Texas 3. You're going to want to read thisespecially if you drive a Toyota Prius. More than 270 converters were ripped off of car owners and their cars. Surveillance cameras at Mongiovi and Son Plumbing in Kennedy Twp. So how effective are catalytic converters? The CatClamp is the patented original converter lock, and it has proven to be 99.9% effective for over ten years all around the world. Another thing to take into consideration is that certain states (often California) require specific catalytic converters in order for a vehicle to be emissions-compliant, in case you notice a price discrepancy between similar parts. Her first car was a Mazda 3 Sport GT. Some shields are made from aluminum, which is a lighter, buta lessdense material. One cool feature that smart device fans will enjoy is the ability to use app control via your smartphone. WebThe best protection against theft is a catalytic converter shield. By combining these two devices, you give yourself ultimate protection against theft. In addition, exhaust clamps are used to ensure a tight bond and provide additional attachment strength. A full alarm system gives you greater security, more convenient features, and the all-important alerts to know when someone is trying to infiltrate your exhaust system. However, for owners of trucks and SUVs, the addition of a motion sensor is advisable to prevent catalytic converter theft. The CatClamp is installed by placing the split clamp assemblies in place before and after the converter. Pittsburgh police are taking this uptick very seriously. WebIntroducing CatSecur - the ultimate anti-theft device that protects your catalytic converter and your car. The Cateye is an intelligent, SMART controller that senses human motion under your vehicle. For Prius owners and other heavily-targeted vehicle owners, always check to make sure that your insurance policy covers catalytic converter theft. Thieves hope to make a big payday by melting down the precious metals found in the anti-pollution devices namely, platinum, You can easily find a locking device online that ranges anywhere from around, Some shops may even custom-weld a device specific to your car, but keep in mind that directly attaching your catalytic converter to the vehicles frame can be noisy since the exhaust system is usually suspended from the car., Some experts recommend investing in a high-temperature (1,300 to 2,000 degrees F) automotive exhaust paint in a fluorescent color and spraying the converter. Use of CatClamp products is recommended by United States Department of Justice, registered Secured by Design/Sold Secure Gold standard product in the UK. for theft because theyre low emissions, so their catalytic converters contain. Our goal is to give you back your freedom and peace of mind to drive and park your vehicle anywhere you want. For owners of vehicles that use multiple catalytic converters, being targeted by catalytic converters thieves can be an exorbitant experience. While not specifically designed to prevent catalytic converter theft, it can work as a strong deterrent. 5 Ways to Prevent Thieves From Stealing Your Catalytic Converter. They scored each one on how much added time it would take a thief to steal the catalytic, the ease of installation, the cost, and the stealthiness of the product. If a person enters the first zone, the sensor will cause your alarm to make a chirping sound. Investigators say thieves are targeting converters for the costly precious metals insidelike platinum and rhodium. Regarding functionality, this handy alarm detects both motion and vibration. The Honda Accord and the Jeep Patriot round out the top three. It took the thieves less than 2 minutes to steal it! The best course of action would be to put your vehicle in a garage, said Detective Pasquarelli. The best type is probably with metal shields around the catalytic converter so the thief wont be able to cut it easily. Theyre usually worth more than gold. | Watch WPXI NOW. However, there are a number of anti-theft devices in the market designed to keep a cars catalytic safely intact. No fees, ever. The Cat Strap was also easy to install, and its stealthy. Unfortunately, thieves are well aware of this fact, which motivates them to sell stolen catalytic converters to places such as less-than-honorable recyclers. At around $300, it was expensive. COMPLETE BOLT-ON PRIUS GEN 3/PRIUS V/LEXUS CT200H NOW AVAILABLE! For instance, a car alarm with a motion sensor will detect when thieves are below your car. If your catalytic converter has been stolen, youll likely be able to tell as soon as your start your vehicle. In reality, the Donut Media guys were able to cut through the strap and only added around a minute and 15 seconds to the base time. When a thief attempts to jack up the car, the alarm will sound off with 113 dB to scare them away. However, if you drive a late-model Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with a 3.5L engine you're in luck because MillerCat has designed a cat shield just for you. Theft of catalytic converters continues to rise. They are very sensitive and will go off when the exhaust area gets disturbed, and it gives us tremendous peace of mind now. The included remote features an LCD with clear updates and notifications. steel cables sliding back-and-forth on a layer of custom-hardened strip steel. WebThe most effective solution to catalytic converter theft: BUNDLE: From $289.99 The combination of the Catstrap physical barrier and ear-piercing noise of the Cateye alarm Let's start with a product that's inexpensive and universal. Its not foolproof, but any improvement helps. Check out the selection of cat shields and covers below, as well as a couple of other suggestions: a device designed to "lock" your catalytic converter in place and a motion-sensitive alarm to sense when the cat itself it being messed with. Landing at third on our list is another affordable car alarm for catalytic converter theft. To cut through the confusion and help you decide which security device is right for your vehicle, weve reviewed the most common types. This process occurs through a chemical reaction with metals such as platinum, which in turn converts harmful gases such as carbon monoxide into less harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, as well as water and nitrogen. If you have a car alarm, turn up its sensitivity so that it goes off if your car is jostled. In Pittsburgh, just 16 converters were reported stolen in 2020. It is a security device with a series of cables that prevent your catalytic converter from being removed. This product is a long adhesive strap made of fiberglass and cables. How to tell if catalytic converter is stolen? Lets look at what a catalytic converter is, why theyre prone to theft, which cars are popular targets, and how you can prevent yours from being stolen. It can "see" from 1 to 20 feet, and has a 140 degree field of view, so it covers the entire area under your car. How is car insurance determined by insurance companies? CAT-SCR-CRV-3 . Donut Media put some of these devices to the test! Also made of durable and corrosion-resistant aluminum, this shield is ideal for older Priuses with the 1.5L engine. The stolen car parts can cost about $1,500 each to replace. 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Thefts of catalytic converters continue to climb at an alarming rate, and the pandemic and its resulting economic issues have made their resale value rise .css-1l6ek1u{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:redDark;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#cb1418;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1l6ek1u:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}even further. WebAnti-theft device foils catalytic converter theft in south St. Louis County 8,265 views Sep 22, 2021 Josh Sensmeyer is the owner of BGM Automotive in Arnold. This means theyre, common target for people looking to make a quick buck, But apart from being valuable, catalytic converters are. It includes a remote control fob so that you can disable it. like when you need to go in for service, oil change. , as many are located in plain sight. Otherwise, when a thief armed with a battery operated saw attempts to remove your catalytic converter, the Catstrap converts what is normally a 45-60 second theft into an extremely difficult-to-cut operation requiring multiple blades. He said the strictly follow state law and only buy from commercial entities. Raw exhaust gases from a vehicles engine are fed directly into the catalytic converter, which is often shaped like a canister or a small muffler, to help remove toxic pollutants before the exhaust exits the vehicles tailpipe. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device, 113dB vibration alarm to scare away thieves effectively, Bicycle, Scooter, Motorcycle Alarm (1 PACK), One vibration alarm (runes on 3 AAA batteries), One modern remote control with a 2-5 year batter life, One self-adhesive heat-blocking pad (to be placed on the back of the alarm), One screwdriver - Use for opening alarm case and changing the batteries, One pry tool - Use to help open up the alarm case, Two stainless steel self-locking mounting straps, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Car owners, particularly Toyota Prius owners, are facing a new threat. The cable is then routed through both split clamps and around or through a durable portion of the vehicle chassis wherever possible and back through both split clamps again. Gas and Hybrid Vehicles,RVs - Class A & C, andHeavy Diesel Trucks, Extremely Difficult to Cut: Turns a Normal 60sec Theft into a Struggle that Overwhelms Thievesand Prevents You from Being an Easy Target, Custom-Hardened Band Steel Inside the Catstrap Dulls the Teeth of the Saw Blade: 4.5X Harder than Stainless Steel, Three Heavy-Duty Aircraft-Grade Steel Cables the Saw Blade Can't Grip, Built-in Adhesive Bonds to Catalytic Converter Body, Ear-Piercing 130 dB Noise Drives Thieves Out Due to Immediate Pain Level Under the Vehicle, Infrared Smart Sensor Detects Human Activity Under the Vehicle Before Cutting is Possible, Automatically shuts off when the threat is gone, Compliments the Catstrap with an Alarm Barrier at the Threshold of Human Pain to Deter Converter Theft. For everyone else, stick with professional installation to ensure you get what you paid for. He knows too well the lengths criminals will go to for scrap metal and states, "There is nothing worse than a thief.". The catalytic converter on most vehicles is generally located between the exhaust manifold (where exhaust gases initially exit the engine during combustion) and the muffler (the device located at the tailpipe which reduces excessive and unwanted engine noise). This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Prius owners can relax a bit more than the rest of us (they seem pretty chill and unperturbed already anyway), because it's relatively easy to bolt a metal shield under their car. I had my catalytic converter stolen right in our driveway about a year ago. The high dB alarm acts as a powerful deterrent to keep thieves away from your exhaust system. WebIntroducing CatSecur - the ultimate anti-theft device that protects your catalytic converter and your car. Steel shield catalytic converter anti-theft device . Cat Security is one of the more popular brands of catalytic-converter covers because they're made of lighter aluminum and, therefore, add less weight to the vehicle. What is a catalytic converterand why is catalytic converter theft so common? Racewill Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft Device This waterproof alarm system has an adjustable volume that blasts up to 113 dB. As the bolts are tightened, the clamps tighten down equally on the exhaust pipe and cable. As a result, the sensor will sound the alarm. The car with 4 doors still has a lot to offer and more. While it may only be a tiny device used to reduce harmful vehicle emissions, the metals in a catalytic converter are very attractive to thieves. In this article, well go over what you need to know about catalytic converters and how to protect your investment: Stealing a catalytic converter (or cat) off a vehicles exhaust system may seem like a strange crime, but the precious metalsplatinum, palladium, and rhodiumthat make up the converter are quite valuable. Model specific kits available for some vehicles. These covers are easy to install too, with no welding required. Once installed, youll receive alerts directly to the beautiful OLED display. Depending on your car, its best to opt for professional installation to ensure you install the proper sensors to keep thieves at bay. Hybrid vehicles are particularly vulnerable, because those cats utilize even more of the precious metals within. What to do if your catalytic converter is stolen? Price isnt everything, however. Thieves are targeting catalytic converters in greater numbers than ever. The The base package includes Vipers Stinger DoubleGuard Shock Designed to deter the issue of catalytic converter from your car. Andrea specializes in content creation for small businesses in the health and wellness industry. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. Does car insurance cover catalytic converter theft? Installation of the CatClamp may qualify your auto insurance policy for a discount, check with your auto insurance company for details. These suspects terrorized our neighborhoods and our businesses for months, said Westmoreland County District Attorney, Nicole Ziccarelli. With so many targets and low-hanging fruit available, the last thing a criminal wants to do is spend hours with specialized tools making a racket trying to remove a shield. No, someone didnt stuff a big block V8 engine under the hood, but rather the catalytic converter has likely been removed from the vehicle due to theft. But rising prices for some metals has led to a jump in them being stolen and some unique This lock attaches to the vehicles exhaust system and makes it very difficult for thieves to remove the converter. North Carolina 5. After witnessing thousands of dollars of metal theft during his 15 years in business, the owner saw an opportunity to assist people in protecting themselves and their vehicles from these offenders. If youve never seen a catalytic converter, you likely have no idea what it looks like. Geico anti theft device categories oklahoma 30 day temporary tag walter mauser cab parts. Better bring multiple blades, because one won't last! After all, thieves want the least amount of attention possible when stealing a catalytic. Best Alarms for Catalytic Converter Theft Reviewed. Since most car alarms include shock sensors, these sensors will detect the use of a jack. Lastly, Viper systems come backed by a limited lifetime warranty and a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. We advise that you go through their website and familiarize , The catalytic converter is an exhaust system part thats necessary for your car to pass safety and emissions inspections in many states. It's "universal" because it hangs loosely via metal hose clamps to the exhaust under the car, so, theoretically, it should fit nearly any car or truck. , meaning that the catalytic converter theft rate is higher for specific models. The last product that Donut Media tested was the Cat Strap. WebCatalytic Converter Anti-Theft Shield | 2007-2021 Toyota Tundra . After our exclusive report on thieves targeting a valet lot for catalytic converters, Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle is digging deeper into this crime. In most cases, a shock sensor is enough to get the job done. Because no matter how many precautions you take, theres always the chance of theft occurring. Since they have additional ground clearance over a car, thieves can quickly slide under the vehicle and remove the cat(s) without having to jack up the vehicle for access. When installed according to instructions, the thief must successfully cut through the strap not once, but twice, with 4 layers of dissimilar metals. Catalytic converters can cost more than $2,000 and can be stolen in less than two minutes. Short answer: It depends. If youre handy with alarm installation, chances are youll be able to install it yourself. captured thieves stealing converters from a truck. 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Car is jostled a strong deterrent the test your auto insurance policy covers catalytic converter theft catalytic! Addition, exhaust clamps are used to ensure you install the proper sensors to a! Series of cables that prevent your catalytic converter so the thief wont be able to it. Place before and after the converter best type is probably with metal around! Offer and more volume that blasts up to 113 dB converters contain a lighter buta.
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