Euler Posted July 29, 2022 at 07:01 PM Share Posted July 29, 2022 at 07:01 PM CWBChicago CWBChicago said: ... Around 4:25 p.m. on Thursday, police received reports of a two-man catalytic converter theft crew operating in the North Center neighborhood in a black Jeep. While officers were looking for the thieves, a 57-year-old man in the 2200 block of West Oakdale heard noises outside his home around 4:46 p.m. When he went outside to investigate, he discovered thieves trying to take his car's catalytic converter, according to police. One of the thieves pulled out a gun and shot the victim, who was hit twice in the abdomen. According to officers on the scene, the victim returned fire, and witnesses saw a young man wearing a black hoodie get into a black SUV while holding his left forearm. About 20 minutes after the shooting, a juvenile with an arrest record arrived at Humboldt Park Health, formerly Norwegian Hospital, wearing a black hoodie for treatment of two gunshot wounds to his left forearm. Investigators are working to determine if there is a connection between the injured teen and the shooting. Meanwhile, an ambulance transported the North Center victim to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition, according to police. ... Update 10:15 p.m. -- Chicago police tonight confirmed that charges are being pursued against the 16-year-old who showed up with gunshot wounds at Humboldt Park Health. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbacs Posted July 29, 2022 at 09:00 PM Share Posted July 29, 2022 at 09:00 PM In what parallel bizarro world would attempted or committed murder equate with a catalytic converter value? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSDlady Posted July 29, 2022 at 10:38 PM Share Posted July 29, 2022 at 10:38 PM On 7/29/2022 at 4:00 PM, Bubbacs said: In what parallel bizarro world would attempted or committed murder equate with a catalytic converter value? Same world of "This is why we can't get a polish sausage at 3am" thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallbore Posted July 30, 2022 at 04:37 PM Share Posted July 30, 2022 at 04:37 PM On 7/29/2022 at 4:00 PM, Bubbacs said: In what parallel bizarro world would attempted or committed murder equate with a catalytic converter value? In the liberal under world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Jim Posted August 12, 2022 at 02:10 AM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 02:10 AM I saw something about how the Chicago police are doing events where they will paint your catalytic converter hot pink and stencil "CPD" on it. Not sure what that will do, but it made me laugh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikew Posted August 12, 2022 at 02:57 AM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 02:57 AM On 8/11/2022 at 9:10 PM, Rev Jim said: they will paint your catalytic converter Those things run too hot to expect paint to stick, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illinois_buckeye Posted August 12, 2022 at 06:57 AM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 06:57 AM Too bad there’s not a safe way to attach air tags to the cat, then when someone takes it, start tracking it and show the location to the cops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Posted August 12, 2022 at 01:23 PM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 01:23 PM At what point will they start suggesting we drive lowriders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobPistol Posted August 12, 2022 at 01:51 PM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 01:51 PM On 7/29/2022 at 2:00 PM, Bubbacs said: In what parallel bizarro world would attempted or committed murder equate with a catalytic converter value? Sociopaths will sociopath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybermgk Posted August 12, 2022 at 02:53 PM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 02:53 PM "police received reports of a two-man catalytic converter theft crew" implies this is a regular thing. Is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbacs Posted August 12, 2022 at 02:59 PM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 02:59 PM Solution, move out of Chicago. Park in a garage. Motion sensor lights. And IF they catch them or you call the CPD, who’s paying for the replacement/repairs/reinstall if possible of the cat? Yeah I kinda knew that last one already. If some in the INS business is reading, new cottage industry for you. CAT Theft INS riders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euler Posted August 12, 2022 at 03:03 PM Author Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 03:03 PM On 8/12/2022 at 10:53 AM, cybermgk said: "police received reports of a two-man catalytic converter theft crew" implies this is a regular thing. Is it? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted August 12, 2022 at 06:06 PM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 06:06 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted August 12, 2022 at 06:16 PM Share Posted August 12, 2022 at 06:16 PM On 8/12/2022 at 9:53 AM, cybermgk said: "police received reports of a two-man catalytic converter theft crew" implies this is a regular thing. Is it? Yep, a huge problem in some areas, some towns/cities have actually outlawed the selling of used catalytic converters trying to slow the theft down. Considering a new OEM catalytic converter can cost in the neighborhood of $1000, it's a big payday item, even if dumped well below market value. Hit up Youtube and watch some of the videos, these crews are FAST and BRAZEN, doing it in broad daylight and it only takes a crew of two about 1 minute flat to jack the car up and sawzall the convert off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith44 Posted August 13, 2022 at 01:33 AM Share Posted August 13, 2022 at 01:33 AM Earlier this year my wire had the catalytic converter stolen from her Toyota Prius while she was parked in a bank parking lot. The replacement catalytic converter cost was $3,500. Fortunately our vehicle comprehensive insurance covered all but $100. We now have an aftermarket armor plate that covers the catalytic converter. -Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted August 13, 2022 at 01:56 AM Share Posted August 13, 2022 at 01:56 AM On 8/12/2022 at 8:33 PM, Keith44 said: We now have an aftermarket armor plate that covers the catalytic converter. There are those, plus a lot of people are getting creative. I have seen picture of people that have welded chains all over the cat and welded the other end of the chain to to the frame of the car at misc points. Also seen several nets make of cables that harness the cat and attach to the frame. Saw some people making cages out of rebar, even saw one guy that wrapped the cat in sections of razor wire welded to the cat and welded to the frame. They want that 1 or 2 minute get-away so anything that they see that will slow them down will likely cause them to skip you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikew Posted August 13, 2022 at 02:25 AM Share Posted August 13, 2022 at 02:25 AM On 8/12/2022 at 1:06 PM, Flynn said: OK, I'm impressed. And wrong earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted August 13, 2022 at 02:45 AM Share Posted August 13, 2022 at 02:45 AM On 8/12/2022 at 9:25 PM, mikew said: OK, I'm impressed. And wrong earlier. Yeah, apparently there are paints out there that will survive the temps. https://www.roseville.ca.us/news/what_s_happening_in_roseville/f_r_e_e_catalytic_converter_engraving_and_painting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mab22 Posted August 13, 2022 at 08:39 PM Share Posted August 13, 2022 at 08:39 PM On 8/12/2022 at 9:45 PM, Flynn said: Yeah, apparently there are paints out there that will survive the temps. https://www.roseville.ca.us/news/what_s_happening_in_roseville/f_r_e_e_catalytic_converter_engraving_and_painting Wire brush might take that off, but might deter them them from stealing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Q Public Posted August 13, 2022 at 08:46 PM Share Posted August 13, 2022 at 08:46 PM You can have a shop weld a shroud over it, I had mine done cost me $100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted August 13, 2022 at 09:22 PM Share Posted August 13, 2022 at 09:22 PM On 8/13/2022 at 3:39 PM, mab22 said: Wire brush might take that off, but might deter them them from stealing it. The article implies they engrave then paint, so that would require a bit more work and potential for damage to remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyk101 Posted August 14, 2022 at 12:41 PM Share Posted August 14, 2022 at 12:41 PM Correct me if I am wrong but the places that the thieves take the stolen converters to pretty much know that they are stolen anyway. Especially if the same people continue to bring them converters in an ongoing basis. They couldnt care less obviously because if there wasnt a buyer for them, they wouldnt be stolen as much as they are. But the real reason that converters are stolen isn't because of the converters themselves but rather the precious metals inside. So merely spray painting or engraving them is a fools quest. It doesn't take long to get one with a battery operated Sawzall. This might be an issue in the short time that the thieves have possession on the off chance that they get stopped by an officer but I'm sure they dispose of them for quick cash as soon as they can. The precious metals get removed and the shell gets disposed of. Coming up with a way to prevent the theft or make it more difficult in the first place is the better solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euler Posted August 14, 2022 at 06:13 PM Author Share Posted August 14, 2022 at 06:13 PM From Steve Lehto today, the story is from Oregon, although no one was shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted August 14, 2022 at 07:16 PM Share Posted August 14, 2022 at 07:16 PM On 8/14/2022 at 7:41 AM, mikeyk101 said: Correct me if I am wrong but the places that the thieves take the stolen converters to pretty much know that they are stolen anyway. Especially if the same people continue to bring them converters in an ongoing basis. They couldnt care less obviously because if there wasnt a buyer for them, they wouldnt be stolen as much as they are. If a painted or serialized one is found by the police during whatever, it allows them to trace it back to a specific crime instead of the suspect just saying, he cut it off a junked car and/or replaced it for a friend. Without a way to connect it to a crime, it's a whole lot harder to build a solid case and the crooks know this, it becomes a matter of risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyk101 Posted August 14, 2022 at 11:35 PM Share Posted August 14, 2022 at 11:35 PM I'd be curious to know how these places process the catalytic converters for the precious metals. Do they do it or do they just send the converters off somewhere else? If they process them right away, I'm assuming one of the first things they do is dispose of the shell that would be painted and/or serialized. Recover the precious metals and then crush them and there's nothing to investigate. But, then the precious metals must go somewhere. Figure out where they are going and who is dealing in high volumes of these precious metals and that could be the start of the investigation. Follow it backwards and figure out a way to start shutting down the person(s) buying and dealing with the stolen converters. Without a buyer, the thieves lose a big incentive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted August 15, 2022 at 03:22 AM Share Posted August 15, 2022 at 03:22 AM On 8/14/2022 at 6:35 PM, mikeyk101 said: Figure out where they are going and who is dealing in high volumes of these precious metals and that could be the start of the investigation. That would probably lead back to legit recylers, and without probable cause you would likely not be able to get a list of people dropping them off in bulk, like junkyards and muffler companies. That is where a serial or paint job opens the door, if you see a serialed one or a painted one the probable cause door is open. It's not perfect but it inconviences them enough that it's likely to make them skip your car, just like locking your doors is generally enough to deter all these snatch and grab stuff inside parked car crooks that canvas neighborhoods. Statistics show that if you make your item just that much harder and less desirable than the next many times crooks will skip it, yeah it's not perfecte but it helps. Just like Illinois law forbidding paying more than $100 'cash' for cats, it's not perfect but it inconviences many that would otherwise do it. It's really no different than serial numbers on the car themselves it's just a deterant, I have parted out enough stripped cars to know that people will offer more for the dashboard and serial numbler plate combined with the title than the junk yard will give for the entire car if it's a popular model. Everytime I have parted out a car, I always get several people offering stupid money for the dashboard and title, I turn them down but I'm sure others don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plinkermostly Posted August 15, 2022 at 01:00 PM Share Posted August 15, 2022 at 01:00 PM Enough -- Google it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybermgk Posted August 15, 2022 at 02:51 PM Share Posted August 15, 2022 at 02:51 PM THis country really is falling apart at the seams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euler Posted August 21, 2022 at 06:30 PM Author Share Posted August 21, 2022 at 06:30 PM CWBChicago CWBChicago said: Newly-acquired surveillance video shows a heavily-armed and remarkably polished catalytic converter theft crew working a Chicago residential street this month. The footage shows that the thefts, often dismissed as “property crimes,” are serious business for the people who carry them out. "I'd like for everyone to be aware that these people are armed and will fire shots straight at front doors that open or individuals that they feel pose a threat to their operation," said the resident who agreed to share the video with CWBChicago. ... Two of the lookouts are clearly seen with firearms in their hands. The entire operation took less than a minute from start to finish. Watch: Meanwhile, there are indications that catalytic converter thieves may be part of a nationwide network that ships stolen car parts cross-country, defeating local efforts to interrupt the sale of the devices. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbacs Posted August 21, 2022 at 10:22 PM Share Posted August 21, 2022 at 10:22 PM Property crimes maybe. But they are certainly brandishing! /s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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