This is happening more and more frequently in my locale. Several of my friends and many of my neighbors have had their catalytic converters stolen.<p>It's good to see something is done. Let's hope this steamrolls into a nationwide manhunt for these criminals. They should also consider targeting and auditing shops that buy used car parts. Making it extremely difficult to fence these things will be practical and useful because they aren't sold and reused as is - the rare earth metals are extracted. Something your average criminal won't be capable of doing in their garage.
I may be misreading this but the margins look insane. DG Auto paid like 38 million USD for stolen converters, performed a simple extraction process, then sold the precious metals for 550 million USD. Wow.
I think taking down the buyers is a the best tool we have right now for this issue.<p>And there are things we could do to make that easier, like putting a serial number on the converter on new cars and replacement parts. Requiring the make, model, and serial number of the car it was removed from, and a web site with a DB that has the ID number of cars they've been stolen from so buyers could check it.<p>Make those who buy and sell and steal them pay for it. For new car buyers all they be paying for is the addition of the serial number. Can't add much cost to engrave those during production.
Washington State passed laws targeting businesses that would buy catalytic converters that are basically KYC laws requiring ID and other stuff. Anecdotally it seems to have reduced the number of reports on the local news blog and nextdoor.
I’ve armored both of my IC engine vehicles due to the local theft issues which spiked after the pandemic started. Cost about $400 per vehicle (both happen to be the top targets for thieves). I’m hoping it’s saved me the annoyance of having the part stolen, but I’m rather sad to see things degenerate to this level. Glad to see the feds really go after the crooks.
Treating this press release like a story problem in 5th grade math, there's something off:<p>> Last year approximately 1,600 catalytic converters were reportedly stolen in California each month, and California accounts for 37% of all catalytic converter theft claims nationwide.<p>> The black-market price for catalytic converters can be above $1,000 each, depending on the type of vehicle and what state it is from.<p>> Defendants ... operated DG Auto... DG Auto sold the precious metal powders it processed from California and elsewhere to a metal refinery for over $545 million.<p>How did they make $545M in a racket whose upper limit on annual profit is a tenth of that? Perhaps that figure represents DG Auto's gross revenue, only a portion of which comes from recycling converters?
I just got my Toyota car on monday after almost 5 months of it sitting in the repairshop waiting for new catalytic converter after original one was stolen. Poland.
I recently had a couple of catalytic converters stolen. I think the same guys stole about 20 grand worth of tools and scientific equipment. I have their faces and vehicle on video, but they haven't been caught.<p><a href="https://youtu.be/SPO5s8AZVeQ" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/SPO5s8AZVeQ</a>
A huge part of problem if not the entire trigger is someone is looking the other way when buying them.<p>There is no way in hell the buyers don't know the volume and source is complete wrong and criminal.<p>If no-one is buying they won't be stolen.
How would one go about legally selling a catalytic converter?<p>I removed the exhaust from one of my vehicles about 15 years ago when I replaced the worn out engine and have had the old catalytic converter sitting around in my shop ever since.<p>The catalytic converter came from a 1992 model vehicle. The whole exhaust was replaced with a custom stainless steel exhaust front to back with a 50-state compliant catalytic converter in line from a well-known California supplier.<p>I intended to run it by the metal recycler several times but never made it and now that theft is such a huge problem I can see where just showing up with one to sell could be a problem.<p>I still own and drive the vehicle and could probably dig up documentation for the replacement exhaust system.<p>I'm glad to see a federal effort to stop these thefts. I had to install a cage around my kid's catalytic converter since there were thefts occurring from vehicles on their college campus.
It's kinda fascinating to watch mining for precious metals go from digging tunnels, to extracting from other people's cars.<p>I wonder if this will make a dent in how often it happens. My niece's was stolen in broad daylight.
The vast majority of crime is not random, easily punishable, statistically preventable, and if you live in constant low-level fear and vigilance about your possessions, it is because you are being fleeced to benefit a constellation of client classes. You may not be able to do anything about it, but your mind can at least rest easy that it's not incompetence, it is hierarchy, and you are at the bottom.<p>I am glad they caught this ring, of course, but this is not meaningful crimefighting. The only message it sends is: the pole to the top is a bit greasy.
I'm not a lawyer but I was on the grand jury and I was surprised to see that in my state of oregon transporting metals (like any metal) over some limit without a license is a misdemeanor. I was surprised at the time because I didn't understand the purpose, but I get it.<p>I think this is the law: <a href="https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_164.857" rel="nofollow">https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_164.857</a>
I feel like this is exactly like going after ivory poachers instead of the buyers at the other end.<p>Who is creating a market for stolen catalytic converters? Are the precious metals being extracted, melted down and sold? to who and where?<p>Put THOSE people in jail for the rest of their lives and change the setup so there is in incentive for anyone to even steal one in the first place.
Related:<p>This viral video of a catalytic converter thief in Bankstown Australia:<p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alfa_towing/video/7153619995958856961?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7153619995958856961" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@alfa_towing/video/715361999595885696...</a>
Cat from my RV was stolen over a year ago and I'm still wait-listed to get a new one. Apparently since it's federally (rather than state) certified, I can't use an aftermarket one, so just gotta wait until Ford makes one for me.
" and law enforcement seized millions of dollars in assets, including homes, bank accounts, cash, and luxury vehicles." - civil asset forfeiture
Here’s how to solve this problem instantly:<p>If your converter is stolen, and a police report is filed, that vehicle is now emissions exempt for the rest of its life and can just have a straight pipe installed.<p>Now there’s a MASSIVE incentive on behalf of the state to solve the converter theft problem.
Given how few people who steal catalytic converters are ever punished for it, they should give these guys extreme punishments (eg life without parole or 50 years) to make the expected value of the punishment as high as they can.
>The 21 defendants are charged in two separate indictments that were unsealed today in the Eastern District of California and the Northern District of Oklahoma following extensive law enforcement arrest and search operations. In addition to the indictments, over 32 search warrants were executed, and law enforcement seized millions of dollars in assets, including homes, bank accounts, cash, and luxury vehicles.<p>I obviously don't have any sympathy for these likely criminals, but unless i misunderstand it sounds like people lost their homes (civil asset forfeiture) before being convicted of a crime which I'm not sure is something to brag about.
Isn't gary vee the head of this theft ring?<p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/h3h3productions/comments/ul2ar5/that_gary_v_knowledge_will_have_you_three_hots/" rel="nofollow">https://www.reddit.com/r/h3h3productions/comments/ul2ar5/tha...</a>
1: why do we need obsolete tech like catalytic converters when there is better tech for ICE to accomplish the same thing? (answer: because the government requires catalytic converters regardless, so no motivation to replace)<p>2: why did it take them this long?
It should be legal to run a straight-pipe if your cat gets stolen through no fault of your own. The economics incentives of the black market are there in the first place largely proximal to policy. As it stands .gov gets to light the candle from both ends, going after those failing emissions while also going after the cat thieves.<p>Edit: Love the helpful comments though telling poor people just to move out of the city if their cat gets stolen, as if moving is easy if you can't afford to replace a cat.