My son's 2001 Sequoia was parked in the gated garage and they got both of his cats. This is a very busy garage in a large apartment complex at Texas State.

Fuckers cost me a lot of money. I have a 2016 Sequoia and a 2019 Tundra at home, and now I'm even more worried about those.

Anybody put in the cat shields or welded in countermeasures?

Given the efficacy of battery-powered grinders with slitting disks, I'm having trouble visualizing any protection one could put in place.

A determined thief would just cut through it.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Given the efficacy of battery-powered grinders with slitting disks, I'm having trouble visualizing any protection one could put in place.

A determined thief would just cut through it.

The object is to get the thief to pick someone else's vehicle.

quote:

Originally posted by dgshooter:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Given the efficacy of battery-powered grinders with slitting disks, I'm having trouble visualizing any protection one could put in place.

A determined thief would just cut through it.

The object is to get the thief to pick someone else's vehicle.

Kinda like "the Club" steering wheel lock


(PH- they mostly use the battery powered sawsall. No sparks)

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Given the efficacy of battery-powered grinders with slitting disks, I'm having trouble visualizing any protection one could put in place.

A determined thief would just cut through it.

They make anti-theft shields that are basically a cage made of thick steel cable and based on how quickly these thieves hit, (like 2-3 minutes per car) that would be enough to discourage them.

Sorry!

My daughter in law just had her's stolen off her '17 Nissan Rogue.

Now she can't find her driver's license to get a rental car from insurance so I've been driving the grandkids around.

Uugh. I fucking HATE thieves.

And for some reason, booby trapping your property is illegal.

I could make some very fun devices that would permanently discourage the act.

There is a very easy way to end this, like tomorrow:

1. Put a serial number on each catalytic converter and make them easy to track
(some makers are starting to do this)

2. Make the penalties for buying and selling stolen catalytic converters VERY heavy.

Until then, it going to continue because apparently it's very lucrative

OP's son's car was in TX. They probably went across the border. Most places cats are "regulated".

Our safety guy's Tundra got hit, in broad daylight, at the office, a few months ago.
Hopefully you're able to get it fixed quickly. It took Toyota quite a while to get him back to normal.

Donut [youtube channel] did an episode on a few of the deterrent devices, but I don't recall the verdict(s) on them.
Full length heavy steel skid plates seem the most effective [and expensive] protection.

Try Talon's garage shields.
Very pleased with the builds.

Valhalla is the other option.

I like the pentagram bolts a bit more for security.

I have Valhalla's Shields on my Tundra. I can't recommend Talon due to the shady nature of how he started his business.

quote:

Originally posted by PKFan:
I have Valhalla's Shields on my Tundra. I can't recommend Talon due to the shady nature of how he started his business.

I agree. However, when it comes to inventory availability may not pay to wait.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
They make anti-theft shields that are basically a cage made of thick steel cable and based on how quickly these thieves hit, (like 2-3 minutes per car) that would be enough to discourage them.

I think it can be this for sure, but it also depends. Time of day (or night), location, and such may seem more favorable for a longer cut.

Then again, I had a coworker walk out the front door of work in downtown Tacoma because someone in the shop said "hey, Jimmy, there's a dude under your car." He ran out and yelled at the guy, who calm as anything, just got out from under the car, hopped in the back of the pickup that was double-parked and idling next to the car, and off they went. Broad daylight, middle of the day, right in the street in full view of God and everyone. Coworker said it was cut halfway through, and if he hadn't walked out when he did, the guy probably would've made off with it. So yes, it absolutely can be a quick hit kind of thing.

I better watch were I park if out!!

Here tucked away in an ultra low crime area, not a concern. Our German Shepard keeps an eye on things too.

I imagine trucks make an easier target as they are generally higher up and easier to get under.
It makes me uneasy as I have a truck.

IMO the only way to stop these thieves is to install a hydraulic suspension that puts the frame on the ground. That would make it difficult enough the thieves would move on to an easier vehicle.

Of course there is a simple way to stop this. Make illegal to purchase a catalytic convertor from someone in off the street. Then enforce that law vigorously.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
Of course there is a simple way to stop this. Make illegal to purchase a catalytic convertor from someone in off the street. Then enforce that law vigorously.

As mentioned in an earlier post, a large portion of these stolen cats are taken across the border into Mexico.

A hydraulic suspension with some switch rigged to drop the vehicle onto it's undercarriage in the event a cat is tampered with.
You'd just need to run it through the car wash the next morning.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

1. Put a serial number on each catalytic converter and make them easy to track
(some makers are starting to do this)

This does nothing.

They are cut open and the insides pulverized.