Cat theft question

Profoundly ignorant question. Why are they stealing that specific part? Why not take the whole thing? Is this like scavenging for copper or whatever?

 

Platinum and other precious metals contained within.

 

I've wondered the same thing. I also noted on a recent BBC news story, that this is a huge problem in the UK. Seems like a lot of work.

Educate me. What's in a cat that is worth the hassle of stealing it?

 

Pixie dust and unicorn tears.

 

Several precious metals in them and the thieves just slide under with a cordless saw and have it off in a couple of minutes. Not sure what they sell for at a scrap yard but it think it can be several hundred dollars for some. It cost several thousand to replace them on certain cars and trucks.

It used to be illegal for scrap yards to buy them from individuals but I guess there are always buyers when there is a profit to be made.

 

Platinum, palladium and rhodium.

Precious Metal Prices | Spot Prices Today and Historical Trends (goldline.com)

 

Rhodium is $18,000/ounce

 

Scrap yards are supposed to identify those scrapping cats with government issued IDs.

 

Well clearly the fines for not doing so are not outpacing the precious metals value.

 

Follow up ignorant question. And where do these elements go? Surely the guy under the vehicle with the hacksaw is not the brains of the operation. What is the market?

 

See my remarks about enough recyclers not being fined heavily enough or put out of business all together. They are the market.

 

For a bit some of the cat thieves were going for Honders to sell to the R typers to replace the cat they cut out or punched in order to sell the car (or get it through emissions and safety inspection).

They also steal the airbag and sometimes entire body panels right from your drive way while you sleep.

Now it's more the metals.

 

Yes, I did. But they are not the final market. Where are these elements ultimately landing? To be a part of what? Someplace valuable, presumably. Curiosity on my part, and agree with you to hammer on the facilitator.

 

I think there are a number of industries where they can land, including making new catalytic converters.

 

thief sells to scrapyard who sells to a company with the equipment to extract the precious metals. the catalytic convertor falls under most vehicle parts in some states were the seller or buyer doesn't have to provide proof of ownership or an ID.

 

I think what is going on is, there are "legit" so called business that are buying these for whatever. So then you get Johnny Crack head that says,"hey man I got some cars I scraped and took cats off you want these?" Then legit business buy it cash on the cheap and then turns it into scape the "legal" way. Or sells it to a place that will reman it.

 

I suppose there are, but I would expect they would be picky about where the elements of the composition of their product comes from, and I'm hoping junkyard is not on the list...

 

Nope...they only care about availability and cost.

 

Some businesses can be pretty flexible on ethics when they can get a good saving on raw materials.

 

Well that's what I was curious about. Who is at the top of the food chain. What are they selling, what are their names. Presumably being associated with having a cat hacked out of Grandma's car in her driveway is not a good look.