I've had Toyota 4x4 pickups since 1988. I have parked hundreds of times near rivers, lakes, and the Sound. I have probably been asking for trouble. All this time I have managed to keep my catalytic converters firmly attached to my trucks. That is until yesterday! I took my truck to work near the Seattle Center and parked in a pay lot. No converter when I returned to the truck. Theives suck!!
I finally get a couple of days to fish just as the river is finally rising, but I will be wasting them getting the truck fixed. F'n theives.

RV

I'm probably way out of the loop here, but why would anyone want a catalitic converter ? The last I heard people were inventing ways to disable them and considered them a nuisance to both power and fuel economy.

Man, that sh!t frosts my ass.

Some little scumbags tried stealing the converter on my Tacoma at the Park-n-Ride on Martin Way in Lacey, but must have gotten run off like the cockroaches they are. They got 3/4 of the way through with their Sawzall, but that was it.

I'm afraid to park the thing anywhere and leave it now.

Ahh, I see.

Just seems odd to pick exactly that piece of a vehicle to target...

What a coinsidence, I just had mine ripped off from my Tacoma last week...that was parked right in our driveway! They just crawled under and unbolted it, so there was no sound. Of course I didn't discover this until after I started my truck. That scared the crap out of me! I thought my truck exploded!

What I can't figure is that I just went down to Schucks and bought a universal cat for $65 and had it welded on. Just doesn't seem worth it. People just piss me off sometimes.

i have heard the cats toyota and honda use have a higher percentage of platinum in them than those in other vehicles.

the older toyotas were theft magnets -- the parts bring top dollar and half the time, the you can start someone else's with your key, or vice versa(i know, i've owned 4 toyota pick-ups).



$65 for you, free for them, they get cash at scrap metal recyclers. the only way to reason with a tweeker is with a bullet.

The "value" of it is 100.00+ how do I know. Because I have sold two,

It went like this, I drove my landcruiser to the muffler shop because I needed a new muffler The guy tried to sell me a new cat, I asked why? "Its 20 years old" Me do they wear out him "its 20 years old". So since my cat looked to be in good shape I kept my old one.

Then I ran into a scrap guy at the gas station, with a load of cats. I asked about the value. He said 100.00.

Anyway, the "Factory Toyota " cats have honeycomb pattern filler that I am told has platimun in them.

If you are worried about your cat, as sick as it seems. Go to the muffler shop and have a aftermarket one installed for 200.00 then sell your toyota one to the scrap yard. They don't want the aftermarket ones no platinum I am told.

The scrap mafiaoso bastards that are buying the scrap are also the folks that need to be shot.

IMO, they are equally part of the problem.

There has been an attempt to stop the cash payment for scrap metal. Some scrap yards now will not pay cahs, rather they will mail the proceeds check to an address in so many days time after they check the 'hot' sheet for stolen wire, cats etc. If there is not market for sales, the thefts will dry up to a point.
If you think this should be done on a state level, write or contact your local state legislator. I know some of the building groups have had their lobbyists on it as a lot of the things that get sold are stolen from new construction.

I work at a Toyota store, we've had over 30 cats stolen over a 2 month period. The part that really sucks, it comes out of the stores gross. We've had more than a couple employee's cats stolen while parked at the fairgrounds during our offsite sales...Not to mention stolen gas after they pry open gas lids scratching and denting the new vehicles. It's a real shame. It's slow times right now, and these punks are making it harder. I say we rig them with high voltage!!!!!

Check out this add on craigslist

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/850850414.html

Electricity is a good thing. Works for you even when you're not around to watch. Of course it's probably a good idea to disconnect it and drive your vehicle away before calling the police to report the body you find. Details, details.

Sg

Yep. Ive owned a couple. Once locked my Keys inside at 1am buying beer right off University Ave. Hit up 3 different Toyota owners and sure enough one was close enough to do the job.

I guess that explains why the last two times I went to Ilwaco. Someone with an older Toyota got their converters stolen and left mine alone. I have a 2005 Tacoma...

To theives and tweakers, that kind of ad encourages theft.