Posted on 04/02/2022 7:30:30 AM PDT by real saxophonist
Stolen catalytic converter could be a total loss after insurance claim
by: Rogelio Mares
Posted: Apr 1, 2022
DENVER (KDVR) — Thieves are targeting catalytic converters at an alarming rate.
FOX31 spoke with a woman who had hers stolen. She said she might lose her vehicle if she files a claim.
Clothilde Syndor lives in an apartment building in Cherry Creek and said when she got her insurer involved after having her catalytic converter stolen, she was told her only means of transportation, her SUV, might be declared a total loss.
Sydnor is somewhat of a pioneer in Colorado.
“My dad and mom lived on a farm, so I started driving a tractor when I was 7 years old,” Sydnor said. She was recognized for being one of the first women to operate heavy machinery in the state.
Driving a car to her doctor’s appointment is no sweat for her.
“I started my car and it was making all this noise. I almost jumped out, I didn’t know what was wrong,” Sydnor said.
That noise happened to be the effect of having her catalytic converter stolen. She even has photos from security camera video of the theft.
Aside from this thievery, Sydnor has a warning for Colorado drivers about their insurance coverage.
“Be sure that they know what their insurance will pay for,” Sydnor said.
After she called her insurer to report the theft, they told her it could be a total loss.
“They’re debating whether they’re going to pay the guy to fix it or whether they’re going to get rid of it,” Sydnor said.
AAA Colorado said drivers should have a transparent relationship with their insurers. Ask them questions about your coverage often, even after something happens.
“If your vehicle’s older, then this could be a total loss. Talk to your insurance agent, talk to your adjuster before you file the claim if it’s really important that that vehicle is not totaled,” Skyler McKinley, with AAA Colorado, said.
Unfortunately for Sydnor, this isn’t the first time her car was targeted. Back in January, she said thieves stole another catalytic converter from her vehicle. She paid for that one out of pocket.
“At my age, I need a car for going back and forth to the doctor,” she said.
AAA said there are legal, after-market, catalytic converters available for folks who choose to get their vehicles fixed without filing an insurance claim, but some of those can be costly.
Thanks- reason I asked was,I likely am gonna need to,replace converter soon ugh.
It looked brand new, in factory packaging from Walker, not discolored at all. And the flanges were intact, not sawed off.
The high heat inside from the oxidation discolors the outside so it’s pretty easy to tell if a cat has been run on a vehicle.
If so, and you bought one local to you, I suppose you could buy your original one back!
“Until your next motor vehicle inspection, anyway.”
Huh? They don’t have those here.
And agreed on the punishment for converter thieves, except they should be tortured to death. Likewise for anyone who buys a converter that isn't attached to a car. Supply and demand, ya know.
They still work.
if the market value of your car is $500 bucks and the cost to repair it is $1000, they declare it a total loss.
THIS HAS BEEN STANDARD PRACTICE FOR DECADES.
Why is this even a story?
The scrapyards are partners in this crime.
The business of dismembering catalytic converter thieves?
Who are the scrap yard owners paying cash for them? I have to present ID just to take some old steel fence scrap to the scrap yard. And yeah. Shoot the bastards. If only we were allowed to defend our property. Who cares if their momma is on the TV saying “he was a good boy” and the democrats say “he didn’t deserve to lose his life for a catalytic converter.”
Insurance would only pay the “market value” of the vehicle. So even a perfectly fine 20 year old Honda would fetch 1500 bucks. What can you buy with that?
I suppose another $1500 car, just like the one you had. Imagine the fraud and cost if insurance companies had to pay for upgrades.
Am I missing something, or why haven’t sting operations sent the people who BUY stolen catalytic converters to prison to bunk with Bubba?
Soon we will all be forced in to subscription cars.
I was arguing with a software dealer not too long ago. They now force you to buy all previous upgrades for years you don’t “upgrade.” Total BS. A new license is 24,000. Then they demand a 2400 per year “upgrade” fee. It use to be you buy it once and keep the license. Now, they cut off even using it. You will own nothing and like it. Or not. They don’t care.
Ugh is right! Sorry!
Well maybe i can trade a kidney for a converter lol
I don’t remember this being a problem when our borders were secure.
What would be targeted on electric cars?
Who knows? But soon enough they will find something of value to steal.
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