Apparently it's quietly becoming a major issue again. Here in California, due to new laws, it's not even a misdemeanor as it's under $1000 in theft. The big target locally apparently are Prius's, but trucks like the Disco are an easy target due to height and ease of access.
Last night I work up to a strange grinding noise in the front of our house at 2:30AM. I peeked outside and saw a truck parked next to mine running with the lights on. The grinding noise happened again and my foggy 2AM brain assumed it might be a bad starter on the truck. The third time I heard it, I knew something was up. Grabbed a flashlight and a thumper and headed outside. Got to the front of my truck and asked what the fuck they were doing at 2AM. I heard a voice from down below between my truck and his say "shit". A hispanic male popped up, jumped in the truck, and the driver took off. Unfortunately I didn't have my glasses on to get the plate #.
After looking around and not seeing anything apparent on my truck, I went back inside to go back to sleep as I had to be up at 3:30AM to go to work. I didn't get back to sleep, but before heading out in my work car, I checked on the truck again and didn't see anything. While driving to work, a light bulb one off in my head and I knew I had to check the cats when I got home.
This afternoon, I got back, popped my head up the truck and saw this:
Thankfully, I got them before they got the cat. They were 1 cut away. A replacement Y pipe with cats for a California emission truck would be an easy $1000. I just needed the cuts repairs and found a local shop that welded things up and have me going in about an hour for $90.
In that hour, I discover that there were 3 cars on site waiting for new cats and 2 more customers came in asking to have their stolen ones replaced. Talking to the shop owner, cat theft is good for 8~12 repairs a week for him right now.
A call to LAPD got me in the queue for a return call to file my incident. I am not holding my breath.
Last night I work up to a strange grinding noise in the front of our house at 2:30AM. I peeked outside and saw a truck parked next to mine running with the lights on. The grinding noise happened again and my foggy 2AM brain assumed it might be a bad starter on the truck. The third time I heard it, I knew something was up. Grabbed a flashlight and a thumper and headed outside. Got to the front of my truck and asked what the fuck they were doing at 2AM. I heard a voice from down below between my truck and his say "shit". A hispanic male popped up, jumped in the truck, and the driver took off. Unfortunately I didn't have my glasses on to get the plate #.
After looking around and not seeing anything apparent on my truck, I went back inside to go back to sleep as I had to be up at 3:30AM to go to work. I didn't get back to sleep, but before heading out in my work car, I checked on the truck again and didn't see anything. While driving to work, a light bulb one off in my head and I knew I had to check the cats when I got home.
This afternoon, I got back, popped my head up the truck and saw this:
Thankfully, I got them before they got the cat. They were 1 cut away. A replacement Y pipe with cats for a California emission truck would be an easy $1000. I just needed the cuts repairs and found a local shop that welded things up and have me going in about an hour for $90.
In that hour, I discover that there were 3 cars on site waiting for new cats and 2 more customers came in asking to have their stolen ones replaced. Talking to the shop owner, cat theft is good for 8~12 repairs a week for him right now.
A call to LAPD got me in the queue for a return call to file my incident. I am not holding my breath.
