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beachbum1A
Nomad
Posts: 442
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
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Catalyic Converter Stolen
Surprise, surprise! On the way to do some grocery shopping yesterday at Walmart in Ensenada I thought I'd stop off at the beach just west and a little
north of Walmart to see if anyone was surf fishing. Parked on the asphalt road with two or three cars in front of me and walked over the dunes and
down to the beach. Looked around for about 5 minutes and walked back to my truck. Got in, started it up and realized something was amiss! Crawled
under and found the large catalyic converter missing and the nuts/bolts laying in the roadway. Wasn't even welded on! Just a few bolts to remove and
they're on their way. Needless to say after I locate a replacement and have it welded on I'm going to be damn particular as to where I park from now
on. (probably should have parked in one of the more popular beach parking areas that had several other vehicles parked there).
If anyone has an extra catalyic converter laying around for a "02" Toyota Tacoma, let me know will you.......
Just do it!
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Bajalero
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 11-24-2003
Location: todos santos/ rcho san diego
Member Is Offline
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Not cheep to replace beachbum
http://tinyurl.com/24bpjt
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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Bummer! I can't understand why anyone in these parts would steal that item, when in the time it took to remove, he could have snagged something more
marketable.
Hope you don't have to fork over a lot for a replacement.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Welded on means it will have to be cut off.
Maybe have a muffler shop down there fabricate you a "test pipe" section that bolts on and use it while you're down there, since you appear to spend a
bit of time down there.
I read they are being sold for the value of the metals in it now that commodities are so high.
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beachbum1A
Nomad
Posts: 442
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
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You're right Bajalero-not cheap! Now we know why they took it.
Just do it!
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3597
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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Alarm system for your CAT?
| Quote: | Originally posted by beachbum1A
You're right Bajalero-not cheap! Now we know why they took it. |
No way around it. They could have broken into your Taco at the same time. Hope you have an alarm on your truck? Get one if you don't. Bad
omen. Oh and weld the next CAT in place. You shouldn't have to park where you can see your truck but you might want to do that until the ju-ju
goes away. It was someone local. By the way, they saw you park there.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Talented Thieves
It's surprising how good some of these guys are at what they do.
Back in the Bad Old days when I lived and worked in South L.A. (Watts) one of the items in great demand were Borg-Warner T-10 Four Speed Transmissions
and, later the Chevy "Muncie" Four-Speed. We frequently had the opportunity to purchase them used. One very prolific supplier told us that he could
drop one out of the vehicle in the dark without jacking up the car in less than ten minutes. It might have been just braggadocio, but he WAS
successful so it could have been true.
If there is a demand and a financial incentive, someone will find a way.
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oldhippie
Banned
Posts: 742
Registered: 6-25-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: muted
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Wonder when gas siphoning is going to be a big problem? It's mighty expensive these days. I once went to a gas station to fill-up the pickup and when
I started pumping all the gas went immediately to the ground. Thieves had removed the connecting pipe to the tank to solve the locking gas cap problem
and siphoned all the gas, there wasn't much. This was in San Diego BTW.
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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Just a few weeks ago, a catalytic converter was stolen from a brand new Toyota right here in the parking lot of the company I work for. When it was
reported to the police, my colleague was told that this is quite common. There are folks roaming the streets, and they stop, dive under the car and
can get the thing off in minutes. 
And yes, they are stolen for the metals.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Keep the vehicle in Mexico and you don't have to worry about that converter.
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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Tried to do the same thing to a coworker who lives in Downey, CA a few months ago. He started his Tacoma at 6:00am, started driving, did not sound
right, drove around the block back to his house and there in the street were 2 nuts and bolts and a can of WD-40 where he had been parked  . They may have been under the truck as he drove away; too bad they did not get run
over.
I have also heard of them simply using a cordless 18volt Sawzall. Off in less than a minute, welded of not. 
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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BB1A ----
Total bummer. What's next? Come out of Home Dpo and your fenders are gone?
Vandenberg said it. Get a beater for local stuff and it probably won't be bothered.
Jeezo.... I can't believe the stealth with which this scum oozes around here and there. Seldom seen, seldom caught. Urban terrorists.
Anyway, on a good note, I see you got your avatar up and running. Very cool.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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Amateurs...
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I can't believe the stealth with which this scum oozes around here and there. Seldom seen, seldom caught. |
unbolt converters. Professionals... steal trucks.
This guy was just an order taker. The repair shop needed a part and made a call to the inventory department.
You make it sound so sinister . 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Dave ......
It is sinister. It's evil and in this case, it's also racist. Do you think for a minute that they would have gone after a Mexico plated car for a
catalytic converter?
OK. Enough of that. Are you done lounging around, doing nothing, loafing your life away? When do we get Pastrami sandwiches? And where?
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Car Parts Thieves
I'm looking for one of those crooked Mechanics I keep reading about who can steal your Airbag without leaving a trace. I'm ready to give them some
business. I'd love to eliminate those timebombs.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3597
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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Thieves know Gringoes are insured and if not, have money
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Dave ......
It is sinister. It's evil and in this case, it's also racist. Do you think for a minute that they would have gone after a Mexico plated car for a
catalytic converter? |
You know, these guys would just shrug if caught. Hey, no one got hurt? Could have stole the truck but left it, OK?
There must be places like this in MX. Got to know San Jose, Costa Rica well years ago. People in the suburbs NEVER leave their home with no one
home. The first time a neighbor sees you leave, and knows no one is there, your home WILL be broken into and, generally, appliances taken.
Blender, TV, etc. Just the way it is.
I was at immigration in La Paz months ago, and a guy said he was getting a duplicate passport. His smaller leather attache had been lifted from his
shopping cart at CCC with a passport and $1,000 in it. Took a second. Random act? Impulse crime? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure there
are guys walking around CCC right now looking for someone to turn their back on their cart for maybe 5 - 10 seconds? Women especially, I've
noticed, up here and down there, seem to walk away from a purse in a cart thinking it's safe.
Think like a thief. You won't get ripped off. (I've never lifted something from a shopping cart but as a kid, I broke into hundreds of cars at
night, mostly out of boredom and because I couldn't sleep.)
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3754
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Tail gates are big theft items here
I know several guys that have lost tail gates off Chevy pickups.
Pretty easy on Fords too.
Less than 60 seconds.
(and if you think cat converters are expensive, wait until you price a new color matched tail gate)
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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Multitasking
| Quote: | Originally posted by thebajarunner
(and if you think cat converters are expensive, wait until you price a new color matched tail gate) |
Not in Ensenada. 
And Dennis, I'm not just "lounging around". For example, I've typed this one-handed.
You should try drumming that way.
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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Getting the beater might not work, I meet a guy at a small market that had his beater stolen at that same market, he coundn't believe they would steal
such a piece of sh--.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lee
[Think like a thief. You won't get ripped off. |
Thanks, Lee. You're right but, isn't it a shame for us who have behaved ourselves all our lives to have to change our mind-set from trusting to
suspicious? It's a big switch.
Hey bro....great new wrathe avatar. Don't know why but, it's cool.
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