Thieves tried to steal this Prius catalytic converter and failed, see how we stopped them.
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2024
- At Muffler Tech we’ve been doing theft prevention on all types of cars for many years, the products we’ve developed for the gen 2 Prius are the most expansive because of their high frequency of theft. This video shows the effectiveness of our products and highlights some new offerings.
I'm a welder, and have a Toyota Tacoma, theives were seen on a security camera checking out my catilytic converter, so quickly I made a cage out of 1/2" inch Re Bar, welded it on. Then I welded the outline of a hand giving the "middle finger" on a piece of 16 gauge sheetmetal, then welded 4 recessed tabs to the cage that covers the cage and obstructs them from getting to the cage without removing the sheetmetal first.
The sheetmetal is setup in a way that they can't get to the welds, so they have to rip off the sheetmetal making a lot of noise before they can get to the cage.
They came back 6 days later, but couldn't get the cat, they saw my hand outlines giving them the "finger, so they got mad and stole a bracket holding on my camper shell. 😂😂😂.
Great Video. Keep it going !!
You absolute legend.
You should post the video if you have it.
They stole my Honda cat. We should be allowed to electrocute them
I want to see that video too of them failing to steal your cat
Sadly deterring a thief in this method just sends them to steal your neighbors CAT instead.. It would be better to rig up a motion detector to an alarm. Not an alarm to scare them away, an alarm to wake you up so you can go outside and handle business. A dead thief can't steal from anyone!
And level 5 is a bullet on the thief skull.
Yes. Amen. THIS. This right here.
Agreed.
People watch too much violent TV and play too many violent video games. You think that killing a cat converter thief wont scar YOU for life? I'm betting it will.
In any case, these thieves are the scum of the earth and need to be brought to justice by the justice system.
@@curiousgeorge555 no it won't. it'll make me pretty happy
Calm down, cowboy
My uncle had his stolen twice, he got a camera after the first time. The 2nd time he got it on video, but the guy walked down the street and had a mask on. So he couldn't do anything as far as identifying the person or getting a license plate. So he ended up getting a cat shield installed on his car. The person actually came back a third time and wasn't able to steal the cat, so they slashed all 4 of his tires. He changed insurance companies after they refused to cover any of the damages, but he's still out thousands of dollars from the first 3 incidents. I feel so bad for him because he's one of the nicest people I know and always helps people. It really never ceases to amaze me just how ignorant people can be.
I wish his car would of slipped off of the jack and crushed them.
Crime pays.
To many worthless scumbags out and about. Had wheel and tire stolen off my 03 mustang 2 bicycles ect.
Sick world. Too many evil people in the herd.
...or vindictive! Thief was foiled in his attempt to steal the catalytic converter a third time so he slashes tires. SOB needs his head held under water for about five minutes at the same time your uncle is kicking him in the nuts.
They should stop all sales of catalytic converters to the scrap yards until this somehow gets sorted out. This whole thing is way out of control and it's going to get to the point where a lot of thieves are going to get shot.
They are already regulating sales in California. The problem is most of the processing of these parts is done overseas.
@@mufflertech Up here in Minnesota the thieves sell the catalytic converters back to you on Facebook marketplace for $70. So ours are not going overseas up here. They know you need to buy it back for the emmisions test.
Yeah, that wont work
that’s the dumbest shit ever ,what about honest ppl who want to sell theirs
@@driverblaz unfortunately the dumb s*** is most of the ones the scrap yards are getting are stolen.
Catalytic converter thieves should have a hand cut off for doing stealing them.
The first time. The other hand should they try it again!
Knaw, just nail their pecker to a log in the middle of nowhere. Hand them a knife. And tell them freedom is theirs when they're ready...
start playing by middle east rules an African rules lol I like that idea
In some countries, it is like that.
That would surely send a message.
Thieves don't need to be DETERRED they need INSTANT retribution for their deed. Maybe then they'll try a new "career". A motion detection activated Stun Gun or Cattle Prod would be my LEVEL ONE deterrent. Also an exploding DYE PACK to guarantee they get justice from positive ID.
You are too kind. An exploding claymore is a better solution.
I thought about the dye pack as well as wiring power to it so they get jolted if they try to take mine again. But obviously thieves have more rights as they would file suit against me if they get hurt trying to steal from me while trespassing on my property. I guess the owner has to be involved to be covered by stand your ground laws.
They need pain. Lottsa pain.
Would it be illegal to put a white powder packet around the thing with a 'hazard' label for, oh, 'This baby is filled with bear repellent-level tear gas. Rupture at own risk.' Bilingual, naturally.
A guy did this in Seattle (with a `45) - and now he's in jail for murder. Prevention is better.
State law should include requiring all catalytic converter sales show pic I.D. and recorded at junk yard.
California already has this rule.
Already does in most states. But they don't track how many cats you sell. So if you sell one at each scrap yard you can hide the fact that you're selling a bunch
Scrap price on it ?
@@chuckgates1171 Depending on catalytic converter I've sold units anywhere from $10-$250 each. OEM fetches higher prices.
Ever heard of fake IDs? Easy to get in LAa
Camp out with a lead protection device, and eliminate the problem once and or all.
Modern cat thieves ought to be treated like old west horse thieves.
or, lay them on a bed of hot catalytic converters...🤣
Hang ‘em high
Short ropes and tall platforms for thiefs.
I just had my third catalytic converter stolen this morning. They stole the cat shield too. It only took him 20-30 seconds. I barely had time to turn on my bedroom lights before he was gone. If the car insurance guys wanted to catch the rings of thieves and end this nonsense, they could pay for cat shields and rods, and etch the car VIN number on each cat converter. That way they would not be sellable, and they would be reported to the state. Oh, I forgot, scrap dealers are also in on it. No incentives, no deterrent, and then as you imagine you have theft rings that might retaliate. Manufacturers should have made them theft proof from the start. Instead, we have this ecosystem around the idea that thieving is easy and you won't ever get caught. Footnote:I found out today, it will take 1-2 months to get the parts thanks to the global supply chain problem.
Exactly. Manufacturers should make the catalytic converters theft-proof. The consumer should not have to deal with this.
@@laurenl.6291 NO MONEY in that logic. Welcome to America Capitalism
I bought two catalytic converter security alarms and put them on mine. They both came with a sticker that says "protected by Guardian security system". I put one sticker on in full view. My logic was hopefully the sticker would sway them to leave it alone. If not, one alarm acts as a decoy. Let's say they work their butt off and figure out a way to get around the alarm somehow. After all of that work, the second alarm goes off, and they never suspected a second alarm. Let's say they spot them both and figure out some way around them in theory. The job goes from a minute or two to a half hour or more. They don't want that much misery, and for all they know there's a third alarm, a fourth alarm, something they don't suspect, so they leave and go on to the guy's truck that isn't guarded at all. Why risk the time or getting caught on my truck when John Doe down the street has no security of any kind?
"Manufacturers should have made them theft proof from the start." Here, you hit the nail on the head.
@@b4804514 Are foreign manufacturers making theft proof cats? A lot of cars are manufactured, here in the U S, are foreign, like Honda, Toyota and I'm sure others.
Now level 1 is a great idea! Thanks very much for sharing your experience and knowledge. Level 3 is wow!
I've seen several cars come through my dealership with the cats being stolen even with the "cat security" plate. Imo opinion your steel rods and bolt head mods are a far better option than the cat shield on its own. Good stuff guys! I wish more muffler shops in my area did this kind of thing.
Thanks Mikey! Like, share, and subscribe for me😉
Cat security lol its all bs thieves stealing cags shops scaming people a sawzall cuts through a master lock in no time.your lvl 1rod must be kryptonite.
@@Alongfortheride693 you need to watch the video again. The rod or level one is designed to stop a pipe cutter, not a sawzall. We use cold rolled 120 wall DOM (level 4) to stop the saw.
@@orange1soda BS? I’m always open to new ideas and suggestions but I assure you our products work.
@@Alongfortheride693 i agree
You outta figure out how to "safely" rig the high voltage battery to the catalytic convertor. Be sure to leave a danger high voltage sticker on it too :)
They have too many rights and would file suit against you for hurting them while trying to steal your stuff while on your property.
@@marklubinski4195 gotta love the justice system in this country.Too bad we don't have a few Middle Eastern laws,chopping a thief's hand off would be sending out a great message.
@@marklubinski4195 I really doubt you'd hear from their attorney!
@@rkalsic Sadly he's right. It's basically an open and shut case for them. You can have a contingency fee arrangement, you only pay an agreed percentage if you win. There are also government programs to help pay for attorney fees etc. The only possible defense would be to claim it was meant for vermin XD; I seriously doubt that would work, but at least it's honest.
Thank you so much for your help!!!
I'm surprised they attempted it so many times with different methods. You'd think they'd want to be in and out quick, and move on the moment they realize they're dealing with something more challenging.
We are definitely seeing more desperation with these guy’s. Maybe more people doing it creates competition amongst the thieves.
They kept trying probably because the amount of money they were getting from the cats was worth the extra attempts...🤔🤬😠
You don’t believe those damn thieves are very bold now a day. If they get caught then only few months in jail and they are back in the same business when they get out.
@@vxphan2601 no jail time in California
@@mufflertech for anything! 🤣
Just came across your channel.... great job! Ps. I have a gen 2 and you gave me some great information. Thanks!
Car makers can put an end to this quickly, but they choose not to. After all, all the revenues coming in for replacement is gold...
It's a new world problem and who the fuck wants to pay more for a new car just to stop crackheads
they're probably the number one buyers of stolen cats lol.
How are they supposed to prevent thefts? Weld armor around the cat? How is it supposed to be serviced? acetylene torch?
The problem is the third world conditions we have in the US. Our society is completely rotten.
@@fuqutube actually, Rhodium is the pricey one. ;)
that's because this is all purposeful microcosms for agenda 2030
Dude, you're awesome man.
Thanks for sharing, I'm going to imitate your techniques.
One of of those criminals tried to steal a catalytic from a prius gen 3 near my town in the night but the prius felt down . Next morning the owner walked to his prius to go to work. And found a dead person under it.
Karma
@@mufflertech what kind of people stealing those catalytic’s in the US? Hete they are mostly from eastern europe coming to the west. Stealing and than go back
Should have just backed up to make sure.
And the family of the thief will sue, and probably win because he was the "poor victim"
I love a happy ending.
Weld the bolts, that's what they check for first, and for your driveway put down a square of 4inch high blocks to drive over with cat above, so that no matter how high they try to lift the car they will not get it high enough to cut cause the bricks are in the way. Also put slops of grease in areas under the car so you destroy their clothes. If you can't afford a shield then you can bolt on a couple of flat brackets to the area and glue nails onto them so you will shred their skin off.
Wow! That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Great job on the cars and the video! Maybe consider stainless "ribs" glued with JB Weld to the ends of the hidden side of the shields. Just flat stock. Rough up the sheild first where it will be glued. Thanks for all the info.
Cat theft hasn't been a problem where I live until recently. So I have shields on both of my Toyotas. I did get a Ring notification last week of a Cat theft very near to my house. Fortunately for this area the recyclers are required to make copies of valid ID cards of anyone selling scrap (Except aluminum cans). The state has a database the recyclers have to check for anyone selling scrap for criminal activity.
I believe most of this movement is organized crime. If I’m right local and state level laws won’t matter. As long as rhodium stays at high levels I think we will continue to see this unfortunate issue continue.
@@mufflertech True - no recycler would have a use for a cutoff converter. Organized crime can easily put together the technology to extract the precious metals and sell them.
Clamores facing down , with a sign that says smile when you see the flash
Good video Thanks !!!!
Had my CAT stolen 2x last year within 3 months. Got a CAT Shield after the 2nd theft. Can't say whether anyone has tried to steal my CAT since, but I know for sure I don't worry about it anymore.
had my cat stolen 2x in the past couple weeks. just had the new cat installed and asked the dealer to install the cat security shield too. cost an arm and leg but i'm hoping i can go incident free for at least the rest of the year. paying two $500 deductibles plus the cost of the cat shield is expensive for an old prius. i just hope those mechanics at the dealer aren't in on this scam since they would know exactly how to un-install the cat shield... that's my worry now. no piece of mind owning a prius these days... ;o(
@@BumSkidley you can rest easy my friend. The whole reason they steal them is it takes like 2 minutes if you are bad at it. Even if someone knows the fastest way to take off the cat shield they are gonna need more tools/time than what will be worth it to them.
@@alexwitteried3893 I have heard of someone having one stolen even with the shield, but that does take a lot of time drilling out the rivets, which really heightens the risk, when there are usually other cars without any deterrents nearby.
got mine stolen with the shield......
@@gailcahill4006 Did they cut the shield? Drill out the rivets?
Nice stuff. I only mounted $20 worth of large trot line fishing hooks under my Ram PU. Going fishing.🤠
Careful, a buddy of mine super glued razors on the back of his radio and got sued and _lost_
@@231mac shoulda never said he put em on. must have been the previous owner
Neither Cat Security nor Talons Garage makes a shield for Accords. I've called about 5 muffler shops here in Southern CA and not one will try and weld on a custom made cage or metal protective rods and they all think it won't work at all. I'm about ready to try welding myself as a total rookie. I'm a sitting duck with my SULEV cat.
Come and see us, we have lots of So Cal clients. We got you.
@@mufflertech They got me. Sad and expensive. The laws are a total joke. Penalties are hilarious.
@@mufflertech Anyone in the San Diego area? Thanks!
go on your local 'nextdoor' site, they have various places that people post for getting cat converter protection, from more to less expensive, got mine done locally for about 150, can't remember the name of the place but you'll find places on nextdoor
@@mufflertech i may need to drive out there to see you. Here in Mississippi you can imagine there are like zero people doing this. Not a big problem but im going to be traveling and camping out of the Prius later this year so i want this taken care of!
Well done!
Thank u for ALL ur 🎥 videos!!! U cud make a fortune by not sayn a word BUT U DIDNT. I installed a shield myself, & live on the eastern coast before it even started gettn worse nationwide. U are our prius hero!! Happy 🦃 Thanksgivimg to u! 🇺🇸
It is my pleasure, thank you for watching.
I like what you guys do there
Dude nice work! It's great to see your solutions.
I'm sure you could have joined the wires for the o2 sensor so they didn't need to buy a new one though.....
As a professional shop we warranty everything we do, soldering the wires to rather sensitive 02 sensors does not always prove to be a reliable repair.
@@mufflertech fair enough I get your point, you don't want any comebacks.
I do hope you gave them the option though as it's would be a easy repair for an expensive part.
@@craiglambie9373 once we spend the labor time on properly soldering and shrink wrapping the wires the savings isn’t that much. I recognize a lot of people see this as a DIY solution and in this case there’s no labor charges so it pencils. To charge a customer our shop minimum of .5 hours to repair cut wires that may not work we don’t feel it’s an ethical solution. We don’t charge customer’s any labor to install a new sensor with a stolen cat so it’s only the difference between the sensor and the labor that is a savings.
@@mufflertech I agree with you on this. That is why the mechanics won't replace the A/C compressor clutch. The clutch is $50, but a new A/C compressor is $200 and the labor rate is $140/hr. Three months down the road the A/C compressor might fail anyways.
Nice work
I’ve found a lot of help from your videos over the past 2 days when my cat got stolen out of my accord. Unfortunately, only one muffler shop out of about 10 I called on Long Island was willing to weld pipes around a new cat for me despite all these places being well aware of the theft problem. I wish I could buy a Cat Shield but they don’t make it for the Accord which is a big mistake on their part since the accords are getting their cats stolen at such a high rate
They are in the works.
@@mufflertech awesome!!😁
After getting my Accord's stolen this week, I finally located one from Miller. Give it a try. Expensive sheet metal!
I'm a welder, go to a welding shop, they can make a custom one for you. I made one for my Toyota Tacoma, 6 days later thieves came back to steel mine, but left empty handed.
Do you have the name of the welding shop in Long Island that was willing to weld pipes around your cat? My 2012 Sequoia cat got stolen. Thinking of getting a new vehicle/replacement vehicle.
2005 Prius - had shield installed by SF Toyota in May 2020. Early morning today May 6, 2022, thieves stole my catalytic converter, car parked on the street in front of house in Sunset district of San Francisco. Last time they only cut the pipe forward of the muffler. This time they also cut pipe back by tailpipe. Shield appears to be still on. Obviously a shield is not enough.
This is why we’ve come up with our additional levels. That said, if a thief wants something bad enough nothing is impenetrable. It is a risk vs. reward situation.
Now they will also need a gas tank shield with the high $ gas
YES! The sickos are drilling holes in the gas tanks to drain the gas!
The skid pan shield does look professional and like its part of the car... car manufacturers should be doing this when the cars are built
Thanks for all the excellent info. Do you know of anyone in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles who does the CAT Security installations?
I’m sorry I do not. We have a lot of people drive up to us from Southern California.
I bought that shield for my Tacoma. Easy to install and hopefully very difficult to remove by a theft. I think it's at best a deterrent and if they see it, they'll just move on...
got mine stolen with the shield
@@gailcahill4006 sorry to read this. What shield was it and was it aluminum or stainless steel? Thanks
Nice job preventing them from stealing.
A gate or shed door movement alarm works as good or better than any weld on metal. The vehicle horn starts honking or an extra siren before the thief can get under the vehicle with the sawzall.
We agree this will work for a thief, it will also go off with any cat, squirrel, or other movement causing lots of false alarms. Our products are static and reliable.
This is excellent work. I love seeing problem solving at work for helping people.
My question (as a non-vehicle owner) is why have catalytic converters in the first place? I don't recall my dad ever mentioning such a thing on our 1960's Rambler or 1970's Dodge or Ford truck so surely it isn't vital for a car to run? If it is due to some stupid government law, then can they be made without precious metals being involved?
Thanks for watching even though it doesn’t apply to you. Converters have a massive affect on the reduction of emissions that come from a combustion engine. The precious metal are the active ingredients along with heat that allow the conversion of harmful gases, see here:
www.uti.edu/blog/automotive/catalytic-converter
Fantastic job. My Prius' cat was stolen almost a week ago. I wish there are mechanics like you here in Ireland. Your cat shield is significantly larger and better than what they offer here. Sadly, my Prius is still in the garage waiting for replacement parts to arrive.
Thanks now I’m thinking about getting my car done any place in New York State that have this product ?
Would have loved to see them wasting their time trying to get that thing out. Very satisfying.
Good job guys
I use this exact location for stollen cats that come threw our shop. Matt and Bill always get us taken care of.
The new MillerCat Prius Gen2 comes with their "deadbolt". Actually, they now insist it be used if you want real max protection. Similar to the Cat Armor brand lock, for securing the front bolts that connect to the manifold. It seems more common now that thieves will disconnect it there and pull it all back to the rear past the shield. What do you think of that, is that an optimal way to go, can that be an added measure for you guys to use?
Muffler Tech - you may want to produce another "Heads Up!" video for the audience.
Projections indicate this challenge is going to get worse quick with the increased value of the palladium that goes into these converters.
Russia produces 40% of the annual world's output so the price is climbing and I'm assuming it will take bigger hikes making the theft of converters even more attractive than they've been -- and there is the competing thieves aspect.
So a reminder of your and other shops' theft deterrents that are available (supply chain permitting) for install might be a big and future help to some in avoiding the theft in the first place.
BTW - do you have effective deterrents for motor homes? I remove my 2006 Ford E-450SD based MH's when not in use. It is a nu-sense but the process works. But once its on, and MH left unattended for short periods, it is easy target.
I’m working on a couple of new videos. It takes a lot of time. The shop is so busy it’s hard to stay on top of staying current here. I made a video on the motor home issue. We do at least one MH a day line yours. Here’s the link:
ua-cam.com/video/xpu7QcseqNg/v-deo.html
can you make a video for the 7th gen honda accord with level 1 protection? can the level 1 rods be welded to prevent potential cat thefts but the rods are welded in a way that still allow service on the entire exhaust system without having to unweld?
Need to see more vids of the cars falling on these POS guys... they're too funny
They need to be more harder on them Junk yards and core shops .
Thank you for the great videos. Any suggestions for preventing converter theft with a 2002 Honda CRV? Just had my converter stolen. Looked at a few of your videos and read many/all comments here. Don't see anything specific on this CRV, though you did show one in your parking lot waiting for repairs ("Do you own a small Suv..." video. Thanks again, Richard
good job
A System That Drops The Car On Them Would Be Nice 👍
Pretty soon insurance companies will start charging premiums for for cat replacements unless you opt for installing one.
Before cat shields, my cousin came with an temporary ingenious way. (Which he spent alot) bought foaming hardening wall filler substance. It was nuts, messy, yet it kinda worked out. LOL
Not a good idea. Cat can overheat. It needs to stay ventilated. The foam can catch fire. Then the whole car catches fire.
have you come up with anything for the new Ford Super Duty trucks? I have a '22 with 7.3 gas engine and I'm a little concerned about cat theft because it's so easy to get under
Yes, please call the shop for details, 916-421-0399
I haven’t been able to find any kind of catalytic security guard for my 2012 Kia Sportage. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations on what or where I can go to purchase a guard for my Kia?
New subscriber and potential buyer. I have a 2010 Ford Explorer Limited and a 2005 Chrysler 300 Limited that I want to secure if you guys offer any products. I know they are older but very very well maintained, and i’m replacing the cat on the 2005 and do not want them taken because they are not cheap lol. I would like to protect them both before and after the replacements. I will also look on your site to see if there is an option to leave my contact info.
Colby, excellent video! Thank you for posting and sharing your great ideas! We have two FJs in SoCal which we want to protect. I see welding rods and plate sheet metal in my immediate future. Do you sell this Toyota spring bolts with the locking head? Thank you sir!
We can, they’re made in house for each vehicle as we repair them.
Do you have the shield available for the 2018 Tundra Crewmax?
A shop in Sacramento replaced my cat and welded a hardened steel rod and a length of braided steel from the exhaust manifold to the muffler.
They are not stealing only Prius anymore now they are going after Tundra, Tacoma, Highlander, Venza, Sienna, Camry, Corolla Cross and Corolla. Also many other automotive manufacturer vehicle get their cat are stolen. Those thieves need to get a job or get a life man.
This is true. I’m working on a video now that informs people of the small SUV content we’re seeing now. Please subscribe for the latest news, thanks for watching and participating in my channel!
Cut their hands off!!!! Those m;$^&k^@#$^(
Does the shield work on the class A ford v10 setup? The cat is just rear of the engine and has the square forward end, which bolts to the square end that both header pipes are welded to. Is it possible to make the cat on this rig removable??
We are very familiar with the Ford chassis V10 engines. They are on the the list of most stolen. There are no shields as the cat sits lower then the frame. We do roll bar. We have a video on this on our channel.
What is the best brand cat converter shield? I have been looking into Miller cat shields and now Cat security shields. Which do you think is better? Or is there yet another shield you like?
Virginia, I'm sorry no one has replied to your very important question yet. I bought both the Miller Cat shield and the Cat Security Shield. Brought them both to my mechanic. Although, the Miller Cat shield cost more and was boasting that it is made of stainless steel (instead of aluminum,) upon physical inspection, both the Miller Cat and the Cat Security used pretty much THE same metal material, of the same thickness, so there wasn't a lot of difference there. My mechanic, looking at both anti-theft devices determined that the Cat Security was the better design, because it prevents access to the area of the catalytic converter, entirely. The Miller Cat was substantially smaller in size / area that it covered. You want the thieves to have to cut at much metal as possible (to slow them down,) in order to be able to even get to your cat. Additionally, spring for the UPGRADED Cat Security model that is shown in this video which has the additional 2 brackets, which further reduce accessibility. (they can't just slide a saws-all in there on an angle. They are gonna have to cut that metal bracket first. ---which they can, but it's gonna add time to their theft.) However, my mechanic did mention that with enough time / in an unobserved location, a thief can STILL saw through this cat shield & the additional metal brackets, and still steal your cat converter. This device only adds another 10 minutes or so, onto the sawing. So while it may prevent the 1 min and 30 second cat theft... "the saw and flee" .... it won't prevent the theft if the thief has access to the car in a remote location where the thief thinks they have a good amount of time to attempt the crime, before anyone might hear them. I have a 2nd gen Prius. Hope this is helpful.
And for anyone else reading... i agree... this entire situation sucks... and the MANUFACTURERS should be responsible for leaving the catalytic converters vulnerable. There should be a huge recall on ALL vulnerable vehicles... and these anti theft devices installed on all of the cars, at the car manufacturer's cost. But that's the thing... the car manufacturers / cat manufacturers are making millions selling new/replacement converters to those who endure the thefts... with it happening multiple times to some unfortunate car owners, (with and without theft devices.)
This is a manufacturing design flaw. The consumer should not have to bear this burden. The manufacturers have basically CREATED the problem and the market for the thefts. Because let's face it... if the precious metals in a cat are worth millions (collectively).... and the manufacturer basically designs the vehicle so that the 'diamonds & gold' are on the outside of the vehicle, easily accessible to thieves.... the thieves steal the 'diamonds & gold'*...... sell them to the middle men who 'wash' the 'gems' and repackage them for sale on the precious metals market..... and then, I am guessing that a good portion of those 'gems' go BACK INTO the catalytic converter manufacturing market.... those cats are then sold to be put on new cars and as replacements on cars that suffered the thefts. It's a pretty common recent economic model in America, (especially) .... "paying multiple times for the same item (that you've already bought) or service." And we're paying again and again.... because the designs of these vehicles have no theft deterrent aspects at all, when it comes to cat converters. Not a lot different than if manufacturers didn't provide locks on the car doors or require a unique key to start the engine. (probably how it was on the first cars manufactured.)
* diamonds & gold'*. is a metaphor for the actual metals:
i.e. "The three precious metals that are most commonly contained inside of a catalytic converter are platinum, rhodium, and palladium. All three have seen spikes in prices as the pandemic surged and as global supply chains slowed."
I hate POS thefts. I’d love to catch someone trying to steal mine from my pickup ☠️
You are so TOUGH dude
Catch them, stand your ground laws may be the only help for owners to fight back.
What would you do to them if you caught them? Most likely you would get sued and/or put in prison.
@@curiousgeorge555 not if they threaten your life. Wouldn’t be very hard to convince a jury of
I'm surprised you can cover over the cat without some kind of air vents to promote cooling of adjacent parts. Evidently the adjacent structures are resistant enough to heat, extra cooling fans are not needed.
This is where my mind went. Exhaust gets hot and now you've shielded the heat in one location. Is the shield a nice/bad thing to have on your vehicle? I'd like to know more on this subject
It has vents... and the catalysts are designed to work at high temperatures, and there's still plenty of airflow, as well as insulation and heat shields to keep the heat from getting into the cabin.
What about the oil change is it easy to remove oil filter after installation the cat protector
They’re not in the way at all.
A 6 inch pipe wrench will work on your bolts ! I used it on many stripped manifold bolts as it grabs on anything and is ten times better than vice grips.
I never claimed they were impossible to remove, they are just an additional level of protection deterrent and they work very well towards this effort. Thanks for watching!
@@mufflertech I never said you claimed they could not be removed I was just explaining that a small pipe wrench would probably easily remove these special bolts as many people think they are bullet proof. Maybe I should not have as there is probably a lot of these scum bag thieves who might have not known this. And yes your different levels of protection will probably prevent the theft of the converter because I would think a thief would just move on to the next unprotected vehicle. It is a shame when we have to spend hundreds of dollars to protect our vehicles from parts thieves.
Where are you guys located? They just stole my prius' cat converter and I like how you guys have these levels of protection. I have a 2013 Prius. I'm almost willing to drive to where you are (I'm in Missouri/Oklahoma) just to get your levels of protection.
We’re in Sacramento Ca.
@@mufflertech LOL
Up here in Minnesota the thieves are selling the stolen catalytic converters on Facebook Marketplace back to the public for $70. They know you will need it back to pass the emmisions test.
All good theft deterrence because obviously they worked, however, I have two lawyers on retainer that do a really good job of watching my property. you can call them too if you need them, Mr Smith and Mr Wesson.
simple but effective solution, shame they cut the o2 sensor wires 1st, maybe cover the o2 sensor wires with stainless braiding so they know from the word go they have a fight on their hands, and use more rods on the sides of the pipe so they can't damage it in the 1st place.
i glad my bmw has its cats as the down pipe so they cannot be cut out, they are next to the engine.
Criminals arent afraid.
DO You sell extra level protection for the 2012 Prius C model? I have the standard cat shield for it.
Yes, please call for details 916-421-0399
Do you have a catalytic shield for a 2021 Ford E350 chassis (used for a small Class C RV)?
We use 120 wall roll bar. All the shop for more details. 916-421-0399
My cat got stolen from my Prius. I had the cat shield installed from a local muffler shop. The cat shield really help because the cat thieves keep coming back to the same place and stole my neighbors cat instead.
Root cause if not the actual thief whom steal your CAT, but is the buyer(s) and automotive company should start putting either protect shield from the factory or etch the ID# on the CAT so it prevent it from being sold at the markets or salvage yards etc...
@@tousshong9438 How about remove the regulation for the CAT. To quote Ronald Reagan; "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem".
@@dbmn7571 exactly. don't require these cats on the cars and it won't get stolen. or else the state should reimburse the victims their insurance deductible and for those that only have liability, it should still be covered. not enough police to catch the thieves, and when they are caught, nothing happens. with no consequence or repercussions these crimes will only continue to hurt the law abiding citizens.
@@BumSkidley recently had my CAT stolen, but replaced it with a resonator...$ 200 and not worth anything to the next thief.
@@dbmn7571 unfortunately, the thieves are just as likely to steal the resonator, thinking it's a catalytic convertor (or thinking you're trying to disguise it as one. ;) ).
Just use the old way: Cut off any captured thief's hand. And the rampage will stop in no time.
I had the cat stolen from my Lexus Rx400h. They used a recip' saw and didn't even need to jack the car up as there's sufficient ground-clearance for a skinny guy to get underneath. I like the idea of welding a length of solid rod to the pipe to hamper the saw.
It works!
It does not interfere with an oil service.
Can y'all install a Flowmaster exhaust pro system on my 2013 Prius C 😎👍
what is the cost of the levels vs the replacement of the cc ?
Please contact us at the shop for pricing, it is a moving target so I don't like to post prices online
It seems to me if you applied the shields, then the level one (welded rod and the bolts) wouldn't also be needed.
Someone from security recommended heat resistance paint to use that decreases the value of cc
Does anyone know a shop that does this in the NYC area?
i had my 2005 Prius cat stolen 3 times (twice in the last 2 weeks). the $500 deductible is killing me. i had Toyota dealer install the cat security shield with the 2 upgraded end cover parts. with the shield on, would i need the locking bolts?
i like your level 1 rod and am considering to have that added. another concern is that they just unscrew the bolts holding the shield. wouldn't it be easy for a thief to get a hold of those special security bolt tools to unfasten the bolts?
are the new Rav4 Hybrids susceptible to cat theft as well? have you seen or heard of them being stolen? i'm considering a new car for piece of mind cause after 3x it really sucks!!!
thanks for feedback.
Bicycle..
Straight pipe it and call it a day
@@franklaskus2395 Have you heard a Prius without the cats? You have to wear ear plugs to drive it. Sounds like a NHRA car. It's stupid loud for being such a small engine.
$500 deductible is "killing" you, but yet you are considering purchasing a new car? Makes sense...
@@zacharypeery4082 that's called financing. I used to have customers come in all the time that couldn't afford to fix their car so I'd send them right up to the sales department to trade their car in as is and put them in a brand new car with nothing down.
I had a cat stolen off my old 2007 Ford Escape I just put a test pipe in place of it as no emission or inspection in our state & runs 10x better now & just trips a code but it's not affecting anything.
Two things. First off all how do you know if your vehicle has any other issues with the check engine light already on for the cat missing? Secondly your polluting the environment. I get that it’s frustrating that someone took your cat but does that give you the right to mess with our environment?
@@mufflertech I thought my insurance would cover it but it doesn't. Paying $450+ not worth to replace it as vehicle is only worth $500. I see some Chinese knockoffs
online but herd they fail.
@@drsysop a running driving Prius is worth a lot more than $500 right now. Stay away from the cheap overseas made parts.
@@mufflertech Not the Prius the Escape isn't worth more than $500 maybe $700 on top end as it was a junky SUV anyway.
Vise grips would work
If you don't have a garage or out parked in some grocery parking lot, always try to park your vehicle's cat- side against or near a curb to prevent them access in the first place. And/or if it's a replacement cat, install the rod(s) inside it on both ends instead of welding them outside.
I have a 2009 Prius and still waiting for stolen cat to be replaced. Isn’t the cat located at the center of the car? I’m so afraid it’s going to be stolen again.
@F M Just took pictures for insurance on my mom's 2009 Prius, it definitely runs up through the middle of the car and connects to the additional stuff in the back. This is our second stolen CC, both in our apartment parking lot. This time it had a Toyota placed "cat guard" that clearly didn't guard it. :(
How much for the shield alone no labor?
Thanks for the inquiry! We sell them at this time for $249 over the counter or $299 installed. This is just for the shield.
Absolute death penalty for anyone caught stealing a catalytic converter
Do you have options for the 2002 Sequoia? I can't live wire the pipes to a battery to jolt any possible thief as I would like to for obvious reasons, so I need options.
Yes, are you near Sacramento?
I'm in Milwaukee, WI.
Had my CC stolen this morning. My mechanic showed me a torn apart Cat Security plate in his shop.
I can show you the same. Nothing against your mechanic, but unless they have an alternative offering that is better, simply pointing out faults in existing products to stop this is obtuse. We have way more customers that have our deterrent options that have not experienced a theft again then have. With an average of 15-20 vehicles in our shop for catalytic converter theft we have the data.
@@mufflertech I was just pointing out the efforts thieves are going to. Nothing obtuse about it. I'm looking at a variety of options. I'm worried Insurance won't cover the next one and I don't see much out there that inspires confidence. There are many options that could work but seeing someone rip apart the cat security plate, which is solid, was disappointing. Must be some desperate people for such a risk.
@@burrdaddy I’m with you, that was my point of this video. So you’re aware, if you keep a comprehensive policy active your insurance company doesn’t get to decide to not cover a theft again, they either have to replace it or choose to total the vehicle. The fact that you’ve had a claim in the past doesn’t affect another claim in valuation. That said, if any customer has too many claims an insurance company can choose to drop you after the last claim is resolved. We do what we can to stop it, and most of the time we’re successful.
@@mufflertech Great advice, thanks!
@@mufflertech good to know and i am impressed with your use of the word "obtuse."
You need that deal mad max had on the interceptor. Any tampering and kaboom
Sawzall....off in 2 minutes.....done. 😝
back in the 80s I bought a pick up truck from a guy who was tired of getting his radio stolen so he attached razor blades to the radio. He came out to his truck one morning to find nothing but blood everywhere but his radio is still there We just need to figure out a way to do something like that with the catalytic converter.
Dave. what is that metal bar you welded onto the pipes? Where can I get them?
We use two different styles. The rod stock is a cold rolled mild steel and the roll bar is a 120 wall cold rolled 1 1/2” tube. Not easy stuff to find. You can try steel supply outlets. We buy ours in bulk.
@@mufflertech thanks for that Dave. And where can I find the nut block you used in your video? Can they fit all vehicles? As mentioned before mine is a Hyundai Tucson.
I'm in Texas. My son's Tacoma got the cat stolen. Took a lot to get it replaced, and I had a shield installed with the new cat.
I also just got a 2022 Tundra, and the dealership is putting cat shields in all their new Tundras. Dang truck has FOUR cats, so there is probably going to be a lot more of this on the new Tundras. ALWAYS install a cat shield.
Nice video! Could u do video or know where I could find video to install a shield for Gen 4 Prius 2018)? Thx!
It’s in the works
@@mufflertech that’s awesome. Thx!
How much are they worth ? I'm a car dealer and have a 2nd gen with original and am thinking of swapping it with aftermarket before someone steals it. Im in TX. Great video and ideas to deter
Depends on where and who you sell it to. 600-1200 is a good guess.
Thanks
Great video. A question for you Dave. If I'm not in California, I was advised that I can in fact install a EPA only compliant cat onto my EPA And California compliant vehicle. But my question is, can my Hyundai Tucson receive my EPA compliant only cat and not throw up an engine light? Thanks.
It depends on what part you have and if the load in it is heavy enough to correct the exhaust to the point that satisfies the OBD2 system.
@@mufflertech oh ok. But will the car even tho it' meets California carb standards , is the systems minimum threshold and parameters at the EPA compliant levels? Basically my question is the car right out of the box is carb compliant, when replacing the cat, is the computer satisfied with emission levels meeting EPA only standards?
@@asianstud7 in theory that’s correct. My advice would be to purchase your part from a shop that will back you up if your light comes on again. They will have experience with parts that are legal in your state or region.
@@mufflertech thank you for that Dave I went ahead and installed the magna flow converter that was EPA compliant only. No engine line yet. I know that aftermarket ones do not last as long as OEM ones because they don't have as much precious metals inside. That's why they are much much cheaper. How long would you say the aftermarket ones last on average from you experience?