Catalytic Converter Theft. Toyota Truck/SUV owners beware!

got mine swiped today too! so damn pissed. 2004 Toyota Tacoma... I can't even write I'm so mad.

Mine was stolen from my apartment complex parking lot in Tempe, AZ. It was a 99 Toyota Tacoma. Got it fixed through a friend's shop for $350, but I know I'm lucky to get such a good price. Totally ruined my day. Filed a police report and the cops basically said there's no way they'll catch the guys. I'd like to walk up on one of these bastards who do this. I'd fire up my engine and run the SOB over.
The cops should do some staged transactions at scrap yards to find out who the crooked buyers are who are creating a market for these things.

Mine was stolen right in front of my home. It is 2000 Toyota Tacoma. I filed a police report with the City of Davis, CA and asked them the same question as Jeff, why can't someone monitor the scrap yards in the area to catch these guy's. I was told that I was the 10th person to walk in today to file a report. My two friends who live in Sacramento, CA had their catalytic converters stolen from their truck 6 months ago as well. I have been just waiting to see if and when it was going to happen to me. I knew as soon as I turned on my truck that I was hit.

Question: Does anyone know whether the generic cat (I paid $55 for the part) that I had installed today is still of value to the crooks? Will they see this aftermarket cat and decide that it is not worth stealing?

There is no garantee but I do believe
they are looking for dealer parts as
they contain more of the precious metal
they need to collect top dollar

today at work they got mine off my 2000 toyota tacoma in Vancouver Washington this is b s they cut part of my exhaust what jerks...... however if you know how to weld then your in luck you can buy a universal one at costless for $ 54.95 good luck everyone

A radar sensor (aka proximity sensor) added to a car alarm can help, but the field it generates is mostly above chassis level when installed normally out of the elements. People hovering around the doors will set it off in a cab installation. I haven't seen water and cold proof units that might survive on a chassis.

Standard motion/shock sensors tend to need a sharper jolt than gets created by the removal of a catalytic converter. They would only be useful if sensitized to impractical levels.

A wire that sets off the alarm when 12V ground is broken could work, but that would usually be after the fact. I have visions of bags full of poison exploding on these scummy thieves. The extreme heat around a cat-con limits such inventiveness, though.

The cat gleaners got mine from my near mint 1989 SR5 X at 5:30 AM on TH in front of my house with a reciprocal saw. It was welded in place. Didn't know about the local problem until the incident. God help the guy with the hot platinum on his hands.

I am now a part of the line-up of confessions. Mine was stolen off of my 2001 Toyota 4Runner on Friday. My baby was in the parking lot at my job in between the hours of 9:30am & 4:30pm! Of course, we have not protection against this theft at my job, but thank God for full coverage. I only have to come off my $250 deductible. I have no word on how she is doing or the estimated damage as of yet... Friday, yeah it blew me over. I had never heard of such a thing until then. I am terrified to park my baby when I do get her back. I will update when I have an estimate.

last night cc was stolen from my 03 frontier...this happened in antelope...

Got my "cat converter" stolen off mt 2000 Tacoma the other morning after coming home from work and parking it in my apartment complex lot at 2:00 AM.. You know I heard about this, but did'nt think it would happen to "me"! I got wheel locks and the gas cap is locked, but THIS! Geeeesss! Now I got to get a "motion" alarm system and get a "mech" to fabricate me some protection under there too! Soon they won't be able to steal these things because every body is going to start to protect them or someone will come up with an "out of the box" system for all of us to lock up under there quick. If they can't steal "THAT" any more, what in the hell "body part" will they go after next on our vehicals.

Converter was stolen last night from Nissan truck in Montrose CA. Police say 3 others also stolen last night within a few blocks of me. It would be interesting share info with those others if they see this post.

Marlowe Silver Spring MD wrote:

Got my "cat converter" stolen off mt 2000 Tacoma the other morning after coming home from work and parking it in my apartment complex lot at 2:00 AM.. You know I heard about this, but did'nt think it would happen to "me"! I got wheel locks and the gas cap is locked, but THIS! Geeeesss! Now I got to get a "motion" alarm system and get a "mech" to fabricate me some protection under there too! Soon they won't be able to steal these things because every body is going to start to protect them or someone will come up with an "out of the box" system for all of us to lock up under there quick. If they can't steal "THAT" any more, what in the hell "body part" will they go after next on our vehicals.

check out the "cat clamp"...next will be drilling a hole in the gas tank to get your gas!!!

mine was stolen from Costa Mesa, CA today next to the Triangle Square shopping plaza. They took it sometime between 9am and 2pm in a very busy parking lot. I have a 95 toyota 4runner.

CC got jacked wrote:

Hay, my tundra just got hit as well. im from the SM area also, where did you get yours repaired??? thanks!!
<quoted text>

Mine was stolen back in May. Toyota of Santa Monica was going to charge me $1700!!!! Funny how I keep seeing differnt prices for the same item on the same truck. Anyway, I've driven a long time without repair because I don't have tons of $$$ sitting around. I just go pulled over a couple of days ago by a cop who gave me a fix it ticket. I showed him the police report and told him my insurance wouldn't cover it. He said that I have 30 days to get it fixed. So, now I'm thinking: Great, I'll pay money that I don't have, to get it fixed...only to have it stolen again. F--- those thieves!

JLR wrote:

Mine was stolen from my 2007 Toyota Tacoma at the MARC Train parking lot in Seabrook, MD on 6/18/07

Wow that must suck my dad almost had his stolen at lowes in pheonex az. same truck too.
man walked in infront of him into the store stopped and looked suspicious like he was a lookout so my dad went outside and another guy was standing by the truck.

http://www.catclamp.com/how.php

http://www.catclamp.com/images/catclamp1.jpg

http://www.catclamp.com/images/catclamp2.jpg

http://www.catclamp.com/images/catclamp3.jpg

who ever is advertising the cat clamp think about
it if we are down and out of money due to the stolen cat what makes you think we can afford
the price of the cat clamp your price is much
to high bring it down a little and I might buy
one but having been hit with already one outragious expense your way out of my price range
due to unexpected expenditures like a new cat.

I just read your posting, I too just had my catalytic converter stolen also from my work parking lot off N First Street in SJ. I wonder if they are casing the area. I have a 92 4runner. Maybe we park in the same lot?????

californiamom wrote:

I'm joining the stolen catalytic converter club. I have a '93 Toyota 4Runner. Yesterday, between the hours of 2:15 and 5:45....mine was stolen too. It was during broad daylight at my work's parking lot off of N. First St. in San Jose. I hear from my mechanic they are being sold for real cheap after stolen.

Just got mine stolen this morning off my 94 toyota at a lowes in south scottsdale where I work and a guy in receiving got his stolen last week.