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Stolen catalytic converter in london uk

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Priusinlondon, Aug 24, 2018.

  1. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I have no clue how to build a generally law-abiding gun culture in a place where it doesn't currently exist. Especially an urban area.

    The places where it works, generally have the culture handed down by parents and community elders, not by mass entertainment or street culture. People not acclimated first by the elders, are at a disadvantage after being heavily exposed to the 'gun cultures' portrayed in movies, on TV, or from street experience. The U.S. areas that had all 'good guy' culture wiped out by severe or prohibitive gun regulations, haven't seemed very successful at rebuilding it.

    Mandatory military service might be able to do it. Maybe.
    I already knew about that from American gun control debates back in the 1990s. The UK, having previously restricted guns, was moving on to serious restrictions on knives. And activists in Vancouver BC were trying to do the same.

    One of the early knife carrying convictions was on some Brit sharing my name, causing fellow debaters to quickly check up on me. (No, it wasn't me, wrong country, wrong profession, wrong age.) This wasn't my only name collision with a Brit, it later happened on work email too. Not only in my first (longest) career, but then again in the next career elsewhere as a contractor. But I've never experienced a name collision with another American, even though online people directories show this name combination shared by many dozens of people. Apparently that is low, my siblings share their names with many hundreds of others.
     
    #661 fuzzy1, Apr 16, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2019
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  2. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

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    Just had a call from the police. They finally got around to investigating my case 5 weeks after I reported it. By that time the security manager at Tesco's (where the crime occured ) was no longer employed so they couldn't find the image of the perpetrators car registration which I had already given them details of.. The video of the actual crime wasn't close enough so can't be used. Case closed. There was me thinking that they might have done a quick check on the day of crime to the address associated with the car reg.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

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    Mine was stolen from the Tesco's next door January this year The police started their investigations 5 weeks later, by which time the security manager had moved on so they couldn't find the image which clearly showed the car reg. GO BACK TO IKEA AND TAKE PHOTO OR VIDEO OF THE SECURITY CLIPS. The car carrying the scum was a blue fiat reg GJ05LHR. Be interested to know if it's the same one

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  4. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    That is very unfortunate but not entirely unfamiliar .

    Please note that these miscreant vermin are in the habit of cloning number plates from virtually identical vehicles and using them during their Grand Theft CAT operations .

    They’re pretty well organised in this form of deception and I suspect they don’t use a number for more than one day - maybe even a few hours if they’ve had a very lucrative day in a specific location.

    I can foresee them parking in a back street and swopping plates to throw off the albeit extremely rare police vehicle that might have received reports about their reg number (in use during their CAT harvests) on a vehicle - and ANPR being on the look out for it.

    They KNOW the likelihood of having their collars felt in London or indeed anywhere in the UK at the moment is extremely slim to nonexistent.

    By the way, does anybody know what’s happened to the two GTC operatives caught with stolen catalytic converters and cutting equipment in their vehicle?

    Nothing in the main news yet.
    Does anybody know anything or has any local rag carried any further information about this?
    Have they been identified? Or are they hiding behind GDPR?

    I’m mighty curious, I am.


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  5. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

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    When I was in the Toyota dealership I asked them about checking my cat to see if it is original or not and about fitting a cat lock.. They were too busy to check but advised that a Prius had failed the MOT for emissions owing to the poor cat fitted. When I spoke to my insurance they advised that all repairs come with a 5 year warranty so if mine failed they would replace it. But what about if I sold the car, the next owner could get a nasty suprise.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  6. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

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    One other point . Is the Toyota cat lock the best option. It costs £200 fitted and my local garage charge about the same

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  7. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    The Toyota STEALERSHIPS.....Sorry, dealerships in the UK have recently been caught out blatantly LYING to their Prius Gen 2 model customers repeatedly.
    Ergo, the anecdotal tale of a Prius failing emissions due to a cheap replacement Catalytic Converter is probably a load of BULL.

    It’s more likely they’re trying to get customers they perceive as gullible, to hand over £1,800 approximately, for the fitting of an original OEM CAT.

    I’m sure they ordered lots of them from Japan following the recent thefts - in the hope of making a killing in OEM CAT sales.

    Sensibly, the insurance companies have wisely realised there are cheaper CERTIFIED solutions that will do the job just as well - and duly installed them.
    The replacements are going into 10+ year old vehicles - fitting OEMs at £1,800 a pop would write many of those Prii off.

    The Klarius CAT installed in my Prius is so far operating brilliantly, and I’m getting a higher than usual MPG reading for this time of the year.
    I got home with 63.2mpg (UK) last Friday, and arrived at work with 63.0mpg (UK) this morning (and I wasn’t driving like Miss Daisy)..!!!

    I was initially concerned enough about emissions and the quality of the product, to check the Klarius EU website for confirmation, but I could see they were not a fly by night firm and they were building replacement CATs for many primary vehicle models.

    Crucially, their products meet all relevant emissions certifications! So that’s a brand I’m sure is okay.

    They were too busy to assist you (yet another blameless victim of a dastardly crime) with protecting your Prius, but they were on hand to feed you another scare story enough to keep you awake all night.
    Brilliant customer service.....NOT..!!!

    Name and shame please

    You might try Hills of Woodford in Woodford Green.
    This Toyota dealership seemed extremely nice when I pulled in on an emergency basis because of a blown headlamp about 18 months ago.
    They were busy too - but still made time to assist.

    Their customer service was admirably impressive enough that I’m thinking of using them as my regular dealership from now on - even though I live in Wembley!


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  8. Devdas

    Devdas Member

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    Emissions fail for oem cat being fitted was this Jemca dealership by any chance?
     
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  9. Nick_62

    Nick_62 New Member

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    Just to report another instance of theft. :(

    I drive a Prius plug-in late 2012 and last night heard a loud noise coming from outside (presumably a saw). I took a look at the window and noticed a Black car parked alongside my car which struck me as odd. Looking at my Prius noticed it was up high on two wheels. I immediately ran downstairs not knowing what was happening calling the police. Upon getting out my front door I initially shouted at the guys who barked back at me telling me to go back inside and he knew where I lived!
    The Prius instantly came off the jack and the guys sped off with no lights on.
    This all happened in South East London at 21:15 with people walking in the street. Upon starting the car it was evident the exhaust system had been cut. The police were again less than helpful. I was told no units were available despite the threat.
    The thieves had unbolted the cat from the manifold and cut after the cat and took what they needed with them.
    It's an awful thing to happen and I'm waiting to find a second hand (legitimate) cat. Toyota are quoting £1600+VAT for a new part alone.

    Just a warning that it's not just 2005-2009 models anymore. Thieves are now targeting later models.

    The garage I'm dealing with are going to try and lock in the new cat (once sourced) with bolts / shields. I'm also going to add a tilt module to the factory alarm or another alarm.
     
  10. Mark6868

    Mark6868 Active Member

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    Mine wasn't stolen from IKEA, it was stolen from right outside my front door.

    I often use the IKEA and the Tesco you mention. The Tesco in particular always has 'dodgy' types sitting in their cars at the far end of the car park. I have often wondered what they're waiting for. Probably waiting for unsuspecting Prius owners to park up. I know a few that park in the far reaches of car parks to avoid dent marks from other cars. I think the odd dent is preferable to a missing CAT.

    Sad times when we have to think like this! :cautious:
     
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  11. Mark6868

    Mark6868 Active Member

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    Jemca Edgware Road deserve an award for their high level of INEPTITUDE.
     
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  12. Devdas

    Devdas Member

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    #672 Devdas, Apr 17, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2019
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  13. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    Yeah, just spotted this in the Daily Mail too. The article is grossly inadequate and refuses to underline that 2nd Gen Prii are most at risk and being hammered daily. The Met talks about 900 various models being hit.
    You’re most at risk if you drive a 2nd Gen Prius!

    A little bit of Google searching would have led them to our Prius Chat forum and this very thread - from whence they could have literally created a major expose about the Grand Theft CAT phenomenon. It deserves the front pages - if only for a few hours.

    We’ve done ALL the work for them, they only had to read this thread.....(bangs forehead against the wall repeatedly in abject frustration...!!!)

    The advice given is mealy mouthed and amateurishly mediocre, as is the overall general response from law enforcement.

    In fact, it’s an embarrassment of mind bogglingly cringeworthy magnitude.

    Triple facepalm......because the FAIL is too great!

    No Pulitzer Prize there then.
    Too little too late, Daily Fail.....!!


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  14. Kindke

    Kindke Member

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    Ive used Hills of Woodford before and they let me down, when I first got my prius I took it for a £400 service there since it didnt have any service history and they told me everything was OK.

    2 weeks after the £400 service the 12V battery died and I had to call out the AA to replace it at a very expensive cost. It seems the guy at Hills of woodford who did my car didnt bother to check the voltages on the 12V battery even though that item was ticked as "green/ok" on the service scoresheet they handed back to me.

    I made a complaint but it wasnt until I got in contact with Toyota's head office in UK that Hills of Woodford bothered to get back in contact with me.

    They partially refunded the cost of the service but it was still a cowboy job. I can only agree with the other commentator who said these Toyota dealerships will cheat and rip you off like any other car service garage.

    Also check out the asking prices for the Gen3's on autotrader , they are always far higher from the toyota dealerships compared to independent dealers.
     
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  15. Devdas

    Devdas Member

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    I have had the chance to deal with hills of Woodford and Jemca Enfield and Edgware

    It depends who you get actually servicing.

    Hills wanted to charge for brake fluid change that was done a year ago and didn’t need doing!!
     
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  16. Devdas

    Devdas Member

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    Anyone with any information regarding catalytic converters thefts is asked to contact police on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    Even after reporting the buyers on Facebook to police crime stoppers they are still advertising
     
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  17. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    iPad ? Pro
     
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  18. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    It’s all pretty much all “eye service” these days. They’re officially seen to be doing something in the media, by giving out contact numbers and advice which might convince your average illiterate they’re on the ball.

    These brazen parasites have been ripping off 2nd Gen Prii in broad daylight for fracking months.
    The videos are ALL OVER YOUTUBE...!!!

    Yet, we’re told to park in well lit areas, as if we’re trying to fend off blood sucking vampires who rely on darkness to sink their sharp fangs into our necks...!!

    There have been hundreds of CAT thefts reported across London, with cases being closed in well under 24 hours .
    The advice seems helpful at first glance - and to the uninitiated.
    The reality however, is quite different.
    Absolutely nothing happens.

    These Grand Theft CAT crooks have been roaming the country unchecked since last July (2018), and you’d be forgiven for believing they’ve been given the keys to the City of London, the way they’ve operated in Greater London with unbridled impunity.

    Police BAIT CAR anyone? Is that too hard?


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  19. Mark6868

    Mark6868 Active Member

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    That does not surprise me at all Devdas. Not one iota.

    As I said on the previous page ....

    I can add to that. Jemca, Edgware Road once re-gassed my air con, and within two weeks all the contents of the re-gas had dropped out the bottom of the car. They blamed me for allowing the vents to clog up (???? - in two weeks!) but did grudgingly do the job again gratis. I had to moan like bilio for that to happen though.

    I remember one occasion. After a service and MOT they moved my car out front for me to drive off. When I got out there a 'worker' was shouting that 'some idiot' (presuming he meant me) :oops:had parked it badly whilst he was tugging on the door handles. Even after I explained the situation, he just grunted and walked away. I should have complained, but I was in a hurry to get away.

    I am now dealing with Honda, and the difference is like night and day.

    Time will tell of course, but so far so good.
     
    #679 Mark6868, Apr 17, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2019
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  20. Devdas

    Devdas Member

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    That’s shocking can anyone wire up the hybrid battery to electrify the exhaust to give these criminals a shock please
     
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