Theft of Metals Continues

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.