Is catalytic converter theft still happening?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Georgina Rudkus, Jun 23, 2026 at 10:05 AM.

  1. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    This recently happened to a new member in California with a Gen 3 Prius;


     
    #1 Georgina Rudkus, Jun 23, 2026 at 10:05 AM
  2. futurist

    futurist Member

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    Yep, unfortunately. Rare earths are still rare earths to those who perpetuate this ratchet practice...

    Fuel theft wasn't in the news locally until fuel prices shot up -- and now people are taking hole saws to plastic tanks (hoping they don't hit a fuel pump's metal and sparking gallons of sloshing fuel) and collecting your Silvie's $75 of liquid gold in a bucket, disappearing into the night :cautious:

    Using a powerdrill (with exposed electrical spark on contacts) to extract fuel from a tank, with time at a premium and lots of air involved... is lunacy. But the payoff apparently is worth it to the lunatics on O'ahu...
     
    #2 futurist, Jun 23, 2026 at 3:12 PM
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    It is actually platinum group metals they are after. Manufacturers are working to reduce the amount used simply because of costs, and the reduction of sulfur in gas will help there.

    Desperate economic times will lead to an increase of such crimes.
     
    #3 Trollbait, Jun 24, 2026 at 10:25 AM
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