Catalytic Converter Thieves Arrested
- Thread starter Mark_K5LXP
- Start date
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PJ Stough
Well-known member
Yes! People wouldnt steal catalytic converters, if they didnt have a market for them!
Frizlefrak
Well-known member
"The crime ring was centered around Portland"
There's a shocker.
There's a shocker.
udidwht
Well-known member
Won't work.
They are already committing a crime by stealing them. The buyers know they are stolen and could care less. Another new law won't change that.
You know what will change it?
Start taking fingers from those caught stealing them. It will stop rather quickly. No joke. The criminal system has become a joke (this from retired LEO).
PJ Stough
Well-known member
If there was no ready market for them, they would have no reason to steal them.
Also, cutting off fingers? Sounds like you would feel more comfortable living in Saudi Arabia.
udidwht
Well-known member
It works.
Ray-IN
Well-known member
Yep, Indiana began enforcing that law last July 1 2022. A cousin has a business of buying junk cars and salvaging parts or fixing up the cars and reselling them.
The new law required him to obtain a state license and register with the salvage yards he uses. Indiana salvage yards have required any seller to register with them and have a copy of their drivers license on file for the past 15 years or so. Then, they only pay by check, no cash business.
strugglebus
Well-known member
The unfortunate part is that the people who “lost” them to these thieves will receive no compensation. They’re all still out a lot of money.
Babe2201
Well-known member
His tactics are a little harsh but I wonder how many of these thieves they are catching have been caught doing it before and have been released early or never served any time in jail.
PJ Stough
Well-known member
Good question. I bet if you spent some time researching, you could probably come up with the answer.
Mark_K5LXP
Well-known member
When I've remodeled my homes I take the scrap wire and pipe to the metal yard. I need to present a photo ID and there's a camera taking my picture at the counter as I get paid. But they don't know where I got that stuff from, I could've scavenged it from anywhere and my transaction goes nowhere unless authorities ask for it. Certainly suspicious to be turning in a truck full of catalytic converters but there are enough scrap yards around a thief wouldn't have to visit the same one often, and I would bet these transactions happen through a different gate anyway. Given the political landscape with DA's that don't prosecute and law enforcement stretched thin, it would have to be a pretty big "ring" to garner much attention. The best protection won't be a law, it's stopping them before they start. I was thinking a "large heavy object" you park over that blocks access to the area of the converter. Could even be a pile of sand or gravel, they're not going to spend any time trying to get through that.
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
jymbee
Well-known member
A "little harsh"? If finger amputation was a punishment for stealing catalytic converters I shutter to think what would be the recommended sentence for other more serious crimes.
Good point there and definitely a problem in many places across the US. Can't keep 'em locked up forever but the revolving door of IN & OUT where those convicted of crimes, some quite serious, are released back into society way too soon without much of any kind of accountability.
jymbee
Well-known member
udidwht
Well-known member
For crimes such as murder?
Death. And your allowed only 1 appeal.
Losing a finger isn't harsh. One can still function fine minus 1 digit. But they will always remember why.
Death. And your allowed only 1 appeal.
Losing a finger isn't harsh. One can still function fine minus 1 digit. But they will always remember why.
Mark_K5LXP
Well-known member
More action on this than I expected.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A new Albuquerque city ordinance is expected to make it harder for criminals to resell stolen catalytic converters. The new rules force metal recyclers to keep far more information on people who they’re buying catalytic converters from, while also forcing sellers to produce more documentation to complete the sale.
The new ordinance specifically requires any second hand metal dealer to keep records of every single purchase of a secondhand catalytic converter. That record is required to be kept for one-year from the date of purchase. The purchaser also can’t resell or alter the part until 15 days after it was purchased, according to the new rules.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A new Albuquerque city ordinance is expected to make it harder for criminals to resell stolen catalytic converters. The new rules force metal recyclers to keep far more information on people who they’re buying catalytic converters from, while also forcing sellers to produce more documentation to complete the sale.
The new ordinance specifically requires any second hand metal dealer to keep records of every single purchase of a secondhand catalytic converter. That record is required to be kept for one-year from the date of purchase. The purchaser also can’t resell or alter the part until 15 days after it was purchased, according to the new rules.
PJ Stough
Well-known member
And that is your bottom line? Anything that works? Again, you would feel more comfortable in Saudi Arabia.
Actually they steal the CC's for the precious metals, they salvage the metals from the CC and trash the remainder. No one but the thieves ever sees the CC. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine that many thefts before an arrest. I mean what did they say, we were glad to look the other way but when you guys went from 39,999 to 40,000 it was just too much to ignore?
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Mark, it is a start for sure. Our area passed that same rule maybe a year ago, theft is down, but it seems it is no longer a meth-head ring, it's downright organized crime doing it, and they travel with loads like drugs to other states.
ButchW
Well-known member
tlmgcamp
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2016
- Posts
- 832
A local scrap yard is paying up to $500 each, depending on type. Most are in the $100 - $200 range. A decent rechargeable Sawzall, a couple batteries and a car dealership lot on a Sunday night could be quite profitable
