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Scrapped, for now
Theft of metals — copper and aluminum as an example — have been growing in recent years as gutters are stolen off homes and catalytic converters are stolen from parked cars.
My girlfriend just got an email from her college's security. There's been a rise in the number of catalytic converters stolen from pickups, SUVs, and passenger cars within the college's parking lots.
Apparently it is rather easy to steal a catalytic converter from a vehicle as the thief can often bypass the alarm system. It only takes a minute or two with the proper tools. Catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Not much, but enough to make a used catalytic converter worth $100 or so.
You don't even want to know what it costs to have one replaced though. Let's just say it isn't cheap. You'll know you've lost yours when you start your vehicle.
why they need used catalytic converter ?
The value of used cats has increased to the point where people are actually stealing them. A guy I know drives a Jeep Wrangler. He came out of a shopping center one day and the thing was loud as hell when he cranked it up. A check under it revealed that someone had hacked off the converter.
I understand it's also pretty common for them to steal them off of older Toyota trucks because they're really easy to get to (right under the driver's floorboard) without jacking up the truck. - justanotherusername
This is also confirmed by the email my girlfriend just received. If you own a Toyota pickup or SUV, be careful where you park. It was mentioned by name.
ICE: Mortgage Delinquency Rate Increased Year-over-year in October
-
From ICE: ICE First Look at Mortgage Performance: Serious delinquencies hit
17-month high while foreclosure activity remains historically muted
• At 3.45% ...
2 hours ago
7 comments:
Mark,
on an auto related note;
I remember when those high discharge xenon headlight lamps came out. They were so expensive that early cars that had them were stripped of the small bulbs right on the street. Extra metal cage plates had to be implemented to make theft very difficult. Now they are not very expensive, so most manufacturers do not bother.
Just like when Aluminum was made common it seems.
GYSC,
Speaking of aluminum...
I've hoarded a LOT of aluminum foil as you may recall. I feel a bit silly but as I see it...
Making aluminum foil is energy intensive but not labor intensive. That's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for in this brave new world as a hedge.
Aluminum foil keeps forever.
"Corrosion resistance can be excellent due to a thin surface layer of aluminium oxide that forms when the metal is exposed to air, effectively preventing further oxidation."
I hope I'm wrong to hoard it. If aluminum foil is cheap 30 years from now, then the rest of my nest egg will be doing just fine more than likely.
Aluminum has not kept up with inflation in the past due to cheap energy and massive improvements in mining productivity. However, the past is the past. We don't know what the future will bring. If it doesn't bring more cheap energy and more massive improvements in mining productivity, I could easily foresee a time when aluminum prices exceed that of general inflation. Time will tell.
Stag,
Check out Bernanke's "screen saver":
http://www.helicopterschools.org/m/helicopter2.jpg
The guy has issues!
There is a way to prevent catalytic converter theft from happening to you...
The CatClamp (patent-pending) is the #1 original anti-theft device for catalytic converters.
The CatClamp forms an impenetrable cage of high grade stainless steel aircraft quality cabling around your converter preventing it from being cut out, while at the same time, locking your converter to your vehicle's frame/chassis.
The CatClamp starts out at $149 and can be found at catclamp.com. Or, you can reach CatClamp via phone at 419-478-1313.
mab,
OMG! He's droppin' hot money!
CatClamp,
OMG! Topic appropriate SPAM! You are the first. I won't delete your comment. Congratulations!
I am amazed that it costs $149 to protect a used $100 item though. I'm not heckling. It would stink to lose one's catalytic converter. The math just seems so messed up to me though.
Stag,
OMG! He's droppin' hot money!
I viewed it a little differently.
I see it as Bernanke dropping the productive economy's money onto the FIRE eCONomy. It takes more and more real money to keep the FIRE eCONomy burning.
Here's some double speak: We have to save Wall St. in order to save Main St. What a load of bs. Next Bernanke and Geithner will be telling us that we're not in recovery yet because we didn't pay big enough Wall St. bonuses.
mab,
"It takes more and more real money to keep the FIRE eCONomy burning."
That's good news. It means I can safely get out of this hand basket now. We've finally reached our destination! Woohoo!
Now, if I could just get this snowball to stop melting. I've been told it doesn't stand a chance.
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