Thieves taking catalytic converters from cars

[underpants]

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

Area authorities note spike in thefts of parts valuable for their metal

The thieves steal the converters for the platinum inside, said Petersburg police spokeswoman Esther K. Hyatt, who added that they've seen 20 converter thefts in May and June.

Platinum hit a record price in March, selling for $2,276 an ounce, and was selling for about $2,000 an ounce yesterday.

Frank G. Scafidi, spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, said the organization's investigators reported few incidents of stolen converters last year.

Most localities in the Richmond region are reporting an increase in stolen converters.

Hanover County has had approximately 27 catalytic converters thefts this year, said Sgt. Chris R. Whitley, a Sheriff's Office spokesman.



Read more: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-11-0134.html

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STOP WHINING!!!

[Skink]

1. THese same guys don't really have a problem with locking gas caps either..

[Myrina]

2. Its been a problem in Indy for awhile ...

... along with them ripping apart A/C units for copper ...

[CottonBear]

3. In my area, they're taking entire HVAC units and stealing the convertors off of cars too.

:(
One local guy got electrocuted while trying to strip wire out of a LIVE transformer. (Darwain Award candidate)

[underpants]

7. That is happening all over the place

like world wide and, some how, they are pulling it off ...in most instances

Some stole a bridge in Czech republic or Slovenia (one of the former Eastern Bloc lands)

[Myrina]

10. Yeah, last summer they hit a food bank in Indy ...

.... stripped all the a/c units and of course the food bank lost a whole bunch of food because of it.

Asswipes just don't get (or care) who they're hurting, do they?

[sourmilk]

5. Just don't do it in TEXAS:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/071108dnmetgarland.3f76b2d5.html

Suspected copper thief shot by Garland store owner's son

Garland police say they planned no criminal charges against a 25-year-old man who fatally shot a suspected copper thief this morning.

The shooting happened shortly before 1:20 a.m. at the Bargain Town Variety & Furniture store in the 5700 block of Broadway Boulevard.

The business owner’s son, identified by police as Sunny Sheu, had been guarding the roof after the store had been recently hit by copper thieves.

The son said he confronted a man who had climbed on the roof, police said. The son fired his gun, striking the man in the torso, police said. The man fled, climbing back down the building and collapsing on the ground.

The person shot was identified as Edward Preston Hickey, 43. According to investigators, he had an extensive criminal record consisting of mostly nonviolent offenses such as theft and public intoxication.


Alternative title: “Copper Thief Gets Lead Instead.”

[JMackT]

8. Its just not a good idea

But you will be shot for it in Texas and a few other states where defense of property is still legal.

dont steal my stuff and you wont get shot. Sounds simple right?

[dysfunctional press]

12. edward hickey...? any relation to earl...? sounds like it.

[AP]

4. This happened in my neighborhood last week.

[tnlurker]

6. Last week several were lost by my company

They cut through the fence and took several from company vehicles during the night one day last week.
Now we might have to have night security on our "secure lots".

[Bozita]

9. Identical to this story ... video at link

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/16851938/detail.html

Thieves Target Work Trucks For Parts
POSTED: 8:47 am EDT July 11, 2008
UPDATED: 9:42 am EDT July 11, 2008

GARDEN CITY, Mich. -- A local heating and cooling company was forced to pay thousands after thieves stole parts from more than 15 trucks in their fleet.

The manager of Family Heating and Cooling in Garden City, Mike Miller, said two catalytic converters from each work truck was stolen last week.

"We can't afford to lose any jobs. We've never missed a job," said Miller.

more...

[More_liberal_than_mo]

11. They got mine

two weeks ago while I was fishing on the river near my house. The cop that answered my 911 call says it's an epidemic. Three weeks ago a thief cut a hole in the county car impound yard and sawed off 25 converters in less than 30 minutes. They use portable battery powered saws that make work quick and easy for them. We need to crack down on the recyclers who are aiding and abetting these thieves by buying the stolen converters.

[underpants]

14. Tonight

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3603538&mesg_id=3603538

and Welcome to DU :hi:

[DainBramaged]

13. It used to be airbags (steering wheel) then computers (under hood)

A LOT of this is an Urban Legend because scrap yards AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BUY 'USED' cats. GM, at ALL of it's dealerships REQUIRES that ANY replaced cat be shipped back to GM for recycling. And most states DO NOT ALLOW USED CATS to be sold due to their emissions regulations.


There is so little precious metal in a cat, and it is so hard to extract, it is really not worth the effort. Additionally you can BUY universal cats (some welding experience may be necessary) for under $100.

These media madness stories are making the uninformed buy 'cat cages' for ridiculous amounts of money.


PSS.

I have 'modified' cats over the years for (ahem) increased performance so that I didn't have to put a bypass tube in it's place (big fine).

Where I live there hasn't been ONE cat theft reported in a couple of years. They will steal the car first.

Oh and they can take mine. I JUST passed my 2-year inspection, so I'll weld a pipe in it's place and enjoy increased mileage and performance till it's time to replace it.

[Tesha]

16. Somehow, I never would have doubted that you're the kind of person to do that.

> I have 'modified' cats over the years for (ahem) increased performance
> so that I didn't have to put a bypass tube in it's place (big fine).

Somehow, I never would have doubted that you're the kind of person to do that. :(

Tesha

[WriteDown]

17. Not too hard to extract the metal...

A big steel rod can dislodge all the honeycomb and then you can pretty much just dump it out. Not that I would ever do such a thing :). We did a lot of mods when I helped a friend with his racecar up in Western NC.

[rainbow4321]

15. They started stealing them in Dallas last year

From cars parking in my office parking lot. Broad daylight, parking lot right next to our building, open air lot (not a parking garage). People were going to their cars to head home for the day, starting their cars and hearing bang, bang, bang when they turned their cars on. Whoever was stealing them was quick and discreet about it.
Someone said that they can cost up to a $1000 to replace and you can't turn a claim into your insurance agency even though something was "stolen".

[Delphinus]

18. This might be a dumb question ...

but do *all* cars have catalytic converters? Is it only certain brands? Cars made after a certain date? Thanks.

[Xenotime]

19. Just more sad signs of a broken economy