Catalytic converted theft in YYC

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

A guy doesn't deserve to lose his life over trying to steal someone's cat converter.

But there is something poetic about a criminal being served karmic justice then and there.

But something more along the lines of this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgo...g_with_shorts/

He doesn't deserve to, but you know the saying: play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I know that but what junk yards are buying them? and shouldn't they get all personal info and pics before paying for them?

How much has that bull#### glass etching helped car theft? No one cares.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by metallicat

What putting a VIN on them might do is if you catch someone with a converter with a VIN on it, you could contact the owner of the vehicle and find out if the person arrested actually has the right to the converter. If he doesn't, then they can be charged with possession of stolen property. As of now, if you have a converter in your possession it's hard to fully determine if they actually possess a stolen converter. I mean, we know they do have a stolen converter, but charging them is another matter.

How do you know this? I've had lots of cats in my possession, none of them stolen. Cars are a hobby and I've scrapped over a 100. Cut the cats out of all of them and sold them.

Lot's of these guys are breaking them down now themselves so even if you could get a tip from the recyclers they aren't going there. You'll have to catch them in the act or you'll never catch them. It's a crap deal and I don't know how you are going to stop it.

[chedder]

There's a pretty simple fix going forward. Make car makers design and install cat protector plates like you see in the aftermarket. So the cat is not easily accessible.

[Bill Bumface]

Some vehicles have the cats buried quite high up near the manifolds. No way to get at them quickly.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by speede5

How do you know this? I've had lots of cats in my possession, none of them stolen. Cars are a hobby and I've scrapped over a 100. Cut the cats out of all of them and sold them.

Lot's of these guys are breaking them down now themselves so even if you could get a tip from the recyclers they aren't going there. You'll have to catch them in the act or you'll never catch them. It's a crap deal and I don't know how you are going to stop it.

That’s my point. Some people have a legitimate reason to have them. But when you arrest a guy with meth scabs all over his face, a sawzall in his backpack, and a converter, do you think he’s legit?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by metallicat

That’s my point. Some people have a legitimate reason to have them. But when you arrest a guy with meth scabs all over his face, a sawzall in his backpack, and a converter, do you think he’s legit?

Is that really how you think the thieves are bringing in the stolen converters? I mean, if you want to make weird random judgements, what do you think the guy bringing them in legitimately is going to look like? 3-piece suit and a top hat?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by chedder

There's a pretty simple fix going forward. Make car makers design and install cat protector plates like you see in the aftermarket. So the cat is not easily accessible.

I'm thinking exactly this is what we start to see standardized in the very near future

[Fuzz]

I was thinking you could have a bolt that attached to the top of the cat, and could only be removed through the floorboard inside.

[Geraldsh]

Relax everyone, electric cars don’t have catalytic converters and there will soon be so few ice vehicles that you can run straight pipes with no noticeable affect to the environment.

[Doctorfever]

Sadly, the catalytic converter conversation spills over into the meth thread.

It maybe was touched on in other thread, but more people are turning to drugs, and subsequently more people are turning to crime. Other than covid, what in the last 5 or 10 years has caused this? And what can we do to reverse it? Sort of find the root of the underlying problems and change them so we don’t have more people going off the rails.

Wondering if someone has any ideas, because I do not.

[GirlySports]

I think the cost of precious metals ballooned making theft and resale worth it Moreso than Covid.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

Sadly, the catalytic converter conversation spills over into the meth thread.

It maybe was touched on in other thread, but more people are turning to drugs, and subsequently more people are turning to crime. Other than covid, what in the last 5 or 10 years has caused this? And what can we do to reverse it? Sort of find the root of the underlying problems and change them so we don’t have more people going off the rails.

Wondering if someone has any ideas, because I do not.

No one does. The meth/drug epidemic has ballooned and is a huge in your face problem across both U.S and Canadian cities now.

U.S cities have had meth long before us and none of them have found a solution.

I work in the Justice system. I met these people every day. Things are only going to get worse.

The amount of resources necessary to improve our current social issues would require a change to a Scandinavian level type government social policy and taxation system. Even then, it wouldn’t meaningfully address the issues with our demographic that is most over represented in the criminal Justice system/Child services while mired in grinding poverty. Our system of apartheid will ensure no meaningful change will happen.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

Sadly, the catalytic converter conversation spills over into the meth thread.

It maybe was touched on in other thread, but more people are turning to drugs, and subsequently more people are turning to crime. Other than covid, what in the last 5 or 10 years has caused this? And what can we do to reverse it? Sort of find the root of the underlying problems and change them so we don’t have more people going off the rails.

Wondering if someone has any ideas, because I do not.

If people on their coastal island would just let their neighbours build their vacation property without solar panels we could start getting somewhere on this national issue.

[speede5]

I still think hard drug users are not the problem when it comes to cat theft.

This is being done by people with means, a sawzall, transportation, lookout. This is well thought out and not just some guy looking for a quick fix.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by speede5

I still think hard drug users are not the problem when it comes to cat theft.

This is being done by people with means, a sawzall, transportation, lookout. This is well thought out and not just some guy looking for a quick fix.

It's all organized crime. Anyone on meth would have just traded the sawzall long ago for their fix.

[Geraldsh]

Originally Posted by speede5

I still think hard drug users are not the problem when it comes to cat theft.

This is being done by people with means, a sawzall, transportation, lookout. This is well thought out and not just some guy looking for a quick fix.

About every three months a crew comes through Fort Saskatchewan; a truck with driver, 2 or 3 sawzall guys, and a couple scouts. They are done and gone before the law can react, with a dozen or more converters.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by speede5

I still think hard drug users are not the problem when it comes to cat theft.

This is being done by people with means, a sawzall, transportation, lookout. This is well thought out and not just some guy looking for a quick fix.

lol, the junkies you see jumping on teenage girls' cars at red lights are nearing the bottom of their spiral. The spiral starts higher up. You go from having a roof over your head and a job, to getting fired, to stiffing your landlord for a few months, to crashing with a bunch of other drug users (this is probably the point where between the four of you there's still a car somewhat operational), you shoplift a sawzall, then you drive around cutting out catalytic converters. At that point maybe you're half to two-thirds down the spiral.

I know somebody currently half-way down. I think she's at the point where cocaine has become too expensive, rehab hasn't worked, and she's moved onto something where her cheeks are all sunken and she has sores on her face. Is that crack? Meth? IDK, but five years ago we'd hang out and she was normal AF. We'll see where she is in another five years, but it ain't looking pretty. She would definitely be able to grab some cats at this stage, but not for too much longer I wouldn't think.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by speede5

I still think hard drug users are not the problem when it comes to cat theft.

This is being done by people with means, a sawzall, transportation, lookout. This is well thought out and not just some guy looking for a quick fix.

I'm not making argument for or against, but I knew a druggie who was quite capable of stealing. And steal he did.



Did he steal cats? I don't know. But he had enough brain processing power to acquire a sawzall if he wanted to.

[RichieRich]

It’s not like only a couple cats are stolen by someone and I’d assume they’d get several, cash em in, then steal more, repeat. There must be enough places for these people to rotate through and zero checks by the shops buying them.

FWIW I had my cat stolen a few weeks back too from a Park ‘n Ride lot near Edworthy area What a hassle. I look under my vehicle and it’s so accessible too. Even with lower running boards. What can I do to make it harder? Is my vehicle now an easier target? Neither the repair shop nor police would offer solutions or even replies to these questions. Maybe it’s time for some razor wire. If that works I dunno.