Cat theft from 4Runners

[dekeman]

Story from Vancouver, B.C. newspaper today:

Thieves in New Westminster are still targeting parked vehicles, except now they are not just stealing the car or what’s inside it, but rather what’s under the vehicle for their ill-gotten gains.

In a press release from New Westminster Police Service, Sgt. Gary Weishaar said vehicles’ catalytic converters are becoming an increasingly attractive target for thieves. Nine such cases have been reported to police in New West in the last two months, seven of which were from Toyota 4Runners. The other two were from a Mazda MPV and a Toyota Tacoma.

Weishaar said catalytic converters, engine components used to reduce emissions, are a good haul because they contain the precious metal platinum. “Unscrupulous” scrap dealers, Weishaar said, are willing to pay $50 to $100 for a converter.

4Runners are particularly common for this type of theft because of their ease of getting under the SUV and removing the “cat.” Replacing one can cost a driver upwards of $2,000 for parts and labour. “Cat” theft has become endemic in North America over the last few years.

 

[OCMike]

Someone posted this link before, and I'll post it again. I'm really thinking about buying one of these Cat Clamps soon.

Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Lock

 

[kingpin748]

Seems like you would just have to cut the bolts while you're down there to get that thing off. I wonder how thick they are what they are made out of.

 

[homeyclaus]

Story from Vancouver, B.C. newspaper today:

Thieves in New Westminster are still targeting parked vehicles, except now they are not just stealing the car or what’s inside it, but rather what’s under the vehicle for their ill-gotten gains.

In a press release from New Westminster Police Service, Sgt. Gary Weishaar said vehicles’ catalytic converters are becoming an increasingly attractive target for thieves. Nine such cases have been reported to police in New West in the last two months, seven of which were from Toyota 4Runners. The other two were from a Mazda MPV and a Toyota Tacoma.

Weishaar said catalytic converters, engine components used to reduce emissions, are a good haul because they contain the precious metal platinum. “Unscrupulous” scrap dealers, Weishaar said, are willing to pay $50 to $100 for a converter.

4Runners are particularly common for this type of theft because of their ease of getting under the SUV and removing the “cat.” Replacing one can cost a driver upwards of $2,000 for parts and labour. “Cat” theft has become endemic in North America over the last few years.

What, they stole all the brass memorial plaques in the lower mainland already?

 

[TrailHawk]

Seems like you would just have to cut the bolts while you're down there to get that thing off. I wonder how thick they are what they are made out of.

It looks like the bolt would be tough to cut. There isn't a lot of space between the two flange halves.

The main deterrent is that removing the cat now looks like a PITA to a thief. For added deterrence, you could slap a high voltage danger sticker on the CAT. :naughty:

 

[harper7]

Story from Vancouver, B.C. newspaper today:

Thieves in New Westminster are still targeting parked vehicles, except now they are not just stealing the car or what’s inside it, but rather what’s under the vehicle for their ill-gotten gains.

In a press release from New Westminster Police Service, Sgt. Gary Weishaar said vehicles’ catalytic converters are becoming an increasingly attractive target for thieves. Nine such cases have been reported to police in New West in the last two months, seven of which were from Toyota 4Runners. The other two were from a Mazda MPV and a Toyota Tacoma.

Weishaar said catalytic converters, engine components used to reduce emissions, are a good haul because they contain the precious metal platinum. “Unscrupulous” scrap dealers, Weishaar said, are willing to pay $50 to $100 for a converter.

4Runners are particularly common for this type of theft because of their ease of getting under the SUV and removing the “cat.” Replacing one can cost a driver upwards of $2,000 for parts and labour. “Cat” theft has become endemic in North America over the last few years.

Deke,no mention of what year 4Runner's. Down here it's usually the 3rd Gen's that are targeted because of ease to get to and still plenty of 3rd gens around .They target trucks with big cats as they get paid more for the Platinum.

On the 5th Gens they have it broke down into 4 small cats and the first 2 are part of the exhaust manifold headers.No way to get up in there very easy at all.I doubt they would even attempt it unless one of them goes by the name Houdini. The back 2 are small too and pretty hard to get to as the crossmember is there.They can't get to mine at all with my BudBuilt skids there so they serve dual purposes to protect against rocks and rock heads.

 

[Screecha]

My wife's friends who live in Vancouver also had their cat stolen from their 3rd gen about 3 months ago.

 

[GrantK]

On a related note...

I remember seeing a news story about gas thieves targeting SUVs and pickups. The would place gas cans under the trucks gas tank and punch a hole through the tank, draining every last drop and leaving the vehicle needing a new tank.

A good reason to have FULL coverage skid plates.