Bold thief

[bloo]

A woman my wife works with at the hospital saw a pair of sunglasses under her car. She didn't think much of it until she started her car. Someone cut the catalytic converter out of her car in the daytime right in the hospital parking lot. That is only 6 blocks from my house. I only have a small garage and my 63 Ford fills that up so my truck and my car sit on a parking area off the alley. If I don't lock the doors I can expect both of them to have been gone thru by a thief at least once a week. I did grease the underside of the trucks door handle one time. Must have worked as I had grease on the window 2 days later. But now their hitting in the day time.

Ted

 

[oldman45]

Ever considered setting up a video camera to watch over the cars?

 

[Mickey D]

Replace the grease with razor blades.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Ever considered setting up a video camera to watch over the cars?

I've seen video footage of people breaking into cars in daylight. Video isn't much of deterrent. And after the crime, video doesn't matter unless they are apprehended.

I wish it were more effective. But it isn't.

 

[feralmerril]

Seems to me it would help to ID the thiefs. I was raised in centeral wisconsin and never had a thing stolen, nor did I ever hear of any of my relatives haveing anything stolen. Whats going on back there? I did hear of big changes when they brought in all the hymongs, is that it?

 

[Kanewpadle]

Seems to me it would help to ID the thiefs. I was raised in centeral wisconsin and never had a thing stolen, nor did I ever hear of any of my relatives haveing anything stolen. Whats going on back there? I did hear of big changes when they brought in all the hymongs, is that it?

It will help ID them. But only if their caught.

Results could vary. But in my experience they aren't effective around here. They don't stop or deter but merely record what happens.

As a professional locksmith I've seen hours of video footage. They rarely produce results.

As an example, my service vehicle was broken into in January. They got over $2500 in hand tools and power tools. The neighbors camera got the whole thing on camera.

I sat and watched the video as did the local PD. At about 3AM they broke the passenger window, unlocked all the doors and helped themselves. In less than 2 minutes, three punks cleaned me out. No positive ID on the punks or thier car.

Look at the bank robberies. They constantly show someone with sunglasses or a hood but no positive ID. Yes they eventually catch them. But again the cameras did not deter them.

 

[mkk41]

Seems that todays battery powered tools are a thiefs dream come true. Especially the reciprocating saws.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Seems that todays battery powered tools are a thiefs dream come true. Especially the reciprocating saws.

The lazy and the crack heads like anything that can be pawned or sold quickly.

The catalytic converter theft got so bad around here, metal recyclers now require a VIN number when you try to get cash for them.

 

[oldman45]

I've seen video footage of people breaking into cars in daylight. Video isn't much of deterrent. And after the crime, video doesn't matter unless they are apprehended.

I wish it were more effective. But it isn't.

Kane, the new video units are as good as plasma tv sets. Very clear and it will let the LEA get photos of who done it.

How often does your local stations run video of a crime scene? Most of the time the perp (s) are apprehended shortly after being braodcast.

 

[Strato]

A rottweiler in the driveway playing with a chew toy that looks like a severed arm should do the trick

 

[blujax01]

What's a "Hymong" ? Google didn't help.

 

[Black_Sheep]

catalytic converters are worth some dough and it only takes a couple minutes to nab one with a cordless sawzall. There was a rash of converter thefts in the Twin Cities but most were removed from pickup trucks, I imagine because they are easier to crawl under.

 

[ralph7]

What's a "Hymong" ? Google didn't help.

Hmong people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Marshwheeling]

The Hmong are pretty good citizens for the most part. Their marital customs are a little different and they seem to show up pretty frequently in domestic altercations, but I don't think they are involved in much crime against the larger population.

They are in this country because they fought against the Pathet Lao and the North Vietnamese Army, with training by the CIA and Special Forces.

 

[PH-2]

blu,

"Hmong" one of several hill-tribe peoples, indigenous to Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, etcetera. They were, largely, on our side during the war and excellent, brave compadres to have with you while walking in the "woods'.

Mike

 

[Steve in Vermont]

As long as you have anything of value someone, somewhere, is planning to steal it from you. The more you have of value the more you are a target. If it's money someone will try and con you out of it. Others will rob you. It all comes down to what we've discussed before, "situational awareness". Always being aware that anything I possess is a target and subject to theft so I will do all I can to protect my property.

 

[BW64]

Try wiring an extension cord to the frame of your car!! Works like a charm. Did it to a battery thief a few years ago!!

BW

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Thieves have been bold around here for years, although what happened
to my Dad back around 1982 did happen at night.

My Dad lived in a neighborhood where the houses were close together
and the neighbors generally watched out for each other.

One day I went over there & pulled in behind his 1982 Buick Park Avenue
and noticed something odd. I went in and asked what he was doing with his
rear bumper? He didn't know what I meant so I took him outside for a look see.

When he walked around behind his car he saw what I already knew.
His rear bumper was missing!

He said that he had gone to the store the afternoon before and had put things
in the trunk so it had to have happened sometime after he got home the day before.

We figured it must have been a specific "parts run."
Nothing like that had ever happened to him before, or since....

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

Here in the Oklahoma City metro area we've had a rash of catalytic converter thefts during daylight hours from parking lots... hospitals, shopping centers, movie theaters, grocery stores. It's an epidemic! Unfortunately, IMHO, it speaks volumes of the state of our economy and the growing number of desperate people who find it easier to steal than hold an honest job.

 

[bubbiesdad]

Replace the grease with razor blades.

Or pepper spray

 

[vytoland]

wait in the bushes with a 12 gauge

 

[mike from st pete]

What's a "Hymong" ? Google didn't help.

Grand Torino
The group chased off the lawn.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Kane, the new video units are as good as plasma tv sets. Very clear and it will let the LEA get photos of who done it.

How often does your local stations run video of a crime scene? Most of the time the perp (s) are apprehended shortly after being braodcast.

Hello my friend. Good point about video quality. Most existing video systems are outdated and need to be upgraded. Here in the Northwest, bank robbers will go on a spree for a few weeks to several months. The TV stations always run video of them when they get it. But there's almost no clear facial shots.

It's not until the robber robs several banks and is recognized before he gets caught.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Druggies are involved in most thefts. They won't work because they are too preoccupied with their addiction to the "drug of the week" and they need fast cash.

 

[blujax01]

blu,

"Hmong" one of several hill-tribe peoples, indigenous to Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, etcetera. They were, largely, on our side during the war and excellent, brave compadres to have with you while walking in the "woods'.

Mike

Oh, kind of like West Virginians.

Thanks.

 

[chud333]

James Bond "Flamethrower Attachment" to underside of running
boards. Simply go to burn unit of nearest hospital and say, thats
him. Can't stand a thief.


chuck

 

[DeadAye]

Druggies are involved in most thefts. They won't work because they are too preoccupied with their addiction to the "drug of the week" and they need fast cash.

I believe that a lot of them don't work because they can't work.
Seems that if you use illegal drugs you fail drug tests - Go figure.

My wife dropped of our son's lunch at school late one morning. There were two other moms in the parking lot just talking.
When my wife came back out the cops were already there.
A guy walked through the parking lot and saw my wife's purse on the front seat of her car. Produced a hammer, busted the window, took the purse, and left.
One of the women called the cops while this was going on. The guy was never caught.

 

[Stevens]

Are these stolen converters being sold for the precious metals inside or to be eventually used on a car to replace a worn out (or stolen) one?
Apparently they will last about 100,000 miles I haven't ever heard of anyone I know of having to replace one. Maybe our emissions controls are not so strict here in Louisiana.
Steve W

 

[bloo]

Ever considered setting up a video camera to watch over the cars?

No but when the windows were smashed out of my pickup 2 years ago I mentioned to the officer that showed up that I had thought of putting up a trail camera. He said if I had he would probably have known at least some of the people that did it. I have a garage, a power pole and some large trees that I could mount it on.

Ted

 

[bloo]

Replace the grease with razor blades.

Then I would get charged for harming the little darlings.

Ted