[JohnKinAK]

This is Progressive/Keynesian Depression and no doubt the signs of the times will only get worse.

[Viking2002]

This isn't a recent trend, actually, it's been going on for quite a few years. It tends to increase whenever the unemployment rate and/or precious metals prices rise. I've read stories in the past where there were rashes of thefts of catalytic converters off of privately-owned vehicles while they were parked in their owners driveway!

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[semaj]

My daughter’s catalytic converter was stolen off her car as well as a friend of mine who had his stolen,

[annieokie]

I have rentals, a/c units stolen in the past.

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.

[jz638]

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.

[antceecee]

I remember having to lock my car’s gas tank during Jimmuh Carter years.

[Blado]

Palladium was 700+$ a year ago

now it’s down around 500$

WTF is with you trailer trash mofos?

[LibWhacker]

Yeah, I read the catalytic converters on Tundras are a prime target of these SOBs.

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...

[count-your-change]

I hear that some home owners are making donations of lead to thieves. Seems to settle things between the two.

[Roccus]

It’s a job that takes a minimum of a half hour to complete, Waikem said.

Mr. Waikem has obviously never seen workers from "Midnight Auto Supply" ply their trade.

[Alas Babylon!]

“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.

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!