Latest news with #catalyticconverter
Motor 1
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Catalytic Converters Are Stolen So Often This Mechanic Made a Rap PSA About It. Here's the Real Reason Why They're So Lucrative
Catalytic converters are commonly stolen. A viral post by a mechanic highlights the issue. In a Facebook post , automotive repair shop Doctor Auto shares a rap about catalytic converters. The post has generated over 3.1 million views as of this writing. In the post, mechanic Derek McDaniel raps over a video revealing a very clogged catalytic converter. The beat is simple, and the bars are lethal. 'I don't lie, I don't murder. But I might steal your catalytic converter. When you leave it unattended in the parking lot, I got a sawzall blade and it's mighty hot,' the mechanic raps. Doctor Auto told Motor1 , 'It was a clogged Catalytic Converter on a F150 5.4L. When we took it off, we noticed that some catalyst matter fell out of it. We pulled out my camera and recorded.' Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . This rap parody of stealing catalytic converters had viewers howling for more, and others chiming in on the trend to steal these. 'My guy you snapped. I need a full song,' one person said. 'Always wanted to steal one,' another admitted. 'You should finish the song, it's good so far,' a third replied. What Are Catalytic Converters? A catalytic converter is a part of your car's exhaust system that converts harmful engine exhaust pollutants into something less harmful to the environment through chemical reactions, J.D Power reports. This car part will turn pollutants like carbon monoxide into less harmful substances like nitrogen and water vapor. This part became popular in the mid-1970s when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulated vehicle emissions tests. There are three types of catalytic converters: Two-way converters, three-way converters, and diesel oxidation catalysts. Catalytic converters are now standard in cars. Why Are Catalytic Converters Stolen So Often? While the catalytic converter is known for reducing toxins and vehicle emissions, this car part has become a target for thieves, AAA shares. Thieves target this car part because it's valuable. According to Catalytic Converter Recycling , catalytic converters require three metals with more value than gold. The three metals included in catalytic converters are platinum, palladium, and rhodium. These expensive metals can be recycled easily and broken down to be sold as scraps. Replacing a catalytic converter can put a dent in the wallet and cost up to $2,500 without labor, Autozone reports. With the valuable metal components of platinum, palladium, and rhodium, thieves can turn a nice profit stealing catalytic converters. Trending Now 'If He Acts Like That From Rejection in Public…:' Female Motorcyclist Gets Hit on by Man at a Gas Station. Then She Rejects Him 2 Men Spot a Mom Loading a Mini Car Into Her Truck. Then They Discover Her Ingenious Method for Transporting It Even the scraps of the catalytic converter can be valuable, RRCats shares. Scrap recyclers will usually pay $100 or so for each one because they can refine the metal if needed, one Reddit user said. Catalytic converters are an easy part to steal because they're outside the vehicle. With just a sawzall, a thief can quickly nab one. Ways to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft Preventive measures can be taken to decrease the chance of your catalytic converter getting stolen. SUVs, trucks, and hybrids have valuable catalytic converters that are easily removable. According to Allstate Car Insurance , here are five ways to prevent catalytic converter theft: Know if your car is a likely target Park in well-lit areas Install an anti-theft device Install motion-sensitive lights and cameras in your parking area Paint your catalytic converter to deter buyers You can also etch your license plate number or VIN onto the catalytic converter. This can potentially alert a scrap dealer that the part was stolen and make it easier to find the owner. Additionally, parking in well-lit areas is always a best practice. So is regularly relocating your parking spot. More From Motor1 Toyota Offering Catalytic Converter Shields On Prius, Other Models Justice Department Shuts Down Massive Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Mercedes-AMG One Technical Video Shows Just How Complicated The Hypercar Really Is Watch How Quick Thieves Can Steal Your Car's Catalytic Converter Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Forbes
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Catalytic Converter Thefts Drop, But Don't Let Your Guard Down Yet
Catalytic converters aren't the most glamorous part of your car – in fact, it's not even visible unless you crawl under. But catalytic converters, which change engine pollutants into less harmful emissions before they leave your exhaust pipe, are still catnip, especially on the street level - guys that go from house to house with their tools and steal them, just to make a few dollars. It takes a skilled crook a ridiculously short time - less than 5 minutes - to duck under your ride, saw through parts and make off with your converter. Thieves can also damage a car's fuel line or wiring, necessitating more costly repairs. Since the only way you'll know your catalytic converter's been stolen is by starting up and hearing the deafening sound of a muffler-less car – and some people don't start their cars for days or longer – catching the thieves isn't easy. The good news is that the thefts have gone way, way down in recent years for a variety of reasons. State Farm reports a 74% drop in claims during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with over 3,800 claims filed, down from more than 14,800 the previous year. Here's why, in part: Legislative Measures: States like Washington, California, and Minnesota have enacted laws requiring catalytic converters to be marked with vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and have imposed stricter regulations on scrap metal dealers. Law Enforcement Crackdowns: Operations targeting theft rings have led to significant reductions in thefts. For instance, Denver experienced a 95% decrease in catalytic converter thefts in 2024 compared to previous year. Market Factors: The prices of precious metals used in catalytic converters, such as rhodium, have dropped substantially, reducing the incentive for theft. Rhodium prices fell from nearly $30,000 per ounce in 2021 to about $4,800 in 2024. Some states are passing laws, too, mandating that recyclers document each converter brought in to be sold for scrap and create a paper trail to deter the theft and resale of the units. California, for example, requires all businesses to document converter sales, their date and locations as well as taking a photo or even a short video of the seller. The records must be retained for two years. If you're selling a used converter, the recycler has to pay you by check either mailed to your residence or place of business, or picked up after a three-day delay. Despite the curtailing of catalytic converter thefts, they still do happen. Some of the below points may seem obvious but repetition and good habits can make the difference between having a good day or a day where your vehicle sounds like Godzilla because someone helped themselves to your converter. *Park your vehicle in a closed, locked garage. *Install a conspicuous video surveillance camera outside your home. *Watch local news or social network neighborhood forums to monitor epidemics of local converter thefts, and take extra precautions. *Have the car's VIN number etched on the converter, or do it yourself if you have the tools. Ride safe! JM
CBS News
31-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
West Covina woman chases away catalytic converter thieves
A camera captured the moments a West Covina woman used her metal bat to smash the getaway car for a group of catalytic converter thieves. The video shows the woman running after the thieves right after they chopped off her catalytic converter. The woman beat the side of the suspects' getaway car as they sped away from her neighborhood early Friday morning. "They get what they deserve," her friend said. "It's going to come back at them at one point." You could hear a saw slicing through the metallic part in other security footage. "It's upsetting, I get that," the woman's friend said. "Those parts aren't cheap. They're expensive." Some neighbors said their catalytic converters were stolen in the past couple of years. While the raw metal may be worth between $200 and $300, replacing it without help from insurance can cost as much as $4,000. "It's dumb; they're just lowlifes at that point," the victim's friend said. Just go get a job."
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
A family-run catalytic converter ring in Sacramento nets $38 million. Mom and two sons pleaded guilty
Tou Sue Vang ran a profitable family business in Sacramento with his brother, Andrew, and his mother, Monica Moua. But the lucrative family enterprise was illegal and involved buying stolen catalytic converters in a scheme that made more than $38 million for the family, according to authorities. On Tuesday, Tou Sue Vang, 33, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the theft ring, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of California. In 2023, Vang, along with his brother and mother, pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport stolen catalytic converters bought from local thieves and selling them to a New Jersey buyer for more than $38 million, officials said. Vang also pleaded guilty to 39 additional money-laundering charges. Vang's brother and mother are awaiting sentencing. Catalytic converter theft has become common across the U.S. because the car part is easy to steal, includes no identifying markings and is very valuable. Catalytic converters contain precious metals that make some of them worth more than $1,000 each on the black market. At least one man in Inglewood was shot and killed trying to stop a catalytic converter theft. Read more: Inglewood police seek suspects in death of man who tried to stop catalytic converter theft Vang and his family operated the illegal enterprise from private residences and storage units and didn't have a valid business license or a scrapyard, officials said. Vang shipped to DG Auto in New Jersey more than 1,000 pounds in goods. DG Auto then sold the converters and the precious metals to a metal refinery for more than $600 million, according to the indictments. The case also includes 12 defendants from New Jersey, including brothers Navin Khanna and Tinu Khanna, who ran DG Auto and bought the stolen catalytic converters from California, authorities said. Vang used some of the money from the business to buy a five-acre, $1.235-million home in Rio Linda, another home in Sacramento, as well as more than a dozen cars and personal watercraft, authorities said. Vang forfeited more than $150,000 in cash as part of his sentence, plus 13 cars, four watercraft, jewelry, real estate and other property. "This defendant led a network of criminals that hurt thousands of innocent car owners," said Acting U.S. Atty. Michele Beckwith in the news release. "This case represents the kind of far-reaching investigation that federal, state, and local law enforcement partners can do when working together." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
