PSA: 4Runner (Lifted Vehicles) Catalytic Converter Theft

[Jamccain]

Hi All, I had my catalytic converter stolen from under my 4Runner this week, they just cut two ends of pipe and were off. Repair at local Toyota dealership is $2023, parts and labor. Happened in a school parking lot, with school in session, and kids 100ft away 75% of the time on the playground. It can happen anywhere. How would one know if it happens to you? You'll know when you start up your 4runner, drive away and it sounds like the muffler is missing. Apparently, a three inch lift provides enough ground clearance to make this theft super easy as the thieves normally jack a car up if needed. Don't worry about me, my costs are likely covered although still working through things there. Here is just a random link from yesterday on the growing number of these being stolen. CC Theft

Funny thing, now my wife is insisting we get full armor underneath to prevent anything from exposure to theft. So, there you go, if you've been wanted some armor, but have been getting resistance.

 

[bkg]

why not go aftermarket for the Cat? Or did they get the ones built into the manifolds?

 

[Jamccain]

why not go aftermarket for the Cat? Or did they get the ones built into the manifolds?

Insurance covered the repair and in CA it's required you use OEM parts (or at least that's what they told me). I am not sure about the manifold question.

 

[4Roamer]

I work at a hospital and they have been hitting us hard. They figured out our shift schedules and they know where the employee lots are. We lose several a month. Usually, daytime hits too. Our local PD has partnered with some tracking company and they have some sort of "sticker" that when it gets hot it etches a serial number into the metal which is tracked by the company. It's free but I guess it only works if the thieves sell the CC whole.

In a not local but related twist, https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/car-exhaust-drug-craze-alarms-congos-capital-2021-09-27/ I haven't seen any of that here yet, and only the one area doing it... yet.

 

[Yroundrdn]

We are getting hit hard in So Cal. Just about every tweeker now has a battery operated sawsall and can get in and out in a few minutes. They end up going down to Mexico and then China for a decent amount of cash. We definitely need to armor up under the trucks.

 

[Porkchopexpress]

Who buys these things? It must be obviously stolen? The police need to do some undercover stings to make people afraid to buy then the theft will stop.

 

[phsycle]

Who buys these things? It must be obviously stolen? The police need to do some undercover stings to make people afraid to buy then the theft will stop.

Thieves Nationwide Are Slithering Under Cars, Swiping Catalytic Converters (Published 2021)

The pollution-control gadgets are full of precious metals like palladium, and prices are soaring as regulators try to tame emissions. Crooks with hacksaws have noticed.

www.nytimes.com