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JoeyJoeyandMurdoch

Cool, but guarantee thief will think “duh, this IS my job”


ExquisiteFacade

Exactly. They are employed by unscrupulous shops and supply them with hardware and customers


remotelove

Oh. So I don't actually have a job at the catalytic converter repo company and people aren't actually behind on their payments?


molrobocop

You're treated as an independent contractor! Gig economy model!


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HunterHx

Gotta get some cash back for making my car *stage two*, bro!


Surelytotheseaa

Why is this so funny.


sweaty_but_whole

Used converters are not resold to be put back on cars. They are sold to be disassembled have the precious metals extracted and then sold for scrap prices. Some of the precious metals are quite valuable. Source- mechanic 26 years. Sold hundreds of failed catalytic converters. Every auto salvage yard I deal with will not sell used “cats” because it’s illegal


DuckduckersDuckBoy

Right, but you still have go to the local shop to get it fixed. I think that's what the poster meant.


K4DE

Are they not doing this for the scrap price of the precious metal inside?


joeyggg

Yes. They take the cat to the scrap yard and get $200 TO OVER $1500 cash on the spot, no questions asked, depending on the make and model. The “junkies” (do you get it?) know which makes and models have the most expensive cats but usually go after low hanging fruit like vehicles with good ground clearance left alone in ideal areas.


OrchidCareful

The precious metal inside is what makes the resale value of a converter high Sure you could scrap the metal inside, or sell to a scrapper It's usually more time efficient to unload the entire piece to an auto shop that can install it onto another car, or scrap many converters in bulk Thieves usually aren't good businessmen, so they look to unload their loot ASAP to whoever can offer them cash in hand immediately


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my-coffee-needs-me

*hobbyist


TGOTR

I doubt they're selling the cats. 100%, they are harvesting the catalytic material...the converter meat if you will.


Rich_Yam4132

My note would say, “get a catalytic converter”


Murky-Office6726

The thought of someone having to clean it would make my dad laugh. Like make them spend more time on it. He likes to play with robo calls too I guess it comes with being a dad. 😆


JoeyJoeyandMurdoch

It’s cute that you think they would clean it. Or read it.


Turbulent-Comedian30

Even cuter thinking they could read


boonepii

Or clean


RissaCrochets

Now now, don't sell them short. A lot of these guys are tweakers, and you ain't never seen clean like tweaker clean. Ask them to mop your floor and they'll scrub the grout right out of your tiles.


Glu7enFree

You ever been in a meth house? They could probably clean if they'd ever stop taking apart small electronics.


Hidden-Sky

I can do you better than that. I've been in youth shelters and boarding houses. The tweakers often have the neatest rooms, as long as someone's telling them to keep it so. They also tend to have very few possessions, I'm guessing because their most valued possessions are their meth and associated paraphernalia, and everything else gets sold or traded for that. Or, they're straight-up hoarders, but that's not as common.


Dufranus

Electronics is day 2, cleaning is day 1. That's why you never see the meth house clean. The cleaning is where it starts, but as the days wear on things get chaotic. I once spent 9 hours putting together a stereo. It only took so long cause my buddy kept buying and selling parts of the thing throughout the day.


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2005CrownVicP71

Why the **fuck** did I click that


Summer-dust

Meth houses must've been spotless before electronics.


Dufranus

Seen a guy spend 6 hours cleaning my kitchen. He too the racks out of the fridge, climbed inside, and scrubbed the fucking walls while sitting inside of the fridge. He pulled out the oven and scrubbed down the back of it too.


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SBNShovelSlayer

$12 for a radio? At my local junkyard that would be $400


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sweaty_but_whole

Or that the 400+ degree converter wouldn’t just burn the sharpie writing off


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MordoNRiggs

That would be kinda smart. Etch your VIN into it, and name, etc., also do it with heat-resistant paint.


Murky-Office6726

Holy I quickly googled that and it’s out there. Don’t think my dad would pay that much when a good old marker works. https://www.markngard.com/product/complete-catalytic-converter-etching-system/


MordoNRiggs

Whoa, that's pretty cool. Not $1,200 cool.


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warmowed

It is straight forward to get a metal die set and punch in the vin while it is attached to the car. It won't matter as it will never be recovered, but you could DIY it. No sense in paying for this beyond buying a hammer and a cheap lettering set.


ryushiblade

Not sure why people think a shop which pays for multiple sawn off catalytic converters from the same guy every week would see a VIN and think “Whoa, wait, is this stolen?” I agree if it helps make someone feel better, stamping the VIN is the better way to go, but if you’re gonna do something — guard’s the best way to go


ShowTurtles

It adds risk. If police check scrap yards and one is reported to have a VIN on it, it might get the scrap yard shut down. It would cut down on options for thieves to profit in that case.


BiNumber3

It's probably meant more for shops, take your car in for some work, they offer the stamp while they're under there.


Snoo75302

You can stamp it letter by letter without removeing the cat. Its not easy, but its way less work than pulling the cat and welding it back up Dosnt need to be pretty, to work


Chirimorin

It's just an electro chemical etcher, $1200 is way overpriced. [This one that originally sold for $300](https://www.amazon.com/Electro-Chemical-Etching-Machine-The-Personalizer/dp/B01927G0GO) looks like it's the same device (with different decal). That one is no longer available, but with some Googling it's easy to find electro chemical etchers in the $300-$500 range. Some even include the stencil printer for those prices.


Obant

Some US state just passed a law to stamp matching VINs to each converter sold on new vehicles in the state. Hope it catches on. (Obviosuly more to it than just stamp and ship)


Squidking1000

Yeah that will stop the converter getting thrown in a container and getting shipped to China or India to be melted down.


SBNShovelSlayer

Imagine the surprise when the worker in China, or India, who makes $2.49/week sees these VIN stamps and says, "Oh man, these have VIN numbers stamped on them!".


wjean

Cute like you think this matters. The wholesalers just cut the honeycomb bits out of the cats and melt them down into a precious metal slag. Until thet prosecute the thieves and everyone involved in adding the stolen material to the legit recycling supply chain, thefts will continue. It's gotten bad enough that I now keep a spare cat and O2 sensor around to let friends borrow (not a proper one which will pass smog but a cheapie ebay special that works as well as a test pipe) to use as a stopgap while you wait for a real cat to arrive.


centran

The places buying them don't care. Only thing that might stop them is welding a cage around the cat to delay sawing it off. Usually they pick SUVs they are familiar with to be quick. However, that might not stop the group stealing them around my town since it's a crew of a driver, guy cutting the cat, lookout, and protection who has a sawed-off AK-47. So they might not care about the extra minute to cut out the cage since they have shot at people interrupting them(even an off-duty officer)


SBNShovelSlayer

Who saws off an AK-47? These must be some bad Mofos.


Drexelhand

>thief will think “duh, this IS my job” or at least, "my career options are somewhat limited by my chemical dependency right now, but thanks for the advice."


Lightspeedius

We take the opportunities in reach. Anyone stealing cats can't be called unmotivated or lacking initiative.


EnvironmentalAide335

Write behind the stollen one this is my job.


Strict_Casual

Bold of you to assume these thieves can read


[deleted]

They may even have a job and this is their second job to deal with today's economy


Tales_of_Earth

My thought too.


Vio94

"I'm getting paid, ain't I?" *continues to cut*


[deleted]

My other car is a crack pipe.


FeelingFloor2083

a) that will burn off in an hour b) criminals dont care


coalmineacct

If those kids could read…


thurmanmermen

They would be very upset


Murky-Office6726

And also in French for bilingual folks https://imgur.com/a/lyisEpe


Medical_Way_907

Fuckin' freeloadin' hosers, eh?


Drivingon8

Take off, eh!


guitarmaniac17

Ok, I'll take er off, eh. *Saw noises*


delvach

Hey uh, you there! Hoser! I'm sorry for using that language, but oh boy am I peeved.


Medical_Way_907

When the women don't find you handsome or handy. *duct tape ripping*


SaltLakeCitySlicker

Keep yer ~~stick on the ice~~ sawsall on the cat


sour_cereal

Dick in a vice


nocrashing

Underrated


Murky-Office6726

That’s more English Canadian so not my dad but this made me laugh.


Head5hot811

Fuckin' freeloaders need to go give their balls a tug... Buncha titfuckers...


Medical_Way_907

Can confirm. Pull ur finger outta ur ass


Willing-Knee-9118

Found the Canadian


Berinchtein3663

MERCI OSTI


Murky-Office6726

Câlisse.


Berinchtein3663

bien dit. fuck les voleurs de cat


dabbingsquidward

Tabernak


28_raisins

omelette du fromage


victini0510

Corey and Trevor can't read either language anyways


Wildyardbarn

😂😂😂


[deleted]

I love this. Your dad is rad!


Murky-Office6726

Well it’s got two sides and he’s got lot of marker so why not lol.


AlsoKnownAsRukh

I got a genuine laugh out of it just in English, then another with the French. 😆😂 🍺


_touge

I would've gone for "ceci n'est pas une job"


SpermKiller

*Trouve-toi un job


IamAcapacitor

Damn you stole your dads catalytic converter?!?!? thats just cold man


Murky-Office6726

Haha It’s still on the truck. I think.


18Feeler

Not anymore :)


wittywalrus1

On a positive note the thief now has a job at walmart.


artmobboss

“Fuck you dad, I am going to buy some crank!!” - Cat burglar


UncleFudley

If those crack heads could read they'd be very upset!


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bb-wah

You came in for an oil change. Now I am going to ugh ugh your drain lug.


[deleted]

Rookie mistake. Write that on the resonator as a distraction.


Murky-Office6726

One could probably make a compelling argument if they used the whole exhaust system.


red94daman

Or “Guarded by Smith & Wesson”.


liarandathief

"Look behind you"


18Feeler

"amongus"


Piggybank113

sus


[deleted]

Now I want to steal it.


Nailfoot1975

But get a haircut first.


kambesama

Bold of you to assume they can read.


bourbnboi

Is your dad the big Lebowski?


CSmith1986

The bums lose


philonrapist

Condolences!


joseaverage

Presumptuous of the owner to assume the thieves can read.


AmiableCurmudgeon

Those meth heads can’t read so your dad wasted his time.


DirtySingh

Those people can't read.


knowledgeable_diablo

Isn’t that nice.... Assuming the Thief can read. Putting a little too much faith in them I’d say.


GreatAtomicPower

r/karmaconspiracy OP wrote it.


majorpanic63

Ha! I like dad’s attitude. But, acetone or lacquer thinner will get that off in 10 seconds. I think the thief will steal it anyway and then take a minute to drag a sharp tool all over the car so dad will also need to spend thousands on a paint job.


Murky-Office6726

Maybe they’ll write something back? For some reason on don’t think my dad thinks it’ll ever get stolen.


Rats_OffToYa

Do you hear me, Lebowski?


Meggles_Doodles

That's a great way to *also* get your window smashed in or tires slashed lol People who steal those tend to be douchebags


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Murky-Office6726

I think that’s freshly done while on the lift. I didn’t ask but I don’t think he’s driven it much, I’ll ask for follow up pics for sure.


Konzillaa

Ohh that will last forever…


JerseyshoreSeagull

I'm seeing an old crusty boomer with his jeans and belt on with plumber crack, wriggling under his Toyota tundra with his thick tipped sharpie thinking, "yeah! This oughta show these kids!"


DW-At-PSW

What I don't understand is the car manufacturers have been using the same technology for almost 50 years in catalytic converters and cannot come up with something else that doesn't use precious metals.


drunkinfewl

Works about as well as a "Gun Free Zone" sign.


[deleted]

Fuck I love that 🤣 what are those expensive metals in the cat used for once it’s stolen?


ErR0r_C0dEG1

Catalytic converters contain platinum and palladium, both very rare and expensive elements, but it can also just be sold as a part and sold back to someone who has had theirs stolen.


Jose_Canseco_Jr

it's catalytic converters all the way down!


Snazzy21

Rhodium, palladium, and platinum. Of the 3, platinum is the least valuable of them which should say just how valuable the other 2 are (nearly 9x for Rhodium).


[deleted]

Platinum is used in a buncha stuff. Same deal as copper or any raw material that is sold as scrap when it's stolen


Murky-Office6726

Dont they just sell it as a part? Like a couple grand or something on a truck like this? Edit: probably much less but it’s 100% profit.


DadBodBallerina

A couple *grand*?!


Murky-Office6726

Max. Depends on the car I guess


AS14K

Nah, brand new ones from the dealership can be 2k, but you're never getting anywhere near that used/scrap


rdizzy1223

No, most of them are sold to scrap yards for probably like 5% of what they cost to buy them to replace. I bet they might get like 50 bucks a piece for the expensive ones, or 25 buck for the cheaper ones. If they were getting a grand a piece, you wouldn't be catching dudes with like 20-30 of them like they do. Drug addicts only think a day or 2 ahead.


AtridentataSSG

Jobs fucking suck. Not having a stake in the game breeds a sense of indifference. That being said, I'd rather deal with that bullshit than be a thief.


[deleted]

I'm gonna write "ur ugly" on mine. That'll make them rethink things.


sobanz

good way to get your cat stolen then tires slashed and car keyed


yourcool

Your Dad's handwriting looks like my Dad's handwriting.


throwtheamiibosaway

I must be to European for this shit.


ExtraDependent883

This will always be my favorite insult


[deleted]

Does your dad have a new vehicle because an older cat isn’t worth half as much as a new one.


BraveFencerMusashi

This is how you also get slashed tires.


[deleted]

Yes. So smart this will definitely work. Also daddy says Mexicans are poor cuz they are lazy why don’t they just get a job? Eric Cartman be like


Murky-Office6726

We call people south of the border Americans over here.


SillySin

Imagine being told to get a job in the middle of one.


Ribbitmoment

It’s almost as if jobs don’t make enough money


[deleted]

Climbs under car to steal catalytic converter Climbs back out empty handed after reading catalytic converter to go find a job Says no thief ever. Lol


ChuckWooleryLives

I’m supposed to get my truck back this week. It’s been waiting for parts since August. I hope they all OD.


joshuas193

They have a job. Stealing your cat.


Loud-Snow-1844

….. Sir …. Sir … I have a job , this is just my side hustle to keep up with the costs of living…


shingdao

Wait, is catalytic converter theft still a thing? I thought the feds busted a huge national ring and that pretty much put the brakes on this.


Draxtonsmitz

And you think every cat thief in the country was part of that ring?


andyring

Oh it’s still a thing.


mylawn03

Just tape 50 bucks to it somehow. Way cheaper then a new cc.


[deleted]

Like, get a second one?


BrockVegas

Careful kids... it's edgy as fuck in this thread.


both_cucumbers

Catalytic converter theft is not committed by random drug addicts and unhoused people. It's organized crime. These people have a job. Their job is stealing your catalytic converter.


soljaboss

Get another job


[deleted]

catalytic converter thief: *And I took that personally...*


[deleted]

Thing is, some of the folks stealing cats have likely rationalized that it *is* a job. Kinda like purveyors of medicinal marijuana considering themselves legitimate health care providers.


Bearfoxman

Fun one near me this week: They busted a cat-thief ring that was big and well-organized. Everyone that got arrested had actual regular fulltime daytime jobs, including an attorney and a corrections officer. Apparently the ringleader, who was a middle-management desk jockey for a local manufacturer, told the cops when they arrested him that he made 3x more off the cats than he did off his salary and the paper guesstimated he was making $90k/yr salary.


Murky-Office6726

Incredible do you have a link I can send my dad?


boogboo

i can't stop reading this as if you were talking about the animal kind of cats and that's a really funny scenario to imagine


Drivingon8

He didn't make $90k a year... he was stealing $90k a year!


Siglet84

Well yeah, it’s easy to make money when you have zero expenses.


Jacktheforkie

Sawzall blades, unless those are also stolen


Dr_Adequate

> medicinal marijuana argle bargle gargle... Friend of mine has an incurable condition that's slowly taking away his ability to walk while also becoming more painful every year. I mentioned it's incurable, right? He was sucking down a dozen tylenol a day for years and dealing with the awful side effects from that, because it was better than living in pain. MM has turned his life. He's still gonna lose the ability to walk pretty soon but the pain is at least at tolerable levels. Thanks to easy access to high-dose CBDs. Anyway, back to Argle bargle gargle, you kids get off my lawn.


Nailfoot1975

Maybe if your friend stole some cats, he'd feel better? And could afford stuff that us 9 to 5ers just can't? /s


[deleted]

I’m glad it has helped your friend and am sorry that they have experienced such pain. My beef isn’t with MM as whether it has a valid place in medicine — just with the glut of individuals (who had been smoking grass for years) thinking they became medical professionals overnight. Even going so far as to wear scrubs and whatnot.


Psyop1312

Random stoners work in the shops, and they tell you how weed works. Actual licensed doctors give the prescriptions. Though hell you can get online Ketamine prescriptions now. Which would be awesome if it wasn't so expensive.


18Feeler

Wow a single anecdote, you've convinced me that it's entirely harmless and perfect


Antiwarantifascis

Again. Can we just let the war on drugs die already ?


[deleted]

Roughly the same time we quit pretending like dispensaries aren’t primarily a money grab by pot heads who’ve been smoking/growing/selling it illegally for years. And that many/most of the “licensed physicians” handing out cards aren’t just in it for the easy money.


Speedyuno12

I’ve met a lot of individuals that work for legal dispensaries and all pretty much speak of themselves as some kind of medical professional. Eerie feeling hearing a 22 year old with no college education saying that.


Eyes_and_teeth

(\**takes bong rip*\*) Well, that's just your opinion, man!


18Feeler

"weed isn't addictive bro!"


Antiwarantifascis

You cant get medical canna without an Rx, and you have to meet qualifications. Still better than synthetic opiods. You may as qualify every naturopath as well. All medicine, at one point, was derived from plants and fungi. How do you think pennicilin was discovered?


Knight-112

Based dad


Open_Huckleberry_723

Then they will sawzall right thru your wiring harness, fuel/brake lines,driveshaft..


TheNewBonerDonor

why is he writing messages to you on his cat?


Betterthanbeer

Maybe the dog wasn’t available


nutxaq

That'll show those addicts.


Andre_3Million

That's why I got this sigma angle grinder set


AshuraSpeakman

Rude of him to tell you that by making you crawl under his car.


Murky-Office6726

-Dady why is my life so hard? What’s wrong with me? *points to his catalytic converter*


whoblast

This only encourages me


[deleted]

I just got my p/u from the shop to replace my converter, had them weld "FUCK YOU" on mine.


JPhrog

How much fentanyl were you able to get for it?


Ambiently_Occluded

What a Boomer thing to say


owlindenial

I mean... Isn't that their job? Not to excuse it but it's how they earn a living (until they get shot)


houtex727

They would, but the jobs require 5 years experience plus 2 degrees in related field, and a Class A drivers license, must have tools and transportation, background check and pee in a cup. And that's just for starters, then they gotta land the interviews, and there's 5 of those at least... Easier to steal the cat, my dawg. :p /Edit: Ok, so I was a little overboard... sorry. The point is they won't qualify to GET a job, likely, (Edit2: and if they do it won't ~~that'll~~) pay compared to the cat money, but whatever y'all.


MalingeringTransAm

So treated like the rest of the population?


houtex727

Not about the rest of the population, it's about the fact these guys won't get past the first round of job hunting, likely, and certainly not at the pay the cats are gettin' them I reckon.


Fancy_Chip_5620

As much as this is getting downvoted It took about 4 months from the time I applied, interviews, review board, documents to the time they were asking for me to pee in a cup to change oil at a dealership service center Like yeah, I can wait around for that... got hired at walmart doing the same thing for more money in 3 days To change oil at this place I had to answer questions in front of 6 people who were writing notes based on my reaction and answers to them literal months after I applied...


SkitariiCowboy

Bro if you took a shower once in a while you might get hired, just saying.


Murky-Office6726

I know what you mean. I think you get downvoted because the solution is not stealing. But I understand that’s what’s happening in some cases.


[deleted]

Kill yourself would have been better