[Krazee]

I found out today that last week someone in our parking lot had their catalytic converter stolen. I think it was a 3rd Gen 4Runner.

This raised up some questions and concern about my 5th Gen 4Runner.

1) Did something change with catalytic converter's between previous Gen 4Runners that mine was not targeted? We have a fairly large parking lot and I assume it was because where I was parked.

2) I want to prevent this so what are some ideas? Hire a welder to weld the bolts? I don't think skid plates block the cat due to heat issues...?

3) Has any 5th Gens reported their catalytic converter's stolen?

[Underoath]

That was huge thing a while ago in So Cal... The dirty birdies were salvaging the precious metals out of them ... Besides welding it engrave some sort of identifying mark to such as vin or some other identifying number. Just hope they don't cut it. I think certain year vehicles were easier to access the cal. convert than others.

[bradj]

Originally Posted by Underoath

That was huge thing a while ago in So Cal... The dirty birdies were salvaging the precious metals out of them ... Besides welding it engrave some sort of identifying mark to such as vin or some other identifying number. Just hope they don't cut it. I think certain year vehicles were easier to access the cal. convert than others.

Scratching your VIN in the cat will do nothing for you. I've seen how a catalytic converter scrap yard works and they deal in bulk so they can look at a cat and in 1 second determine the value without actually looking at it for any markings. As far as welding the Cat in place that really wouldn't matter either as the crackhead who cuts it out is just going to use a saws all and cut the pipe on each end and in 10 seconds away he goes.

Your best bet is to hope it never happens to you.

And yes many manufactures are using less precious metal in new cats. Older GM cats had high levels and could fetch a hundred or more at a scrap yard. No the average person cannot extract these metals at home......

[Tbob32]

This past summer in Edmond, OK (a suburb of Oklahoma City) there was a rash of cat's stolen. Primarily from late 90's 4Runners. See link:


Cops say crooks covet catalytic converters » Local News » The Edmond Sun

[Underoath]

Originally Posted by bradj

Scratching your VIN in the cat will do nothing for you. I've seen how a catalytic converter scrap yard works and they deal in bulk so they can look at a cat and in 1 second determine the value without actually looking at it for any markings. As far as welding the Cat in place that really wouldn't matter either as the crackhead who cuts it out is just going to use a saws all and cut the pipe on each end and in 10 seconds away he goes.

Your best bet is to hope it never happens to you.

And yes many manufactures are using less precious metal in new cats. Older GM cats had high levels and could fetch a hundred or more at a scrap yard. No the average person cannot extract these metals at home......

well etching an idetifying # helps the poe poe. If that dirty birde happens to get busted or stop for something unrelated at least the poe poe can back track to a victim .. than just finding a cat conver in someones possesion.

[TedinMass]

I had an attempted theft of my cat on my 3rd Gen while parked at a park & ride while I was at work. I was told they are considered easy pickens because someone can slide under them without jacking the vehicle up. I had a small lift installed on mine, so it was higher than most. The people going after mine had cut half way through the exhaust pipe just after the cat with a cordless sawzall before my alarm went off and scared them away. After I called the police to report it, they said 20 people with SUV's had reported stolen cats in the last month in the same parking lot. I guess I was lucky, it only cost me $40 to have the cut welded as compared to $1k for a new cat because you (supposedly) can't buy them used.

[B'klyn_Mike]

Originally Posted by TedinMass

After I called the police to report it, they said 20 people with SUV's had reported stolen cats in the last month in the same parking lot. I guess I was lucky, it only cost me $40 to have the cut welded as compared to $1k for a new cat because you (supposedly) can't buy them used.

20 people in the same parking lot?

Doesn't your town PD have an 'auto theft squad' ?

Mike

[SeattleMike]

Originally Posted by B'klyn_Mike

20 people in the same parking lot?

Doesn't your town PD have an 'auto theft squad' ?

Mike

C'mon man... mid-morning is donut time!

[playtimeover]

Originally Posted by Krazee

I found out today that last week someone in our parking lot had their catalytic converter stolen. I think it was a 3rd Gen 4Runner.

This raised up some questions and concern about my 5th Gen 4Runner.

1) Did something change with catalytic converter's between previous Gen 4Runners that mine was not targeted? We have a fairly large parking lot and I assume it was because where I was parked.

2) I want to prevent this so what are some ideas? Hire a welder to weld the bolts? I don't think skid plates block the cat due to heat issues...?

3) Has any 5th Gens reported their catalytic converter's stolen?

Its hard to avoid the threat about the stolen of the catalytic converter. I am one of the victim. But I just accept and buy new one. I don't know if I will become a victim again.

[I AM SAM]

This has become a big issue here on the NW side of town.

Police Warn Of Catalytic Converter Thefts - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

This may work….

http://www.catclamp.com/

[Snowfox]

Originally Posted by playtimeover

Its hard to avoid the threat about the stolen of the catalytic converter. I am one of the victim. But I just accept and buy new one. I don't know if I will become a victim again.

What truck was it on ?. They also took mine about 2 years ago of my toyota pick up truck right in front of my property, I replace it with a after market then they return about 4 months later and took the whole truck which was found about 3 weeks later. Bummer.

[fxoffroad]

Originally Posted by I AM SAM

This has become a big issue here on the NW side of town.

Police Warn Of Catalytic Converter Thefts - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

The CBS affiliate in Denver ran a story about 4Runners and catalytic converters... the online article (Multiple Thefts Of Catalytic Converters Reported - cbs4denver.com) states thieves are targeting 1995-2000 4Runners. I thought the segment said that it has to do with the use of precious metals - which aren't used in newer converters???

[qs933]

A coworker here in Honolulu had his catalytic converter stolen from his 3rd Gen 4Runner a few months ago while it was parked overnight on a busy street. The police told him pretty much the same story as the other reports here. Thieves here are targeting the 3rd Gen 4Runner due to combination of:

1) The value of the materials (I guess relative to other trucks or newer 4Runners?)
2) Being higher off the ground means easy access
3) Sheer volume of 3rd Gen 4Runners on the road -- lots of potential targets

[Seansy]

I had my used cats replaced on my 3rd gen a few years ago, I asked to keep the old ones and I have hung on to them, meaning to scrap them. I just did last week. I got $85 for both. I thought they would be worth far less.

[Uneek]

Not sure about the 5th's, but the 4th's the cats are tucked up in the engine bay right below the exhaust manifold. They're pretty much behind the suspension. The other cat is mounted in a tight area around around the cross-member and frame rail.

Old Toyota trucks, the cat is right in the middle making it easily accessible.