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My CAT got stolen last week...stupid jerks...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by 2GenPrius, Feb 15, 2021.

  1. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Ouch, my condolences.

    Funny, each insurance carrier I have been with said the same thing. They said it wasn't worth comp and only the bare minimum coverage will do to save $.

    The problem is that driving in California is literally one decade short of Mad Max in my opinion. You know that we live with uninsured motorists or rich scumbags that drive like retards. I opt for the maximum insurance I can buy because I don't want to get sued for the difference if there is overage. I also have dash cams front and back because I've been hit before and their story changes when the cops come, assuming they even stop at all anymore. Folks may think its incredulous, yet I had a 1.5 hour one way commute daily and I've seen all of it (even an airplane crash on the freeway here).

    For a catalytic converter being stolen, they will more than likely total the car out at $3K. They often ask car condition, mileage, and factor in local sales prices to come up with valuation. If its past the threshold, to the parts bin it goes.
     
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    which is not actually true, the true statement is CA residents (and states signed up to CARB) are being required to replace with a CARB-approved part. It only becomes true by extension because of the requirement to fit a CARB-approved part and for the Prius, the only CARB-approved part is the OEM part - there are no aftermarket options.

    The point being it is not the CARB that forces anything, it is the aftermarket suppliers who offer no options. And why do they not have any options? My bet is the cost versus reward is not there for them.
     
  3. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Your posts are not helpful, so I'm not even going to bother anymore. You can armchair all you want from NZD. Doesn't live to the reality we live here daily.
     
  4. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    Lol I’m just skipping this weird back and forth between you two lol. Will it bring back my stolen $2100 cat? Nope! Who cares about the carb. All I care about are carbohydrates!
     
  5. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Exactly. Being snarky doesn't mean its being helpful.

    I'm borderline thinking about the cat shield to keep the aftermarket safe until the car leaves the state, which will be soon. Unfortunately, there is more than one crew working to steal cats here in SoCal.
     
  6. james909

    james909 Junior Member

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    My story. Somebody tried to steal my CAT last week. I caught them and they drove off. Apparently they were using cloned number plates so not much chance of the police finding them. The guy actually tried to fool me into believing they were breakdown recovery and had got the wrong address. Anyway, they only managed to saw half-way through because they can't cut straight! After reading the forum I contacted various metal recyclers and accepted an offer for £950 for the part having already fitted an aftermarket for £350 at the nearest garage. I could have gone down the Ebay route and saved £100 but wanted to act quickly in case they came back. So I was lucky because I am considerably up and have profit I could use for future cheap replacements. Point is if you have the original CAT get it off and sell it quick. I've put stupid signs in my car that look awful but what can you do?

    20210225_111033.jpg 20210225_133642.jpg
     
  7. james909

    james909 Junior Member

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    If you get the CAT shield the thief's logic might be there's something worth nicking and do even more damage to the car? Plus the cost of the cat shield and fitting is halfway to the cost of getting another cheap CAT fitted.
     
  8. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    Oh man it sucks we have to fit stupid signs but ugh what can you do!?!? My garage has my gym and my other car in there. We need corporal punishment or something like in Singapore. I bet you it would cut in half the rate of thefts. Damn thieves
     
  9. markdebur

    markdebur New Member

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    we should all install a few 12v edge strimmer motors with a alarm sensor fitted to turn them on so it hurts to rob the cat lol
     
  10. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    knowng the lawyers in this country they’ll probably sue us! Thieves
     
  11. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Yup, boobytrapping in a California is a felony. You'd get more time to know Bubba in state pen than the actual car thieves themselves.

    Ain't it a grand shithole we created here?
     
  12. markdebur

    markdebur New Member

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    is it a boobytrap if you have it advertised on the car like they have danger signs electrical hazards
     
  13. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Yes. That will even give the prosecution completely clear element of your intent to commit the felony.

    12355 (a) Except as provided in Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 12301), any person who assembles, maintains, places, or causes to be placed a boobytrap device as described in subdivision (c) is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or five years.

    (b) Possession of any device with the intent to use the device as a boobytrap is punishable by imprisonment in state prison, or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.

    (c) For purposes of this section, "boobytrap" means any concealed or camouflaged device designed to cause great bodily injury when triggered by an action of any unsuspecting person coming across the device. Boobytraps may include, but are not limited to, guns, ammunition, or explosive devices attached to trip wires or other triggering mechanisms, sharpened stakes, and lines or wire with hooks attached.
     
  14. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Does a clearly advertised hazard meet the definition of concealed or camouflaged, for an unsuspecting person?

    It would seem that a defense attorney could get considerable mileage out of arguing the legal definition.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    How about a “mousetrap” warning, that the car has a tilt sensor that will activate violent side-to-side oscillation, with a delayed start up... :)
     
  16. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    And how would you define "clearly labeled hazard"? Just signage on the side of the car (what about under)? Audible warning as theft is taking place? Video warning? A diagram showing that if the would-be thieve did such, then THIS would occur?

    A defense attorney can get mileage out of ANYTHING (we've seen even murder)...provided you pay them enough $$$.

    At that point, cost-benefit-analysis determines that boobytrapping ain't worth the time nor the hassle. And trust me, there are times when I want to get back but can't. One day I will leave this place and go elsewhere.
     
    #56 2GenPrius, Feb 27, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2021
  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    That is to be answered by those who wish to do it, such as at post #52.

    But when there is doubt, doesn't the burden of proof get placed on the prosecution, not on the defense?
     
  18. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Yes, beyond a reasonable doubt, innocent until proven guilty. Yet think of how a jury here in CA would look at theft of a car part vs. a maimed person who was only turning criminal to "feed their family" or just was "turning their life around". The boobytrap paradigm takes away the "justice" from the criminal justice system. The prosecution would argue that did the defendant have OTHER options before such actions were taken. And the propensity of the crime, a car part vs. hands, or eyes, or whatever area gets affected where that person now has a disability or loss? IIRC, there was already a state case law and finding on this. I'll have to look it up one of these days.

    However, this is also a conversation about resources: the prosecution has the full resources of the GOVERNMENT backing their stance if they pursue prosecution. They can wield such resources and authority until you cry uncle.

    The defendant has right to counsel, either through public or alt pub defender, which settle most cases with 9/10 plea deals, less sentence, less time. If you choose to fight, be prepared to shell out the retainer or per hour for top criminal defense attorney for no prison time (or worse, time served if you can't get approved for bail due to danger to public or flight risk).

    If you were going down the boobytrap path, it would be better to place an active alarm and 4K cameras in the area of your vehicle. If can't, buy better insurance.
     
  19. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    As I type this, the spouse is watching a movie about the California Innocence Project ... heard something about CA making Alabama look like far leftists.
     
  20. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    And our newly esteemed Vice President has a lot to do with some of those gone wrong (look at her track when she was State Atty Gen).

    I could open up a whole other can of worms on the California Innocence Project. I'm all for it, we need to use every resource possible to exonerate those wrongly accused of crimes, especially if the newer technology indicates so.

    Why does CA balk at it? They gotta pay for all the time of wrongfully convicted, and just one overturned conviction would then lead into a deeper probe of ALL cases handled by that particular law enforcement officer/agency who were just looking to bulldoze over people and bury them in the CJ system.