About Catalytic Converters –lately I’m reading a lot in the UK papers about the theft of them -because they contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, all which have a higher value then Gold.

The UK papers are quoting replacement figures of £200--£400—up to £1,000 in a high-end car.  That’s serious money in Thailand, yet I have never heard of such thefts in the 20+ years here---seems it’s easier to go rob a 7-11 store with a gun and get 10-12 years then steal someone’s car exhaust. The papers say that small gangs can steal 10-12 Converters a night.  They can also be sold quickly on E-bay etc. It’s got to the point where its so lucrative that its has morphed into Daytime robbery theme. “See video taking from six cars” --Where the (3-4 man) gang draw up to your car 2 jump out remove your exhaust ---if you want to argue do it with the two heavies standing there with baseball bats.  

 

So—has anyone in Thailand had their Catalytic Converter (exhaust) stolen, or is this something that we will just have to look forward to.

 

Catalytic converter thefts soar due to rocketing value of precious metals they contain

A single converter, which cleans harmful gases before they exit an exhaust pipe, can fetch £400.

 Some police forces have seen them rise by more than 400 per cent, with organised gangs targeting dozens of cars a day. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9707087/Catalytic-converter-thefts-soar-rocketing-value-precious-metals-contain.html

 

 

Its the UK , they will steal anything, even if its bolted down.

maybe they have not twigged on about it here yet, I believe

its also bad in the USA.

regards Worgeordie

1 minute ago, worgeordie said:

Its the UK , they will steal anything, even if its bolted down.

Yer--the worse figures came from Liverpool, which was a real surprise....... (Said no one Ever......::)))..)

My neighbor in Whitehorse had a 4WD Mercedes coupe - can't remember the model.

It had 4 cats in it - $1200 each to replace

Reason # 4,816

3 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

My neighbor in Whitehorse had a 4WD Mercedes coupe - can't remember the model.

It had 4 cats in it - $1200 each to replace

Reason # 4,816

My son has a 140M and said they're covered on his insurance.

I said what about renewal after being done. 

Like my thread on complexity - explain to me why you need 4 Cats !!!

And why a noisy fan will cause the battery computer to malfunction and cause a check light.

Our ISX Cummins had 3 oil pressure switches !!! One fails it shuts down after 20-30 seconds !!!

Insanity - complexity for the sake of. No thanks

There aren't thefts because there's enough idiots willing to give it away for peanuts, 

at some exhaust shop, they'll happily exchange your factory exhaust with CATs for their 'upgraded' no cat pipes for free or even with money back.

 

I've had blocked CAT under warranty in dealership being fixed by having a rebar knocked through, the mechanic probably collected all the dust to sell on for beer money 

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

Its the UK , they will steal anything, even if its bolted down.

maybe they have not twigged on about it here yet, I believe

its also bad in the USA.

regards Worgeordie

Here in Thailand, its all about having Water Meters away.

30 in one night a few Days ago in the Village.

Another reason to stay happily car-free.

1 minute ago, Captain Monday said:

Another reason to stay happily car-free.

OK if your living in BKK Capt......... not Issan

Straight pipe will not work on MB as above

Each Cat had an O2 sensor - would throw a code.

3 hours ago, digbeth said:

There aren't thefts because there's enough idiots willing to give it away for peanuts, 

at some exhaust shop, they'll happily exchange your factory exhaust with CATs for their 'upgraded' no cat pipes for free or even with money back.

 

I've had blocked CAT under warranty in dealership being fixed by having a rebar knocked through, the mechanic probably collected all the dust to sell on for beer money 

Mnay with mazda 2 diesels do this. Some shops specialise in removing the cat and giving them some extra HP. I wonder if the car owners of the cars know how much they are worth (when functioning properly). The garages are laughing all the way to the bank. 

 

2 hours ago, canthai55 said:

Straight pipe will not work on MB as above

Each Cat had an O2 sensor - would throw a code.

I would imagine those codes can be mapped out. 

You can thank your governments for the complexity of your vehicle. 

 

In a country where cars are not smog checked to get your tags, there is no market for stolen cats.

 

In the US they steal copper plumbing out of buildings.