My catalytic converter was stolen today

Murrmurr

Murrmurr

SF VIP
Location
Sacramento, California
I went out to my van this afternoon to go to the nearest police substation (coincidentally) so I could get a fix-it ticket signed off, and I just happened to walk around to the passenger side to make sure the ticket was in the glovebox, and that's a good thing because otherwise I wouldn't have seen that the van was sitting up on a jack-stand. And it wasn't my jack-stand.

I checked to make sure all my tires were there. They were, but that's not so good because it meant my catalytic converter was probably gone. I checked. It's gone.

Welcome to the new neighborhood, Frank. :mad: Less crime than the other, you said? :mad: That was obviously BS. :mad:

A replacement's gonna cost anywhere from $300 to $2,000, and that's just the cost of the part. I don't know how to install them, but my son probably does. I can't do much more than hand him wrenches and whatnot. If I have to take it to a shop it could cost me up to $3,000. We just ordered furniture and stuff! :mad:

With the van in the driveway, no one can see the passenger side of my car, but when the guy across the street saw me with that jack-stand in my hand and heard me cussing, he came over to tell me that, about an hour earlier, he saw a Toyota Supra parked in front of my house for several minutes, and 3 Hispanic males got out. I don't know anyone who drives a Supra, and none of my Hispanic friends have visited yet.

I'll be watching for that freakin' Supra. And, time to get a door cam. That'll have to wait; I have to buy a cat converter first. 😭
 

Murrmurr said:
I went out to my van this afternoon to go to the nearest police substation (coincidentally) so I could get a fix-it ticket signed off, and I just happened to walk around to the passenger side to make sure the ticket was in the glovebox, and that's a good thing because otherwise I wouldn't have seen that the van was sitting up on a jack-stand. And it wasn't my jack-stand.

I checked to make sure all my tires were there. They were, but that's not so good because it meant my catalytic converter was probably gone. I checked. It's gone.

Welcome to the new neighborhood, Frank. :mad: Less crime than the other, you said? :mad: That was obviously BS. :mad:

A replacement's gonna cost anywhere from $300 to $2,000, and that's just the cost of the part. I don't know how to install them, but my son probably does. I can't do much more than hand him wrenches and whatnot. If I have to take it to a shop it could cost me up to $3,000. We just ordered furniture and stuff! :mad:

With the van in the driveway, no one can see the passenger side of my car, but when the guy across the street saw me with that jack-stand in my hand and heard me cussing, he came over to tell me that, about an hour earlier, he saw a Toyota Supra parked in front of my house for several minutes, and 3 Hispanic males got out. I don't know anyone who drives a Supra, and none of my Hispanic friends have visited yet.

I'll be watching for that freakin' Supra. And, time to get a door cam. That'll have to wait; I have to buy a cat converter first. 😭
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Sorry to hear about that. My grandson's was stolen also. The problem was he was in the Bay Area when it happened, and he had to get the car trucked down to SoCal to get it fixed. He has a $500 deductible, unfortunately. He is also investing $200 in an anti-theft plate.
 
Hope they don't remember your car, as in, "He had to buy a new one, so let's go get that one, too." I've read that burglars do that, once they've stolen, they believe people replace items, so time for the burglars to go shopping, too.

Sorry this happened to you!
 
Owlivia said:
Hope they don't remember your car, as in, "He had to buy a new one, so let's go get that one, too." I've read that burglars do that, once they've stolen, they believe people replace items, so time for the burglars to go shopping, too.

Sorry this happened to you!
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I came out one morning and the two original Toyota hubcaps on the far side of my car were gone. Later that week, I went to a used hubcap place to get replacements to find out that they were $60 apiece! The guy took pity on me and sold me two slightly scratched ones for $50 total. I went home and put them on. Next morning, the other two were gone. I gave up and bought four generic plastic ones from Walmart. I could live without "official" Toyota hubcaps. The plastic ones were still on there when I sold the car ten years later.

When I bought my new Toyota a few years ago, I immediately took off the "original" hubcaps and put them in the garage. I bought a $20 set of generic plastic ones from Walmart. Four years later, they're still on the car. When and if I sell the car, I'll put the originals back on.
 
Owlivia said:
Hope they don't remember your car, as in, "He had to buy a new one, so let's go get that one, too." I've read that burglars do that, once they've stolen, they believe people replace items, so time for the burglars to go shopping, too.

Sorry this happened to you!
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Wonder if parts makers will ever bother to come up with a cat converter that snaps in, snaps out with as much ease as your car key. Then people could keep it inside between car trips.
 
Murrmurr said:
Wonder if parts makers will ever bother to come up with a cat converter that snaps in, snaps out with as much ease as your car key. Then people could keep it inside between car trips.
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Nice idea but the hassle of jacking up a vehicle to remove & reinstall even for a young person could get tiring really quick.

If your son is mechanically inclined he should be able to clamp in a replacement fairly easily. Depending on how the removal took place [probably with a reciprocal saw with a hacksaw blade] . That would make replacing the converter using clamps & probably clampable sleeves easier & hopefully less costly. For clamps & sleeves measuring the OD of the exhaust pipes will be needed. You might even be able to reduce the cost if a generic version is available for your van. When you look under your van see if the metal shield that is a heat barrier between the converter & the floor of your van is still in place. If not you will need that too & you have to take notice of how it was attached.

For only the converter it's not a lot of work except for laying on your back in a driveway. Probably a box end 1/2 wrench would be all the tools needed.

The thieves probably have a junk yard source for getting jacks for next to nothing in cost. So cost wise leaving the jack under your van takes more time than cutting off the converter.

Hope you are able to minimize the cost of replacement & don't experience another theft.
 
I've heard so many getting stolen. I'm surprised I haven't been a victim as my van sits about 13" high on the lower edge door well. Someone could easily slide under, cut and run.

However, I know some people who'd just weld in a straight pipe, since Washington got rid of smog test. Still, I'm vigilant where I go and how long.

Very sorry to hear this still happening.
 
Murrmurr said:
I went out to my van this afternoon to go to the nearest police substation (coincidentally) so I could get a fix-it ticket signed off, and I just happened to walk around to the passenger side to make sure the ticket was in the glovebox, and that's a good thing because otherwise I wouldn't have seen that the van was sitting up on a jack-stand. And it wasn't my jack-stand.

I checked to make sure all my tires were there. They were, but that's not so good because it meant my catalytic converter was probably gone. I checked. It's gone.

Welcome to the new neighborhood, Frank. :mad: Less crime than the other, you said? :mad: That was obviously BS. :mad:

A replacement's gonna cost anywhere from $300 to $2,000, and that's just the cost of the part. I don't know how to install them, but my son probably does. I can't do much more than hand him wrenches and whatnot. If I have to take it to a shop it could cost me up to $3,000. We just ordered furniture and stuff! :mad:

With the van in the driveway, no one can see the passenger side of my car, but when the guy across the street saw me with that jack-stand in my hand and heard me cussing, he came over to tell me that, about an hour earlier, he saw a Toyota Supra parked in front of my house for several minutes, and 3 Hispanic males got out. I don't know anyone who drives a Supra, and none of my Hispanic friends have visited yet.

I'll be watching for that freakin' Supra. And, time to get a door cam. That'll have to wait; I have to buy a cat converter first. 😭
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One of your neighbors might have a surveillance camera. You might want to ask around... see if they have a shot of the car.
 
SeniorBen said:
One of your neighbors might have a surveillance camera. You might want to ask around... see if they have a shot of the car.
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That's a good idea. Unfortunately, the house with a good view of that side of my car is empty right now. But anyone across the street would have recorded a car and a couple of thieves going up my driveway and back again....with my cat-con in their hands or a box or whatever.

I'm for sure gonna get a Ring cam or something.
 
Something? May I suggest a nasty pit bull?
The California I to a few decades ago no longer exists, glad I got to enjoy a few great years there such as Joe Montana and the Loma Prieta. Such a happy time then.
 
@Knight

"The thieves probably have a junk yard source for getting jacks for next to nothing in cost. So cost wise leaving the jack under your van takes more time than cutting off the converter."

That's exactly what my son said.

I've called a muffler shop that has reasonable prices, but I'm going to search pertinent Calif laws to find out if there's a legal way to just bypass the converter. I wish I'd asked the guy at that shop. I should call him tomorrow and see what he says.
 
Happy Heart said:
Something? May I suggest a nasty pit bull?
The California I to a few decades ago no longer exists, glad I got to enjoy a few great years there such as Joe Montana and the Loma Prieta. Such a happy time then.
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We've actually been talking about getting a dog; me and my wife. She's been saying "something fluffy" and I've been saying something protective.

I think we're in agreement now.
 
I used to have an 80 lb. Weimaraner that someone else didn't want. He was totally great with me. One night I came home from work about 10:00pm and no sooner than I had closed the front door when he began to wildly throw himself at door, barking and snarling like he wanted to kill something. I suspect someone had been waiting for me to get home. In Phoenix, Az that summer there were a lot of problems with guys breaking in bedroom windows, sometimes children were stolen and worse. There is no doubt in my mind that he saved my life that night. Sadly, when the car was stolen off the carport, he failed to even whimper!
 
Happy Heart said:
I used to have an 80 lb. Weimaraner that someone else didn't want. He was totally great with me. One night I came home from work about 10:00pm and no sooner than I had closed the front door when he began to wildly throw himself at door, barking and snarling like he wanted to kill something. I suspect someone had been waiting for me to get home. In Phoenix, Az that summer there were a lot of problems with guys breaking in bedroom windows, sometimes children were stolen and worse. There is no doubt in my mind that he saved my life that night. Sadly, when the car was stolen off the carport, he failed to even whimper!
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I'd love to get a Bull Terrier but I'd settle for just about any mid-sized bully breed. I don't want a large dog.
 
jujube said:
I came out one morning and the two original Toyota hubcaps on the far side of my car were gone. Later that week, I went to a used hubcap place to get replacements to find out that they were $60 apiece! The guy took pity on me and sold me two slightly scratched ones for $50 total. I went home and put them on. Next morning, the other two were gone. I gave up and bought four generic plastic ones from Walmart. I could live without "official" Toyota hubcaps. The plastic ones were still on there when I sold the car ten years later.

When I bought my new Toyota a few years ago, I immediately took off the "original" hubcaps and put them in the garage. I bought a $20 set of generic plastic ones from Walmart. Four years later, they're still on the car. When and if I sell the car, I'll put the originals back on.
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Clever solution. Reminds me of some smart people who wear cheap watches & jewelry when they're out & leave their Rolex & expensive stuff at home. Wish we could do that with car parts.
 
That's a real crap sandwich. Insurance doesn't usually cover things like that because of the deductible.
One week after I bought my new Honda, my driver's door wouldn't open automatically until I used the key. I thought the electronic part on the transmitter was defective, so I took it to the dealer to have it repaired under warranty.
The mechanic showed me the damaged lock where someone tried to pry it open with a screwdriver to steal the car. The repair would be $611.00.
 
My DIL in Greater Vancouver had her cat-con stolen. It was parked directly across the street from their front door. It happened at 12:30 AM. They saw it on their Ring camera; it took less than 1 minute. The license plate wasn’t visible. These guys are pros.

Your dog likely won’t be out wandering around 24 hrs a day. Consider motion activated lights and cameras. Check out Simplii security system. If you’re wondering why a Canadian is suggesting them, it’s just because I keep hearing it advertised on podcasts. I haven’t a clue if they’re any good. There’ll be a system for you than you can set up yourself.
 
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