Attempted Catalytic Converter Theft!

So sorry to hear that happened to you. That really really sucks. I think Honda elements are somehow super popular targets. I would consider getting a "cage" installed around it. They sell them commercially to deter theft. Called "catcage" see.. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-12/news/ct-x-c-catalytic-converter-20110112_1_converter-thefts-catalytic-converter-thieves-work

It does really suck. We are looking into the catclamp, but by the time they tried again, it wouldn't have even arrived in time to prevent the second attempted theft. Even getting a catalytic converter anti-theft device doesn't solve the problem, because a persistent thief can get through most of these devices with bolt cutters instead of a saw. I wish the detective would call. It just seems like in this neighborhood I'm reading about another theft every couple of days, why aren't the police doing anything? It seems simple enough. I wish I had a number that I could call other than 311, because I feel like that's pointless. We just feel so lost on what we can do, aside from staying up all night every night forever.

Be persistant and make the report, otherwise the cops will keep claiming it is not really happening. Seems like metal reclamation places shouldnt be allowed to recycle these unless they are recycling the whole car. It is an epidemic.

you could go to your local CAPS meeting and bring up your concerns with the police face to face in a community setting. that can sometimes raise issues as higher priority v. 311.

https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/Get%20Involved/How%20CAPS%20works

Please make another police report. Where did this happen? We have a Honda, Element and ours got stolen a couple of months ago on Augusta and California.

I had a friend who lives in our neighorhood have his converter stolen. He said it has been happening alot in the area where he lives (near Eckhart Park).

McMert, both the original theft and the 2nd attempted theft occurred at Oakley & Superior. The 2nd time in an alley parking spot behind my building.

First, sorry this keeps happening to you!

The element obviously has an easy access cat, and as such, it will continue to be a target. While you are frustrated, you need to generate a report each time this happens if you want anything to be done. Remember to look at it from the point of view of the police. If there is no report, they have no idea it ever happened, and as such won't even be aware that you want their help. Second, what would you Iike them to do? The truth is I would imagine that a thief with a cordless sawzall would be able to make the 2 cuts necessary in about maybe 2 min tops?

As you speculate, there is a good chance that the fence placement in your parking spot caused them a problem and they couldn't get the cut done.

Remember that the average thief isn't that bright and operate on the opportunity. Personally, the risk v reward of selling a used cat for scrap vs robbery is not really there for me, but it is clearly present for them. As such, you need to make your vehicle a less desirable target. They want to spend the least amount of time under your car. They are laying on their back working in the dark with a limited set of tools. They are acutely aware that they are most vulnerable in the act. So if they get under your car and see a cat cage and realize they will have to cut though that and then cut through the pipes themselves, they are far more likely to scoot and move along to the next car.

So I would say get the cage. Try to park in well lit areas. Obviously this was not a concern you had when you purchased your SUV, but it is an unfortunate reality that you now have to deal with.

Happy thanksgiving!

Try installing a motion detector light with a 100w bulb by your parking spot.

Emerging industrial giants like China and India need scrap metal. USA is the #1 exporter of scrap metal. In Illinois alone, the scrap metal business earns roughly $2 billion a year. See Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. for further info.
The increased demand for scrap metals has caused prices to rise. Thieves are stealing catalytic converters because they contain platinum, palladium and other precious metals. SUVs are favorite targets because it's quick and easy to get underneath them with a cordless reciprocating saw.
Ald. Cullerton (38th Ward) passed an ordinance on Nov. 2nd that will require junkers to have their business names and business license numbers printed on both sides of their vehicles, and in an alternate color from their vehicle. This is intended to make junkers identifiable and accountable. Of course if your thief is not a junker, this won't help you.
More help is on the way. State Rep. Michael Unes has introduced legislation (HB3825) that will require recyclers to record the driver's license of every junk seller and will require recyclers to keep records of every purchase, among other things. The intent is to make buying stolen scrap metal unprofitable.
Things should improve in a year or so, as these new policies go into effect.

Maybe the guy will think you are dumb and go for a third try. Set up extensive night vision cameras...and CATCH the guy in the act.

Perhaps with a picture police can do more. The doing more depends on how helpful the police are. 13th people are pretty good.

Maybe meet with Coimmander Gross and ask him for tips. If he can tell you the most effective way to catch the guy...and you can get enough support for an arrest and conviction....you can get justice :-)

Found this bit of advice and am following it:
"A major problem with this type of crime is convicting a thief when they are not caught in the act. Police need proof that a catalytic converter they find in a guy's trunk or at the scrap metal dealer, is stolen. Etching your converter with your vehicles VIN number or your drivers license number will help the police to track your converter back to you if police recover it after it’s stolen. This will not protect you from theft, but it could help to catch the thieves preying on your neighborhood’s vehicles and at least you get some satisfaction knowing your foresight help convict the thieves."
http://www.hubbardtwppd.org/Safety%20Tips/catalytic.htm

There is another post on "Top News" that someone reported witnessing the theft of a Honda Element Catalytic Converter, they even put the license plate number of the theives - I believe this may be yours! Do a quick search of the messages this may really help you! If you can not find it, shoot me a message and I will sent the details over.

We just had our Catalytic Converter stolen off of our Honda Element sometime between Sunday afternoon and Tuesday morning. This is the third attempt (first successful) to take that part from our car. I created a police report, but essentially the officer told me that it was "tough economic times" and that this kind of thing was on the rise. Believe me, I understand it's tough times...since I now have to spend a ridiculous amount to replace this part. Anyone have a good garage/auto shop in the area? We're at Damen and Chicago. Also, I am going to send an email to our alderman just to make him aware. Hopefully, they can push through some legislation making it more difficult for these people to sell stolen property.

Chris, we took ours to Performance Auto Body on Grand between Leavitt and Oakley.

Ogden Automotive is a really good mechanic. It's on Ogden between Hubbard and Grand. Family owned, smart, honest dudes and nice.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ogden-automotive-center-chicago

Chris in West Town:

See my earlier comment. There is state legislation pending.

So I think my Element got it last night. Just got in the car today and it sounds like a really really loud jet engine. (Altgeld and California) At least I am not alone....called the station at Armitage and California and they couldn't confirm reports in the last day of this occuring but yeah, it's a problem in our area still....glad there is legis. pending; hope it's effective.

Mine was stolen yesterday around Leland and Sacramento, near the Francisco Brown line. The police called me around 3pm to tell me they had three guys in custody for stealing my converter and another one from an Element parked down the block. I was lucky the police was able to arrest them, i got my converter back, now I'm waiting for the insurance claim to go through. The officer said this kind of thing had been happening for a while but they were never able to catch them in the act, glad they did!
So what am I supposed to do with the converter now, if the insurance covers a new one?

Lizbeth, if we would've recovered our catalytic converter, we would've just scrapped it ourselves, since it was already replaced. At least you can use the money to offset your deductible?

lizbeth... why not cancel your insurance claim and have a muffler shop weld the old one back in?

lizbeth... why not cancel your insurance claim and have a muffler shop weld the old one back in?

Nothing is free, especially in the world of insurance.

I'm the owner of the Element that had the converter stolen at the Francisco stop. Nice way to start the day with a roar.

Well if nothing else, I feel some camaraderie...I am glad they caught someone in the act too! More karma please....

Chris...sorry!
Bryan...I was thinking that but because it wasn't a collision I don't have to pay a deductable and the shop said it was just better to put in a new one...yes, they probably just want to make some money but at this point I'm just happy that money is not coming out of my pocket.

Cax-X on Grand and Ogden is a good place for getting your car fixed, and Guy and Sons on Van Buren (between Morgan and Aberdeen) is a good body shop.

Honda Element theft over here too! Around Leavitt and Division. Mine was swiped on the 2nd of Dec. This is the second time it has happened. I also had it swiped in Sept. 2010 at Damen and Willow. From my understanding, adding those clamps and claws and such only make matters worse. I am fed up and I plan to just get a new car. My Honda dealer said they are getting up to 10 a week. I hope the guys they caught are the same crew!

Rebecca, how would a clamp on the catalytic converter make matters worse? The whole point of them stealing them is that it takes 3-5 minutes with a sawsall, the cables wrapped around the cat would make it take longer, making removing the catalytic converter from that car less desirable because there's a bigger chance of getting caught.

According to my dealer, and a few mechanic friends...the basic clamp system isn't foolproof. The more cage like apparatus that is out there apparently just pisses them off and they begin arbitrarily cutting everything. My dealer service guy said that they have had a few instances where the thief cut brake lines, fuel lines and all sorts of things. I considered getting the clamp as well, but after asking around after the first theft, I figured that I'd rather them make a clean cut than cause total havoc. I absolutely could be wrong, but I trust my dealer's service guy. This is exactly why I am just going to get a different car.

Oh wow - the first attempted theft of our catalytic converter was in September of 2010 at Chicago and Damen. I busted them in the act (even thought I didn't know it at the time). They didn't get the part, but they caused just as much damage to the oxygen sensors and the exhaust pipes that it was pretty much the cost of a new catalytic converter. Rebecca, we just got the catclamp. I think the whole point is that it is attached to the actual frame of the car - so even if you were to cut extraneous things, you would still need to cut these wires surrounding the converter just to get it off of the car. While I am sure it works as a deterrent to the thieves, I'm not positive that it's not doing damage to our car. Upon starting the car, it is now noticeably louder. Also, if we idle too long at a stop light, there seems to be some vibrations under the car. While I love my Honda Element, I am not positive that I can take this long term either. This whole thing (while clearly not our car's fault) makes me want to get a different make/model all-together.

After writing that last post, I ran into a cop at Walgreens and asked him a few questions. He said that either way (with or without clamp), they are most likely going to inflict some kind of damage. Then he gave me the number for the Area Five detectives and said to call and talk to them about it all and see if anyone else has been caught recently. What really irks me is that they passed some sort of law about what scrap yards have to do if those come in, but obviously that isn't working. And Chris, I've heard that about the loud vibrating thing. I also love my Element, but I also love piece of mind when I park my car on my street at night.

Ugh, mine was stolen Nov 18th near Thomas/Leavitt. I was hoping they moved on from this area. Although I don't have an Element, I worry that if the same groups are doing this, they're just going to hit my car again. I've weighed the options and didn't get a clamp, I don't have a highly targeted car and the cost of the clamp with installation is more then my deductible, seems like a toss up either way. Ugh.

Just had my catalytic converter stolen off my element in my work parking lot during the day by Bryn Mawr and Central. Came out of work and thought I was driving a tank. Will be filling out the police report today.