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I was getting my car serviced at a local Toyota dealership today. While I was waiting for my car, there were two Priuses that came in with stolen/hacked off cat
by whyenot 6y ago
I was getting my car serviced at a local Toyota dealership today. While I was waiting for my car, there were two Priuses that came in with stolen/hacked off catalytic converters. A Prius with a really loud "straight pipe" exhaust is awful weird. In any case, auto theft isn't about stealing the whole car, sometimes it's just hacking off the valuable bits without even breaking in. It's not a new problem. Before catalytic converters, it was taking hood ornaments or wheels. Car alarms, at least the ones that alarm when the car is jolted or moved, are just about the only thing I can think of that can help deter this type of theft.
- dotancohen 6y agoMany people weld a cage around the cats, or across them. Of course, the cage can be cut just like the cat, but it makes a 3 minute job turn into a 10 minute job, which may be riskier for the thief.
- w0mbat 6y agoThe current technology is to weld or rivet a specially shaped flat steel shield over the cat. It is more secure than an cage and actually improves the car's aero-dynamics.
- TwoBit 6y agoThe problem with these is that they are all made of aluminum and are easily cut through. My next door neighbor last month in fact.
- asdff 6y agoI don't think car alarms are even a deterrent anymore. They go off so much. I mean I don't run to the windows when I hear one go off. Do you? Certainly the angle grinder taking off the catalytic converter makes a huge racket. The truth is these sounds are normalized in an urban environment.