If it makes you feel safer, go for it! However, I don't think making it more visible will deter any thief. They cut it off with a sawzall and throw it in a vehicle and haul the mail. They can then dip it in solvent to remove any paint that might have been sprayed. As far as engraving any numbers, who is going to crawl around on their belly trying to find an engraved number on a catalytic converter? Maybe I'm jaded because I grew up in East Tennessee and the vehicle "chop" shop industry was so prevalent, but I don't think you are going to deter a thief with a little spray paint.
It's fine.
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the best anti theft device is a shield that covers the cat conv and is bolted to the car frame. its way too much trouble for the thieves.
painting and engraving is a waste of time. the thieves are cutting them open for the valuable metals inside.
btw it takes 5 minutes to get it out using a cordless sawzall and a racing jack to lift the car so the thief can get under. but they love suvs because they have lots of ground clearance and dont need jacking.
Many of the shields are easy to cut also. Slows down the criminal and you can hope they move to an easy target.
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That would make so appealing that they would steal the entire vehicle
Yeah well gas at 4,5 dollars a gallon I'm surprised this isn't a problem as well. You take a truck with dual tanks and you have several hundred dollars worth fuel.
I'm trying to go out of business, don't give me new ideas
Hope it helps,but in reality your average Meth head does not care what color it is. As far as the cop in the scrap yard,unless it is a very rural area,they are too busy with worse crimes ,sadly. In my day job I visit a couple salvage yards,and one has been broken into twice and had their legally purchased converters stolen. They only purchase from car dealers and auto repair shops,but many will but them from anybody. Painting sounds cool,but your best defense is probably a good insurance policy that covers theft.
Ok, a paint that drys to complete hardness of steel? Why not?
I bet it already exists.
And yes a meth head will take your head for a another hit
here in NYC they arent stealing the converters for the converters... they are cashing in on the metals inside that is worth far more than the converter.
So paint away... weld the dam things in, engrave them and even those protector shields cant stop these guys. They use cordless sawzalls n get them out in less than a minute, usually at 3am while you are dreaming of sugar plums. They love SUVs because they dont have to jack them up.
Wana stop them?... sleep in your car!
catalytic converter paint.jpg
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Last edited by perrymk; 08-11-2022 at 11:49.
hahahahha its getting much worse now in NYC. They dont even jack m up anymore. They hit my neighbor's pickup truck n got 2 converters in less than 5 minutes. We heard a loud car radio blasting at 4am up the block, and then the sound of a saw. the truck was parked under a street lamp besides. The avenue is a main route linking several hospitals n a busy shopping area so its not desolate. We realized what was going on when my wife saw the flashlight under the truck n called 911.
I spoke to the owner the next day... he said he was watching them from his bedroom window as he was on the phone with the cops. The thieves were gone long before the cops got there.. the cop shop is 1/4 mile down the avenue. because the owner hit the panic alarm on the key fob, they scramed without taking the tools... but did get way with the converters. seems pick up trucks have 2 converters? cost him an arm n a leg to replace.
When the cops finally got there, 3 cars with sirens n lights as if they hurried over, one car took off to chase them but never aught them. the getaway car was GONE! we could hear the loud muffler boom booms for at least 5 minutes after they beat it out of here. 4am is very quiet here. Just by sound I can tell you exactly where the car was heading.
these thieves are very braisen now. 6 hits here this summer.
So far we noticed low cars arent being hit. So if you have a tall boy... park over a pile of something so it just clears the underside of the car.... or flatten your tires.
they make "covers" that you can have installed over your cat to prevent theft. we recently bought a new Tacoma and added this.
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