Hide yo catalytic converters!

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Hide yo catalytic converters!

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bootstrap
rookie newb
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 20

Some crackhead sawed the catalytic converter right out from underneath my vehicle. Imagine my surprise when I started my car on Thursday morning (parked on 8th Ave b/w 3rd St and 4th St) and it sounded like a dragster. I looked underneath to discover that someone had shimmied under and sawed off my exhaust pipe in 2 places and taken the catalytic converter!

I did a little digging to find that I haven't been the only victim of this crackhead crime...especially my make / model (Toyota 4Runner, which apparently has a converter that can bring a higher price at salvage yard). Seriously, though. WTF?! When all said and done, it cost me about $700 and a day at the mechanic.

Watch out for converter thieves walking around Park Slope in the middle of the night with handsaws and looking to get under your car to steal part of your exhaust system.

# Posted 1 yr ago
SlopeDuder
getting it
Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 160

Thanks for yet another reason I'm glad I don't own a car.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Dance Rehearsal
getting it
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 108

I doubt it was a crackhead...

It was probably the same crew that stole 4 tires and wheels off an Acura a couple weeks ago on 10th btw 6th and 7th.

Yup - all 4 wheels, in the middle of the night. They left the car on blocks.

# Posted 1 yr ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

I once witness wheel stealing at that time I didn't realize it was wheel stealing. I thought these young fine gentlemen was changing their wheel, next morning show up near my van lol. the car that got their wheel changed happen to have all their wheels stolen. This happen off course like 3am in the morning.

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 1 yr ago
oneoneone
getting it
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 58

Catalytic converters contain some precious metals and scrap yards pay a premium for them.

Battery powered hand tools make quick work of cutting them off, not so much a crackhead's game as a few guys and a van.

SUV's get hit as it's easy to wriggle underneath.

# Posted 1 yr ago
BKChickie
Bagel Hole Girl
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 1,089

Ugh, I'm so sorry. This kind of theft was big a few years ago when scrap metal prices were a lot higher.

Just one more reason I'm happy to be car free in NYC.

# Posted 1 yr ago
bootstrap
rookie newb
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 20

so i didn't realize i would be corrected for calling the thiefs crackheads. they may not be, but it is a crackhead crime.

kind of disheartening that this happened right out on 8th avenue and 4th street, but i guess i'm not terribly surprised...

hope this doesn't happen to anyone else.

# Posted 1 yr ago
nuyorican70
rookie newb
Joined: Oct '10
Posts: 15

So funny how you wrote "yo" instead of "your" - really amusing how you chose a form of "ebonics" / street slang to imply whatever you intended to imply - brilliant !

# Posted 1 yr ago
shacked26
getting it
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 63

Pretty sure it was a reference to the bed intruder song nuyorican70.

[+] Embed this video

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# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,113

oneoneone said:
Catalytic converters contain some precious metals and scrap yards pay a premium for them.

Battery powered hand tools make quick work of cutting them off, not so much a crackhead's game as a few guys and a van.

SUV's get hit as it's easy to wriggle underneath.

yup

recommended tools:
Goggles

Battery operated grinder

However, if you were too broke to have a van and too much of a loser to have friends, you might be able to carry this equipment in a bookbag, and then carry your newly stolen catalytic converter in a Hefty bag.

....times are tough. Gotta cut costs.

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

you don't do it with friends! come on then you got to cut them a share of the profits. its always better as a 1 man job.

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 1 yr ago
nuyorican70
rookie newb
Joined: Oct '10
Posts: 15

I love that song

# Posted 1 yr ago
new2nyc
rookie newb
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 47

AHHHHHH!!!! Mine got stolen early summer,too! They took the whole damn pipe underneath my 4runner, nice clean saw job. $2000 later...

# Posted 1 yr ago
new2nyc
rookie newb
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 47

oh oh....in the MIDDLE OF THE DAY!

# Posted 1 yr ago
oneoneone
getting it
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 58

Converter 'guards' are available:

http://www.cat-lock.com/

# Posted 1 yr ago
SoldierSantana
rookie newb
Joined: Sep '11
Posts: 27

During the bad days of the 70s I had my hubcaps stolen on numerous occasions. It seems like history repeats itself every 25 years.

# Posted 1 yr ago