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Prius Warning

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AngliaGT

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin
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Nothing much (crime wise) seems to happen in our neighborhood.
A neighbor with a Prius had his catalytic converter stolen the other night.it
was parked in front of his house,in the driveway.
The Prius seems to be targeted more than any other car due to the
fact that thieves can get more money for used converters.
If you own one,you might want to take more precautions to avoid this.
 
Converter theft has been a major problem in my area - the airport parking lot has had many thefts - our college has its own police agency and they even boosted the converters off one of the officer's car parked right outside the police HQ.
 
Four police cars had theirs stolen in front of the San Francisco SWAT team office. Our PD averages 5 calls per night for stolen converters.

Had the one on our Ford E450 motor-home stolen a couple of months ago. I could have temporarily replaced it with a straight pipe but a smog test was due in a couple of weeks. Bought new one from Canada for twice the price of a 48-state model because we're in California.

When I installed the new one, I wrapped 3 steel cables around it and attached them to the frame. Stealing one off a Super-Duty Ford van or pickup is easy because they don't need a creeper to get underneath. They are also popular because they are large. The key is to make it take them too long.
 
My neighbor had one stolen a couple weeks ago from her Prius. Another neighbor's security cam caught it. Took less than 2 minutes including jacking the car up. She's having a hard time sourcing a new one due to backorders. Was quoted $4000 for a new one.
 
I understand that Prius converters have more precious metals to keep emissions lower than other similar vehicles. Perhaps it's time to consider paying these cat converter creeps protection money. Would it be cheaper?
 
I wonder if they used jack standsā€¦? Thatā€™d be an unpleasant surprise to leave for work in the morning to find your car had run over someone on your driveway sometime the night beforeā€¦šŸ¤®šŸ˜³šŸ‘¹
 
If the person getting crunched was the person stealing the converter I'd call that instant karma - would still prefer not to have the experience. Dealing with dead people is certainly a bit disturbing and being questioned by the authorities is no walk in the park either.
 
YakkoWarner said:
If the person getting crunched was the person stealing the converter I'd call that instant karma - would still prefer not to have the experience. Dealing with dead people is certainly a bit disturbing and being questioned by the authorities is no walk in the park either.
Click to expand...

If the perp was found deceased under a Prius, I'd guess investigators would assess the situation and deem it suicide by stupidity.

Divine Justice, IMHO.
 
They just put on the news this morning that a large theft ring was just busted in Tulsa covering many states, they say more to follow. (y)
 
The operation included arrests, searches and seizures in California, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina and Virginia.
Twenty-one defendants were charged in two indictments that were unsealed Wednesday in U.S. district courts for the Eastern District of California and the Northern District of Oklahoma, federal officials said. Investigators also served 32 search warrants and seized millions of dollars in assets including homes, bank accounts, cash and vehicles.

The operation is the first national takedown of a catalytic converter theft ring coordinated by the Justice Department, said Lauren Horwood, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's offi
 
Those types always think they're so much smarter that the police and other agencies who will be out to get them, and while it make take time, they in the end never are. Grew up with a guy who got involved in that sort of thing when he was a full ride scholarship in college, thought it was exciting. End result, he didn't make even 6 months out of high school before being in prison with no chance for parole until age 93. He's been there 46 years now.
 
I have cameras and alarms and a shotgun on hand for MINIs, Rovers and V10 Ford RV. Just have to open window.
 
LarryK said:
I have cameras and alarms and a shotgun on hand for MINIs, Rovers and V10 Ford RV. Just have to open window.
Click to expand...
Very similar here. Add an AR and as the "secret weapon" backup I have da Mits...

Her sidearm, her target:

MitsAim.jpg
 
Shotgun more spread than AR-15.
 
DrEntropy said:
If we lived out there where you do, that or a Henry would certainly be in the arsenal. šŸ‘

More urban environs here, hence the AR.
Click to expand...
I have an M1, for the urban part of that.
 
Out the window, shotgun, up close and personal "Dirty Harry".
 
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