The Ultimate Vandal

[seekermeister]

I just went out to take a trip to the grocery store, and was very surprised that my car started with a loud roar. I bent over and looked to find that the tail pipe was hanging down, and the muffler was missing...it had been sawed off.

It would be surprising that this would happen anywhere, but especially where I live, in a complex where the parking lot is lined with apartments that look out on the lot. I even once had a tenant check me out, when fixing a flat late at night. I suspect that some tenant must have down this, because if a stranger had done it, someone would have called the police.

Considering that my car was already very old and ragged, and requiring other repairs, it's not worth the cost to do them, so I will have to find a replacement. I just checked with the Salvation Army, which has an auction each month, but I must have just missed it, because the next one isn't until October 1st.

Not sure where to look, but I guess Craig's List is next.

 

[brady]

Catalytic Converter Theft | Nationwide.com | Nationwide.com

 

[seekermeister]

Now that I think of it, you are probably right. The missing area is too far forward for a muffler.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Man that sucks platinum rocks !

 

[brady]

These same theives will rip out your irrigation system for the brass washers, lol.

 

[pparks1]

Yeah, I have been reading about a rash of catalytic converter thefts in my area as well. Was recently talking to a cop that said that catalytic converter theft and in-dash navigation units were the #1 and #2 things stolen from cars...and these thieves can get them out in less than 2 minutes.

 

[seekermeister]

It wouldn't be such a bad thing, because I was planning on buying another car anyway, but since that one is no longer drivable, I don't have a means to travel about to check out other cars available...I sure don't want to take a taxi all over town. I probably could get some owners to bring their car to me for inspection, but with only the scant info and poor pictures in Craig's List, I doubt that I could pick the right one(s) to call.

I want a small pickup, but from what I read in the article that brady linked, I would remain a prime candidate for a repeat performance, because I drive very little, which leaves the vehicle in the lot for long periods, and pickups are more likely targets that cars, because of the height that they sit off the ground. I wish my apartment faced the parking lot, because then I could get a security camera to point at the vehicle, but I definitely don't want to move.

I'm always somewhat surprised at the prices that some people ask for vehicles that are not worth anything except for parts.

 

[seekermeister]

I just got off the phone with a man selling a 1998 Ford cargo van, that looks pretty good in it's picture, and sound okay by his description. The only thing that he said was wrong with it was that it had a rough idle due to some kind of sensor on top of the engine, that he claimed would cost about $60 to replace. I tried to go to AutoZone to check it out, but twice it froze my computer, requiring a forced reboot, so I guess that I will have to play it by ear. The gas mileage is less than I would like (15-18 mpg by his estimate), but since I drive so little, that is not as much of a problem for me, as it would be for some. He wants $1500 for it, which comparing with some other vehicles in that price range doesn't sound too bad.

He is going to bring it to me for an inspection later today, so I will have to wait to see what happens.

 

[smarteyeball]

Too bad old mate moocher doesn't have a car - you could have hit him up to drive you around car shopping.

 

[profdlp]

I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you.

 

[arkhi]

I'm sorry to hear about this too. Thieves should be severely punished. They should have put their prowess in thievery in to a more productive and better-earning job.

Catalyctic converters are expense (avg $400), and they are required by law. I hate how the thieves not only took your posession, but they alsive gave you a slap in the face that says "haha go get one or else).

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I would look at a pre-cat truck and call it a day !

 

[seekermeister]

I would look at a pre-cat truck and call it a day !

This was something that I thought about, but couldn't remember when they became required. That probably means that the vehicles would have to be so old, that all of them would either be junk, or high-priced, as good vintage pickups are not cheap. I wouldn't mind such a truck, if I could afford it, but then it would lack a lot of modern amenities, like A/C, electric windows and locks, etc.

I know the purpose of the converters, but can't remember what law requires them. Since my state no longer has a safety or emissions inspection program, and no policeman is going to crawl under the vehicle to look, it would seem to be an unenforceable law. I suppose that I could replace the missing section of the exhaust with a section of regular tail pipe, so that at least the muffler would work, and that would get me around, until I found a different vehicle.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

They started showing up around '75 and went mandatory around that point or a little later so your right you could have a great degree of issue on hand locating a clean example of a Toyota, Chevy, Ford or Mazda.

 

[seekermeister]

I'm going to do as I said, and see if I can get a section of tailpipe to patch the system, so that I can shop around for something else. I did find a couple of vehicles on Craig's list yesterday, that didn't look bad, and were priced right, but one never replied to my email, and the other said that he would come by for me to see his vehicle in the afternoon, but never did. Most of what I have found were larger vehicles, i.e. gas guzzlers. I doubt that I will find a good small pickup that I can afford.

 

[seekermeister]

I was going to call around and check prices for an alarm system for the vehicle, but some problems prevented me from doing so...maybe tomorrow. In the meantime I'm wondering about buying an independent alarm system from eBay. They have packages ranging from $20 - $500. The high end doesn't interest me, because I doubt that they would be worth the price to me, but then I really have no idea of what I should get, either in price or features. It is obvious that motion detection is essential to ward off any future converter thefts, but what else should I consider?

 

[pparks1]

At this point, you've unfortunately had the catalytic converter stolen. Its rare that it would ever happen again. So, I'm unsure if investing in some sophisticated alarm system is going to pay for itself.

And alarms aren't infallible. I had a car stolen right from the front of my house about 2 years ago...and it had an alarm with a starter disable and it was bypassed in seconds.

 

[seekermeister]

You may be right, but once bitten, twice shy. I'm less worried about a vehicle being stolen, than I am of a recurrence this problem. However, the vehicle being stolen is not out of the question, because about a year back, someone did try to steal it, even though it was the worst car in the lot. All that they managed to do was to tear up the steering column cover and mangle the ignition switch. It was about that time that I heard that someone from the complex next to us was arrested for trying to steal a vehicle from our complex...probably mine. But the police never said anything to me about it.

As I said, I'm not going to get a high priced system, but one for $100-$200 would be worth it, if only for the sake of some kind of peace of mind...even if it may not be totally secure. I figure that converter thieves are probably less professional than a real car thief, so it might scare him off. If it did, it would definitely be worth the price.

 

[smarteyeball]

At this point, you've unfortunately had the catalytic converter stolen. Its rare that it would ever happen again. So, I'm unsure if investing in some sophisticated alarm system is going to pay for itself.

True. It's a 'bolt the stable door, lightning striking twice' situation. An understandable knee-jerk reaction however.

If your car is rarely, or has previously never been tampered with, an alarm doesn't sound like a wise investment. Especially if you were planning on replacing the vehicle anyway.

I'd consider it if you got a newer vehicle however. If only for peace of mind.

 

[seekermeister]

The alarm is not for the car that I have, but for what I will replace it with, which will probably be a full sized pickup. From what I read, they are prime targets for converter theft, due to their height off the ground. That coupled with the fact that it will remained parked for considerable periods of time, make it even more likely to become a target than my current car was. Due to some problems setting up a security camera, an alarm is the only viable choice that I have, and right or wrong, I shall get something.