95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Thieves Suck

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Old 02-12-2008 | 09:04 PM
  #21  
BajaRunner's Avatar
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From: 5th Gen San Diegan, California
So California is one of the only states that need cats?!!

If you guys actually saw the amount of traffic here, and the gazillions of cars on the road, Id think you'd rather have the cats on and save your lungs.
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:06 PM
  #22  
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From: Camino, Ca
Where in sac did this happen? I wanna make sure and not park my truck there. lol I'm surprised mine hasnt dissapeared since it sits outside at nite
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:10 PM
  #23  
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From: Summit County, Colorado
While it seems to be happening more on the west coast, I have read articles about it happening all over the country, so NJ might not be as safe as you think (in this matter, anyway).

Our trucks are easy targets for this crap, since they sit high enough to get under easily, and do the deed quickly. The only thing that seems like it might deter someone into looking for another target is some kind of belly pan, to make it near impossible to get the cat out.

As to replacing your OEM cat with a cheaper aftermarket high flow - do you really think that a tweaker is going to know the difference (or care)? They'll chop it out, and then find out it isn't worth anything to them later.
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:11 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by toytech76
Where in sac did this happen? I wanna make sure and not park my truck there. lol I'm surprised mine hasnt dissapeared since it sits outside at nite

I was thinking after my last post, if they want it their going to get it. Sure you can make it a little harder for the thieves to get what they're after but if their deterimined its as good as gone. Sucks but thats just the way it is.
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:16 PM
  #25  
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From: Central NJ
ALmost every single post on here has been westcoast. Im sure it happens here but I havent heard or ran into anyone with this issue.
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:23 PM
  #26  
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From: Elk Grove, CA
Unfortunately, this is very common here in the Sacramento area. About 6 months ago someone stole my brother-in-law's cat and sensors. Muffler shops are making a lot of money out here replacing cats.
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:24 PM
  #27  
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From: Long Beach, CA
ive yet to hear of a single aftermarket cat being catjacked. im pretty sure the tweekers know what they are looking for. they wont waste time grabbing something that isn't going to be a score when sold, and im sure the guys that buy the cats also let thet their "suppliers" know exactly what to look for.

if this is happening near you, replace it yourself, make a buck and an upgrade, and i doubt you'll have any trouble.
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:29 PM
  #28  
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...happened to me last month in Chicago. They took it on the coldest night of the year (-5*f). From what I have read on the net, no part of the country is safe from this growing trend.

My $0.02 on the high flow: I can replace the $75 weld on high flow cat many times before the cost of an expensive "direct fit" cat makes sense.
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:39 PM
  #29  
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From: Wauconda, IL/Edwardsville, IL
Damn. I hope this doesn't happen to me on my roadtrip over the summer. Then again I'll be in the car too.
Old 02-12-2008 | 09:48 PM
  #30  
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From: phoenix ,az
some one tried to steel mine last week but only got half way through my exhaust im guess my alarm scared them away..... now i just have a cut in my exhaust
Old 02-13-2008 | 11:24 AM
  #31  
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From: Chicago (area) IL
Dam "Hood Rats"......I WOULD LOVE TO CATCH SOME THEIV'IN ass fool trying to steal something from my truck...... 100% certain that it would be a real "bad day" for them....
Old 02-13-2008 | 02:19 PM
  #32  
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From: Bloomington, IN
Hood Rats.....Havn't heard that one in a while.
Old 02-13-2008 | 02:32 PM
  #33  
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From: so.cal
Originally Posted by phenob
im pretty sure the tweekers know what they are looking for. they wont waste time grabbing something that isn't going to be a score when sold, and im sure the guys that buy the cats also let thet their "suppliers" know exactly what to look for.
DING!

some responsibilty needs to be on the buyers of cats, that come from people who dont own vehicels and are repeat customers
Old 02-13-2008 | 03:10 PM
  #34  
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From: Kingston, WA
Originally Posted by Tug
It sucks that they stole your catalytic converter. From what I've read there seems to be alot of that going around.

Cat Clamp
^^ I don't know about that thing,

I'm not trying to flame somebody's product or anything, but it doesn't look like it would do a whole lot, other than make the thief take longer.

I would like to see how they attach all those cables to the frame, because if those aren't secure, then they can just steal your cat, and your cat-clamp.

And they are operating on the assumption that you can't cut cable without "industrial machines", not true. Also what is holding the two sides together? bolts? that is your best anti theft device? I think they have already demonstrated that they know "lefty-loosey, righty-tighty"

and another thing about all of these companies that claim to use "aircraft quality aluminum" or "aircraft cable" or whatever, that is just marketing b.s.

oh, and sorry about your cat getting stolen, that sucks
Old 02-13-2008 | 03:19 PM
  #35  
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From: mountains of south carolina
its a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig problem here in south carolina............these crack heads hit local kia and toyota dealership and stole around 250 cats overnight....off brand new cars
Old 02-13-2008 | 03:24 PM
  #36  
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From: Northern California
i'm considering purchasing some armor just to possibly prevent this from happening to me. looks like the budbuilt belly pan/skid plate might keep them from getting at the front of the cat. invest $450 now to prevent big dollar replacement down the road. what do you guys think?
Old 02-13-2008 | 03:43 PM
  #37  
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From: Kingston, WA
right after I posted, I went to msnbc.com, and this was on the front page:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23117250/

here's another one off the font page of msn:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/88793

Last edited by b.miller123; 02-13-2008 at 03:45 PM.
Old 02-13-2008 | 03:52 PM
  #38  
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From: Iowa
i guess i'm glad i only have one catalytic converter, it's rusted on really bad, and it's too cold even for meth heads to want to go outside and steal car parts. sorry to hear about the theft.
Old 02-13-2008 | 06:08 PM
  #39  
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From: MA
Originally Posted by jdog19




So let me get this straight...they CUT one side off, but took the time to unbolt the other, flanged side?

...or am I seeing this incorrectly?
Old 02-13-2008 | 06:17 PM
  #40  
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by b.miller123
right after I posted, I went to msnbc.com, and this was on the front page:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23117250/

here's another one off the font page of msn:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/88793

I really wish they wouldn't write articles like this. It's got to give a lot of people ideas.



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