[jbrovont]

There was a spot on late night news about someone having stolen catalytic converters off of some vehicles in my area. They didn't say why, but I imagine it was for the platinum and other precious metals. I did a little research - looks like depending on the type, they're worth anywhere from $25 to $300 as scrap. Unbelievable.

[dinopello]

Yes, it's fairly widespread.

[Cashmere]

Really easy to cure.

Photo ID and inventory at every scrapyard.

Failure to obtain photo ID from any seller of scrap results in 10 year mandatory sentence.

Attempting to sell stolen scrap results in minimum 15 year jail term.

Problem cured.

[JustaGirl]

I like how you think Cashmere.

[TheDude]

Hundreds of comments here: Catalytic converter theft

Possible solution: Catalytic Converter Theft Deterrence Lock

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hy has the CATCLAMPTM been so successful? Let’s go through the layers of protection engineered and built into the CATCLAMPTM.

The thief most likely has a battery powered reciprocating saw with one blade and 30 seconds of time to do the crime. The thief slides under the vehicle thinking it’s going to be another 30 second cash job when everything goes wrong.

First a massive, impenetrable cage made from specially designed heavy duty aircraft wire rope encases the entire converter. The wire rope is nearly impossible to cut without industrial machines. The cage has SECURITY DEVICE in very large print and the vehicles V.I.N. # is stamped on it. The cage is locked to the frame of the vehicle with the same heavy duty aircraft wire rope used to make up the cage. There is no way for the thief to get the converter out of the cage under the vehicle in a timely effortless manner. If the thief can read and has even a shred of common sense they will leave and find an easier target.

If the thief continues the quest for easy cash the thief may try to cut the CATCLAMPTM off from the converter. The special alloy collars and aircraft wire rope will destroy the blade on the saw in seconds. Frustrated and out of time the thieves will be even more likely to move on at this point.

[DarkDawg]

Here's another one: Caught stealing 45 converters

Also, saw an article somewhere maybe here on PO.com about collecting platinum from street sweepers or something to that effect since converters dump a lot of it on city streets.

We really need to rethink the burning of fossil fuels.

[grassland]

Well, just refuse to burn fossil fuels any longer.

With every action there is a consequence. You consequence is : You will no longer be competitive in the job market.

That is what will happen in America if they stop burning fossil fuels.

If you PARTIALLY stop burning fossil fuels , like not driving on tuesdays and thursdays, then you become PARTIALLY uncompetitive, and so would america.

So, the inute we cut ANY fossil fuels we will go belly up in a world economy.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', '
')You pay for such security though: $269.95, or $50 more for a deluxe model. Might make a good add-on option for car dealers to offer. Sounds like a solid product though.

And it's