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The Latest Thing Thieves Are Stealing From Your Car

aol.com -- Three minutes. Two cuts. One saw.

That's all it takes to steal the catalytic converter out from underneath a car. "You get under there, zip-zip, and take it off," Jeff Prior, the manager of a transmission store in Warren, Mich., tells The Detroit News.

Thefts of catalytic converters -- tube-like pipes that reduce pollution from exhaust systems -- are on the rise. More than 100 catalytic converter thefts have been reported in the three-county Detroit metro area in recent months, according to the newspaper.

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Submitted May 14, 2012 By: Timberline

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REBELFAN39 Veteran Author Jackson Posts:355 Points:450,600 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 12:13:12 PM Ignore REBELFAN39 Report Abuse The junk yards that buy them should be held accountable.
eye-spy Champion Author Quebec Posts:4,598 Points:2,419,795 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 11:30:30 AM Ignore eye-spy Report Abuse What wont they think of next??
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,561 Points:749,995 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 8:52:57 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse This is not a new thing. SUV's and trucks are more common since theyare easier to get to.
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:13,510 Points:2,395,980 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 8:32:50 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse It would seem that metal recylers are not curious when a stranger ccomes in with a truck load of "used" catalytic converters. Perhaps the police should start charging the recylers with receiving stolen goods if the items do not come from a well documented source.
bicycle1966 All-Star Author Akron Posts:605 Points:404,090 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 6:14:48 AM Ignore bicycle1966 Report Abuse It seems to me this has been a problem for a long while. I remember more than 10 years ago a dealer in my area had the catalytic converters stolen out from under a bunch of new cars on his lot one night.
335d1 Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,391 Points:760,995 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 6:05:34 AM Ignore 335d1 Report Abuse If it is valuable, there is a market for it on the streets.
wilbur_gas Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,702 Points:648,610 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 4:38:44 AM Ignore wilbur_gas Report Abuse I worry more about man hole covers.
Tundralimited2009 Champion Author Dallas Posts:38,812 Points:1,447,425 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 12:47:44 AM Ignore Tundralimited2009 Report Abuse Old News
Rich1430 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:761 Points:259,590 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 12:34:23 AM Ignore Rich1430 Report Abuse Not a new story. It has been happening everywhere for at least the last 4 to 5 years.
Jeff4U Champion Author Atlanta Posts:8,767 Points:1,855,070 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 12:19:24 AM Ignore Jeff4U Report Abuse A little late AOL. This has been going on for years.
MusicalMan7 All-Star Author Ohio Posts:597 Points:93,430 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 11:56:39 PM Ignore MusicalMan7 Report Abuse I agree with @gasokie - news stories like this only help give MORE thieves a good idea they might not have otherwise heard of or thought of.
leraar2 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,774 Points:789,630 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 10:23:00 PM Ignore leraar2 Report Abuse same deal with copper piping in your house.
alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:7,500 Points:1,559,700 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 10:10:35 PM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse Hopefully my catalytic doesn't get stolen.
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,450 Points:1,327,140 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 9:30:11 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse That's sort of a regional problem with Detroit being an ideal crime haven to institute new and exciting forms of theft. Have or had very few in the Metro OKC area 'till a local TV station did a report on it. Practically a "how to do it show" which of course triggered off a fresh new crime wave across the Oklahoma city area. The same station recently did updates on how to make meth..a lesson that may not have been needed. But then I guess some are just now getting into the business. Ah, what would we do without TV news?
asog75 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:836 Points:278,405 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 9:21:40 PM Ignore asog75 Report Abuse maybe a metal guard is needed,then they have to carry more tools, put one on my buddys truck after they stold his .second attempt unsucessful. made out of stainless steel!!!!!
Caduceus26 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,911 Points:765,310 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 8:57:59 PM Ignore Caduceus26 Report Abuse When scrap dealers start refusing to buy this stuff (catalytic converters, A/C copper tubing, etc) the thieves will have to find a new market. Right now they are providing a ready market for a band of crooks to victimize people.
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,093 Points:799,200 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 8:56:42 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse New ones aren't cheap.
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:13,727 Points:2,116,085 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 8:32:19 PM Ignore DerHahn Report Abuse good thing i don't have to worry about that. have a scooter and a 1970 vw.
dh0770 Champion Author Colorado Posts:6,987 Points:672,460 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 7:49:54 PM Ignore dh0770 Report Abuse At least something innovative comes from Detroit!
scottriedel Sophomore Author Tennessee Posts:202 Points:360,830 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 7:42:31 PM Ignore scottriedel Report Abuse I am afraid morality is a foregone word in our nation anymore.
SUNOIL Champion Author Toledo Posts:5,255 Points:1,927,955 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 7:37:33 PM Ignore SUNOIL Report Abuse Why not get the buyers too.
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,270 Points:985,160 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 7:20:13 PM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Just stay home.
doeslayersr Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,127 Points:873,955 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 7:17:48 PM Ignore doeslayersr Report Abuse Old news, nothing new. Metal thieves have been stealing catalytic convertors for years to get the precious metals. Others steal them off of new cars to resell the cat converters on the black after market (just like air bags).
cmmattia Champion Author Long Island Posts:2,000 Points:394,510 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 7:10:50 PM Ignore cmmattia Report Abuse just amazing.... what wont they steal ???
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:3,849 Points:1,007,200 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 6:54:26 PM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse Gsrage, garage, garage.
bandannaman Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,849 Points:365,610 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 6:34:42 PM Ignore bandannaman Report Abuse Innovative thievery.
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,912 Points:650,440 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 6:31:13 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse What a shame.
eye-spy Champion Author Quebec Posts:4,598 Points:2,419,795 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 6:25:42 PM Ignore eye-spy Report Abuse Welcome To Detroit!!
ToolinIt Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,803 Points:888,945 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 6:24:22 PM Ignore ToolinIt Report Abuse Answer to HorizonChaser's Q of who's buying the catalytic converters: metal recyclers are buying them. Who do you think that thieves of copper are selling their loot to? [Edited by: ToolinIt at 5/14/2012 7:30:21 PM EST]
LEGION57 Champion Author South Carolina Posts:1,676 Points:283,110 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 6:24:04 PM Ignore LEGION57 Report Abuse Such a shame.
HorizonChaser Champion Author Montgomery Posts:1,989 Points:457,235 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 6:07:00 PM Ignore HorizonChaser Report Abuse Who's buying the catalytic converters?
comptonwoods Sophomore Author Virginia Posts:104 Points:277,480 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:59:34 PM Ignore comptonwoods Report Abuse If you build they will come...and steal it.
ToolinIt Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,803 Points:888,945 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:49:58 PM Ignore ToolinIt Report Abuse Old news just like drilling fuel tanks on vehicles to steal fuel. In CO, I believe that it is illegal to sell used catalytic converters but I'm sure that they are sold on the black market or are recycled for cash. [Edited by: ToolinIt at 5/14/2012 6:52:59 PM EST]
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,932 Points:967,950 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:41:14 PM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse We still hang horse thieves. Yes we also cling to our guns and bibles too.
Venzadriver Champion Author Florida Posts:1,325 Points:361,615 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:24:18 PM Ignore Venzadriver Report Abuse Wrap them in barbed wire or some kind of spikes.
kag2010 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:5,269 Points:1,022,685 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:16:43 PM Ignore kag2010 Report Abuse Something to watch for.
bigthighs All-Star Author Tucson Posts:550 Points:52,965 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:15:26 PM Ignore bigthighs Report Abuse this thiefs are detestable.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,311 Points:2,374,295 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:12:36 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse been goin on for years and years
portlandcat Champion Author Tennessee Posts:1,918 Points:346,210 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 4:59:04 PM Ignore portlandcat Report Abuse geez...that's crazy
hotwheels001 Rookie Author Ottawa Posts:49 Points:52,755 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 4:57:54 PM Ignore hotwheels001 Report Abuse haven't heard that's been a problem here. but give it time...
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,959 Points:1,018,570 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 4:53:25 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse Tires are common to steal in my neighborhood.
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:5,887 Points:1,521,255 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 4:32:20 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse Happened to my mother's car. Jacked up one side and cut the converter out.
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:9,531 Points:1,833,565 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 4:26:26 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Something to watch for.
Gmsclecarparts All-Star Author Oklahoma City Posts:707 Points:123,195 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 3:52:56 PM Ignore Gmsclecarparts Report Abuse Old news! the rare earth metals in cat convertors have made many of these automotive parts a hot item at scrap dealers for at least the last decade. Over the last 5 years, thieves have become more brazen. Often thieves use noisy cordless sawsalls to remove the cat convertors in public places, really hard not to miss the high pitched noise in a busy parking lot. The real problem is APATHETIC passerby's who would rather stay in their own little world than write down a license plate number, get good descriptions, & call the police.
knutzAL Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,248 Points:372,680 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 3:38:46 PM Ignore knutzAL Report Abuse old news, just that the platinum is getting more valuable!(think it platinum)?
swampman Rookie Author Ontario Posts:79 Points:508,405 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 3:34:52 PM Ignore swampman Report Abuse Great just anouther thing to worry about.