I am in the same boat. I shall be getting a Gen 3 in due course. Currently trudging around in a Honda, and to be fair it's a nice silky smooth car with a nice interior, but it's no Prius. I miss my old 'Sitting Duck' but I don't miss the anxiety that came with owning it.
Spotted a rather immaculate Black Gen 2 T4 on a flatbed recovery truck being towed along the A406 in the north London area just past the A10 heading in the Bounds Green with last 3 reg letters JCV. I wonder if that was it . iPhone 6s +
It's true as the third time they were hit was with us in the IKEA car park. We spoke to them at the crime scene. Elderly couple they were so distraught and said the insurance sorted it previously (paid excess and losing no claims bonus.) I have no idea whether their insurers garage replaced with OEM or not though. Also no idea what happened to them with insurers on this 3rd occasion.
That’s the thing, the bastards who do it have no consideration for the poor people who this affects, an elderly couple should not be having to worry about replacing their catalytic converter for the third time. This whole thing has made me paranoid but angry towards the perpetrators. My local police have finally admitted there is a problem with the cars being targeted and have provided details on how to protect your vehicle.
That’s absolutely horrendous! I can just imagine how that’s going to adversely affect their insurance premiums in future - and their feelings of despair having become victims of such a dastardly crime the third time around do not even bear thinking about. Either of them could have easily suffered a heart attack or cerebro vascular event that could have literally been fatal. For all we know, they’ve never claimed a penny on their car insurance. This was probably the first time ever - and the insurance company were wonderful enough to step up and take care of them, quite possibly replacing it at least twice (and maybe more) with the OEM catalytic converter. And these......bastardised VERMIN.....shamelessly took advantage. I feel the utmost revulsion at what they’ve been through. It must have been the most horrendous experience for the both of them. I know that I’d go into a very DEEP DEPRESSION if The Spaceship had its CAT sawn off once again. Either that, or I’d completely lose my mind and do something I’d probably regret (like, go batshit crazy, hunt them down and go medieval on them....). I cannot imagine how helpless they must feel. The sheer nightmare of existing in this peculiar world they now live in, where safety and protection from these thieving scum is no longer guaranteed. They will remember how this sort of thing could never happen in their heyday. How the local constabulary would have nipped this kind of Grand Larceny.....or doubtlessly caught the criminals rather quickly to the relief of all. Thanks for confirming this - nice to know it’s not an urban myth, but indeed a damning indictment of the increasingly dystopian world being insidiously foisted upon us law abiding folk, whether we like it or not Welcome to Hell iPhone 6s +
Sorry no video just some text I have copy and pasted Motorists are being reminded of the steps they can take to prevent thefts of catalytic converters following a spate of offences in areas including #Dartford and #Medway. Since the start of 2019 at least 29 catalytic converters are reported to have been stripped from vehicles at locations which have also included #Gravesham, #Swale and #Maidstone. They have previously proved a popular target for thieves because of the valuable metal contained within them and in recent years vehicle manufacturers have introduced new models which contain less precious metal, making them worth less. Sergeant Dan Horsley of the north division Community Safety Unit said: ‘Changes made by manufactures to deter thieves are reflected in the vehicles we see being targeted today. In more than half the offences Toyota Prius vehicles, made between 2006 and 2007, have been targeted. Victims have also reported a number of thefts from Honda models from 2000 and 2005.’ On 26 March two men were arrested in connection with the theft and handling of stolen catalytic convertors, after a suspicious car was stopped by officers in Main Road, #Longfield. Items including a number of catalytic convertors and cutting tools were seized from the vehicle. An investigation is ongoing. Sgt Horsley added: ‘We are continuing to work hard to deter and reduce the number of these crimes. This includes working closely with scrap metal dealers, to make it easier to trace sellers of stolen metal and also identify any dealers who operate illegally. We are also asking residents to play their part, by remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious behaviour.’ To reduce the risk of theft, owners are advised try and keep vehicles in a garage whenever possible, or park in busy, well-lit areas. Drivers can also security mark and register the metal shell of the converter so if stolen and recovered, it will be easier to trace. Mark or etch it with the vehicle registration number, or serial number, and consider fitting a catalytic converter clamp or security cage to protect it.
Holy Carp* They actually caught two of the thieving b’stards?!! (Swoooon...) Someone get the smelling salts....I think I’ve just passed out from the shock of this news.... ** Thanks Devdas iPhone 6s +
I hope they haven’t released those Grand Theft CAT perpetrators yet Surely, they’ll need to question them carefully. Thumbscrews anyone? I’m kidding. Of course we can’t wring answers out of them utilising Game Of Thrones tactics.......().....but it’s time for the intelligence services to swing into action and get to the bottom of this caper - and find out who Mr Big really is.....and where all out CATs ended up. Can’t wait till this news makes the evening news. Have they identified the stolen CATs as being from 2nd Gen Prii? There’s almost 2,000 Prius owners who’d like a quiet word with those........parasites!!! iPad ? Pro
I'm hoping they find my one, it was security marked so it would assist the police in their enquiries, however I'm sure my Cat is long gone, never to be seen again.
Busy well lit area? Like in the busy car park of a pub in Bermondsey in broad daylight at 1.00pm in the afternoon?!! Or a shopping centre car park with cars and customers coming and going non-stop with CCTV on poles looking down on the place - again in broad daylight. Security marks? Of absolutely no use when the CATs have been coated in black or rust paint and squirrelled away in the middle of a huge consignment of scrap metal in a giant container about to leave for the continent by sea. Yup! That advice belongs in the year 1970; probably came out of a handbook written in that decade too! They really are detached from the Dystopian reality slowly encroaching upon our increasingly miserable lives in London. Triple facepalm as the FAIL is too great! iPhone 6s +
What’s cat markings got to do they melt them down anyway slim chance of them getting caught between stealing and their dealer. Only logical way is to have stinger cars set up catch the culprits red handed.
exactly, mine was security marked, with stickers in the window advertising this, and they still took it. Don't know if the new cat is marked, the kit supplied has the etching kit with it, not fussed if it isn't though, if it gets stolen again I won't be getting it back.
As long as you’ve got it physically secured and locked down, they’re VERY unlikely to try and take it again. These parasitic vermin are first and foremost “Opportunist Thieves”. If it’s not suitably bolted down, they’ll take it within 2 minutes maximum. That remains their modus operandi. They’re perfectly well aware that even if someone called the police on them, it would now take our ‘thin blue line’ much longer than 2 minutes to arrive at that location. They’d be long gone by then. Hanging around for 5 or 10 minutes while trying vainly to saw through a reinforced security solution is incredibly risky as I’ve often said. If the police don’t get them first, irate locals could. And with some individuals walking around armed with zombie knives (allegedly for their protection ) the chances of the CAT thieves getting wasted is very high indeed. A zombie knife would also brilliantly puncture the tyres of the thieves getaway vehicle, preventing their escape and virtually guaranteeing their apprehension by law enforcement IF the latter can spare the time to come and arrest them. Ergo, they would really rather do the job in 90 seconds and scarper, than spend time fending off an irate mob for 5 or 10 minutes while trying to steal ONE CAT from under a Prius. Also, and this is very important, if you’ve had a NON OEM replacement catalytic converter installed, it’s absolutely worthless to them and simply not worth the risk! I’m pretty sure my Prius has been perused by these criminals or their associates a fair few number of times in the last few weeks. I park it anywhere unattended now. It’s registration number indicates it’s 5 years older than it really is - usually an indicator that it SHOULD have an old juicy OEM CAT installed underneath, begging to be nicked. I can only imagine the disappointment when they peep underneath and see the eye boggling high level of security reinforcement surrounding the non OEM CAT. They’ll just walk straight back to their vehicle and drive away, on the prowl for another easy target. I should really check the parking mode motion detection recordings from The Spaceship; I might be pleasantly surprised at what I might find. Perhaps footage of the Grand Theft CAT team sneaking up to molest my vehicle before slinking away quite disappointed So, if you’ve installed any physical security, especially on a non-OEM catalytic converter, they’re gonna walk away. There’s the slimmest of chances some copycat theft morons might indeed try and attack a security reinforced CAT, but their lack of experience and unbridled greed will ultimately be their undoing. I hope those CAT thieves picked up by our ‘Law Enforcers in Blue’ are still in custody, passing huge red bricks out of pure fear. Hopefully, they’re apprehension will lead to the ultimate arrest of the rest of the gang and an immediate halt to their operation. However, like drug dealers stooges, these little minnows might be nothing more than the bottom end of a great pyramid scheme, probably paid around £150 to £200 (or even less) for each genuine CAT they hand in to the Cappo di Tutti - who obviously won’t really be getting his hands dirty at this stage of the operation. Personally, my money is on them ALL being related (they’re family), ergo, they can be trusted and the spoils will be shared accordingly. iPhone 6s +