Catalytic converter stolen again

Submitted by Internal_Position_49 t3_y7olfg in baltimore

4:30 am next to John Hopkins university our catalytic converter was stolen by a white car with a black roof top just one week after getting it repaired is the city even trying to do anything for this I know Tampa Florida is letting people stamp the converters with vin numbers and are working with scrap yards as well to find people turning them in by bulk is baltimore trying to do anything to help fox this problem it’s getting out of control.

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Boneyard_Art t1_isvzk2q wrote

That's super unfortunate! Cat cages are pretty cheap online and sounds like it'd be a good investment for y'all.

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Rubysdad1975 t1_isw7laq wrote

Please get the catalytic converter cage. I had it installed on my Prius and the total cost was $300. Worth it, in my opinion.

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RighteousCookies t1_iswa8fo wrote

Replying to epicwinguy101 (#139,489)

That's 100% what our insurance adjuster told us. They're a waste of time and money, plus once you have a converter stolen they will keep coming back if you park it in the same area. He told us he's had quite a few people in the area have their catalytic converters stolen a couple of times.

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iamculby t1_iswd0or wrote

Replying to epicwinguy101 (#139,489)

More than a few seconds, and the thieves are looking for convenience and speed. There are lots of with cats they could take. If they look under a car and see a shield, they’re going to find another car that’s easier to remove and doesn’t leave them in a vulnerable position doing something loud and obviously illegal for any longer than they have to. If someone was really committed to getting your exact cat they will get it shield or not, but most thieves are risk averse and would rather just try a different car

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Significant_Jump_21 t1_iswdehf wrote

I'm near the city county line. The county cops told us the scrap yards have to get driver license info from anyone selling metal. ESPECIALLY cat converters. They have to hold converters for 3 days. Cops check the scrap yards when someone files a stolen converter report. That's state law. CITY cops it's totally different. They dgaf. The city scrap yards don't hold converters. Cops don't follow up on the stolen converter reports. The county cops told us criminals are stealing converters out in Baltimore, Howard and AA county. Then bring them to the city scrap yards to sell.

My shop is on Wilkens near a scrap yard. I know the dudes at the scrap yard. They literally don't hold anything or ask for ID. City cops don't do anything about stolen stuff in the city. It's crazy.

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brocialism t1_iswiq3x wrote

Park next to an Odyssey or a Prius

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therealmazi t1_isx75z7 wrote

Same person got you twice? 😒

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Jawwaad127 t1_isx7mec wrote

Sorry to hear that it happened to you. Does insurance cover it and how do you it’s been stolen? Since this seems to be a big issue now, I’m wondering if car companies see this and are coming up with a solution.

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andalusiterainbow t1_isxf0l1 wrote

So sorry to hear that. My partner and I both had ours stolen last week in Howard County. Once we get our cars back we are getting protective plates installed AND an alarm. It’s a little device you put on the cat. You have to activate it with a key fob like you lock your car. Once it’s activated, it will sound off if there’s any vibration near the cat. It’s super loud. Everyone says the anti theft stuff only slows them down, but I think waking up the whole neighborhood will probably make them think twice about taking that one lol. Anyway we haven’t tested our methods yet but I’d suggest getting two different anti theft mechanisms!

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andalusiterainbow t1_isxflvk wrote

Replying to Jawwaad127 (#141,049)

Your car goes from a quiet, purring Prius to a monster truck lawnmower, so it’s pretty clear when it’s gone. Comprehensive insurance covers it, which I’d suggest. My partner and I would have spent thousands of dollars on repairs if we didn’t have it. It’s mostly Gen II Priuses that are targeted right now. It’s harder to steal from the newer cars, and/or they don’t have as much precious metals in them.

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InOnTheKillTaker t1_isxj098 wrote

Replying to sllewgh (#141,763)

I'll probably be ignored or downvoted, but to add to this, this is a great book. It is possible.

Edit: Changed link to a book I ACTUALLY read that I ACTUALLY meant to link. Sorry. I am sure the other book is fine, I just never read it lol

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theSuttyman t1_isxjtxc wrote

Damn! My Cat got jacked last week and my car’s in the shop today. If they get me for a second time I’ll be livid!!

3

TheCaptainDamnIt t1_isxn4al wrote

Replying to Significant_Jump_21 (#139,774)

BPD don't give a fuck about crime, this city, anyone not a cop or anyone they don't know personally, hell they don't even care about just doing their job. They only thing they care about is that they are 'respected' and patted on the back by society just for their existence. And if they don't get that, they'll do even less of their job to 'punish' everyone else. We need to burn the whole department down and start over.

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gaytee t1_isxnfxn wrote

Just blows my mind that we haven’t just made buying used cats illegal. This is clearly a problem for a ton of citizens and only benefits criminals and weird car parts recycling shops. If buying and selling used/stolen cats is THIS lucrative, it needs to be stopped with legislation that locks people up. If we do, in 10 years it’ll sound real stupid to be the guy whose doing 15-25 years for a stolen cat but that’s what it’s gonna take.

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Ihanad t1_isxnl5l wrote

How is one aware that it is missing? Debris next to car or maybe car sounds unusual? Thanks

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mzm316 t1_isxuta3 wrote

Replying to HosstownRodriguez (#140,709)

I just don’t understand this at all. I mean I understand the legality, but why would it be a crime for you to put a theft deterrent on your own property? And if they sue you, can’t you sue back or something since you can also prove they were committing theft of your property? Or call the police since you have proof of the attempted crime? This just baffles me.

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HosstownRodriguez t1_isxx3zp wrote

Replying to mzm316 (#142,692)

If the 'theft deterrent' has the intent to capture or injure someone, like a boob trap does, then it's illegal. IANAL, you can sue anyone for any reason you want, and you can always call the police, but you can't try to hurt someone for attempting to steal your property. If they sustain injuries, they can seek compensation for those damages in civil court. The podcast Criminal just did a great episode on this subject entitled Mantrap. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FboChY5yBDvyDPdqp4yUd?si=415573421f574786

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EntireAd9048 t1_isxy2r9 wrote

Replying to Significant_Jump_21 (#139,774)

It's basically city policy not to prosecute or punish anyone for stealing (it's a "nonviolent" property crime), so are you surprised?

Even if they track some of the cat thieves down, you really think they're going to have money to pay fines? You really think the city is going to spend money to prosecute or incarcerate them?

Also, even if they hold things for 3 days... you realize that some more organized cat thief groups will just hold onto the cats for a month or two before scrapping them, right? Or they will scrap them in other jurisdictions entirely (western PA, small counties in VA, etc).

Because there's so little risk if you're actually caught, this will not stop anytime soon. But it's also worth noting that there is not a cat theft epidemic in areas that have active law enforcement (Harford, Carroll, etc).

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HosstownRodriguez t1_isxztcd wrote

Replying to mzm316 (#142,996)

Well what sort of thing are you imagining as a non lethal booby trap? The big problem is usually it’s totally non discriminatory, and can go horribly wrong. For example it it’s a spray paint can attached to your undercarriage so if you think someone is stealing your converter it makes them…a ball rolls under your car and a kid goes to grab it and all of a sudden gets sprayed in the eye, that’s not good.

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HedgemonyHog t1_isy31u7 wrote

I had my vin and “MD” welded onto mine the last time it was swiped. I asked, not so jokingly, about running a charge from the battery to it when I parked, like an electric fence—something to short out the saw zaw’s but got no response other than a laugh

Other tip I had was to try to park next to shorter/lower cars if you’re in a lot so they can’t just roll from one SUV to another…

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ContinentalOp_RG t1_isy615m wrote

That sucks. Scumbags got me a couple of weeks ago. The only semi-saving grace is I'm in the process of trying to move out of the city (state and country). In Ireland now looking for a place. Obviously, that's not an option for most people so sorry to hear they got someone else.

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EthanSayfo t1_isycxug wrote

Active policing in Baltimore? These days? When no bodies are involved?

This is a joke post, right?

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sciencesold t1_isycxyh wrote

Replying to gaytee (#142,190)

Should be limited to like 1 every month or two, just so it's not worth it to steal them, but then when the cat in my old ass car goes out, I can still sell it to reduce my total cost for the new one.

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EthanSayfo t1_isydcrc wrote

Replying to gothaggis (#142,884)

Was going to say this.

All they care about is being the macho boss of the neighborhood, and sucking as much of Baltimore's finances into their personal bank accounts as possible.

Worth watching HBO's We Own This City. I'd say it's "based" on a true story, but it really just is the true story, dramatized.

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EthanSayfo t1_isydnlf wrote

Replying to gaytee (#142,190)

I'm sure there's no legislators in Baltimore and Maryland skimming off of illegal business operations they intentionally discourage the active policing of.

I mean, nothing even remotely like this has ever happened in Baltimore or the state before.

Right?

*groan*

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sciencesold t1_isydudk wrote

Replying to epicwinguy101 (#139,489)

Depends on how they're made and attached. Something that just surrounds the cat and made of hardware store rebar? Not that effective but still a deterrent. Now if the cage itself is attached to the cat at a bunch of points, then attached to the car at an equal number of points, that can be pretty effective. Even better if it's made from something other than hardware store rebar.

Best bet is a literal box around the cat made of sheet steel, the thicker the better. They're likely using a sawzall, which will take multiple blades and a significant amount of time to get the cat out.

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STLTriggerMan t1_isye0yt wrote

You need someone with a certain license to sell them. To avoid that some people make small forges and melt what they need. It all depends on the guy boosting them.

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sciencesold t1_isye5jf wrote

Replying to Boneyard_Art (#139,037)

The ones you buy online aren't gonna be very effective, if at all, at preventing theft. Only a plate over the underside or a custom cage welded to the cat and frame will really be effective.

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MyCatisaStripper t1_isypey6 wrote

Seems to be something people do to cars raised up they can get under. U driving a truck or something?

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Xanny t1_isyps53 wrote

Replying to lincoln_hawks1 (#142,092)

Others have posted some good reading on the subject - but you basically abolish the current charter, rewrite it, and have the public vote on it. In the gap between the measure being passed and taking effect the city government gets the new structure in order before the charter switches over - you reinterview everyone, you rehire some portion of the existing force, and you do hiring for new staff all in advance of the switch.

Of course, BPD being BPD, they would flip a tit and possibly burn the city down before that happens, but thats kinda why it has to happen.

Part of it is going to probably require state and federal aid to train up new officers with a new academy and reformed training. This is probably something the city cannot do with just its own money. But the state of MD has been interested in varying regards of doing this for a long time because it hurts the entire state to have the largest economic center in the state have such a corrupt and broken police force. I'm pretty sure the state level could afford the transition, but federal funding might also be involved since its so close to DC.

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Ill-Consideration974 t1_isys0n8 wrote

Replying to Xanny (#140,205)

Personally, I think the bigger issue are the citizens of this city. Some of them aren’t compatible with a civilized society. They’re the ones that need to be rehabbed or removed from society with longer sentences. Pretty obvious the laid back policing and tap on wrist policies of the judicial system aren’t making things better either.

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Similar_Coyote1104 t1_isys1rx wrote

Even dealing with scrap yards is tough because they’re getting the metals out themselves and just selling the metal.

Once it’s out of the converter the metal isn’t a catalytic converter any more.

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Xanny t1_isytsya wrote

Replying to Ill-Consideration974 (#144,986)

Thats tied into everything though. Corrupt af city government can't do social programs and tell the cops not to enforce law, corrupt cops don't enforce the laws they should, corrupt schools can't educate kids, etc.

If the BPD got reformed and the state prosecutor wasn't shit telling them not to prosecute violent crime they could at least get the dangerous off the street, its just gonna be expensive and ongoing, and there needs to be a multi-pronged approach to stop people from falling through societies cracks and ending up so messed up.

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todareistobmore t1_isz08te wrote

Replying to EntireAd9048 (#142,929)

> areas that have active law enforcement (Harford, Carroll, etc).

Tfw you've convinced yourself that street parking, dense development and a comparatively high rate of target cars aren't factors, or would you say this is a considered opinion?

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gaytee t1_isz0mho wrote

Replying to sciencesold (#143,917)

The sale of old ones should be baked into the cost of new ones.

Anyone purchasing a cat by itself is likely replacing a broken or stolen one, we’re doing nothing to the criminals and the citizens are left footing the bill for repair.

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BlarghMachine t1_isz13y4 wrote

Replying to RighteousCookies (#139,612)

Cat protectors - namely cat shield for the gen 2 Prius - in my experience deter theft pretty well for the price. Cages don’t work bc they’re easier/faster to cut. A sheet of metal bolted in would require lots of sawing to get to the cat, more to cut it out. Takes too much time when they can just pick an easier target/ not get a bunch of sparks flying in their (likely unprotected) face.

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BlarghMachine t1_isz1ayo wrote

Replying to Internal_Position_49 (#141,923)

Cat Shield is the way to go. Protected my gen 2 before it got a blown head gasket (don’t ask) and was in the mail when my other gen 2 had it stolen :( it’s enough of a deterrent to pass you up for an easier target.

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BlarghMachine t1_isz1jhr wrote

Replying to gaytee (#142,190)

Besides smaller shops taking what they can get and it being hard to enforce - they melt them down and extract the valuable metal themselves now and sell that straight up. It’s not going to go away as a crime, unfortunately.

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BlarghMachine t1_isz1zql wrote

Replying to lorena_rabbit (#144,883)

For my gen 2 Prius I bought the shield online (maybe two years ago) for $169 (it was on sale) was only like under $100 in labor to get it out on at foreign auto experts in elkridge. Can’t remember the price it was cheap but I’m saying under $100 to overestimate

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theMoonHound t1_iszbj1a wrote

For $77 on Amazon I purchased a guard which goes on the bottom of my car over the catalytic converter to prevent theft. That's what I'm doing about catalytic converter theft as I have one of the most desirable converters on an older prius. I don't expect the cops to be standing next to my car all night, and I'm doing what I need to do to protect myself. I also lock my doors when I leave the house and I have some cameras. I did the math, and considering the deductible on my insurance, it was the cheaper option.

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only12moreninjas t1_iszoixa wrote

I work for a shop that has to replace these when they’re stolen. I work medium duty so it’s much easier to slide under and grab them real quick. This is a massive problem, I am replacing several every week

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Significant_Jump_21 t1_it0ypmq wrote

Replying to stormtatsu (#147,450)

I live near MidAtlantic Metal in the county. The county scrap yards don't take converters the way the city yards do. I had a grill stolen from my city backyard. I tracked it down Wilkens to the city scrap yard. The county yard is 1/4 mile away. BUT they require ID. I'm not big government. BUT if the city enforced the law on scrapping we'd have less metal stolen. I can't even have metal patio furniture. Scrappers steal it in days. Sims and Decker accept trash cans full of stolen metal from addicts all day long. County scrap yards don't do that.

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