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| cat recycle; money | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 17 2010, 10:51 PM (1,686 Views) | |
| nerys | Nov 19 2010, 04:36 PM Post #16 |
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Grr
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which is all BS and smoke and mirrors the reason is simple. Theft of cats was HUGE so they had to destroy that market to destroy the incentive to cut cats off parked cars. (it was getting pretty rampant for a time their) now that there is virtually ZERO market for used cats you don't see people having their cats cut off their cars anymore. this is why they banned it. |
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| Rooy | Nov 19 2010, 04:54 PM Post #17 |
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Um, nerys, you can still sell cats to scrapyards for their scrap value. I think that is probably where the majority of thieves were selling them to and probably still are. I would guess that the amount of cat theft coincides with the current scrap price for them. I don't see much of a black market for used, cut-off cats. They'd have to be from brand new cars if someone would want to buy them. |
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| nerys | Nov 19 2010, 05:16 PM Post #18 |
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Grr
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if you try to turn in too many cats you get asked questions of refused. if the scrap yard tries to turn in the cat they get asked for proof of source. this is why you can only get "metal scrap" for them now and not "Platinum cat scrap" for them like you used too. so instead of being worth $10 or $20 (no idea what they went for) now they are only worth normal sheet metal scrap. ie a few cents tops each. |
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| billy508 | Nov 19 2010, 05:33 PM Post #19 |
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billy508
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Last year they were 25, 35 and 40 dollars at the scrapyard, Before that the price really fluctuated. I have got as much as 65 for one off a Lexus. Now they are worth 15,20, and 25. I have 3 that i will sell when the price goes back up.. There was a posting not long ago on Craigslist. Guy was wanting to by Converters. I called the guy and I think it was some type of sting operation. He did not know enough to be a buyer. I keep a close look out for them. I even found 2 in a pile of stuff on the curb side My point is that a lot of people do not know that they are worth anything so you can pick them of the cheap. I am not a thief so I dont have to worry.
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| Rooy | Nov 19 2010, 05:36 PM Post #20 |
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Where did you hear that scrapyards are no longer giving platinum scrap price for them? |
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| billy508 | Nov 19 2010, 05:37 PM Post #21 |
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billy508
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August 3, 2010 Catalytic converter thefts rise By Emily Burton Register News Writer The Richmond Register Tue Aug 03, 2010, 12:00 PM EDT RICHMOND — Catalytic converters have become a hot commodity for thieves in Richmond. Over the past two weeks, more than a half-dozen were stolen. Someone attempted to steal a catalytic converter from a federally owned vehicle. The catalytic converter filters out toxins from most car engines and contains rhodium, palladium and platinum, all valuable metals. An Associated Press story published Thursday said that strengthening car sales have also strengthened the market for palladium. Other reports indicate that gold may trade for lower-than-average prices this year, making metals like palladium and platinum more valuable. Catalytic converters are valuable, easily-accessible car parts, and several have been stolen in Richmond over the past few weeks. These parts can cost up to $1,000 to replace. “It seems the theft of catalytic converters is on the rise again,” said Larry Brock, Richmond police chief. Brock said he did not know if the theft increase was directly attributable to the spike in the precious metals market. Although the market has increased, the market for catalytic converters has not increased locally, according to one area scrap metal dealer. The market for catalytic converters has stayed steady, said Steve Gard, office administrator for Baker Iron & Metal Co., in Lexington. “It’s pretty much stayed the same over the years,” he said. “It doesn’t fluctuate that much.” Gard said that Baker personnel physically inspect each converter brought into the warehouse. “They make sure the guts are there, that’s the parts that is recyclable,” he said. Baker does not melt down the converters to gain access to any precious metals inside, but is simply a “middle man.” Baker buys the converters and then sells them to other companies that recycle them, Gard said. Prices for converters vary from $35 to $155 each, depending on what type of vehicle they were manufactured for, Gard said. So what vehicles are susceptible to catalytic converter theft? “It has to be a vehicle that the thief can get under easily, like pickup trucks.” Brock said. “Vehicles that sit higher than others off the ground are probably the easiest to steal from.” Pickup trucks and SUVs, as well as some other late model cars that sit high from the ground are typically the most common targets. However, motorists can help prevent catalytic converter theft, Brock said. People should park their cars in well-light areas, he said. While at work, people should park in a fenced-in area if possible, and avoid parking in remote areas of all parking lots. “There are locking devices that can be secured to the frame to help prevent theft,” he said. A vehicle security system that reacts whenever the car is touched may also help, Brock said. Businesses that have fleets of vehicles should be sure that all vehicles are secured at night. This, too, can help prevent theft, Brock said. “Its rare that we recover a catalytic converter,” he said. People also can engrave their license plate number on the converter. This gives the converter an identifying number so that if it is stolen, police have something to match the part to the car, Brock said. Unlike other car parts, catalytic converters are not marked with identifying number unique to the vehicle, such as the vehicle identification number, or VIN. Having a number on the part unique to the vehicle, makes it easier for police to track the converter, Brock said. Edited by billy508, Nov 19 2010, 05:38 PM.
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| nerys | Nov 19 2010, 06:15 PM Post #22 |
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Grr
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there was a big article in my area about it no longer being legal around here. scraps yards won't take them and junk yards are not allowed to sell them etc.. etc.. the article said this was to discourage theft of the cats and the nearly rampant thefts DID go away (or the media stopped reporting on them ??) recyclers had to have paper trails for the cats to show they were not stolen etc.. I had ASSUMED this was nationwide :-) also be careful billy. that used to be a good philosophy. no longer. Now you need to be worried because it only takes someone to THINK your a thief. does not matter if you actually are or not. I had a heck of a fight once against inspection sticker tickets. apparently when I got my broken windscreen changed he left the stickers on it (they were still good but not for as long as "mine" were) so off course I was a little shocked when I got pulled over and he told me they were bad. I said ahh no they are not I am good till january (the ones on it expired october!!) needless I was a bit shocked. Went to court with a photograph of my car from the summer showing the 1/08 stickers on the windscreen. thankfully the judge accepted this but looked at me funny (by this time I was reinspected with 1/09 stickers of course) then year before last I got my van inspected and the mech screwed up. he put 2 mismatched stickers on the van with vins on the back from 2 different NOT MINE cars. because the stickers were peeling a little the cop pulled me over (they ALL peel nowadays very odd) looked inside the car at the back side and scraped them off. I had to drive home at 5am and go straight to the garage in philly where I got it inspected (well north of philly) and sleep in the car in their lot because I was afraid to go home and face another ticket (they like stalking that i95 entrance) I got pictures of the log book print outs from the computer and a signed letter from the garage apologizing and saying they goofed etc.. so I could fight that ticket in court (its a $175 scam ticket in PA) what a pain in the butt. You don't have to do anything wrong to get in trouble man so just be careful!! you are guilty until proven innocent if they think you did something. Edited by nerys, Nov 19 2010, 06:23 PM.
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My point is that a lot of people do not know that they are worth anything so you can pick them of the cheap. I am not a thief so I dont have to worry.
7:18 PM Jul 10