Community Forums

creativepart · 06-29-2022, 04:01 PM

Well, I've had my second Cat theft from my 2017 Winnebago Adventurer. My storage place - with lights, cameras and set back off the road and out of sight - called with the bad news. My previous Cat theft was 8/21. I had painted my converter red and put "SAPD" on the converter (San Antonio Police Dept).

This time the thieves were caught on camera - all hooded up with masks on their faces. They hit 6 RVs and a couple of cars that were parked in a couple of RV Spots.

The last time they never found the video but this time did. They used the sawsall to cut through the fencing and a gang of three came in. The video shows it takes them 5 min or less per RV.

There was one gas power Class C that was spared and the video shows them sliding under the RV and then quickly moving on. I looked under that RV and it had a Cat Strap installed on the converter and exhaust pipes. I didn't see any alarm or anything - just a strap so, I'm not sure it's this brand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4twiRnYVvVY

It looked like this: https://www.catstrap.net/product-pag...m-shown-coiled

It cost $2700 last time to replace it. My insurance paid all but $250. They're going to love me when I file this claim.

Beabop · 06-29-2022, 08:42 PM

We had a new awning put on last week and the dealorship ask us to pick up the rig right away as they had lost several convertors the week end before. Sorry for your loss. Be nice if there were a way to deliver a 110 shock when they touched them.

NXR · 06-29-2022, 09:08 PM

I was at my sister's neighbor today because I saw they had upgraded their FR3 gasser to a 2021 Jayco Precept Prestige 36U.

We were talking and they said they had the MH at the same local dealer where we bought our MH and their catalytic converter was stolen but no one noticed. Then the next night thieves broke their door window out and gained entry, and stole a bunch of stuff including two TVs, one of them being the outside one because they always left a set of keys inside.

When the broken door window was found the review of the cameras showed the catalytic converter theft the previous night.

The owner then bought two Catstraps and installed one on top,and one on the bottom plus the CatEye motion alarm plus a camera underneath.

When they had to go back to the dealer and had to leave it overnight the owner told the dealer he was sleeping in it overnight. They agreed but asked him to please not shoot anyone.

Ray

Sweetbriar · 07-01-2022, 08:29 AM

Not sure if will help deter future thieves but as of today, 1 July, in Virginia catalytic converter theft is now a class 6 felony with a max prison time of five years. There are also ID and record keeping requirements for scarp metal buyers and recyclers that can process the precessions metals.

inthepines · 07-01-2022, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetbriar

Not sure if will help deter future thieves but as of today, 1 July, in Virginia catalytic converter theft is now a class 6 felony with a max prison time of five years. There are also ID and record keeping requirements for scarp metal buyers and recyclers that can process the precessions metals.

ohio has the id/record law with scrap but it does not seem to stop the thefts be it cats or siding off of homes. I'm not slamming the recycling companies but if they started charging them for receiving stolen property or whatever it might actually have some effect.

bigb56 · 07-01-2022, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetbriar

Not sure if will help deter future thieves but as of today, 1 July, in Virginia catalytic converter theft is now a class 6 felony with a max prison time of five years.

Why can't it be 5 years minimum??

Sweetbriar · 07-01-2022, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigb56

Why can't it be 5 years minimum??

My first though was amputation might be a better deterrent than being a guest of the state. Starting at the fingers and work towards the neck.

mbutts · 07-01-2022, 10:41 AM

After my 1st cat was stolen last fall, I put the Cat Strap on. Thankfully, I haven't experienced another theft. I'm glad to hear at least one of the RVs in your lot was saved by the Strap.

Our storage yard (lights, cameras, one gate to the U-Store and a 2nd inner gate to the RVs) requires all gas powered vehicles to have some type of converter theft protection. Here's hoping all the signage about that requirement continue to keep the thieves away.

Xmcdog · 07-01-2022, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetbriar

My first though was amputation might be a better deterrent than being a guest of the state. Starting at the fingers and work towards the neck.

Maybe do it backwards?

outlawten5 · 07-01-2022, 11:15 AM

The scrappers need to be held accountable. That is the only way it will stop.

NXR · 07-01-2022, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthepines

ohio has the id/record law with scrap but it does not seem to stop the thefts be it cats or siding off of homes. I'm not slamming the recycling companies but if they started charging them for receiving stolen property or whatever it might actually have some effect.

Ohio's law says an individual can only sell one catalytic converter a day but I wonder if there is any coordination between scrap yards.

One enterprising crook in Columbus started an LLC because that "one a day" law does not apply to businesses. He sold hundreds and the cops suspect he stole a few thousand.

So the State of Ohio was an accessory to his thefts because they registered his company.

He also added Apple AirTags to the ones he was interested in and sent his independent contractors to swipe the catalytic converters once he knew where they were parked.

inthepines · 07-02-2022, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NXR

Ohio's law says an individual can only sell one catalytic converter a day but I wonder if there is any coordination between scrap yards.

One enterprising crook in Columbus started an LLC because that "one a day" law does not apply to businesses. He sold hundreds and the cops suspect he stole a few thousand.

So the State of Ohio was an accessory to his thefts because they registered his company.

He also added Apple AirTags to the ones he was interested in and sent his independent contractors to swipe the catalytic converters once he knew where they were parked.

I read that, big balls really to pull a stunt like that. I'm not sure how well the scrap yards follow that 1 a day or if they just sell one to every yard in a X mile radius but it hasn't slowed down the thefts by that much if any. I keep seeing news about some place getting hit and losing several cats off their fleet. I suppose owning 40 year old vehicles that don't require cats do have some advantages.. I only need to worry about my gas being stolen and not both cat and gas hah.

TeJay · 07-02-2022, 08:24 AM

Don't forget just because it's a class 6 felony does not mean any or every state DA will decide to arrest or charge them if or when caught. After all some states don't or won't charge shop lifters or protesters. This is just the unfortunate but true reality of our current state of affairs.