Yep, happening all the time. Several right in my neighborhood, including one in the house just behind us. They do it even if the car is in the driveway. Takes less than one minute, they have some type of sawzall and they just go under, make 2 cuts, throw it in their car and drive away. I’m going to have some anti theft guards welded on soon, hope they don’t get me before I get around to it.

Wow, I didn’t imagine TX being like that. Here in CA yes, but Texas too? That bums me out.

Also, in CA we have “special” catalytic converters or cats. So no you can’t bypass it with a pipe or even put in anything other than the more expensive CA-approved one. You would get away with it for up to two years depending on the timing of your last smog check. But it will immediately get noticed on your next one, so no smog check pass, and no registration. Just ask O-din.

I guess if you aren't here, you would not believe it. The scale of it is absolutely absurd. I will agree that it isn't really the fault of the police themselves. Beyond that, you are into a political discussion.

One person took a video of a guy who was in the middle of cutting off a bike lock, and yelled at him I'm calling the cops. He just laughed at her and said go ahead, they won't do anything.

There is a completely out in the open "swap meet" in a public park where they gather to share and swap all their stolen stuff. Nothing is done. A few brave people go right up to them if they see their stolen bikes and take them back. Big dudes I presume.

It is common for people to walk into stores, take an armful of merchandise, and walk out. Even if this is called in, nothing is done. Nothing.

Basically, if you leave a bicycle out anywhere for more than 30 seconds, locked or not, it will be stolen. Here is a pic on one of the homeless encampments they cleaned out. More than 1000 bikes stashed away. The police said "some of them -might- be stolen". Might be. MmHmm, I am sure they bought and paid for most of them.

bikes (resized).jpg

As I am sitting working and typing this and the news is on in the background, there is a story about catalyst converter thefts. They stole one off a Meals On Wheels van. The LA sheriff's help: Etch your license plate number and spray paint their logo on your cat. Haha as if that will do anything.

This is how we live. Its sunny here though, every day.

It doesn't matter. The job is so quick that by the time anyone can react, they are out of there. I think its like 30 seconds to cut it out and yank it. Even in the middle of the night, it wakes people up. The lady just behind me heard it about 3 AM and ran outside immediately but only just in time to see the car driving away, and could not ID the license plate. Another guy posting on the Nextdoor app says he ran out and was able to throw something (I forgot what, a rock?) and smash their back window as they drove away.

There was a TV show called Bait Car that was running a few years back, it was funny as hell. The police had these cars that had hidden cameras pointed at the driver, and they had remote control capability so they could shut down the engine and lock the doors at will. They would leave them parked somewhere and wait for someone to get in and steal it. The look on the faces of the thieves was priceless, first the sheer joy of getting the car and starting out down the road, and then the panic when it shuts down a short while later and all the doors are locked and they can't get out, and finally that realization that they've been busted as the police cars start pulling up around them.