Stealing Cat Converters... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

iwrock · #1 12-23-2007, 12:24 AM

My neighbor has a new Toyota Tundra and an older beater Toyota T100. Hes a Toyota Guy, so hes got 2 Lexus that take up his garage space...

Well anyways, he parks his Trucks outside, as they are the mules, and hes got an LX470 and IS350 for those errands when you dont need a truck. Last night, someone came by and stole the Cats off his Tundra and his T100.... I knew that people had been taking them, but I think that they were that valuable where they steal them side by side on two different trucks...

He ordered new cats for his trucks, but in the mean time, he is running open headers on that Toyota 5.7. That motor is one loud SOB.

Anyways, you gas guys, watch your cats... Someone may come by and swipe them if your not careful...

Pete Geither · #2 12-23-2007, 06:54 AM

I can't see it happening without a torch or a sawzall and a lot of noise. Cats are bringing some big bucks I hear though. That is one of the benefits of owning a junk yard these days. One owner I talk to quite a bit hasn't had to buy gas for years, and the value of all the scrap is letting him live very comfortably.

G-Benz · #3 12-23-2007, 06:58 AM

If thieves arent's breaking into vehicles outside and stealing cats, they are breaking into your house and stealing the copper plumbing inside!

Happened to my brother-in-law's rental house that he rented out.

Johnhef · #4 12-23-2007, 12:25 PM

It can be done pretty quietly. There's a tool that looks like vice grips with a bicycle chain attached to it. the chain is wrapped around the pipe and attached to the other end of the vice grip, tightened then twisted back and forth untill the chain cuts through the pipe. can be done in 10 minutes or less.

Pete Geither · #5 12-23-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnhef

It can be done pretty quietly. There's a tool that looks like vice grips with a bicycle chain attached to it. the chain is wrapped around the pipe and attached to the other end of the vice grip, tightened then twisted back and forth untill the chain cuts through the pipe. can be done in 10 minutes or less.

Right John,,, forgot about that one. Hopefully if they have to jack up the vehicle it might fall on them.

Wodnek · #6 12-23-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Geither

Right John,,, forgot about that one. Hopefully if they have to jack up the vehicle it might fall on them.

No doubt they would sue and clean you out.

Hatterasguy · #7 12-23-2007, 03:50 PM

Its probably the crack heads. I go by a scrap metal yard on my way to school and see them in their beat to death pick ups loaded with metal. They steal fire hydrants out of the streets in some of the bad areas.

They will rip the pipes right out of a house, and steal stuff off job sites. Animals, we should be allowed to shot them.

Hatterasguy · #8 12-23-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wodnek

No doubt they would sue and clean you out.

No the car would get them.

cmac2012 · #9 12-23-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnhef

It can be done pretty quietly. There's a tool that looks like vice grips with a bicycle chain attached to it. the chain is wrapped around the pipe and attached to the other end of the vice grip, tightened then twisted back and forth untill the chain cuts through the pipe. can be done in 10 minutes or less.

Holy crap. That would be a lot quieter than a sawsall.

A guy I work for got into his Escalade one morning, started it up and heard a sound like a fuel dragster warming up.

How much can they be getting for these things? I bought one new for my Bimmer online for $120. Are the large block cats a whole lot bigger, with more platinum?

At the local Pick 'n Pull they have a sign up: "Due to govt. regs, we cannot sell used cats," not to mention they cut them all out with hydraulic scissors first thing.

Johnhef · #10 12-23-2007, 04:41 PM

I just took a load of scrap this morning, including both cat pipes off a ML from a few week ago. They had gone up a bit, $135 each side from $120 over the last few months.

Dee8go · #11 12-23-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnhef

It can be done pretty quietly. There's a tool that looks like vice grips with a bicycle chain attached to it. the chain is wrapped around the pipe and attached to the other end of the vice grip, tightened then twisted back and forth untill the chain cuts through the pipe. can be done in 10 minutes or less.

Ohhh, so it was YOU!

Cats have platinum in them, don't they? Isn't that why people would want to steal them?

Anybody know what they'll fetch at a scrapyard?

cmac2012 · #12 12-24-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Ohhh, so it was YOU!

Cats have platinum in them, don't they? Isn't that why people would want to steal them?

Anybody know what they'll fetch at a scrapyard?

I'll be taking the one I took out of my 325 in pretty soon, it's not a big one, but I'll let you know.

iwrock · #13 12-24-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I'll be taking the one I took out of my 325 in pretty soon, it's not a big one, but I'll let you know.

Cmac, did it fail smog??? Or are you just replacing it as it died?

connerm · #14 12-24-2007, 05:33 PM

Common dirty trick is to steal a battery and then come back in a week after a new one has been installed. I wouldn't put it past the low lives to come back and steal the new cats too. Not at all unlikely.

Again, I agree with Hatterasguy. Should just shoot them.