Posted on 11/30/2011 10:12:45 PM PST by JohnKinAK
Catalytic converters, copper plumbing and even central air conditioning units have topped some thieves’ most-wanted lists in recent weeks as they hope to cash in on rising scrap metal prices.
Area police say the recent rash of metal thefts likely is a reflection of the sluggish economy and are warning homeowners and residents to take steps to protect their property.
In the last month, eight catalytic converters, a pollution-control device that helps reduce vehicle emissions, have been cut from six vehicles at Waikem Auto dealerships in Perry Township. It’s not the catalytic converter part, however, that is luring thieves to Waikem’s lots: It’s the metals inside them.
Catalytic converters contain metals such as palladium and rhodium.
“You can blame it on the economy. People don’t have jobs, and scrap is at a peak right now,” said Doug Waikem, co-owner of Waikem Auto Group.
Thieves are removing the catalytic converters by unbolting them or cutting them loose with a reciprocating saw. It’s a job that takes a minimum of a half hour to complete, Waikem said. The problem has become so serious Waikem has been forced to beef up security around his car lots.
(Excerpt) Read more at indeonline.com ...
My daughter’s catalytic converter was stolen off her car as well as a friend of mine who had his stolen,
I now have Steel cages on all of them with 3 very large heavy locks.
On my chain link gates, I have barb wire across the top, and a very heavy LOG chain with lock on the gate handle.
They can get this done, but it will be no easy job, most of the ones that steal here are just local lazy hood.
i got no problem,just weld in new pipe and we. A OK. No cats mean better airflow,they might be bummed out tho,since i pounded out the cat long ago,but the article is dealing with stealing cats for the purpose of resale.Nevermind.Maybe.
When I hear about these stories, I always wonder what regulations scrap resellers have to abide by. I would think that simple recordkeeping regulations (who brought in how much scrap metal of what type) would dry up the ability of criminals to cash in stolen goods. If someone makes their living picking through trash, they won’t likely be showing up at the end of each month with two dozen catalytic converters.
I buy and sell cars.. Sometimes I buy junkers and pull the cats and a few other high dollar metal items (radiator and the such) before hauling whats left across a scale for 150-200 a ton..
I once brought in 25 converters to the buyer. You better believe they had questions. TONS of them. Where did they come from, how did I get the car, do you have ID? at 200+ dollars each, they do add up quickly.
Once they where satisfied they came off cars I had ownership of, they cut a check made out exactly to the name and address on my drivers license. They filmed the whole thing with surveillance cameras.
oh.. and some a$$hole stole the one off my van a few weeks back. Jokes on him though, it plugged a week or two before and I knocked the guts out.
There is almost no documentation or accountability when they buy metals.
I remember having to lock my car’s gas tank during Jimmuh Carter years.
Oh, yes I remember it very well. Had a reliable but gas-guzzling 68 Charger, I paid a then outrageous 70 CENTS/gal for premium.
I had a 65 Mustang.. souped up engine with mag wheels on the rear that my husband got in trade for some work. I know guys would have loved this car, but I hated how noisy it was. Had a locking gas cap because people would siphon you dry.
I think the price per gallon in 1971 - 72 was around 26 cents a gallon.... we were pretty upset with the rise to 70 cents during the Carter debacle. Amazing to look back at this... we are living the same now. Our family commutes a lot for our jobs and gas at close to four bucks a gallon is killing our budget. No wonder people are still losing their homes, they can’t afford to drive to work!
Palladium was 700+$ a year ago
now it’s down around 500$
WTF is with you trailer trash mofos?
The thieves get a couple of hundred dollars for them, but it costs the owner of the truck upward of $2,000 to repair the damage, depending on how bad of a hack job the thieves do in getting it out. Bastards should be shot.
Came out of the hardware store a few years back and caught some shady looking greaseball checking my truck out while it was still brand new. Hadn't even gotten the plates for it yet. I KNOW he was either looking to steal it outright or cut out the CC. Too bad I didn't come along ten minutes later...
I hear that some home owners are making donations of lead to thieves. Seems to settle things between the two.
The original cat on my 97 land cruiser had the highest rare metals content of any on the market and is also the easiest to access. The thieves cut the pipes in front of and behind the cat with a battery powered sawsall they were done in under 2 minutes. Unfortunately they also cut the tail pipe and the tail of the manifold off...rendering the entire exhaust system useless - $3500+ to replace with factory parts $2300 with aftermarket.
The original cat on my 97 land cruiser had the highest rare metals content of any on the market and is also the easiest to access. The thieves cut the pipes in front of and behind the cat with a battery powered sawsall they were done in under 2 minutes. Unfortunately they also cut the tail pipe and the tail of the manifold off...rendering the entire exhaust system useless - $3500+ to replace with factory parts $2300 with aftermarket.
Mr. Waikem has obviously never seen workers from "Midnight Auto Supply" ply their trade.
I blame it on a total lack of morality and decency that is our society today. Add in liberal indoctrination in our schools and televised media of all kinds and there you go!
Back during the Depression, things were worse (although we are inching up to it) and we had a lot fewer thieves then.
As we're now singing in Church: "O Come, O Come Emannuel!" And I'm not singing about some guy from South of the border!
“Oh, yes I remember it very well. Had a reliable but gas-guzzling 68 Charger, I paid a then outrageous 70 CENTS/gal for premium.”
Don’t you wish you had this one:
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=724&aid=45
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