Cat Converter Theft

[cl4Rk]

Yes, the cat clamp could be defeated pretty quickly (and quietly) with sufficiently large bolt cutters. If they’ve got a reciprocating saw in the van, then they might have bolt cutters too.

But just like most theft deterrent measures, the goal is to make your target less appealing than those nearby. To buy you some time. It’s why I use “the club.” Sure, you can drill the lock or cut the wheel, but that makes it just a little slower or more difficult.

YMMV *

 

[thennen]

Yeah, in my examples, the guys certainly weren't going to haul several tools under the truck to make sure they had everything they needed. In the one case it was timed with a surveillance camera to about 30 seconds. In both cases it was daylight - they needed to be quick and unnoticed. Their thinking is probably this: if it needs more than a saw, move on. They probably already know exactly where they're going to cut based on the vehicle. If those cut spots aren't accessible, that probably makes their decision for them.

 

[ElectroBoy]

I think some of you guys are missing the point of deterrents such as a CatClamp. A cat thief’s success is based on removing your cat in seconds, not minutes or hours. Instead of being cut and removed in seconds, my cat would be a time consuming and possibly noisy project for a thief. Again, can it be done? Yes! But it doesn’t make sense for a thief to work on taking mine, when there are thousands of other fish in the sea, or rather in the neighborhood that he could move on to!

I also wrapped the cables around the cat to prevent openings between the cables for the cat to possibly slip through. Another advantage is that the cat is still in the open air for cooling. I personally would be very hesitant to put a skid plate (unless it was a heavy screen) under it and hinder ventilation to it.

BTW, each section of cable is clamped at each end. Every hole that the cable passes through is clamped. You can’t just cut one section of cable and unravel the rest. I’ve never used cable cutters, so I don’t know how difficult it would be to cut these cables with them. But how many cat thieves are going to be carrying cable cutters with them anyway? I know that the $350 CatClamp comes with stainless cable if that’s a big concern.

That’s quite a nice wrap you did. Have you noticed any buzzing or vibrating of the cable against the cat?

 

[Ted02]

That’s quite a nice wrap you did. Have you noticed any buzzing or vibrating of the cable against the cat?

Thanks!

Nope, no buzzing or vibrating. I thought there may be some vibrating when I was installing, but was pleasantly surprised when I test drove afterwards. If I remember correctly, the kit comes with one or two metal zip ties, but I didn’t want to use them unless needed.

 

[Pastorcat]

Why hasn't anyone found a metal fabricator interested in producing a armored plate to cover the Cat? Seems to me it wouldn't be that difficult and fabricators would jump at the idea. Cats are being cut out at record rates where I live. I'd love to get a armored plate installed over the Cat under my truck.

 

[giguchan]

For those with Motion/Shock sensor on their alarms(providing you have one) I just don't get how a reciprocating saw can do it's job without setting of the alarm.
I had to turn down the sensitivity on my aftermarket alarm because of the guy Cross the way and his Motor bike.

 

[Devbot]

For those with Motion/Shock sensor on their alarms(providing you have one) I just don't get how a reciprocating saw can do it's job without setting of the alarm.
I had to turn down the sensitivity on my aftermarket alarm because of the guy Cross the way and his Motor bike.

Oh boy, easily been close to 2 decades since I've seen one of those alarms! I remember back in the early 00s seeing half a dealership going off. Back when slamming your door in the parking garage meant potentially triggering multiple cars that would still be honking by the time you were done shopping. Good times those were ound:

 

[Endlessblockades]

Why hasn't anyone found a metal fabricator interested in producing a armored plate to cover the Cat? Seems to me it wouldn't be that difficult and fabricators would jump at the idea. Cats are being cut out at record rates where I live. I'd love to get a armored plate installed over the Cat under my truck.

Thinking of making a template and getting a piece of 3/16th steel cut to make my own. I was down there installing a transfer case skid and the skid was so wide it almost does the job protecting the rear cat on my CA exhaust. An 8" by 12" plate bolted to the skid and the frame rail (there are plenty of factory holes to use) would make it an Extra PITA for the tweeker to get his cordless sawzall up in there. I don't feel right having a nest of cables down there and welding rebar from the cat to frame might transfer exhaust vibes to frame and cabin. No pix of the 4xi installed but you can see that it's pretty big in my urban paint booth:

P.S. Yes, it's great have a couple hundred extra pounds of steel (full skids) down there to really help me stay 'planted' in the Mojave sand dunes I'm visiting next...where is the :facepalm: emoji? :redbrick:

 

[giguchan]

Oh boy, easily been close to 2 decades since I've seen one of those alarms! I remember back in the early 00s seeing half a dealership going off. Back when slamming your door in the parking garage meant potentially triggering multiple cars that would still be honking by the time you were done shopping. Good times those were ound:

Sounds like those were the good ol days!

 

[pluton]

Let's see if this free gift link works (NYT article, 16 NOV 23)
So Thieves Nabbed Your Catalytic Converter. Here’s Where It Ended Up. - The New York Times

 

[jgue467]

Rebar welded onto strategic points on cat/body/other will slow them down enough to make them move onto easier targets, cost me $50 for materials and a muffler man.

He says years ago he'd get one or two cats needing replacement every few months, now its a dozen a week, wow.

This is Austin mind you....

 

[Endlessblockades]

Was just reading an article about cat theft dropping by 2/3rds in the last year out here. Hopefully that spreads....

 

[Jungoes]

I doubt it will, I had mines stolen and now I've installed Full metal skid plates on all my vehicles. That cable stuff is crap, a cordless grinder can cut through that easily. After mines got cut off, I installed a straight pipe had way more power (no downshift going uphill ) but the noise, and increased fuel consumption wasn't worth it. I installed a new muffler and cat and its been great so far.
Here is the box I made and installed, it has hidden bolting, multiple connection points and security bolts, so if a thief has an hour to spare...welll:uzi:
I plan on integrating another skid plate with it so its a work in progress.
No solution is perfect, just depends on how determined a thief is.

 

[_Ace_]

I installed a Talons Garage transmission skidplate that is also designed to protect the catalytic converter. It has a wing on the side that denies any access to the front half of the cat -

Because thieves are in a hurry I decided to make a quick shield out of HVAC galvanized steel sheet to protect the back half. Cheap & easy, this should encourage a thief to move on to an easier target -

 

[pluton]

Thanks to everyone who has posted their various fabs/installs.
Ace, your rear extension is a good idea; they can't get the whole cat with the front blocked by the Talons shield, but they could saw through the exposed cat itself and end up with half a cat, which is worth [presumably] some money at the unscrupulous metal recycler.

 

[giguchan]

What kind of alarms is everyone running(providing alarms are still a thing) where the shock sensor won't trigger when someone takes a sawzall to ANY part of the undercarriage?

 

[_Ace_]

I had a Viper 3305V installed in my 1998.

It has a built in shock sensor and I added a glass breakage sensor microphone to the system.

No way to test it but I think the mic sensor would trip due to a sawzall cutting. They also make proximity sensors that will trip the alarm if someone gets too close.

 

[giguchan]

Thanks for the reply.
it's weird to me that even the most brazen of thieves won't take off when the siren starts sounding.

 

[Chumly]

This seems to help cut down on Cat thefts….

 

[sactown]

I put Talons skid on my 5th gen, good coverage that will slow down a thief and hopefully they move on to an easier target. Not perfect but better than doing nothing