Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: garmp on January 19, 2022, 11:03:36 am
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Please bear with me I just gotta vent. Just prior to the Spearfish Reunion as we went to get Jack (our RV) from storage to begin trip prep, found our catalytic converter was stolen. Grrrrrr! Our local ford dealer rushed to get it replaced, then DW & I both came down with respiratory issues and had to cancel the trip.
As we tried to return to normal we ordered a CatClamp to prevent any more thefts. This morning when we went to take Jack to the dealer to have the clamp put on, we found that the converter was gone AGAIN!!!!!!
Well at least this time we have the CatClamp to be put on right away.
Thanks for listening. Just had to vent.
Safe travels all.
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When it rains, it pours.
Darn, that's bad, sorry that happened to you.
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That is unbelievable. I did not know they were such a high stake commodity I would be pissed beyond belief.
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How do they get away with it? That question comes to mind. I have wondered that for years. Same question about copper welding leads and random lengths of plumbing that have been eviscerated from public tenements - turning them into vacant buildings,
Undoubtedly the culprits receive little compared to the value of the whole converters. I somehow doubt serial numbering the unit with traceable information will add transparency to the catalytic converter recycling industry. Not when the market is openly fostered by Facebook being used to contact mobile buyers.
The thefts are occurring in driveways and along the curb of residential areas. Every time I leave my PC at the storage facility, I wonder if I am going to return and find wheels, exhaust system, or interior electronics missing.
The culprits are showing up with power grinders and buzz saws. How much security will it take to foil their effort?
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Cordless lithium-ion saws and grinders can cut through chains and cables. Watch your e-bikes and motorcycles too.
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So sorry to hear that, Garmp. We had our's stolen while in our driveway, finding out the morning we were going to leave for a trip. Thankfully, our shop got us in and out the same day and we salvaged what we could of the reservations by
leaving the next day.
Just curious, you say the initial theft was from the storage lot, was the second time from your home ? Or back at the lot ?
Hopefully, the anti-theft device does it's job. I'm worried if we install one, they might still try, and possibly wreck something in the process, whether they succeed or not in removing it.
When we got home from the trip we slept in it out in the driveway, about a week, until we brought it to indoor storage for the season. We left as many lights on as possible !
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That is truly sad to hear. It seems to me that the storage facility should install cameras and some deterrents like motion lights etc.
I hope the thief's get there just reward. Karma....
Very Respectfully
Lance
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Wow, nothing worse (we’ll sort of) than feeling violated by thieves. Sorry you had to go through that.
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I would be pissed beyond belief.
Me too.
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I don't know how to prevent this. Mine was stolen November 2020. Our PC is stored at a facility that is fenced, gated. lighted and has security cameras. Thieves cut a hole in the fence and got twelve cats. Cameras were working but the quality of the recording taken at night was very poor and the thieves were not caught. Facility has replaced cameras with better picture quality. Good luck!
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It was in the storage lot both times. The first time we were one of about 20 hit at that time. The storage lot people did say they had a couple of other reports recently. But I wonder how many others there were that weren't discovered yet, as the camping season hasn't yet begun. The lot has 2 coded gates to enter, but the back fencing has been cut several times.
I just got off the phone with the insurance agent & he said the CatClamp should be a great deterrent. We'll see.
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[quote
Hopefully, the anti-theft device does it's job. I'm worried if we install one, they might still try, and possibly wreck something in the process, whether they succeed or not in removing it.
My concern exactly. Tales abound of the typical dim-witted thief intent on stealing a car radio. Having no idea of the disassembly procedure, the effort to remove the radio includes tearing out everything under the dash. Imagine what some strung out doper could do with a portable angle grinder and no conscience.
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Recently it seems like I have met a number of RVer's that their catalytic converter has been stolen. While any converter can be stolen I have created a DYI catalytic converter security device that I hope will deter a thief from stealing mine. I am attaching a photo (at least I am going to try) that shows what I did. A good friend welds and was able to create from my design two brackets that are bolted onto the chassis. At each end I used 1/4 steel cable which also is attached to the chassis. Any thief that tries and takes my converter will have to work at it. I did paint the converter/heat shield with a high temperature paint along with etching my VIN. Our first RV trip of the year is coming up with several scheduled for 2022 to include attending the reunion. I will keep everyone updated if what I have created does deter a thief.
dave
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Since I am not sure why my photo didn't post send if interested send me a PM and I will send you the photo via email
dave
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I can see your photo (twice actually)
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Must be the picture angle. How do those two brackets stop it from the cat being cut and slide out? I’ve seen pics showing where they cut the cat clamp cables defeating that as well.
One owner where I store took a small livestock water tank. Cut it down to fit, raises his rv with levelers and places it under the cat then lowers the RV back down. He had rebar welded on the tank as well. Extreme it seems but you can’t see the cat and that rebar is a bear to cut through. Obviously he did it for storage purposes and it’s not something you drag along with you but it shows how fed up some owners are.
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It's hard to see but at both ends of the catalytic converter I have attached 1/4 steel cable which is wrapped around the ends. The cable is then bolted unto the chassis. A determined thief can steal anything but I hope what I have done will deter a thief from considering stealing my converter. If they were to try and remove the converter they would need to bring a grinder and a saw along with tools to un-bolt the brackets and cable. I did not take off the heat shield when I painted the converter but there is paint that does hit the converter through the slots. I have considered adding one of the motion detector alarms but I am not sure how well they would work. Will critters set the alarm off?? Perhaps one of our fellow PC colleagues can provide their experience with alarms
dave
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Dave… I figured there had to be more to the picture than what I was seeing. Thanks for the clarification. I hope it does the trick
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Good luck with that.
The advent of 4" cordless angle grinders have reduced the value of steel cable, padlocks, etc to nil.
Add a cordless sawzall, and exhaust pipes are easy to cut as butter. Are the thieves unbolting them where you are? Its a cut-and-go thing here. Two cuts takes less than 60 seconds, and no dirty hands.
Around here, the CONTENTS of the converter may fetch ~$15 a pound. Selling them isnt hard, and any ID numbers etched in are easily obfuscated.
This is on our local Facebook marketplace, you will see similar in other online sales forums. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/666168434432580
Like AC condensers, sooner or later the laws will change to make cat's hard to sell. But for now... >(
An alarm is the best idea, providing there is someone to respond to it.
Alter your cables so that attaches to a removeable pin, like on trailer emergency brakes, would sound it when the cat was removed. Or if the cable was positioned to be pulled on to get to the converter, possibly sooner!
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61KEfOUUO3L._AC_SL1500_.jpg
https://www.amazon.com/Dumble-Trailer-Breakaway-Switch-Assembly/dp/B07G2RLY2C/
Or live in the country with a big driveway, security cameras and weapons. Security through obscurity. :)(:
Sorry to hear of your troubles.
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I have a friend that his catalytic converter stolen from his Class C while it was stored in his back yard. He bought a couple of detectors similar to this:
https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Sensor-Decibels-Warning-Security/dp/B07NYXPL4P/ref=sr_1_5?crid=7ELWN22B2G6T&keywords=sensor+alarm+outdoor&qid=1644972245&sprefix=sensor+alarm%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-5
He positioned them in such a manner that the sensors pointed under the unit but they were also sensitive enough to set off when the rig was approached. I think his have a remote control to activate and deactivate them. He says they work great and hopefully may save him some misery in the future. Of course small animals would also set the things off but in the right location that might be good. I am thinking about skunks, racoons and squirrels that can do a lot of damage.