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Neighbor's Prius catalytic converter stolen tonight

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by crooner, Jun 19, 2021.

  1. crooner

    crooner Member

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    Thank you for the recommendation. I used to live in El Cajon, so I know the area well. I'll give them a call.
     
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    One thief tried stealing the cat from a truck up here a week ago. With the owner sleeping in the truck, and multiple witnesses sleeping nearby in their own vehicles.

    It turned out badly for both parties. The truck owner is in jail charged with kidnapping and second degree murder after dumping the mortally wounded thief in a nearby field, then disposing of thief's car. I'm waiting to see if he gets felon-in-possession (of a firearm) too.
     
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    it only turned bad for the cat thief; he was shot, dragged to death and regretted stealing the cat. The truck owner was homeless and was starving, now he has a warm place to live in, meals to eat and internet to surf on in prison.
     
    #23 Grit, Jun 19, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2021
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  4. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    My dad knew ""Junior: when he was about 10 years old. Now, he's all grown up. They are a small operation and make their money on small jobs. My dad owned a 1977 V8 Chevy Monza in the early 1980's. Banny, Sr, did his smog inspections back then.
     
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  5. crooner

    crooner Member

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    Reading the other related thread, i suppose some insurance companies will replace a stolen catalytic converter. But I'd rather not go through the hassle of having it replaced and then filing a claim. Plus Geico may not be so generous as other insurance companies..

    ...and I don't want to give a thief the pleasure of stealing the cat.

    On the other hand, I only have liability on my 2008 Gen 2, so there's no question that a shield would be the way to go here...
     
    #25 crooner, Jun 19, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2021
  6. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    California requires OEM quality catalytic converters. Some aftermarket ones are pending approval, but are not yet widely available.

     
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  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Internet in prison? Where? The last I heard, out here even non-smart cellphones are contraband. Maybe in special home confinement or a lower security Club Fed?

    Warm place? In these summer heatwaves, warm isn't necessarily desirable.

    Starving? That would be by choice. There is lots of free food at the shelters, food banks, and neighborhood little free pantries. Beats Nutraloaf most days.
     
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  8. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    don't wana know how anyone knows all about the ins & outs of prison life . . .

    anyway ... it's likely all the electric car drivers feel oh-so bad when ICE components are stolen - and likely EV owners emote lots of compassion ... before suggesting, "well, there is automotive transportation with NO catalytic converter"

    .
     
    #28 hill, Jun 22, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2021
  9. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Unless you look at the degradation of the battery in the Nissan Leaf and possibly in other EV's. Only time will tell.

    Like smartphone technology and all electronics, the new models coming onto the market have better and less expensive battery technology.

    So, older used EV will likely have a lower resale value.

    I'll keep my hybrid with a catalytic converter for now. And, in my state an aftermarket cat is cheap and allowed.
     
  10. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Great.
    Just when Prius owners are getting past the stench of smuggism....;)

    EVs are groovy and all - but they're still not a real-world solution for many G2 drivers, especially those for whom a $1500 cat replacement is a significant economic event rather than a minor inconvenience.
    Also.....many G2 drivers have relatively poorer charging options considering the number of cat thefts while vehicles are parked inside a garage or while parked adjacent to the occupant's house.

    EV tax kickbacks are still more of 90-percentile income thing....for now.
     
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  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    It shows up regularly in the news stories about settlements to the inmates who sue over abuse. Or to their next of kin after they are killed by institutional abuse / misconduct / incompetence.
     
  12. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Maybe too warm of a place. Saw a video recently about the lack of air conditioning in prisons. They said it could get up to 150 degrees in some areas of the prison they were talking about...and they used fans...which actually made the situation worse, believe it or not. Terrifying stuff.
     
  13. crooner

    crooner Member

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    The Cat Defender arrived today so I gave Banny a call. He gave me an appointment for next Wednesday. They are very busy he tells me. I don't know if I should wait another week.

    Edit: I found another shop that can install it tomorrow! $150.:)
     
    #33 crooner, Jun 23, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2021
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  14. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    I can tell you that Banny is fair and will give you a good price. That's probably why he's so busy. Hope no cats have bee stolen recently in your apartment complex. Maybe you should still try the fake oil slick deterrent until then.

    Best of good fortune to you.
     
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  15. crooner

    crooner Member

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    Banny was quoting me around $120, so this is only slightly higher. I think I'll go with this other shop just because it's urgent and I don't want to get hit.
     
  16. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    That's OK You'll know where to go possibly for future work. Maybe this will help others in the San Diego area too.
     
    #36 Georgina Rudkus, Jun 23, 2021
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  17. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    It was meant it was meant ad light-hearted.
    yes - pretty aware of the system after working for the public defender's office.
    Our early 2011 Leaf Vin - ending was 000659
    Thank you for that painful reminder.

    I would never get another plug-in of any kind that didn't have liquid cooling.

    again - apologizing that the little winky emoji face apparently didn't exude humor enough
    Fully understand EV's unafordability for some .... decades ago - was raised in Compton.
    .
     
    #37 hill, Jun 23, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2021
  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    It probably didn't help that I had just read a new article, and re-read several past articles, on leadership changes in my own state's Department of Corrections, covering some major cases and settlements over medical negligence and incompetence. E.g. extreme delays and denials in getting to see any doctor, and in providing care ordered by outside doctors, and serious failures by inside doctors, including an unqualified chief doc. One inmate with melanoma battled bureaucracy for 17 months before finally getting DOC approval to begin chemotherapy -- after filling out his DNR. Numerous other cancer patients faced extreme delays, effectively being converted to death sentences. Another had in infection of a surgical wound, but after denied and delayed care, quit eating. The staff 'forgot' to begin IV fluids for more than 24 hours. When finally transported to a real hospital, sepsis made it was too late. The hospital also quickly identified several additional serious problems contributing to his death that the prison medical folks missed.

    Not just a few such cases, but many. Apparently the state prison system didn't learn from the many prior cases and settlements for fatal medical negligence in the county jails here. Such as one long ago inmate, suffering serious abdominal pains, filling out medical request forms twice daily, and being ignored. When he became too incapacitated to fill them out himself, cellmates did it for him. Lather, rinse, repeat until dead.
     
  19. crooner

    crooner Member

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    I got the Cat Defender installed. It took about 30 minutes. Car drives great with no rattles.

    Next: my 2008 Prius.
     
  20. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Hopefully we will reach "herd immunity" soon on the Prius cat shields! (y)

    BTW what do you all think about getting a cat shield for a Prius C?
     
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