Catalytic Converter Theft. Toyota Truck/SUV owners beware!

[Long Beach CA]

This morning my dad runs into my room and says "I THINK SOMEONE IS TRYING TO STEAL MY CAR!", I immediatley get my .45 and rush to the front of the house and sure enough, I see some dude underneath my dad's 4 runner wrenching away at something. I wanted to go out and confront the guy but my dad kept telling me to call the police so I go ahead and got on the phone and 5 minutes later the cops showed up and drag the guy out from underneath the car. He had a jumpsuit on and was one bolt away from making off with the cat. This happend at about 6:30-7am IN THE MORNING, my dad was on his way to the car to drive off to work. Damn alarm never even went off during the whole time, I can't imagine what would of happen if it happend at night. Anyways, thank goodness for rusty bolts because thats what slowed down the SOB thief and +1 for LBPD!

[Northern Cali]

Without boring everyone with a Chemistry lesson, there are numerous reactive precious metals used in the catalytic converter to "catalyze" reactions with some of the nastier components of vehicle exhaust and "convert" them to somewhat less noxious forms that we know as smog. So ALL catalytic converts are at risk for theft. It simply becomes a matter of opportunity and a vehicle with a raised body becomes an easy target.

My neighbor has had his stolen twice from in front of our apartments and this morning at 500 AM he chased away a guy in a mid 90s Prelude who was using a cutting disk powered by the Prelude's cigarette lighter to hack off his converter - yet again - from his 20 year old beater Toyota truck.

The guy was double parked side by side to the truck and working on the converter as he leaned out the passenger side with the door open. We also have extensive problems with theft of Honda parts. In the past four years, my car alone has been burgled 4 times for everything from the grill pieces to all the lights. I've been lucky. Other Hondas are simply stolen.

Interstate 80 (the major freeway here between Sacramento and San Francisco) is now being referred to in some media as the 'I-80 Crime Corridor', because of how easy the road makes it for thieves from either big city to hit unprotected suburban communities and get back home within an hour. Thieves can get a converter off a raised truck in less than 5 minutes. So even in a crowded mall parking lot it's fairly easy to pull off without fear of being caught.

In my town of about 60000, it's fairly common knowledge that there is one police officer on duty on the off-shifts. My guess is it's pretty much the same all the way up and down I-80. Some people in town have even suggested that the thefts are from repair shops in the bigger cities looking to increase their profit margins.

And these people are good. They can generally get what they want before you can awaken and respond to your car alarm. My neigherbor sort of got lucky this morning. He only has to pay for some rewelding and not the entire converter.

[Jenni X]

I have a 98 4runner and live in Chicago. I had my catalytic converter stolen a couple of weeks ago, during the night of the worst storm of the year...tornados and all. Someone was either really desperate or really greedy. Watch out for shady tow truck drivers, too. The one in my neighborhood definitely runs a chop shop. I'm wondering if he had something to do with it...

[CrouchingBruin]

It is a nation-wide problem, especially for 4Runners & other Toyota SUV and trucks, because the cat converter is easy to get to and there's only 4 bolts attaching it.

Had mine stolen from my 4Runner in the middle of the night while it was parked in my driveway, but luckily the cops caught them as they were casing out another 4Runner in the neighborhood. There were three catalytic converters in their trunk, two of them that fit 4Runners. One victim was able to ID his because he remembered accidentally putting a deep scratch in it when he installed it. They match the other one up to my 4Runner by comparing wear patterns & rust marks.

After I bolted it back on (the thieves were kind enough to use a wrench instead of a saw, and leave the bolts on the driveway), I followed the police officer's advice and took it to a local muffler shop to have them tack weld it in. The muffler shop said they've been getting about four 4Runners in A DAY to replace catalytic converters; they replaced 19 in one week. By the way, if you do need to replace your cat converter, it will be much cheaper going to a muffler shop rather than the dealer.

[marci]

my husbands truck 1997 tacoma converter was also stolen . talked to the dealer and they said that thos an ongoing thing! it has platinum in it! anyways, he told me to call my ins. company and $250.00 later for my deductable it was taken care of. my ins agent said it happens alot! but its only the 90's toyotas that have the precious metals. so any of the thieves that still the new models cant get s**T for them....

[1996 Chevy Suburban]

Had my catalytic converter(s) two on my vehicle - stolen right from in front of my home - just outside of Altamont, NY
Called police and called my insurance company - I did not have in coverage; however, it would have been covered under the comprehensive as vandalism according to my agent - just FYI if you have comprehensive coverage - might suggest using a scribing tool to put name and telephone # or some other form of ID - then maybe the scrap dealers would not buy it if someone tried to 'sell it'

[Buck]

Son-of-a-gun... I live in Lincoln, CA and my cat converter was stolen from my 1999 Tacoma right out of my freakin' driveway. Pisses me off.

[Hill Guy]

Stolen from my 93 Toyota pickup in the Mission District of SF a couple nights ago.
Surprised the repair was only $105.00 at the local muffler shop... maybe they're in cooperation?

Curse the desperate tweekers.

[Got Hit Too]

Last night, my catalytic converter was stolen off my 1991 Toyota 4X4. Beware - the age of the vehicle doesn't matter. I learned from a local dealer that the Cat Converters are stolen for the precious metals (platinum). This is reported as a nation-wide epidemic, according to local police. Also, melting down the metals produces a by-product that's used for drug-making. Bizarre but true according to our local law enforcement officials. Yep, replacement is around $1000.00

[Mike]

Joining the club....
Found mine missing (via the Harley start-up) this morning in Oakland near Park and Lakeshore. Didn't know exactly what had happened until I read this thread.
I have a 99 Tacoma and it appears they used a saw rather than unbolting it. It also looks like they have cut a cable as well.... I'm hoping that's not my brakes!

HILL GUY if you're here I'd really like to know which muffler shop you went to.$105 sounds sweet compared to the other posts.

[OhNoMeToo]

Got room in the club for one more? My 2000 Tacoma was violated today. Her Cat was cut. Police say this was the 3rd one this wek, same area, same vehicle make. Guess it's time to trade her in for a bus :o(

[Nate A]

I had mine stolen the other day. I have a question...How can the punks SELL the things? Do they break it down in some fashion or do scrap metal dealers just look the other way and give these punks the $150? Wouldn't it be automatic for the shop to call the cops once some knucklehead comes in with a sawed-out converter?

[Jefe]

Freakin A, just had one of the convertors on my Toy Sequoia sawed out at a metro parking lot in Maryland. About $1700 to repalce--hello insurance company. Sure would have been nice to catch the SOB puke and teach a life lesson or two.

[Jamie]

I'm joining the club as well. I'm in Oakland too (same as previous poster) and have a '98 Toyota 4 Runner. When I took it to the dealer this morning he said they've had a TON of problems with this! I park on the street every night so I'm certain this will happen again. UGH! Is there any way to safeguard my car???

[Jamie]

Not sure why that says I'm in NY, NY. I live in Oakland...not for long as I'm sick of crap like this happening.

[Kelly]

Yesterday I parked my '92 Pickup in the school parking lot at CSUN. When I started my car several hours later, it was so loud! I jumped out to see where it was coming from and low and behold the middle part of my muffler was gone... Needless to say I was very surprised and angry. They had the nerve to steal it in broad day light! Well, I got a replacement (a less valuable one) and we tac welded it on, so the only way they are getting it is with a grinder. HAHA suckers

[James Studio City Ca]

My Cat converter was stolen last night (Saturday)off my 92 4Runner. Right out on a busy street! Those bastards. I wish I could have caught them in the act. It would have been very bad! I am going to weld my new one on and write Fu** You on it in flourescent paint! I guess kharma will take care of them.

[just1me]

Yeah I got mine stolen too! A Mazda MPV....only eighty buck to replace but still, wouldn't of had to replace it if it wasn't stolen in the first place....just1me!

[rexmeow]

I just had my cat converter stolen early in the morning from my 95 4runner, that was so depressing to wake up to. I had actually woken up at 1:30am because I heard a sawing noise, just thought it was one of my noisy neighbors. If only I had known, I would have taken my shovel and made some separate human body parts so they couldn't ever do it again. This town has been hit pretty hard, even the dealers and repair shops have been hit pretty hard. My insurance will cover most of it thankfully. I expect my car to be hit again after I get it fixed. I just got promoted with much better pay, so I will be saving my money for a smaller, low clearance car.I am driving a VW bug for my rental and I really like it even thou its smaller than I like. But better gas, low clearance, and peace of mind will be worth it. I really love toyota, but I can't keep going thru this especially when its happening all over the US more and more. I called to warn my sister since she drives a tacoma. My apartment has a guard at the front near my apartment, so much for their useless self. Now I'll be constantly thinking about this when I park anywhere in this town, can't take the stress of it happening again. I will start researching on smaller vehicles to buy. It's so sad these pieces of crap are killing my love of toyota, and of any suv or truck with a high clearance. I like a vehicle with space. There has got to be a way to prevent the stealing of the cats, I like the barbed wire idea from someone.

[john master mechanic]

I have a dozen or so customers with stolen cats, including my wife's 4runner. The newer the car, the more its worth, the recyclers will give any where from 20 to 250 dollars for them, depending on how new it is. Any one with a four wheel drive truck or SUV is at risk the most. There is nothing you can do with welding to prevent this, every one I have seen was cut, looks like it was done with a cordless sawsall. The best way to prevent it is with a alarm that has a shock sensor. I got alarms for all my cars that have a pager that beeps when someone sets off the alarm, I have had zero problems after that. This is something that is happening alot despite what the police say, maybe because the crime goes unreported.