Bay Area Catalytic Converter Thefts Fueled By Vast Underground Market For Precious Metals
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2021
- Catalytic converter thefts have hit an epidemic high in the Bay Area. Kenny Choi shows us why these car parts are worth so much money and reveals the vicious cycle of illegal sellers, buyers and middlemen.
California, where the thieves are more protected than the victims.
I agree
Truer words haven’t been said. The politicians here are criminals and criminals protect their own.
move to boston cops would likely beat you up right before arresting you for something like this. i used to think our police sucked till i visited California now i love them! they do a damn good job
Lol y’all funny … must be from Texas
Washington is the same.
The best way to prevent precious metals from being stolen from your vehicle is by using another metal: Hot lead flying through the air at 1800 MPH
😂😂🤣🤣
I like the way your thinking.
Semper fi
Did you hear about the guy that shot a guy trying to steal his converter, then ties him to the back of his truck and drug him? Shits wild lmao
Yeah,because they are going to steal your converter while your standing there.
I think a 9mm travels at around 700 mph sorry
Our beloved car was just vandalized, the insurance won’t let us fix cuz car is so old. Now we have to get a new car which is expensive and unfair. I want these crooks punished severely.
@JMB 800 bucks are the registration fees up to date ? Hard to find a decent car for 800 these days
Did you vote for democrats? yes you did. Well Honey you did this to yourself.
Dude, I had mine swiped last night. I do not have 2000$ bucks for a new one. I need my car. My insurance does not have comprehensive. Any suggestions?
@Bob Grey I will call tomorrow, do I have to provide any evidence of larceny.
Insurance won't cover costs, since I did not have theft on the policy. police have emphatically said their is 0 chance of recovering the stolen item. No one gives a fuq.
I think I will phone everyday at the police station to ask for any updates on the case. Maybe me constantly irritating them might stir them into action.
Everyone makes money except the car owners.
Thieves , dealerships and car manufacturers
Nobody ever said owning a car is cheap.
@YYZpresto yes and it's funny 😄
Why should the owners make money?
The other side of the story being America is still so rich and yet jobless so people turn to crime costing TAX hikes when gov paid top dollars already! Where are the cops to patrol for these kind of crimes?! Or is this another plan for a NEW business to bloom?! Like a lotto game or pot sales ?! Could be!
It should be illegal for the Recycling centers to buy Catalytic Converters.
it is in Ga.
Big underground.. It gets shipped to South America then shipped out to different countries.
Its all organized crime, not some rinky dinky random phenomena. The Mexican Mafia (La Eme) dominates it! Mostly FROM Death Row... thanks to Gavin's death penalty moratorium. I voted Biden and support Mark Feuers for L.A. Mayor. And I support RECALLING GAVIN.
It's not them. They will not buy them here or the places that do buy metal will not take them. It's a much bigger operation as the video stated. Sad. It has sure hurt folks around here, they have stolen so many. Some have been caught, which is good.
Here we go. All due respect lets stop making excuses and blaming everyone EXCEPT the thieves. They are the real victims right?
The recycling center is buying these catalytic converters are part of the problem they don't do their due diligence and they will buy anything I guess it's all business.
Business is business
Have you ever sold a converter to one of them?
Around here the recycling centers or scrap metal buyers will not take them. As the video says it is a much bigger operation. Darn thieves. There are so many jobs right now but they would rather be thieving thugs than work! Shameful.
@@rachelphelps6347 Because most of the thieves are crackheads.
@@MrBluecollar8 So true. I work for a company and drive for a living. They have had so many stolen from our buses. The police caught one thief and he was intoxicated and had drugs in him when he was caught. It's disgusting. Now the new convertors are on back order so nothing can get fixed, which means we are very limited in vehicles to drive! I hate thieves. Seems like stealing is becoming more and more common too. Morals in our country have gone down the gutter.
Even if the thief’s get caught. They will get released
That’s the main problem we have.
We caught one set of thieves and they only got cited for trespassing because they weren't holding any tools when they were running away from the police. Then another set of thieves came an hour afterwards and did it again, but faster and got away.
probably because they gain nothing from them since they have no money that they can get out of them
One in Anaheim is in heaven after car fell on him thanks to the sh...y jack he used. And someone scored his nice new safety shoes.
@@mkrp4 Karma, gotta love it.
The solution is simple. The next judge who'll release these thieves shall spent 10 years in jail, give up his/her house, and surrender all assets to the victim.
the judge will wake up one day to the sound of smoke detector...
😹newsome
Ya thats pretty steep for a fucking theft charge why not just execute them at that point.
@@lordot8665 found the catalytic converter thief
You guys can vote judges out you know. Just stop voting for democrats.
Car shops replacing the ones that have been stolen are racking in the dough too. Charging way to much for the work. Criminal enterprise.
Those shops are probably buying those stolen ones and reselling for those high prices
They been stealing them from my dad's shop too
Very unfortunate
@@reneenguyen3136 woow!! That sucks, sorry to hear that.
Jenny Animal Then why don't you open a shop and charge a low price for the repair?
@@dpz1985dp Don't bet on it, in CA the converter must match the make / model of the car, you can't just install a random one.
In our area (Washington State), a man was caught stealing a catalytic converter and was shot, tied up and dragged to a field to die.
W
They should have put a sign on his chest saying, " THIS IS WHAT WE DO TO CONVERTER THIEVES !
YAAAAAAAAAAAAA
This reminds me of the 80's when there was a large surge in plutonium & flux capacitor thefts.
I'm working on an anti theft device that involves peppers spray and flame thrower for the under carriage of the vehicle
*roll eyes*. Or realize that high end catalytic converters are actually not necessity and others states who have $500 for sale and legal can make california to knock it off with their pretentious "clean air" crap and let the working class have a tangible catalytic converters promise you this grand theft would stop. Its california and those in denial that the TODAYS green this and that are actually a con job to price gauge every corner that set this up. And sadly,....these thieves are pros...they will probably lick the pepper spray as treat.
😂😂🤣
let me know when it’s made lol
Instead of just focusing on the thieves, they really need to crack down on auto body shops that's buying the stolen goods under the table.
It's the metal recyclers who buy them, not the body shops.
WRONG! Really! "Instead of focusing on the Thieves." Wow.
Auto body shops aren't buying them. Touching a used catalytic converter is a big NO-NO and everybody knows it.
set up sting' operation and shut down whom ever buying them
The slobs doing this need to be dead. Ground up and made into dog food.
Thief’s will be pissed when they cut mine off and find it’s already gutted 😂
Been ripped off, and had to pay full price to replace, and protect my 08' Prius. My reward for not getting coverage. Also my driver side mirror was vandalized from second attempt at the work parking lot for having the shield, and foiling the second attempt. Will buy a Tesla as my next econo car as that company cares about its buyers and doesn't sell mob insurance to owning their brand. Toyota have ignored this problem for years, as they sell the parts the insurance companies underwrite so they don't care about the consumer taking it in the shorts.
it's not apostrophe s....got it?
@@savannaswildnatureworkshop7810 thanks Karen…. I GOT IT!
Until the government can get a handle on this, just running a straight pipe should be made legal again.
Yeah, no. That would make this from a legal and financial problem into a healthcare and environmental problem.
The reason these exist is that especially nitrous oxides are very harmful to people living near (10km/7mi) roads, cause acid rain, and destroy the ozone layer.
With the current numbers of cars on the road, this would be a major issue. Even with catalytic converters, our current Dutch pro-car government was forrced to reduce max. highway speeds to reduce harmful effects.
What we need to do is make it so that these criminals cannot sell the stolen goods in any way. hey make life a little harder for everyone else.
Thats what’s happening. Or just run it without it straight.
Its not the owners problem if theres no penalty for the thieves. Theres should be higher penalties AND make them put the catalyst back on.
Till then should be legal to drive it as is..
We know the police department wants in on their deal - noise pollution and give a citation for that. Then refer you to the emissions pollution department and give another fine for that non-compliance now the government is also profiting from a poor person with several kids trying to put food on the table and take the kids to school with a car that has a part stolen. Then routine tasks which has all ben taken away by one thief who wanted $100 and costed the vehicle owner almost $8000 in parts ,labor and fines..
as it’s supposed to be the owners problem now🤷♂️?
@@darrylleung34 The lack of back pressure from just leaving it as is, will usually result in loss of power and other adverse effects that will make your engine not run so good
@@NondescriptMammal mine runs fine.
That's what I did. This whole video is rather misleading. A new Converter sells for between $700.00 and a $1000.00 so I don't think the thieves are getting that much for them, probably about 50 or 60 bucks. Also, when they say, "This is what a car sounds like without one", yeah... that's if you leave the cut pipes exposed. Run a straight pipe and your vehicles muffler will do what it is supposed to do. After mine got cut, I ran a straight pipe and ran it that way for years.
It's fueled by CA government NOT enforcing the LAW
gmfitzg says: It's fueled by CA government NOT enforcing the LAW
Darthvader5300 answers: RECALL GAVIN NEWSON OUT FROM OFFICE! GET A REPUBLICAN INTO OFFICE! SPREAD THIS NOW!
Meanwhile Texas is reporting catalytic converters cases are up 2000%. Same across the country.
Guns are pretty much banned in California, but you are free to watch them steal your converter but you can in no way retaliate.
Legally allow citizens to protect their property with deadly force and this bs stops overnight
and make sure they get a good lawyer if they ever end up killing the Thieves
What a man.
Thats califailna, so no. They have lawyers on standby if a criminal gets hurt.
@@ILovePancakes24 Nowhere in the US will allow that unless you thought you were gonna die seeing some dude under your car. That's the problem with you blood thirsty demons, want to kill anything that moves to satisfy your blood thirst.
@@MindzEnt Well running cars without cat ruins the climate and will kill many people. Therefore I shoot in sight to save lives. Im a hero.
Either spend $2,000 to replace it every time it gets stolen, or spend $1,000 on a good rifle which can also be versatile to protect other things.
And be sent to jail 25 years for killing a thief, specialy in cali where this is happening
Wait time is 2 months? In the mean while I'll just go steal one myself until the new one arrives.
Because they're all together that's why it's a billion dollar industry 🎭💰
Good reporting by Kenny Choi.
Always brings his A game, he's awesome!
But the anchordroid ask him how much it costs right after Kenny says how much it costs. What a dummy! Not even listening. TV is so lame...
I live in a senior citizen building at a dead end street and the county is opening it so traffic can get to the other end of the road. I'm very concerned about flow - through. Hopefully we won't have cat thieves on our parking lot.
There’s a jack guy, there’s a saw guy, and in my neighborhood there’s an armed guy...
The law is only in favor for the criminals
Exactly
Corporate America are the biggest THIEVES in the world.
Yeah the wall could be in on also it's all about money
So that means the recycling centers are guilty too
Yes!
Yes. Guilty as sin. They know damn well the cats are stolen. They keep buying them from the same thieves.
@Demoratsaresupergey Libtardismisforhomos has nothing to do about democrats this is happening nation wide. According to your logic red states should blame republicans.
Probably
@Demoratsaresupergey Libtardismisforhomos It’s happening everywhere. Red and blue states.
There needs to be some legislation to prevent this. Question: Have the recyclers donated to our legislatures campaign funds?
So. what the politics will not confess if the legislation to actually let up the smog regulations. People would me able to pass smog even if the check engine light is on because the car is old but it was not made before 1973, and high end catalytic converters wont be a necessity. $500 catalytic converters that are ok in other states will qualify to pass smog in california. There is more to this they have not advertised because guess who is already deep in it especially with china they just admited. price gauging the working class for retarded smog standards (greed) for the commuter cars that would pass smog in a different state needs to be rid of. Trust me. It will practically completely stop this since it wont be worth it anymore.
Recyclers are not really the issue as they don't buy cats. Like someone said up thread, there is a whole network and a lot of cats are sent abroad for processing.
The audacity of that dude stealing a cat in broad daylight and threatening the owner with a blowtorch. Where I live, that dude would have gotten himself shot.
This prob falls under the $950 limit for theft since the converter itself has a market value around $200. It’s prob a slap on the wrist and you’re let go.
CA makes it a good profession to steal & rob working people.
Blame on those voted for Democrats, please target on them.
That's the scrap value from the fence. The law would be based on the new value of the part.
No one steals just 1. To get a pay day, which is what their looking for, 6-7 is probably the minimum.
It's damage to another person's property also, and so the provable the damages are above the limit. Maybe you'd need to prove who did the cutting.
It pays more to be a criminal in California simple as that! 🤦🏿♂️
Good to know!
Tax free money.
@@pjay3397 dont be jealous. Just keep working hard brother, the right way.
They got (and deserve) what they voted for 💩
Why hasn't the law already been changed to make possession of converters illegal without proper paperwork? DAs need to prosecute these crimes as felonies. California recently made theft of under $950 a misdemeanor, but since one converter is worth more than that, even low-level street criminals should be prosecuted as felons for a first offense.
The more chaos the better for these politicians.
The best way to handle it is quit putting them on cars you realize American cars have the worst gas mileage
@@joshuaking8208 You have no clue what a catalytic converter does do you? Mileage has nothing to do with it...
@@ChillinHD yes it does you have no idea on how a engine works
@@joshuaking8208 No it doesn't lol. The converter has nothing to do with the engine its apart of the exhaust system. All it does it turn harmful emissions from the engine and converts it into safer compounds before the gas leaves your tail pipe.
When the officer said “That was kind of like hitting the lottery for us.” When they stated they got $300k in cash from the ring...sounded really fishy.
That money should go the victims of the thefts
@@teneleven2818 it should but it won’t
Yeah it should, but there is no way of tracing back the cc to the owners I guess? I’m also guessing the government keeps the cash so in the end vehicle owners get screwed. Where’s the go fund me page at
@@mannyclemente7159 They'll call it civil asset forfeiture and keep it. It's a real problem. Police have seized money meant to buy Semi trucks, college educations, even inheritance. All they see is a big pile of money which isn't illegal and they take it like pirates. Then you have to sue them to get it back costing a lot of money. Even if you're not charged with anything.
yeah because they reported the cash and then stole it.
There is no punishment for the thieves that steal cat converters. I just had mine stolen last week, the sheriff told me even if the thieves were caught in the act, they can only give them a citation. Our state lawmakers are FAILING the citizens of California.
Lawmakers, lawbreakers, what difference does it make. They don't help US. Putting criminals in prison is a waste of taxpayers money. They get three meals, watch big screen tvs, and get free medical and dental. SO WHERE'S THE PUNISHMENT ! Other countries don't put up with this crap, you might be executed the next day !
I find it funny the people get their catalytic converters stolen, then they go to a mechanic and they rob them too🤣
I don't think they're robbing them too. Cats are expensive and now you have to fix the damage the idiot did when he stole it. They don't care after all. Sometimes that means you have to replace more of the exhaust system and sometimes the whole exhaust system because it's so rusted. If they had left it alone it could have lasted many years. The mechanic and shop have to make money after all. You shouldn't expect them to fix it for free.
@@robertthomas5906 spoken like a true mechanic. 150 an hr plus parts. 1200+$ later the only thing they did is weld a chunk of pipe and maybe a hanger. Like I said robbed twice.
@@basstard4639 Do you like to be paid for what you do for a living? Do you have to maintain a shop, and so on? Running a business is very expensive. They tax the crap out of you.
@@robertthomas5906 I'm not talking about your average Joe mechanic. I'm talking the big dealer mechanics. Although I wouldn't be surprised if the local shops were paying tweekers to steels cat converters so they can just resell them to the customer. At any rate if the recycling plants were these metals are brought to weren't such money hungry whores and checked where the metal came from and kept track of who is bringing it in this wouldn't be as big a problem.
This happened to me a couple months ago. Just paid my 25$ deductible and my insurance took care of me. Thanks Mercury
Sorry that happened to you, it's a pain in the ass, who do you have insurance with if you don't mind me asking?
@@clar331 Mercury their great
@@swingking1294 Thanks will check them out
Better check, its probably a aftermarket catalytic converter. You don't want those.
@@swingking1294 most these people ain’t got full coverage. Just liability
I cut mine off last month! $20 piece of flex pipe from auto zone replaced it. Truck runs better now. Just make sure to slip the smog tech $50 and you will pass emissions
did you return your ECU or is your CEL just perpetually on now? lol
I'm about to steal my own converters. Each one is worth more than I paid for the car four years ago.
Yea no shit I was thinking that same thing
You'll be the one they catch.
@@robertthomas5906 That would be my luck.
@@robertthomas5906 tell me how if its melted down its untraceable you big dummy in my red fox voice
@@lastname2firstname219 He's not melting it down - you big dummy. Melting those down isn't trivial. Of course you wouldn't know that, because you're a big dummy. Red Foxx, good old Sanford and Son. Then there was Flip Wilson.
The plates and anti theft devices are a good start. Criminalizing ownership of cc's without a legitimate receipt is another one. So is increasing jail time for these particular thieves. Hopefully third party makers will start competing with the car manufacturers to reduce their incentive of making them easy to steal. Perhaps they can be made in the future with less valuable components.
The problem is california Democrats in charge are defunding the police, releasing prisoners, basically making california lawless.
@@dave8599 It's not a Democrat or Republican problem and it's far, far worse in the midwest, has been for years. More police won't do shit, this takes 2 minutes, not enough time to respond. Harsher penalties & dismantling the networks are the real solution, plus making them much harder to steal.
@@e.g.1218 They already do all that - you can't even sell anything to recyclers without a business license in a lot of cases. And they don't buy cats.
I'll tell you what, "I catch you under my car trying to cut mine off, I'm cutting the arm off you're using to do it!"
just sneak up on them and lower the jack
Remind me not to mess with your wife.
@@harrywensel8456 eh she's not worth it anyway
oooooo...big tough guy....( coward basement dweller living at mom's house )
@@savannaswildnatureworkshop7810 Ohooooooo! Bleeding heart, want to feel you're part of something liberal idiot. You're quite a bit off base But, that's how you justify you're ignorant belief symptoms. Good luck to you.
We got dozens of catalytic converters stolen out in our shop in a matter of days and weeks at a time and the cops cant do anything about it 😡
damn maybe someone working with you is a rat themselves smh
We have had 10 in two weeks. Even got them on camera. Cops did nothing.
Cops don't care. It's a non-violent crime, so it's catch and release if they even catch them. Otherwise, they let insurance handle it.
Under the $950 limit for theft, the police would like to do other things, like giving away tickets
@@sandiewong2000 It usually cost more than $900 to fix unless you go with aftermarket crap and you shouldn't have to do that. If I stole your Porsche you wouldn't accept a used Miata.
I've been getting a lot of my friends to come over and i would weld a shield under the car. Especially the Prius.
I'm curious as to how that doesn't invalidate the insurance 🤔
It's only a misdemeanor if they get caught. Even more likely they'll get less if they commit these crimes in San Francisco.
No it's not. Most thieves get caught with multiple converters and it's a felony in value easy.
Change how convertors are made and watch the problem fix itself.
Brilliant idea. You could make millions as a consultant as I'm sure the automobile manufacturers have not thought of that yet.
@@Ericwvb2 if you watch the vid youd know that the automotive industry has no reason to do it. Maybe they should be forced to in order to solve the problem.
@@therealog9430 if you watched the vid you know they have no reason to prevent the thefts. Car manufacturers have every incentive to reduce the cost of each vehicle they build by no longer needing parts containing precious metals.
Chris Ogilvie Exactly what method would you use Mr Science? Just think, if you release your low cost solution, you could be the richest person on earth.
@@bobroberts2371 I'm highly allergic to the grand conspiracy model of the planet so many people believe in. If someone finds a cure to cancer, they would become filthy rich - there isn't some conspiracy by drug companies to suppress this. Just like building a cheap catalytic converter - Toyota would not be able to suppress that invention either and the inventor would become a billionaire practically overnight.
Plot of next Fast and Furious movie is that the top Catalytic Converter Manufacturer is also the head of an international guild of catalytic converter thieves.
Fast 10 and they can film in the Bay Area and Elk Grove to give it more authenticity
Give a great thanks to the CA lawmakers to make it impossible to buy replacement converters unless "approved."
Why not require ID when selling/buying to make a paper-trail.
The people buying them don't care...
2:52.
Actually, punish the criminals doing it when they are caught. Instead, you just let them go after giving them a hug.
Cats are in short supply because California does not allow second hand junkyard cats to be sold. This restricts the supply of cats and forces car owners to purchase new cats. Some cars are so old that it is not economical to buy new cats and the car is junked. What a waste. This is more lousy and regressive policy from goofy California.
Sure, because lung cancer treatment is free…
thank you!! I know the squares that brag about the priuses are still in denial of all the pervasive policies that seem well meaning but are destructive. I admit it...I havn't stopped laughing when this epidemic started. I grew up on salvaged cars...trust me these these don't see value in my current cars lol
@@David_Journey HAHA!! my dad did die from lung cancer but from smoking 3 packs of red a day...and escaping eastern europe. The vehicles and smog that started the smog regulations have been phased out. So prius and tesla owners...this one is on you.
@@David_Journey Hey stupid, did you know California smog test does not use sniffer anymore? Cat could be inop but as long as the o2 sensors work and the PCM is not throwing DTC's, car will pass.
@@encinobalboa yea .o2 sensor adapter
Honestly, who cares? These scumbags don’t go to prison for it so why even televise it? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! GIVE THEM 50 YEARS IN PRISON!!!
Thanks for the information.
Forcing the manufacturer to add more stuff ( and costs) to the car because the state doesn't punish the crime? Nonsense
Damn, just weld a plain pipe back in place of that junk, your car will have more power and better gas mileage by deleting the trash.
think you for that.
That's illegal and you'll fail emissions. With modern computers it also won't work because it has oxygen sensors on both sides of the converter. Remove it and it'll start having problems and will ruin the engine.
@@robertthomas5906 it’s mine I’ll do what I want with it, I live in a free state, we don’t have emissions checks. I forgot to say to also weld the oxygen sensor on the straight pipe. I’ve put over 200K miles on an engine with that junk removed with no problems
Here in California we actually care about air pollution and your car will fail the every two year smog inspection bigly.
@@robertthomas5906 do you speed ??
Thanks for all info.
Thanks for publicizing this to more opportunists out there
Everytime I hear about catalytic converter thefts, I rewatch that video where the guy trying to steal a catalytic converter off a prius gets crushed and killed by the car... it's so enjoyable
I'm going to search for that one now 👍
So simple! Car manufacturers need to be required to provide protection from CAT thefts or free replacement and repairs if stolen.
This is the dumbest response ever
@@marcussanchez4278 It isn'r really dumb, just ain't a gonna happen.
Not really, people will start cutting them out to make money for themselves.
This is a perfect example of how the establishment auto industry makes very little changes to it's assembly and manufacturing processes. This has been a problem for over 20+ years but manufacturers can't find a way to put the convertor somewhere that is not easily accessible. These same manufacturers in cahoots with Big Oil to deny possibilities of EV for 30 years until Tesla made a dent into the auto industry's profit margin. And I know some will argue that a free market will do what ever it needs to do, when our Govt conspirers with Big Business to only care about themselves instead of the future then a revolution will occur within our lifetime.
I feel like videos like these that the news makes only makes the matter worse by educating people on how to do this and how much they could make doing it, making it easy for rookies.
So laughable that law enforcement is blaming car manufacturers for this.
How about some accountability from the local government with their terrible criminal justice policies?
Seems like it's caused by desperate people who can't live in Bay Area, again.
Not the most effective way just by increasing law enforcement, but rather the main issue is increasingly high difference in living disparity between classes. Bay area's biggest problem are it's ridiculous costs of living.
I'd bet a lot of us Silicon Valley engineers are the victims of converter theft, mine was just taken yesterday in broad daylight while I had dinner at a restaurant. Let's design some serious solutions. Just like in crypto, the goal is to make the effort/resource required to steal it larger than the payback. A couple ideas immediately come to mind (feel free to poke holes, and suggest a better idea, we want some serious brain power to solve this problem): 1) Run a wire of some kind the length of the converter pipe that's connected to a little electronic device that's constantly measuring the capacitance/TDR, Any disruption while not moving could be detected and trigger an alarm (connect to existing horn? maybe wireless emulation of the existing key fob panic signal? Or a little box under the car that sprays blue dye over the converter area). 2) Cast some thick cast iron (pretty cheap to make in quantity), or cnc machined and hardened steel collars for the rear converter to resonator pipe section, and converter-converter pipe section. Sawzall vs 1" layer of cast iron/hardened steel is likely not so fast a process, total weight might be a problem though. 3) Wrap some kind of steel cable (or chain?) spirally around the pipe. They may cut the pipe but a cable/chain dangling in the air might be challenging without specific cable cutting tools (or converter manufactures could perhaps put cable(s) inside the pipe). Most of the solutions I've seen so far are very low tech. A serious mechanical and/or electronic engineer could do better. It seems like the video said converter theft is a $1B/year segment, and I read the overall catalytic converter market is about $50B/year. Some solutions might be retrofitted, others might be part of a post first theft hardening process, like built into or installed as part of the converter replacement to prevent another theft. I saw some RUclips video on a material that was even abrasive cutoff wheel resistant. I'm also curious if the non-CARB Prius replacement converters are exactly the same functionality as the CARB compliant ones, or are they different catalyst formulations? Is the high replacement cost a material cost or a required certification cost?
If Kenny Choi had his own network I'd watch 24/7. Yum
“ Emission standards are way up, especially in China” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 The worlds second largest polluter behind India
They had to please their Chinese overlords and talk good about that shit hole country with no liberties.
Third place is the USA!
Go after the cat thieves the way you go after law abiding gun owner.
Our law enforcement isn't doing their job. They let this get way out of hand.
@@13christbane The solution is really easy. The recycling centers have rules to follow about verifying the sourcing. They aren't following them because they are making bank from the stolen property. Do a sting on the recycling center breaking the law and problem is solved.
Slap a code on the converter and put them in a database, make there sale require some documentation. Oh wait, California already requires aftermarket CATS have a little bit of mandated information on them 1. if unique identification numbers aren't already there put them there 2. if they are there its an issue of negligence. In California it is illegal to use aftermarket CATS that lack an E&O, I am unsure if this number is unique to each part, but for tracking itd be stupid not to make it as to be conducive in enforcing laws. A database should be made, sale of these things should require documentation. Or, you know, regulate these things in a way that doesn't jack there price 3 to 5 times the cost of a CAT in any other part of the country so there wouldn't be a market for cheaper (usually ill-gotten) alternatives.
So the car companies are in on it.
They need to give thieves of this device 5 years minimum in prison. 1st time offense, that will drop the numbers down.
And the buyer.
Exporting rare earth metals without the proper paperwork should be treated the same as exporting narcotics and other illegal substances.
4:13. Of course, blame the manufacturer for not doing anything about the rampant thievery. We shouldn’t focus on stricter laws and enforcement but instead work on making the thief find something else to steal. Lovely.
A quick, easy and *cheap fix* is to spray paint your CC with a *bright colored heat resistant paint.* Chances are crooks will pass it by, since they need to remove all that paint first. There's an easier target 10 feet away.
They don’t need the can, they’re after the honeycomb element inside, genius.
My question is, when did they start making the converters? I have a 2002 Dodge Caravan. The next time I have it worked on, ( l need back brakes), the mechanic will tell if l have one. I'm probably safe, thieves don't look at older cars, ( l hope).
Soon it will be a required clause on your car ins. Like uninsured motorist.
My brothers 2003 Honda Accords catalytic converter was stolen while he was volunteering at a local hospital about a week ago. Honda estimates it’ll take 2 months for the new one to arrive, how wonderful.
maybe some one don't want people buy honda cars, they steal honda car
Back in the day Convertors were always going bad and people just ran a straight pipe, me included and back then we had emission testing in Michigan for a few years but I never had a problem passing without the Converter.
I wouldn’t live where I had to park on the street. These victims should just replace the CC with a length of pipe and stop worrying about it.
With the newer technology, gas and oil burns better and we have recycling programs, we don't need "cat exhaust" the car can still run.
It's fueled by the $1000 cost of a new catalytic converter in CA. In neighboring AZ, they are $100.
someone give kenny a raise
Gotta love Newsom's California.
I love the cop who passes blame to the auto manufacturers lol
Thank you KPIX I miss your news, I live MI. I moved from Bay Area to here in MI. I was shocked to see someone steal my Cat under my Car!
Your video help me to understand this could be a vicious cycle? It sucks when your a victim! Bastards hope their ball's rot off!
The most productive way to stop this would be to prohibit the scrapyards from purchasing and selling these without documented proof of ownership. Laser engrave each cat with an identifier Conduct regular inspections of these yards and mandatory record keeping. If caught stealing or buying these, mandatory jail time.
Interesting the Detective is blaming car manufacturers...... I guess it’s easier to do that then to catch the criminals. Everyone knows they will be released anyways.....
I do not understand why the car manufacturer can't install a CC device that prevents thefts. Maybe they are in on the racket?
Make it legal to shoot the thieves if they are caught in the act
So you want to kill someone over a car part. You're a great example of evil.
@@DreamChaser415 you must be one of the thieves stealing these catalytic converters by your comment
@@freedomforall88 😅😅😂😂 you must be one of the people that are going to go to hell for not having a soul. 😫
@@DreamChaser415 at least I won't go to hell for stealing catalytic converters like you
@@freedomforall88 Your mind is already full of hell n your heart is full of hate n I bet your pockets is full of lent. I rebuke that spirit in you. In Jesus name amen.
What cars have the most valuable CC on them ??
I wish the law give us right to pull the jack out of a car while a thief is under the car. We have a right to protect our properties aren't we?
Just chop the hands off thieves, an deny them disability.
you should live in pakistan...you would right at home there....this is america...got it?
we don't cut hands off....but in your case I might make an exception...( your shooting hand )
And now they know that Prius's have the Really Good ones Lol
I know. Almost like an open season on Prius. Glad I don't own one.
they already knew
This happened to me over Christmas, in my apartments “secured” parking garage. Didn’t get a new one until March!
So your car just sat for 3 months while waiting?
Call a social worker! The police have been defunded and the District Attorney would never prosecute anyone caught for this criminal enterprise in San Francisco! Good luck on this one residents of San Francisco!
Maybe they need to do to thieves what they do to them in Iran…. Sounds good to me.
Made/Stolen in America
I listen to the police scanner in Sacramento all the time and hear at least two “suspected” cat thefts in progress calls per week. Time to release the jack while these people are under the cars and then call the police.
Is there any good news that comes out of San Francisco anymore?
I put straight pipe, after stolen my :)
Do you have to get a smog check?
I had to do the same for my son! Then later on that day he gets his car towed by the 🚔
Awesome, that's why I live in the country with land.....no problems sicking my dogs on trespassers or shooting them. Joy!
it's siccing...not sicking....got it?
This issue is caused by the California Air Resources Board rule that says every smog product needs to have an EO number in order to be used in the state. Meaning the manufacturer paid the "do business" tax. It's not that 49 (now 46) -state legal CATs don't work, it's just not cost effective for them to get "certified".
There is NO incentive to fix the problem. Everyone is in the win column EXCEPT the vehicle owner.
Thieves are getting paid
CARB is getting paid by everybody
Car manufacturers are double dipping
Car dealers are gouging for replacement parts (I was quoted $2,400 for the part, $100 for parts e.g. gaskets, O2 sensor) with labor on top of that.
There are a lot of cars being hit but primarily 04-09 Prius, bluebook value $3000-4000. Nothing wrong with the car, they just can't run with a $80 CAT.
Insurance companies are being gouged which is passed on in increased premiums.
Dealers sell more cars to replace insurance totaled vehicles.
The cops have no incentive because these crimes are just a paperwork exercise.
The state benefits from new car purchase tax revenue.
WHEN are they going to start putting serial #'s on yhese and placing HUGE FINES on those buying these?
I guess this is a good reason to consider an EV which doesn't need a cat.
Just a huge cesspool of toxic chemicals in a country no one cars about.
I am still waiting for the MSM to call out the EPA and Ca policies makes smog regulations more and more ridiculous. And guess what electric vehicle owners? That demand for powerful batteries is what contribute to this also :).
Sure, let’s just all reduce pollution requirements like Trump did and we’ll all die from climate change.
Prius catalytic converters are more valuable, got it thanks!
You have informed everyone especially other criminals!