I got a call on Wednesday night from a friend the next street over who
>had the catalytic converter stolen off his 4-Runner during the night. >
>Searching on-line, I learned that Toyota trucks/SUVs are a prime target
>for catalytic converter thieves because of the high clearance and the
>ease of unbolting it or cutting the pipe.
>
>I've been looking at the various theft protection devices:
>
>"
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>I'm thinking of just making my own with 5/16" wire rope since all of the
>commercial ones use wire rope too.
>
>Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see why a few turns of the wire
>rope on the pipe going into each side of the converter, and then
>cross-pattern spiral wrapping of the converter with the cable, then
>running the cable through frame members one each end would not be as
>good as the "cage" of horizontal cables used by the catclamp. I went
>under the vehicle and tried it with rope today to see how much cable I'd
>need. and it looks like about 20' would do it. I might also use some
>steel cable ties to tie the cable together where it crosses.
>
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">I'd use these bolted "swages" but I can route the cable so these are not >reachable to undo them with wrenches.>
>Any suggestions.
>
Yeah, buy a car not easily crawled under, and/or fabricate a cage of
1/4" bar stock to bolt over the cat. Cables are too easy to cut. Having to secure a cat is about the stupidest thing I've heard in maybe 2 or 3 years. What's the world coming to?
Non-California cats for a 4-Runner run about 80 bucks. Unless you pay a lot more I wouldn't bother trying to theft-proof it. A righteous thief might slice $800 of your tires when he sees how you want to deny him his fix.
They'll start carrying snips for the cables. Might even make a special trip back with snips.
The cage would have many bars to cut, some bucking the saw blade against the cat or elsewhere. Might have to drill through the floor to bolt in the cage. This entire exercise is too stupid for words, whether it's wrapping a cat with cables or putting a honking cage over it.
The answer is cracking down on the scrap yards with some perp walks.
+1 Depending on year the converter can be found for cheaper online:
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There are other things the thief can steal with minimal noise and basic tools: rear bumper, tow hitch, antenna, running board, spare wheel, mud flaps, tailgate (for pickups), license plate... No way to protect them all.
Sorry to butt in desertpile but you may be the nut here.
Just subtract the crime figures attributed to Latino illegal immigrants and their proginy and tell us what you come up with (the answer will be the reduced rate of crime). If you don't think the crime figures would be greatly reduced that would make _you_ the Nut!
Not because of catalytic converter thefts, but scrap dealers around here are now required to get positive ID (as much as a thumb print, so I'm told) from anyone who brings in scrap. Much noise was made about a few who were caught with the guts from heat pumps and the incidence has fallen off sharply. String 'em up and post their heads on a pike; few will follow.
Like all anti-theft measures, all you can expect to accomplish is to get the perp to pick on someone else.
I meant like in a HOUSE, with a GARAGE. One of many reasons I refuse to live in an urban area or an apartment complex any more- I hate getting robbed on a regular basis. BTDT, said the hell with this noise. Costs me a little more money, and an extra ten minutes a day commuting, but I haven't been robbed in over five years here, knock on wood. And I don't have to scrape the car in cold weather. Once in a while, my garage door bounces back open after I press the 'close' button and drive off, and nothing has ever come up missing with it open all day. (or all night when I space out and forget to close it.) There are some advantages to nosy retired neighbors, about half with dogs.
I wouldn't live in a big city on a bet, even if I could find a job that paid enough to offset the higher expenses there.
Of course. I keep my Taco in my garage at home. However, it is still vulnerable when I drive it to work, where it sits unattended for 8 hours a day, at the same spot every day...
Bingo! Moved from SFBA to rural CO Rockies. Shoulda done it 30 yrs ago. Between Fido and Ruger, no one touches cars parked outdoors. ....and I haven't heard a single car alarm in 3 yrs.
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