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Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

justice.gov

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Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#451

Post by revscat »

system2 wrote: post #331
revscat wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No catalytic converter theft, no gas gouging, no oil changes. I read things like this and is just makes me hope more people get on board. In the meantime, I’ll be sticking with my Tesla, thanks.

How do you deal with mileage anxiety and going uphill for more than 10 minutes?

I do not have mileage anxiety. The 300m range is way more than I usually need, and right at the edge of how far you want to drive without stopping to rest.

Also, regenerative braking means you get a lot of power back when you go down the other side of a mountain.

Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#452

Post by Scoundreller »

tpxl wrote: post #370
Scoundreller wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends. The number stamping process does change the metal’s underlying metallurgy throughout the the metal where it was stamped. So unless you drill out the number through the entire metal (which is viable if you’re going to extract the minerals), there’s a possibility of reconstructing the serial number with some level of probability. Happens with guns. But that’s why you criminalize the trade of unmarked parts. Ac…

> The number stamping process does change the metal’s underlying metallurgy throughout the the metal where it was stamped. So unless you drill out the number through the entire metal (which is viable if you’re going to extract the minerals), there’s a possibility of reconstructing the serial number with some level of probability. Do you happen to have more information on that?

Here’s an example of it in practice: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/why-police-wanted-se...

Other info is a google away, just search for reconstructed serial numbers or similar queries.

It’s not exactly a secret, but how successful it can be is.

Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#453

Post by jdeibele »

WalterBright wrote: post #352
skeeter2020 wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ever been to a pawn shop? Everything in a legit operation runs through this process. >> The choice is between law enforcement actually doing their job, or invasive and ineffectual laws like this. I'm on guard for overreah all the time, but I'm OK with showing ID to buy alcohol, drive a car, fly on a plane, sell items that should rarely be done in bulk outside of rare conditions, like a bunch of catalytic converters.

In Washington State, there's a new law where I not only have to show ID to buy booze, I have to have my ID scanned. So now, the government keeps track of what and how much booze I buy. Ugh. This is beyond stupid, as people stopped thinking I might be under 21 back when the buffalo roamed.

https://keyw.com/fred-meyer-oregon-is-scanning-your-drivers-... That's an article from September talking about how Kroger (Fred Meyer, QFC) stores in Oreogn are scanning drivers licenses for alcohol purchases and asks if Washington is next.

Locally, a large (100+) chain (Plaid Pantry) of convenience stores also is scanning licenses. Saw somebody with an Olde English 40 and a passport.

It's not the law in Oregon (or Washington) but the article says it is in Tennessee. Also says you can ask them to type in the digits of your birthdate.

Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#454

Post by bluGill »

mrguyorama wrote: post #447
bluGill wrote: post #410

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can process those metals in your backyard with a bag of charcoal. Sure industrial processes will extract more, but the backyard processes work.

Who is methhead steve selling his backyard, low yield, low grade platinum to? The value is because an industrial process can recover clean platinum.

Once you have a small sheet you go to a scrap yard and say your dead grandpa was a hobby jeweler and nobody wants to continue the hobby. The important part is make it into a form where nobody can recognize it.

The grade isn't as pure as industrial processes, but it isn't too bad. Likewise, while the yield isn't good, even if you collect 50% the value is high enough.

Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#455

Post by grogenaut »

reducesuffering wrote: post #349
grogenaut wrote: post #250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

install a cat shield aka a plate that covers your cat. Mine got stolen, a shield was $350, they totaled the car for over $3500 by taking the cat if I would have fixed it due to fucking up the exhaust pipes and o2 sensor.

Shield is only a possible time-lengthening deterrent. I installed one and my cat was still stolen. I can't say how many attempts it deterred in the mean time, if at all.

interesting that's a determined thief. the one who got my cat just used a sawzall.

Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#457

Post by 93po »

joenot443 wrote: post #394
vogt wrote: post #360

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Sure, why not? Well, for starters, to prevent the police from kicking my door in and shooting me or my pets simply because I was placed on a list of people who downloaded an app. Simply "police chase and abandon leads all the time" is not a strong enough rationale to justify the original suggestion to me.

Is it seriously your working model of police that they’re frequently given lists of people who download apps and instructed to kill them? That’s how you believe policing works? I know the BLM astroturfing had a profound effect on the rest of the internet, but it’s disappointing to see such a skewed version of reality presented here on HN. I just downloaded the app. Bring on the marauders. If they end up blasting me,…

It is an accurate model that police frequently bust down the doors of people who are suspected of a crime based only on a third party's report, and not because of any investigation or probable cause. It's also accurate that police are trained to escalate extremely quickly, including the use of lethal force. And it's accurate that policing has a culture of unapologetic lethal force.

Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#458

Post by themadturk »

bluGill wrote: post #403
giantg2 wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haven't there been major scandals in the appraisal and verification, as well as art still being stolen and successfully sold in black markets? I'm hoping a law helps, but I won't hold my breath.

What helps with art is people with art want to show it off. Steal some art and you risk showing it off to someone who knows who it belongs to.

Is this really the case? Isn't a great deal of stolen art not shown around so it can't be identified? I wonder if most stolen art is kept in vaults and never shown to anyone.

Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#459

Post by khazhoux »

friend_and_foe wrote: post #87
nkrisc wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Property is not worth a life. Not even the life of the person damaging it. Property can be replaced, a life can not. Besides, there’s way too much margin for error in vigilante justice. That’s why we have trials, imperfect as even they may be. They’re certainly better than empowering everyone to be judge, jury, and executioner because they thought you might be committing a property crime.

If it's not worth your life then don't steal it.

What is your threshold at which killing a non-violent thief should be allowed?

If I catch someone stealing my car from my driveway at night, can I shoot them as they try to start the ignition?

If I see someone swiping my cell phone off my restaurant table while I'm turned around... shoot them?

What about my umbrella?

Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring

#460

Post by bmj »

bombcar wrote: post #433
bmj wrote: post #427

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Something deeply ironic about emissions inspections in my state: my diesel VW is exempt from them. Some shops might do a cursory look to be sure you haven't deleted the particulate filter or the catalytic converter, but, really, most just make sure there is a pipe running from the exhaust manifold to the rear of the vehicle. Last summer, I accompanied my son when he went across the state line to purchase a truck from…

The emissions inspections things were important during the late 70s-80s when they were really badly done on the American cars (you could disconnect the "smog pump" and get a better running engine). This is where the diesel exemption came from - trucks had nothing much at all (and I don't think they started adding cats for quite awhile, as dirty diesel (non-low-sulfur) was very common and would kill a cat faster than…

A friend, who is a diesel mechanic, just went through the diesel emissions timeline with me very recently.

EGR valves -> DPFs -> DEF

I understand the necessity of these systems, but it seems like they are incredible fragile (the DPFs on VWs are prone to cracking and new ones are more than the average cat). I also understand why people do DPF deletes...

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