Just bought my first PRIUS and catalytic converter got stolen first night.

I think a serious thief would probably make a folding jack attachment, where you can put an impact wrench fitting to it and lift your car in about 10 seconds.

 

Found this. CatClamp Catalytic Converter Security Kit Universal Prevents Theft CCS175300 | eBay
Also found this article: How to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft
You want the thieves to leave the vehicle alone without damaging the car, any device you attache must be clearly visible before they start working on your CAT.

 

That CatClamp won't do a thing. The exhaust pipes are quite long, they'll just cut in a different area....further down from the CatClamp. Take the CatClamp with them and sell it on Ebay

 

Wow, I am glad I don't live in a big city.
I guess, then only workable solution would be not to park on street. KEEP YOUR PRIUS GARAGED ALL THE TIME! OR... move away from the city.

 

The thieves might have already figured out this Cat on a used car cost $2500 at the dealer. Most Gen2 cars are under $5000 now. So if they steal the cat and look for a listing on craigslist for a Prius with missing cat for $1000. They've scored!!! Buy the car and weld the cat back on

 

Wait! That business model has a flaw. Now thieves has to be in a used car repair and sales business. Do they really want to work that hard? LOL

 

They just cut the pipes around the catalytic converter. They don't need to cut exactly where the catalytic converter is located

 

If the majority owners have theft/vandalism insurance, this would start to impact the insurers' bottom lines, and maybe they would lobby the police to get after these guys?

 

If this happens 'all over LA'..what do people do to protect themselves?? Some slick security system?

 

Comprehensive insurance comes with a deductible, usually $250-$1000. So if you have a $1000 deductible, you'll just pay out of pocket.

Most people won't carry comprehensive/theft insurance for cars under $5000

 

They can cut anywhere in between. It'll slow them down because they have to take a bigger piece, but hardly going to stop anyone that wants it.

 

I just slam ~$1200 into insurance, through quasi-government provider ICBC, year after year, regardless of the car's book value. About $500 of that is mandatory, liability insurance, and the deductible for vandalism type damage is $300.

Maybe rates are higher in the States.

 

G'day Appelton,
Wow I am very sorry this is your introduction to Southern California.
I live in Altadena/Pasadena and we have had the catalytic converter thieves working our neighborhood so I am nervous for my 2009. (Last of the Gen 2) They have also hit the UCLA campus from time to time in the past which is where my car spends too much time. Do you have any pictures of the work done to deter the future thieves? And which shop was it that did the welding work because I think I might want to have it done before they hit me.

One other thing to do now that you drive in LA; go to the Page Museum (La Brea Tar pits) and look at all the animals that have been stuck there over the years. Then realize that the blacktop on which you are stuck on the 405 freeway is essentially the same substance as in the pits. It's just something to think about since it may seem like a few millennium that you are stuck in traffic.
(audio books help)

Pinback

 

Better than freezing in the bottom of a rocket fuel tank, right?

 

Actually, no. Platinum is only around $800 an ounce. Gold is up around $1200(?)

 

anti theft prevention is key.
In this case some of the examples listed above will not completely prevent a theft.
But it will do either two things...imho
1 Slow down the theft..
2 Theft will move on to the next vehicle without anti theft in place.

Please note if someone wants to steal something and is experience they will get it. That's why we have insurance for.
Again you have to have multiple or redundant theft prevention in case one fails.

 

Well, I really was gonna try to get him outa there but... Ah well. Now you know why my Prius is called Darkstar. LOL

 

I agree that theft prevention is key because it would be really tough for the police to catch these guys. The best bet for the police is to catch the processors (possibly scrap yards and chop shops) of the stolen units. But that does not directly help us car owners. I think the best bet is to get the car off the street when parked at night. I have heard of people having two cars in the same driveway hit in the same night near me.

I am just surprised this is an issue with the Prius. It made sense when it was Forerunners and Pickups and SUVs that were being hit given how high they are. But the Prius is pretty low and not so easy to get under. I wonder if the Prius catalytic converter has more precious metals than other cars?

For a while I was considering lift bags for the front end of my car so I can get in and out of my driveway easier with out doing the Prius Scrape. Now I am rethinking that and wondering about full active suspension front and rear so I can do the "turtle" low rider maneuver too just to defend my catalytic converter. Of course then I would also need a figurine of a small canid affixed to the rear window with a head that's loosely coupled to the body and subject to simple harmonic motion. And fuzzy 20 sided dice for the mirror and fur lining on the dash to catch Takata shrapnel...