[flagged]
Sadly, this really is the Bay Area administrative position on the matter.
Catalytic Converter Theft
11–20 of 155 posts
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#12Do catalytic converters have the VIN etched on it like other vehicle parts do?
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#13This happened to me. Twice within a few weeks. Parked in a train commuter lot. I eventually had the mechanic screw some steel mesh to the bottom of my pickup to deter the thieves. Thankfully I kept comprehensive insurance on my vehicle so the out of pocket expense was $50. The insurance company did call to investigate the second time because they thought I was in on it.
> Thankfully I kept comprehensive insurance on my vehicle so the out of pocket expense was $50.
Hopefully the claim doesn't cause your premiums to increase in a meaningful way at renewal time.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#14[deleted]
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#15[flagged]
Sadly, this really is the Bay Area administrative position on the matter.
It is indeed, to all of our detriment in my opinion. Won’t stop the HN downvote brigade from attempting to quickly hide it to avoid having to address it, though.
Edit, original comment below. It’s very interesting, and to me, very telling, that HN seems to reach for censorship quicker than good-faith refutation of the core argument. Which here is simply that we have in fact lost the ability to enforce law in many areas, with a post hoc layer of rationalization bolted on, here stated sarcastically and labeled explicitly as such so as not to be interpreted in bad faith. Maybe someone could take the argument at its strongest and refute it? Naah, just flag it.
You’re obviously a white supremacist and racist. If you are not on the side of defunding the police, you are on the wrong side of history and probably harbor sympathies toward neo-Nazis, if you aren’t already a full blown one yourself. Maybe have some compassion for once in your life, some people NEED to steal catalytic converters because of systemic racism and you should feel bad about wanting to have basic norms of law and order upheld. s/
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#16Do catalytic converters have the VIN etched on it like other vehicle parts do?
I don't see how this could deter the theft, as they are cut open and the shell is discarded anyway
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#17Do catalytic converters have the VIN etched on it like other vehicle parts do?
No, the VIN is usually only put on permanent parts of a vehicle. Catalytic converters usually last a very long time but can eventually wear out.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#18Do catalytic converters have the VIN etched on it like other vehicle parts do?
[deleted]
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
They’re melted down and the result is pure untraceable metal. Rhodium vendors can’t be common though. What’s the story the fences give? “This is all from my small-scale family rhodium mine”?
in the uk there are laws requiring logs and proof of identity when trading scrap metal. I suspect with Catalytic Converter thefts, the CATs are small enough and light enough to be shipped abroad
These laws are common in the US too.
Re: Catalytic Converter Theft
#20The local metal scrapyards are far too lenient. They don’t bat an eye at someone bringing in stolen air conditioning condensers (they can even be brand new) You should have to have the tittle for the car to bring a converter in, since it’s a federal offense to remove them.
Then how would we expect a legitimate mechanic to replace one?