Auto Burglary

[okarol]

This comes from our local police department, thought I'd share it in case it happens elsewhere:

Greetings to all -  In checking with Detective Wilkins of Auto Burglary, the newest thing to the city as far as vehicles is the theft of catalytic converters.  These are being taken mostly during the day in large parking lot areas.  However, we have had a few taken from vehicles parked on the street overnight.  Generally, what happens is that the suspects will pull up next to a car and leave their engine running.  The passenger suspect will get out, crawl up under the victim’s car and use a grinder or Sawzall to cut the catalytic converter away from the exhaust.  The driver suspect will sometimes rev the engine of their car to cover the noise.  It takes only a minute and they are gone.
 
The targeted vehicles are mostly Toyota 4-Runners and large pickup trucks, but any vehicle that is raised from the ground can become a victim.  Most of our victims have been in the large parking lots on the east end of town, but no matter where you see it, if you see someone underneath a car or truck, please call the police and responding officers will determine if they are legit. 
 
This message is intended to alert our residents, so please pass this information along to your friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

[flip]

Why would they want catalytic converters? A lot of people here take them off anyway.

[okarol]

You need them to pass the smog certificate test in California, to register your car. Maybe that's why? I dunno.

[okarol]

Ohh I found this in the NY Times:
Theft of scrap metals like copper and aluminum has been common here and across the country for years, fueled by rising construction costs and the building boom in China. But now thieves have found an easy payday from the upper echelon of the periodic table. It seems there may not be an easier place to score some platinum than under the hood of a car.
Here's the rest of the story: Thieves Leave Cars, but Take Catalytic Converters http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/us/29converters.html?ex=1364443200&en=cc3c8fdee4e7d056&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[jbeany]

It's the same reason that new construction is leaving the plumbing as late as possible.  It's too easy for people to come in and cut out the copper pipes otherwise.

[twirl]

they'd have to put gas in my van before they could car-jack it

[Katonsdad]

Here in Richmond 5 people have been arrested for stealing these .
They have been caught in the local malls....

Another big thing to steal are the GPS devices that people add to their
cars .

I just want to    them

Katonsdad

[Romona]

They have been siphoning gas at malls around here. Mostly employees cars that are parked further away.

[KT0930]

I just asked my husband about it (local law enforcement), and he said catalytic converters have platinum wires in them. Anything with wires or metal in them will be stolen these days. This is happening everywhere.

[Chris]

If they do this to my vehicle, please just hit it and total it, I would like a new vehicle. But this isn't new in this area either and when the plumbers do the copperwork, they wait till the doors and windows are installed and have a crew in the house installing it all

[Jill D.]

There are so many empty homes in Michigan because of foreclosures, and thieves are breaking into the empty homes and stripping them of copper wire and pipes for money - some will even peel the aluminum siding off when they can to get money at the scrap yards. The economy is so bad people are getting desperate. Sad and scary.

[flip]

I'm not so sure it's just the economy. Most of the thieves here are doing it for drug money.

[Chris]

Here they are talking about making a law that only certain people with qualified identification can get money for scrap by the truck load. If your a frequent customer also.

[glitter]

here in florida they also steal ac units, and water heaters in unfinished constuction. It seems like the scrap yards work with the police though- there is often a story on where people with illegally gotten copper is on the news. A lot of times people get caught because the steal something like rolls of copper from the power company and then try to sell them- something easily identified -dummys!!

[boxman55]

You need them to pass the smog certificate test in California, to register your car. Maybe that's why? I dunno.

They are very expensive, buying and selling them on the black market is both cheaper and lucrative

Boxman

[kitkatz]

Mess with my car and die!