Police bust multi-state, $22M catalytic converter theft ring. Here's how to protect yours.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

If your vehicle’s catalytic converter was one of 44,000 recently stolen in Washington, Nevada, California, Texas, Oregon or New York, authorities may have arrested the group responsible.

Police detectives in Beaverton, Oregon, said they've identified the man who orchestrated a $22 million catalytic converter trafficking operation based in Portland and spanning six states since January 2021. A Washington County grand jury indicted 14 people on racketeering, aggravated theft, money laundering and other charges on July 29, police said Thursday.

Oregon detectives began investigating late last year. After searching eight locations, they uncovered last week 3,000 catalytic converters, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, a vehicle and jewelry, authorities said.

Since March 2020, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported a “meteoric” rise in thefts of the sought-after automobile parts, which can cost up to $3,000 to replace.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/police-bust-multi-state-22m-catalytic-converter-theft-ring-here-s-how-to-protect-yours/ar-AA10BmjG

[Demovictory9]

1. Mine stolen a few months ago.

[BlackSkimmer]

2. I didn't really see any good info on how to protect from this theft.

After one was stolen around the block from me, I installed motion lights all around my car. That's listed as a preventative measure, but really seems a no brainer.

I expected more from that article. The other tips seem to simply help you retrieve it after theft. I don't want mine stolen.

Sitting in a police station and saying, well, my VIN number is inscribed on it, and it's painted dayglo yellow seems stupid and just closing the barn door sort of thing...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Very sensible. Cost of reinstalling horrendous enough even with recovery. It's like

It's like the thieves who ransack the walls of a house for $200 worth of copper, doing $10,000 damage. Getting the pieces of wire back wouldn't help much.

The converter and tubing would probably be cracked and damaged beyond repair or use.


(not following you, just stumbled across the post)

[BlackSkimmer]

11. My driveway lights up like Times Square if even a cat walks across lol.

Fire ants are a real menace here too, and I encourage them to set up shop under my car. They like sugar.

Anyone who dared lie down under my car is going to be very sorry very quickly.

[maxsolomon]

5. there's really only a couple ways

1. never park anywhere but a secure garage.
2. weld anti-theft rebar around the CC.

we got hit, and they came back a 2nd time but got thwarted. left the prius up on a slender stack of landscape bricks.

[TheRealNorth]

3. Anyone see/find mug shots of the ring leadera?

I looked at several articles, but no mugs of the perps.

[Jirel]

6. Mine was stolen in TX about 6 mos ago.

The only useful preventative measure is to weld a steel cage around it.

[hlthe2b]

7. Well, I had an international tracking number welded on and the stickers warning that it is

registered-- that supposedly deters-- and I park right in front of my front door under a light directed at it. Beyond that, I don't know what you can do. Those wired "cages" that you can weld on only seem to anger the thieves-- who then vandalize your car or leave it stripped on blocks. A DUer here from Seattle (as I recall) had that happen in his own driveway.

Still, if you are in Colorado, here's the info to do similarly from AAA:
https://www.colorado.aaa.com/catalytic

This whole thing angers the hell out of me, but there have been shootings in Denver suburbs and some other cities when homeowners come out armed having caught the thieves in the act. Some even have a "look-out" armed and stationed within sight of the vehicle to do so. So, I can only hope that those shops and metal-renderers that buy them will stop doing so and the whole profit incentive will collapse.

[shrike3]

8. I remember years ago they were being stolen in Chicago commuter lots.

During the Great Recession.

[tirebiter]

9. Stay simple. Welding works. I'm sure someone can. Beat tha but most thieves can't

And mine still works.

[Coventina]

10. It's been rampant here in AZ as well. n/t