Catalytic converter theft thwarted by paintball guns at Turlock home, police say

[ItsjustMe]

https://www.abc10.com/article/news/crime/catalytic-converter-turlock-home-paintball-guns/103-899ca029-9308-40c4-9822-ee6d0679d75f

An apparent catalytic converter theft was thwarted after the would-be thieves were chased off by a Turlock family wielding paintball guns.

The brazen attempt happened Oct. 4 just before 12:30 p.m. Turlock Police spokesperson Sgt. Mike Parmley said two men were trying to take the catalytic converter from the family's 2000 Ford Excursion.

Citing a report from the family, Parmley said it was the seventh attempt the family had dealt with.

[IronLionZion]

1. 22 year old car

and here I delude myself into thinking I'm safe with my 12 year old car. In my city they like to steal wheels, or carjack the whole car at gunpoint while you're stopped at an intersection. Crime is out of control

[EYESORE 9001]

2. Thieves don't GAF about the age of a catalytic converter

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Brazen. Broad daylight. /nt

[blue-wave]

9. Oh yeah

I've seen video of it happening in shopping mall parking lots with people walking all around. The thieves don't care anymore.

The people who are purchasing stolen converters must be prosecuted to stop this. This crap has been going on for far too long.

[intheflow]

4. I am 100% in favor of paintball guns used in this way.

Shame it doesn't appear they were loaded. That could have been hysterical to watch.

[Warpy]

5. Non lethal but painful and humiliating

I like it.

Of course the cops had to have caught these scumbags, the paint splattered on their car would have been a dead giveaway.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. So, explain, please. Why is this catalytic converter such a prize?

And how can you use it after you saw it off?

[IronLionZion]

7. Valuable metals inside

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/watch-catalytic-converter-thefts-are-skyrocketing-heres-why

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Very nice article.

So, they're after the rare metals? And not necessarily the converter, which would be applied to another car?

[blue-wave]

10. Exactly