Catalytic Converter Theft December 19, 2020, 03:33:14 pm The catalytic converter on our 30' was stolen sometime during the night between 12/6 and 12/7/2020. On the morning of 12/7, I found a stout stick wedged between the door frame and through the boost handle on the left side of the door. I thought it strange at the time and didn't attach the significance until I discovered the theft on 12/18. The stick was meant to keep the door wedged shut in the event there were occupants inside the LD when the thief began cutting out the catalytic converter. I discovered the theft when I started the engine on 12/18 to do an oil change.IMPORTANT PART: Sanderson Ford here in metro Phoenix says they have replaced 4 catalytic converters stolen from RVs in just the last week.My outdoor camera didn't cover the right angle but it will shortly. I'm also thinking about using some eMacro motion sensors for early warning.The scum of the world is watching us all the time for the right moment. Preventative vigilance is all we have to keep us from serious inconvenience and rising insurance rates.Dan 10 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #1 – December 19, 2020, 04:03:12 pm Bummer! Where was the LD when the catalytic converter was cut out?
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #2 – December 19, 2020, 05:11:22 pm Awful news!Older model Prius are incredibly easy to cut the catalytic converter out of, which spawned a cottage industry of shields you can bolt on to thwart thefts.Is there such shields to protect a E450?
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #3 – December 19, 2020, 06:11:41 pm That sucks! When I was inspecting Bossa Nova, pre-purchase, that’s one of the things I checked for as I’ve heard it’s becoming more common in certain areas. My greatest fear was that it would get stolen while I was on the trip back to California so when I got back here I crawled underneath to verify that it’s still there so I can get it smogged.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #4 – December 19, 2020, 06:16:55 pm Quote from: HiLola - December 19, 2020, 06:11:41 pmThat sucks! When I was inspecting Bossa Nova, pre-purchase, that’s one of the things I checked for as I’ve heard it’s becoming more common in certain areas. My greatest fear was that it would get stolen while I was on the trip back to California so when I got back here I crawled underneath to verify that it’s still there so I can get it smogged. You'll know if it's missing, Greg. You'll need earplugs. 🙂Chris 2 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #5 – December 19, 2020, 06:18:12 pm Quote from: Chris Horst - December 19, 2020, 06:16:55 pmYou'll know if it's missing, Greg. You'll need earplugs. 🙂Having thankfully never had one stolen, I’m sure you’re right, Chris!
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #6 – December 19, 2020, 06:29:40 pm Thank you for sharing. I am not only concerned about the theft but the safety for those who may have been inside not knowing the primary exit had been jammed. 3 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #7 – December 19, 2020, 07:30:07 pm Were the cab doors blocked? And even if they were, the windows can be lowered to allow escape, or, duh, start the engine and drive away? Also, I think it would hard to complete the theft before an occupant called 911 and the police showed up.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #8 – December 19, 2020, 09:47:07 pm Quote from: Joan - December 19, 2020, 04:03:12 pmBummer! Where was the LD when the catalytic converter was cut out?Parked on my driveway at my residence.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #9 – December 19, 2020, 09:50:22 pm Quote from: Eric Greenwell - December 19, 2020, 07:30:07 pmWere the cab doors blocked? And even if they were, the windows can be lowered to allow escape, or, duh, start the engine and drive away? Also, I think it would hard to complete the theft before an occupant called 911 and the police showed up.No, the cab doors were not tampered. The wedged stick across the door would have provided the time needed for the scum to get away before any potential occupants could get outside.This theft probably took 2 minutes. The scum probably used a battery-operated saws-all. I must say, the cuts were very clean and straight. The scum had practice doing this.I'm not going to comment on calling 911.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #10 – December 19, 2020, 09:58:54 pm A small update:I'm insured by Progressive. They called me, in person, to acknowledge the claim within two hours of me filing it on the internet. I'm impressed so far. An adjuster will call Monday.I've contacted a dealership (Don Sanderson Ford) here in metro Phoenix. They want $1600 for the replacement OEM catalytic converter and another $800 to install it. I don't yet have a quote on what it will cost to tow it to the dealership.I will not accept less than the OEM replacement. There are after-market cats that will work but I will not trust them in relation to the design considerations of shielding heat that close to the box above it where my wife and I live when traveling.Dan 2 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #11 – December 19, 2020, 10:12:30 pm Quote from: dsandsaz - December 19, 2020, 03:33:14 pm... using some eMacro motion sensors for early warning....Dan, Are these the ones you are talking about emacros wireless solar driveway alarm?They look like they alert if someone approaches from about 30' away.Do they send an alarm to your phone or Jane 1 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #12 – December 20, 2020, 12:46:49 pm Quote from: Jane and Scott - December 19, 2020, 10:12:30 pmDan, Are these the ones you are talking about emacros wireless solar driveway alarm?They look like they alert if someone approaches from about 30' away.Do they send an alarm to your phone or JaneYes. These are the motion sensors I am considering. I am working on a way to place the sensor under the LD as well as one other location to alert me to the approach of an intruder on my driveway. They transmit an alarm tone to a receiver. You can buy as many receivers as you want so you can have them in various places in your house so as not to miss that "important call."Dan
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #13 – December 20, 2020, 12:54:21 pm Seems as if catalytic converters are this eras VW bug motor. Those little engines used to disappear in the dead of night. Imagine the surprise of some poor guy turning the key and nothing happens. He goes back to look at the motor and it's gone. "The more things change the more they stay the same". 1 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #14 – December 20, 2020, 02:42:25 pm I have registration in New Mexico with no annual inspection.A couple of years ago I was in Northern California when my RV died.Towed into Alturas and a nice Mennonite mechanic found and fixed a couple of issues.One of them was a plugged cat. He priced a new one, over $400 and I asked since I was out of state if he could remove it.He didn't have the parts to do it and sent me down the road to a muffler shop. They had no problem with knocking out the innards of the plugged cat for $50. No check engine codes with the cat the way it is either.So, if someone steals mine, they will get a surprise. 3 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #15 – December 20, 2020, 04:02:15 pm Quote from: Jota - December 20, 2020, 02:42:25 pmI have registration in New Mexico with no annual inspection.A couple of years ago I was in Northern California when my RV died.Towed into Alturas and a nice Mennonite mechanic found and fixed a couple of issues.One of them was a plugged cat. He priced a new one, over $400 and I asked since I was out of state if he could remove it.He didn't have the parts to do it and sent me down the road to a muffler shop. They had no problem with knocking out the innards of the plugged cat for $50. No check engine codes with the cat the way it is either.So, if someone steals mine, they will get a surprise.Did you notice any difference in performance or mpg?
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #16 – December 20, 2020, 04:53:27 pm Quote from: Jota - December 20, 2020, 02:42:25 pmOne of them was a plugged cat. He priced a new one, over $400 and I asked since I was out of state if he could remove it.He didn't have the parts to do it and sent me down the road to a muffler shop. They had no problem with knocking out the innards of the plugged cat for $50. No check engine codes with the cat the way it is either.So, if someone steals mine, they will get a surprise.The catalytic converter on your 1996 LD does not have a downstream oxygen sensor, the computer does not monitor the cat's performance, as it does with later, ODBII emission systems. If it ever needs inspection, such as if sold to someone in another state, it will not pass the tailpipe test.BTW, it's a violation of Federal law to remove the catalytic converter from any street-legal vehicle that originally had one as standard equipment. It does no matter what state a vehicle is registered in or operates in.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #17 – December 20, 2020, 06:22:48 pm No change in mileage, it gets about 8 no matter what.I did not remove it, it's still there looking exactly like it did from the factory.The guts are removed. And yes, that is not legal either but I have no intentions of selling it.If I ever can get something newer, it will go to a family member that won't have any issues with it the way it is. 1 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #18 – December 20, 2020, 06:33:46 pm Catalytic converter laws are in the same category as speeding laws or rolling through stop signs or texting while driving for that matter or even driving after a few drinks. People routinely weigh the risk of getting caught, the possible consequences and decide for themselves to adhere to the law or not. Choosing between all of the above I'd say removing or gutting your cat is the least danger to others and the law that merits the least punishment when broken. Personally I think they are a good idea and work as advertised but if I lived in a state that didn't check for compliance and mine went kaput or got stolen I wouldn't replace it.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #19 – December 20, 2020, 08:13:31 pm Quote from: winnie114 - December 19, 2020, 06:29:40 pmThank you for sharing. I am not only concerned about the theft but the safety for those who may have been inside not knowing the primary exit had been jammed.Yeah that seems pretty aggressive and borderline violent.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #20 – December 20, 2020, 10:25:35 pm My spouse went to a Costco and while gone 2 guys cut the catalytic converter out of our Toyota pickup. She saw two guys by the truck and didn’t think much about it. Starting up the truck told the story. We were told Toyota trucks catalytic converters were high theft item. I just couldn’t believe it was stolen in a crowded Costco parking lot in broad daylight. 1 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #21 – December 21, 2020, 09:07:35 am Quote from: O2boutside - December 20, 2020, 10:25:35 pmMy spouse went to a Costco and while gone 2 guys cut the catalytic converter out of our Toyota pickup. She saw two guys by the truck and didn’t think much about it. Starting up the truck told the story. We were told Toyota trucks catalytic converters were high theft item. I just couldn’t believe it was stolen in a crowded Costco parking lot in broad daylight. Are you in LA?I wonder if this is one of those nonviolent crimes that wont be prosecuted if you are poor or a minor.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #22 – December 21, 2020, 10:37:54 am Quote from: Sawyer - December 21, 2020, 09:07:35 amAre you in LA?I wonder if this is one of those nonviolent crimes that wont be prosecuted if you are poor or a minor.No this was in Clovis, CA
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #23 – December 21, 2020, 10:50:57 am Quote from: O2boutside - December 21, 2020, 10:37:54 amNo this was in Clovis, CAPretty brazen thieves. 1 Likes
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft Reply #24 – December 21, 2020, 11:45:27 am Dan, a couple months back someone cut the catalytic convertor out of my wife's CRV while it was in a rural church's parking lot while she was out on a walk with her girlfriends. She called me to say that her car sounded funny when she started it. I drove over to see what was up and knew pretty much what happened when I started it up.Turns out that there was a ring of these thieves in our part of Ohio doing this and they were caught shortly after our theft. Now none of these ladies wants to leave their cars parked on these back roads anymore.Insurance covered it all, but what a P.I.T.A.!
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