Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
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Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#2good!
Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#3It's kinda fascinating to watch mining for precious metals go from digging tunnels, to extracting from other people's cars.
I wonder if this will make a dent in how often it happens. My niece's was stolen in broad daylight.
Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#4This is happening more and more frequently in my locale. Several of my friends and many of my neighbors have had their catalytic converters stolen.
It's good to see something is done. Let's hope this steamrolls into a nationwide manhunt for these criminals. They should also consider targeting and auditing shops that buy used car parts. Making it extremely difficult to fence these things will be practical and useful because they aren't sold and reused as is - the rare earth metals are extracted. Something your average criminal won't be capable of doing in their garage.
Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#5>The 21 defendants are charged in two separate indictments that were unsealed today in the Eastern District of California and the Northern District of Oklahoma following extensive law enforcement arrest and search operations. In addition to the indictments, over 32 search warrants were executed, and law enforcement seized millions of dollars in assets, including homes, bank accounts, cash, and luxury vehicles.
I obviously don't have any sympathy for these likely criminals, but unless i misunderstand it sounds like people lost their homes (civil asset forfeiture) before being convicted of a crime which I'm not sure is something to brag about.
Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#6It's kinda fascinating to watch mining for precious metals go from digging tunnels, to extracting from other people's cars. I wonder if this will make a dent in how often it happens. My niece's was stolen in broad daylight.
Only thing that will help is serious prison sentences and the right to defend property with deadly force.
Many areas of the country there is no consequences.
Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#7It's kinda fascinating to watch mining for precious metals go from digging tunnels, to extracting from other people's cars. I wonder if this will make a dent in how often it happens. My niece's was stolen in broad daylight.
Only thing that will help is serious prison sentences and the right to defend property with deadly force. Many areas of the country there is no consequences.
There's a penalty for being stolen from though in those areas that do emissions testing, since you can't pass without a working converter, and the state won't replace it for you.
Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#8This is happening more and more frequently in my locale. Several of my friends and many of my neighbors have had their catalytic converters stolen. It's good to see something is done. Let's hope this steamrolls into a nationwide manhunt for these criminals. They should also consider targeting and auditing shops that buy used car parts. Making it extremely difficult to fence these things will be practical and useful b…
It's literally "going out of style".
Gotta get all the cat converters you can before all the cars are electric!
Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#9It should be legal to run a straight-pipe if your cat gets stolen through no fault of your own. The economics incentives of the black market are there in the first place largely proximal to policy. As it stands .gov gets to light the candle from both ends, going after those failing emissions while also going after the cat thieves.
Edit: Love the helpful comments though telling poor people just to move out of the city if their cat gets stolen, as if moving is easy if you can't afford to replace a cat.
Re: Justice Department announces takedown of catalytic converter theft ring
#10This is happening more and more frequently in my locale. Several of my friends and many of my neighbors have had their catalytic converters stolen. It's good to see something is done. Let's hope this steamrolls into a nationwide manhunt for these criminals. They should also consider targeting and auditing shops that buy used car parts. Making it extremely difficult to fence these things will be practical and useful b…
It used to be that back when local cops cared about property crime this was standard operating procedure. When I was a kid if you etched a serial number into your bike frame and parts and registered it with the local PD you were practically assured you’d get your bike back when it inevitably showed up at a pawn shop or similar.