Stolen catalytic converter in london uk

I did write to my local mp who said same that he shall be bringing it up at the next meeting with them not sure what they will be able to do though problem is they melt the cats once they are out they are gone they cannot be traced back to the owner once they are melted. Also there are small foundaries that have opened to process this metals I thought it’s only two in the uk but there are some back yard crooks doing this.

If you look on Facebook for catalytic convertors in the market place there are some buyers offering cash which is illegal plus they also offering collection service for cats that are “unwanted” they also show how they refine the metals.

 

Another one

 

How can the police close these cases when they have video of the crooks and their cars? You would think they would keep them open so when they are eventually caught they can be charged with stealing like 100 of them rather than just one. 100 cats @ dealer price of 2000 each is 200,000 pounds. Sounds like grand theft to me.

 

You would think that they would be able to sort it this post has been going on since August 18

Surely setting up stinger cars in hotspots plus monitoring cash buyers for the metal would hurt these crooks

Remember there was a spate of thefts for lead and copper they stopped it by banning cash payment for scrap they also needed proof of address if you go to a scrap dealer

 

......That’s downright scary.
Law enforcement seem to have lost control of what’s happening in this country.

How long before they’re kidnapping young fit men, women and children off the streets so they can STEAL their Kidneys and sell them on to the highest bidder?

Don’t laugh. Stranger things.........
Who’d have thought the humble 2004 to 2009 Prius would become a magnet for precious rare metal harvesting criminals? ‍


iPad ? Pro

 

Mainly North West Kent/ south Essex way. The car was repaired in West Thurrock, so they’ve picked up cars in the surrounding areas. Not a main dealer who has done the repair, just a coach works.

 

Yes, I’d already dubbed this crime phenomenon “Grand Theft CAT”.......but apart from the odd tweet from the Police, nothing is being done about it.
Nothing ever will.

Our law enforcement have categorised this heinous crime against us Prius II owners across the UK as “A victimless crime” - which is a terrible insult to each and every one of us tax paying citizens affected by this unsavoury crime in more ways than the Police care to imagine.

In any other country in the world, this would have been nipped in the bud pretty quick. Indeed, the thieves wouldn’t dare try this in their own country, as they would have to contend with terrible merciless revenge attacks from their fellow citizens, and even their own law enforcement would turn a blind eye, once it becomes clear they were STEALING catalytic converters from cars.

I guess the message for each and every one of us, is that we can kiss goodbye to any form of police protection or assistance when it comes to crimes inflicted upon us.
We are clearly no longer worthy.

Yes, it’s ENTIRELY the governments fault. They’ve knowingly starved the UK police forces of funds in a misguided austerity drive.
Never underfund Law and Order Enforcement!!!

Criminals will take advantage in ways one could hardly imagine.

We are now all under siege. From burglars, moped muggers, psychotic bozos running around in the streets thoughtlessly plunging zombie knives into innocent citizens, and of course the Grand Theft CAT gang busy wantonly targeting Prius 2 vehicles, safe in the knowledge that the Police will never bother them.
They essentially have carte blanche to plunder every Prius in the UK with malice aforethought.

If that isn’t depressing, I don’t know what is.

Victimless crime indeed


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Hills of woodford Toyota sent me a email advertising their catloc for £200 ,...... I assume they are overcharging.

What im wondering at the moment is if dumb thieves are re-targeting after market cats aswell.

 

In all fairness that is a good price, I'm having mine done tuesday week. To buy the catloc separately I was quoted £200 by the coachworks who repaired my car, that didn't include fitting. The Toyota one includes fitting to both cats and a 5 year warranty.

 

Toyota sent me an email about that catloc too. Unfortunately upon further investigation it was discovered that it does not fit my Gen 1 Prius.


Considering the accessory bulletin specifies Gen 2 Prius, I was puzzled as to why they sent it to me. I also wasted a whole morning whilst they told me I could not have it fitted.

 

Just been on the phone to Woodford Toyota they say the catloc is not 100% proof at preventing the theft. Does anyone know if it does deter the thieves

They also said they had a phone call this morning from another customer who had her second OEM cat stolen yesterday ouch

This is gonna make the gen 2 go extinct and probably inadvertently raise the cost of gen 3s

 

Well there have been cases of people being done three times same car yes. These guys are bold enough to steal from your drive way I don’t think they fear for the police what police ? As for cat lock or any device securing it these guys seem to take what they want where they want.

Anyone know their tool of choice? I know I wrote jaws of life but that seems bit extreme and expensive it’s either angle grinder or battery operated hacksaw.

Either case those people getting it refitted may want to consider a metal bar to be welded either top or bottom this will buy some time. Against the angle grinder and battery operated hacksaw. Exhaust place should have a welder but make sure it’s done off the car due to electrics in the car.

I didn’t realise this otherwise i would have got mine welded when it was replaced.

Cat locs have wire ropes I guess that makes it awkward and buys some time acts as a deterrent thieves are lazy otherwise they would be working making use of these skills. Wire ropes also probably to cut need a good grip otherwise would slip around so the battery operated saw would work on it but only if the cable was tight enough slack cable will skate around with both the angle grinder and hack saw.

Any suggestions welcome

 

Ahh thanks this is what I was looking for when I wrote my comment

 

Puts me in mind of the movie "The Selfish Giant"

The Selfish Giant (2013) - IMDb

 

I can well believe that if the thief is that determined to get it then he will not stop at anything to get the cat off the car, however I want to make their life as difficult as I can. I still intend to fit some more bits to the exhaust alongside the Catloc, as someone did earlier in this thread by putting steel rods along with steel wire along the exhaust that was held in place with jubilee clips.

I would like to know if anyone has had their cat stolen with the catloc in place at all?

 

Get a tilt alarm fitted get catloc fitted, get some rebar welded on to the exhaust pipe top and bottom sides and get a under carriage perforated steel fitted that will seal it up make life difficult.

If they still manage to take that then just get rid of the car

 

Maybe the tilt alarm doesn't help much, they don't seem to phased if they're found out: just carry on, menace if approached.

I can think of one thing that'll stop them, but better not say it.

 

I was at an exhaust place last week for a different matter and got talking to the manager there. He says he's had many Prius owners in asking for advice, and in his opinion there is no device that will 100% stop this from happening. Fact is there is no deterrent, so the SCUM doing this can take what they like with almost total freedom. Worst still they know they can carry on unopposed.

I also found out that the stolen catalytic converter on my Gen 1 was replaced with an OEM original. I was not happy to learn this. He also told me there is no after market replacement readily available for the Gen 1.

Sadly I think I shall have to eventually look for a different car. This criminality is taking over the real reason for me having a car. Freedom. I feel I have no freedom owning a Prius. A damned shame as I love it.

 

If they tried to move their operating territory to Texas, I strongly suspect the locals would quickly put a stop it. At least to the brazen witnessed thefts.