the car and ... no more catalytic converter. The guy's car was a lot nicer than my truck so there must be easy money in it for him. What can I do to prevent this from happening again?

[Smokey Joe]

My catalytic converter was stolen from my Toyota truck at the Hayward BART lot. I suspect this is a common theft in the SF Bay Area.

[runmover]

I joined today in Huntington Beach in front of the public library. I came out and the car was instantly loud. I looked under my 88 toyota truck and the unit had been unbolted. I called the police and waited for 45 minutes. After that I called them back and finally left. An hour and a half later they called back after the library was closed and asked where I was. I told them I was eating dinner and did not have all day to wait for them to get around to showing up. I have called them before and they take their time unless the crime is in progress. I will weld razor blades to the next one that I put in. That way it will be easier to find the guy in the emergency room. Has anyone tried to call the local news and make an announcement? We could do a lot more if we get some information out to the public. Stiff penalties need to be in place or this will ruin our ability to keep our air clean.
May all thieves burn in hell.

[pissed off]

runmover wrote:

I joined today in Huntington Beach in front of the public library. I came out and the car was instantly loud. I looked under my 88 toyota truck and the unit had been unbolted. I called the police and waited for 45 minutes. After that I called them back and finally left. An hour and a half later they called back after the library was closed and asked where I was. I told them I was eating dinner and did not have all day to wait for them to get around to showing up. I have called them before and they take their time unless the crime is in progress. I will weld razor blades to the next one that I put in. That way it will be easier to find the guy in the emergency room. Has anyone tried to call the local news and make an announcement? We could do a lot more if we get some information out to the public. Stiff penalties need to be in place or this will ruin our ability to keep our air clean.
May all thieves burn in hell.

happened yesterday in santa ana with 98 tacoma. do u know of a place to replace it, that wont cost me an arm and a leg? thanks.

[courtney]

My cat converter was sawed off my new Honda Pilot at the airport Park/Ride this past week. Those jerks sawed off a 2 ft length of pipe. We turned on the car and it sounded like a Harley! We had to replace cc, muffler, pipe, etc. to the tune of $1500 at the Honda dealer -$1150 in parts! And we still had to pay for the longterm parking! Deduct.$1000.....
I am very angry!

[1artworkz]

Add my wife's 89 4Runner to the clipped cat club too.

Here is the story I posted on my regular message board.+ pictures.

http://www.z31performance.com/forum/viewtopic...

[toyota pre runner 199]

I just got my catalytic converter stolen this morning around 4:15 an PST. I reported to the police and the officer said that the catalytic converter has bee stolen a lot latley. I did not until my is stolen, too late for me.

[Syngerella]

These are just some of the MANY folks making money from our misery, do a search for "we buy" catalytic converters and you will be shocked, they will buy individual convertors or get them by the truckload...
Converter Pickup Service
Davis Recycling picks up converters throughout the continental United States.
Naturally for cost effectiveness, quantity of converters is important for special trips. For instance, we may fly to your location, obtain a truck from our network of transportation options, then pickup your converters. Our team is constantly on the move throughout the United States.
We also welcome pickup and shipping of small quantities. Many of our clients will ship catalytic converters to Davis Recycling. Load sizes range from 1 to 10,000 or more catalytic converters.
Just 1 (one) converter?, YES!, give us a call and we'll tell you how you can trim, pack and ship one or more to us through UPS or FedEx.
Larger quantities? We'll assist you on how to ship using the national Trucking and Shipping Companies.
If we run a route through your current location, we will be happy to include you in that route for converter pickup.
Likewise, if we are currently servicing customers in your area, we can make arrangements to pickup small quantities.
Call for pickup or delivery arrangements. Call:
Call and email to see if we have a current route in your location.
"Thank you!" from all of us at Davis Recycling.

[Doris]

This happened to me in New York. Nothing like working twelve hour days in NYC to come out and find my cat conv sawed off of my 2005 Tacoma. Am considering either barbed or concertina wire around the exhaust pipe - maybe razor blades. Am really, really angry.

[Julie]

Well it looks like I have to join the club. Mine was stolen from my work parking lot in Greenbelt, MD. They stole that and in the process cut my transmission line. Needless to say I was not leaving work anytime soon. The scary part - broad daylight, and my car was parked RIGHT in front of my buildings front entrance. They are getting very bold!!!!!

[Look Out]

I also got my catalytic converter stolen on the 20th of August. My Toyota SR5 was parked in the apartment parking lot at 920 Cranbrook Ct. in Davis. I saw two guys outside my window around 5:30am and I thought they were just rummaging around the dumpsters for bottles and cans, but they were really cutting out my catalytic converter. They were driving a big, Ford, F150 style truck. It was painted in what looked like shitty paint job of black primer or a flat black. The truck had a lumber rack and I think a brush guard on the front. These guys need to be found.

[Doris]

I would like to cancel my membership to this club! Sorry to hear about your car - out of curiousity, what kind of car is it? I am walking a mile every morning to the train station rather than take a chance of having my "new" catalytic robbed. I've turned this thing around - I tell everyone I am doing my part to protect the environment. Carry a [thermos] mug of coffe (one less cardboard coffee cup in the environment) and am conserving gas. It's only a mile, but at 6:30 a.m. it is a bit rough. It is paralyzing to have this happen when you don't have any public transportation.

Seriously, something should be done about the recycling of these parts - if the government does not care, what about environmental groups. Apparently, this is becoming a nationwide problem. The larger the problem, the easier it should be to catch these pieces of slime.

[Look Out]

Why aren't the makers of these parts stamping a # on to them so they can be tracked along with information about the people who buy and sell them no matter where they're sent.

[Greg]

I just had my 95 Tacoma converter stolen Wed. while I was at work. I park in a gated open lot. The theives cut the pipe below the manifold and right before the muffler. They left the muffler and tailpipe hanging over the rear axle. Insurance companies need to be more understanding of the cost to replace original exaust systems. Harrisburg, PA

[Travis]

All theft crimes should be punishable by the death penalty or at least removal of hand. If this was in place don't you think the crimes would decrease? And if not then bad people would not be living among us hard working honest humans or would just be handless. I don't understand why we are afraid to implement such a program??? Yeah, cowards will say "it's not fair", well it's not fair for people like us to have our lives ruined in such ways. Or people may say, "We should forgive", well thats just what these criminals love hearing.

[Benny]

I had my 96 4runner catalyst converter stolen on 8/24 in South Hayward Bart station, CA. When I came back from work in the afternoon, I started the car and it made big noise. I didn't think it's from the converter until someone told me. I don't know this is a common steal nowadays, and there is nothing that cops can do. For this catalyst converter, it's more expensive in California because it's emission requirement by the state. Is it right? I called some muffler shops and they cost me between 400-500 bucks for after market one. An OEM one is about $800! It's one week of my salary!!!!

[Kristine Lane]

I have my catalytic converter stolen right in front of my place of work in PcMall Torrance. We have a large parking lot and it is amazing how these theives can do this so fast in my Sienna Van. Beware!

[danny]

Well, looks like its not only fashion that starts in Cali, and then catches on in the east. I just had my cat stolen from my '91 Toyota 4x4. It has a lift, and 33" tires, so I guess it was an easy target. I went into work at 1pm, and when I went to lunch at 4pm I noticed a pipe sagging down under my truck. This happened in a mall parking lot in broad daylight.