SEATTLE — A big problem in Western Washington is getting worse – the theft of catalytic converters.
It’s something impacting every community with thieves hitting churches, senior centers, apartment buildings and even Seattle Humane.
The crime is getting increasingly more common. Preliminary data from Seattle Police show there were only a handful of cases in 2018, but that number exploded to more than 700 in 2020 – a greater than 900 percent from 2018. The thefts are continuing to surge in 2021 and if the trend so far this year continues, 2021 is on track to double last year’s thefts
The social workers aren't stopping this?
you mean the "evil racist police" who had their funding cut? They probably have their hands full.
Nope, I meant the social workers that were supposed to take the place of police officers in these "progressive" cities. Seems like less police equals more crime. Who woulda thunk it...
Indeed.
Not surprising. It is Chaz after all... er I mean Seattle.
This happens everywhere. I (extremely unfortunately) live in Texas which is basically the Republican Capital of America.
Catalytic converter thefts have risen here as well, and likely by as much or more. This is not a political issue but a reflection in the change of value for the rare materials found in converters, i.e. copper, etc.
I think there are a lot of Oregonites who would love to trade places with you right now 😆
Have precious metals gone up in price? (platinum, palladium and rhodium)
Copper is up 17% year over year, platinum is relatively flat, but rhodium is at record highs.
ahhhh well that would do it. How much is a new cat these days?
They don't put copper in cats do they?
Surprisingly, yes there is copper. There is also: nickel, cerium, iron, and manganese in addition to rhodium. It's a small amount of rhodium but it is very valuable. Nowadays, depending on vehicle obviously, you're looking at $1000 per cat on average installed. That's on your average GM/Ford vehicle. I had a guy last week who needed catalytic converters replaced on his Lamborghini Diablo SV. Yeah. JUST the left hand side was $5,300!! He left with a bill for a bit north of $14k for two converters, an oil change, and basic maintenance. {black}:shutmouth: {blackemo}:easymoney:
I am not surprised. Catalytic converters are expensive and on these older (and common) cars that need them replaced there is definitely a demand.
I've been hooked on a live feed called 'Live on Patrol' (find it on FB and YT). Its in Ramsey county MN (Minneapolis/St Paul area) and those cat thefts are a real problem there too. I keep hoping they will run up on some of the thieves in one of the feeds 🙂
And though I'm in rural KY I'm addicted to the feed. Really awesome guys. Basically they are what Scotty would be if he were a cop.
/
😆
"Sir, do you know why I pulled you over? Don't you know this thing is an endless money pit!"
😆 😆 😆
And I love the idea that some law makers are wanting to implement something along the lines of junk yards are supposed to accept cats ONLY if the thief has a valid shop license, or a dealer permit to accept precious metals for scrap.
Sure, it won't stop ALL thieves, but it's a step in the right direction. Small steps...small steps!
ok so thieves will just sell them to shady shops now. All the city did was absolve themselves of the responsibility.
I wonder who the thieves are selling these cats to? Cat theft was huge in Houston not long ago. So the city and junkyards got together and put in procedures for accepting cats.
1.Seller must be registered with junkyard. That includes DL and thumb print.
2.Cat must have VIN printed on it. That way junkyard can run a program provided by law enforcement to see if the car has been reported stolen or vandalized.
3. Junkyard will no longer pay cash for cats. Seller must provide banking info to have money wired to them. Process only takes minutes to receive money in their account.
it sounds like toothless intimidation.
thieves will just put random VIN #'s on the cats
Wild, never thought this item would be worth it. Lift a car, and then sawzall it? Plasma cut? Yea, who is buying this? Shady for sure. So sad, legit need to replace a converter and then get a stolen item?
haha you would hear a sawzall from miles away.
all you need is a pipe cutter. Silent and quick.
Stolen catalytic converters are the perfect argument for using your garage to park your vehicles instead of a junk depository. Apparently, the defunded police are too busy putting beauty salon, gym and restaurant workers in jail so they don't have time for actual crimes anymore.
