Here's who, what, where, when, why, and how they're taken.
WHO - thieves are often drug users, selling CCs for money for drugs. They may be crews of thieves selling CCs for what's inside them, precious, heavy metals: platinum, palladium and rhodium.
WHAT - CCs are canisters welded or bolted between your car's engine and muffler in the exhaust system. Metals in the canister remove or change exhaust pollutants. Disreputable garages might buy used CCs from thieves and resell them at new.
WHERE - Cars parked in public accessible areas; often SUVs with higher ground clearances, making it easier to get under the car. Car dealerships are common targets too.
Toyota's are especially vulnerable since they have bolted CCs rather than welded ones.
It takes 3 mins to remove a CC.
WHEN - any time of day or night, but often overnight when cars are parked for long duration.
WHY - resell to garages or sell for the platinum, palladium and rhodium metals in the CC. Prices for those metals have shot up.
HOW - using reciprocating saw or hacksaw.
PROTECTION - Watch where you park your car, especially for long periods; monitor news for trends in your area; after market sleeves are available to buy to protect your CC from theft; report suspicious activity and don't buy CCs second hand,. or you might be buying your neighbor's CC, or your own.
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