Brushparkbub Member Username: Brushparkbub
Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:47 am: | |
A friend of mine called me last week after he finished lunch at Union Street and I could hear a lot of noise coming from his car. He told me that his muffler had been stolen while he was eating. I didn't really believe him, but he said he was on his way to the mechanic and would call me later. A few hours later he called back. The mechanic showed him the clear saw marks on the pipes underneath his car. His catalytic converter had been sawed off in the middle of the afternoon. this is one of the better detroit stories that i have heard. anybody have other laughable big city stories? |
Reetz12 Member Username: Reetz12
Post Number: 160 Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:52 am: | |
Someone robbed my house last month and the only thing they took was a beermug full of change and my gym bag. Didn't touch gift cards, credit cards, electronics, ipod, dvd's and many other valuable's/ Which all were out in the open, plain view site. |
One_shot Member Username: One_shot
Post Number: 318 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:53 am: | |
We had a Jeep Cherokee in a few months back that had the same thing happen. The thieves must have a cordless saw and cut them off. There are precious metals in these things that are recyclable, I think platinum or something. They must be getting some good money for them! |
Bumble Member Username: Bumble
Post Number: 64 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:05 am: | |
I'm laughing so hard I'm crying! |
Innercitydoc Member Username: Innercitydoc
Post Number: 31 Registered: 09-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:23 am: | |
My headlight was stolen off of my Cadillac in broad daylight on Canfield and St. Antoine. The thieves bust the window so they could pop the hood. They didn't take anything else. I almost laughed until I found out how much it was to replace it. |
Dds Member Username: Dds
Post Number: 205 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:23 am: | |
This is not new, and is quickly becoming a country-wide problem.
quote:Catalytic converters contain expensive precious metals like platinum - which is worth up to $1,200 an ounce; palladium, which can fetch $320 an ounce and rhodium, the biggest prize of all. It goes for up to $6,000 an ounce on the market. http://www.citynews.ca/news/ne ws_8913.aspx |
Club_boss Member Username: Club_boss
Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:26 am: | |
I can remember, back in the pioneer days, when we would cut the converters off and discard them. |
Brandon48202 Member Username: Brandon48202
Post Number: 163 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:28 am: | |
I had my car broken into a few months ago, they left my CD collection and took my bag of laundry that I was going to take to the cleaners. |
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 1329 Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:38 am: | |
Left a brief case in my car that ended up being stolen when they broke a window. Inside the brief case were blank police reports, a current stolen car list, and two books of traffic tickets. |
Southwestmap Member Username: Southwestmap
Post Number: 784 Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:45 am: | |
The converters are most often taken from SUV's or trucks. Sedans, etc. don't provide enough easy access underneath. |
Blueidone Member Username: Blueidone
Post Number: 36 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:55 am: | |
Heard a story on the news where they are doing the same thing to day care and nursery school small buses and vans. Staff shows up to go pick up kids..and the converters are gone. It's sad. |
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess
Post Number: 330 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:18 pm: | |
quote:after he finished lunch at Union Street Where specifically had he parked? We had someone break into our car last fall on Woodward just north of the corner of Selden; it was during the evening, but there were security guys obliviously in front of the Max, a half-block away. The perp got a bag (probably mistaken for a purse) containing two medical references, and he left behind his frequent loser card from one of the casinos. |
Mackcreative Member Username: Mackcreative
Post Number: 59 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:20 pm: | |
A couple years ago there was a rash of airbags stolen in my neighborhood. |
Detroitrulez Member Username: Detroitrulez
Post Number: 223 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:46 pm: | |
quote:Dds Member Username: Dds Post Number: 205 Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:23 am: ------------------------------ ------------------------------ -------------------- This is not new, and is quickly becoming a country-wide problem. quote: Catalytic converters contain expensive precious metals like platinum - which is worth up to $1,200 an ounce; palladium, which can fetch $320 an ounce and rhodium, the biggest prize of all. It goes for up to $6,000 an ounce on the market. http://www.citynews.ca/news/ne ws_8913.aspx What country are you talking about Dds? In your "nothing-new-here/everyone-doe s-it" haste to dismiss the truly desperate and deplorable depths to which detroit thievery has sunk (street lights, air bags, central AC units, loose leaf High School poetry, gym bags, jars of change, etc.), you linked to a Canadian news site. Are you saying the Canadian epidemic is being exported to Detroit? Those bastids! |
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik
Post Number: 186 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 1:04 pm: | |
Approximately 10 years ago, catalytic converters brought about $5.00 at the scrap yard. I have no idea what they bring now. |
Emuaaron Member Username: Emuaaron
Post Number: 15 Registered: 07-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 1:20 pm: | |
I had my car parked on Shelby in downtown in the middle of a summer day and had the window busted out. i had a shoebox in my back seat that I had left my old gym shoes in when I bought new ones (which I was wearing). The guy must have opened the shoebox, saw how nasty the things were, and left them sitting on the back seat of my car. Some crackhead didn't want my old gym shoes. That was humbling. |
Dds Member Username: Dds
Post Number: 206 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 1:22 pm: | |
quote:What country are you talking about Dds? Meh... It was essentially the same article published on numerous web sites. It had video, so I thought it would appeal to all the high schoolers that have been posting lately due to spring break. Then again, I like your thinking about the Corrupt Canadian Cartel of Catalytic Converter Crimes. Damn Canucks. |
Supersport Member Username: Supersport
Post Number: 11481 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 1:34 pm: | |
quote:I had my car broken into a few months ago, they left my CD collection and took my bag of laundry that I was going to take to the cleaners. So your taste in clothes is better than your taste in music? lol |
Brushparkbub Member Username: Brushparkbub
Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 3:07 pm: | |
zephyr... i believe he was parked on willis between cass and woodward. |
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto
Post Number: 3344 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 4:58 pm: | |
I had an old kitchen sink stolen out of my backyard a couple years ago...I had planned to make it into a garden sink... |
Dbc Member Username: Dbc
Post Number: 38 Registered: 09-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 7:45 pm: | |
It happens everywhere and seems to go in cycles. My sister lives in Chicago (Lakeview on the North Side) and just last month someone used a hacksaw to remove the catalytic converter from her Grand Cherokee. (It's easier to get underneath an SUV.) It also happens out here in DC, and I remember reading about it previously while visiting Ontario. Crooks sure are shifty. |
Thnk2mch Member Username: Thnk2mch
Post Number: 866 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 8:12 pm: | |
It's happening in the suburbs also. From the Livonia Observer:
quote:When work started at 8 a.m. Monday at Morgan Services, 31209 Schoolcraft, employees noticed three company trucks were running loudly. A quick check revealed the catalytic converters had been cut off each of the trucks, an estimated $900 loss, according to Livonia police reports. The thefts are thought to have occurred between the end of business on Friday, April 6, and Monday morning. That same morning, the owners of Blind Express, 13030 Wayne, took one of their trucks to the dealership for service and found the problem with it was the converter had been cut off as well. The loss was $1,200 which didn't include $200 damage to the rest of the vehicle. Catalytic converters have been cut off of vehicles around the city over the past couple of months. The precious metals in them are worth a lot of money at scrap metal yards. http://www.hometownlife.com/ap ps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070 412/NEWS10/704120479/1027 |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1584 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 9:33 pm: | |
the cat was stolen out of my good friend's car in buffalo this past summer while he was just a few blocks away at work. the car used to be mine, so i was extra pissed to hear about that...the topper though is that it was his next door neighbor that did it, and while the police came and took a report, they didn't do jack. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 2027 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:05 pm: | |
Years ago I used to have a big ol' full size station wagon here in Ann Arbor - needed a new y-pipe so I picked one up at Murray's and left it in the car overnight - it was gone by morning |
Catman_dude Member Username: Catman_dude
Post Number: 117 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 8:47 am: | |
In Westland, during the 1980s, our spoked-hubcaps were stolen off our Pontiac Bonneville. A couple of weeks later, our neighbor across the street had new Pontiac spoked-hubcaps...just like the ones stolen from us....on a FORD !! That got my brother pissed. A couple of months later, he "stoled" them back !! The neighbors never suspected us because, after all, we already gotten replacement spoked-hubcaps from insurance !! Some people can be sooooo in-your-face about the crap they do. |
Downtownguy Member Username: Downtownguy
Post Number: 7 Registered: 07-2004
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 12:09 pm: | |
About 30 years ago, I attended a hockey game at University of Michigan's Yost Arena in Ann Arbor. I had press passes and so was able to park near the entrance. After the game, my friend and I got in the car and it wouldn't start. I popped the hood and tried it again while my buddy tried to spot the problem in the dark. After we got a flashlight, we could clearly see the problem. The radiator was stolen. The insurance company said because the car was relatively new, the thieves probably had a specific order for a radiator from that particular make and model. |
Dpd_blue Member Username: Dpd_blue
Post Number: 183 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 8:44 am: | |
Wayne State PD nabbed 2 last night with a trunk full of converters. If you wake up this morning in Midtown and discover your's missing contact the Detroit Central District 596-1300. |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1594 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 8:50 am: | |
thanks dpd. my car sounded normal this morning thankfully |
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass
Post Number: 77 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 7:23 pm: | |
Midnight Auto Supply |
Sticks Member Username: Sticks
Post Number: 265 Registered: 08-2005
| Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 8:10 pm: | |
Had my window busted out last summer during a Tigers game. I have a stock alarm that must've scared him off. Why? No other cars had their windows smashed on that row. That and he only stole the faceplate to my radio and about $1.75 on my center console. Completely missed the $200 CB radio laying on the floor. |
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81
Post Number: 1356 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 2:01 am: | |
Dbc- Yah know, I was just in Chicago yesterday (Sunday), walking in Lincoln park just north of Diversey and saw a blue Grand Cherokee with the pipe obviously disconnected from the front end of the car and still up tight on the rear end. I figured the pipe just rusted out. But now that you mention this, I bet this particular GC probably also had the converter ripped out. Looking at it, the GC has such high ground clearance it is probably so simple to crawl under and hack it off. FYI this was a GC parked on Lake Shore Drive (the local LSD running east of Sheridan and west of the park, basically in front of St. Joseph Hospital. Some people just drive me nuts. Something like a smash and grab doesn't bother me so much for the stuff (or lack of stuff if you're smart and leave your car empty) they take, it bugs me because it is a pain in the ass to get the insurance claim, get it fixed, etc. Then it will happen sometime again. Just wish there was a good, safe way to zap the shite outta a thief without harming that kid who accidentally happens to touch your car while he's playin on the sidewalk. It'd also be great to be able to shoot on site anyone caught under your car. Or maybe just taser his ass. It just bugs me. |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1633 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2007 - 6:22 pm: | |
bumping this up to add that my van's cat got swiped sometime in the last two weeks in the art center neighborhood. |
Ravine Member Username: Ravine
Post Number: 874 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2007 - 6:43 pm: | |
This is all very befuddling. Why would anybody want someone else's cat? I hate goddam cats. Still, it seems kind of crummy, to leave the damned thing in a vehicle all by itself. |
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81
Post Number: 1409 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2007 - 11:53 pm: | |
he he ha ha he he ha ha.
|
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet
Post Number: 417 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 12:05 am: | |
Was it a sawn-off cat? Me...ouch! |
Ericdetfan Member Username: Ericdetfan
Post Number: 60 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 12:08 am: | |
I got 40 bucks for 2 cats a few months back |
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet
Post Number: 419 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 12:19 am: | |
Toms are good BBQed.But I'm not gonna pay you forty bucks for two when I can get a steak dinner for two at the same price. And I dont have to use a saw to cut it! (Message edited by Bulletmagnet on May 06, 2007) |
Ericdetfan Member Username: Ericdetfan
Post Number: 61 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 12:41 am: | |
har har |
Eastside_charlie Member Username: Eastside_charlie
Post Number: 45 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 2:45 am: | |
march to belle isle for thieves of detroit |
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet
Post Number: 421 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 7:29 am: | |
Eastside_charlie, are they a band? Should I bring a saw? |
Ptpelee Member Username: Ptpelee
Post Number: 13 Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 8:46 am: | |
Just last weekend our company delivery van had it's catalytic converter stolen. It was parked right on Wayne Rd. near downtown Romulus.....I wish I had that kind of guts! (Yes there is a downtown Romulus) |
Detroitbill Member Username: Detroitbill
Post Number: 237 Registered: 09-2006
| Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 4:03 pm: | |
Your so right about this converter issue being a national problem. A friend of mine in Phoenix had his chopped off not once but twice off of his car outside his residence in Phoenix in the last three months. |
Diehard Member Username: Diehard
Post Number: 51 Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 6:04 pm: | |
Oh great. Another thing to worry about with that damn Grand Cherokee that has been nothing but trouble already. |
Aschar76 Member Username: Aschar76
Post Number: 67 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 9:04 pm: | |
The U Haul rental center on Joy rd. west of Southfield had the catalytic converters cut off each of the trucks on the fenced lot . The going rate they were told is sixty dollars scrap there cost for the repairs 1200.00 per. Why is the Law & Public always one step behind these scrapers. |
Steelworker Member Username: Steelworker
Post Number: 900 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 11:38 pm: | |
i had someone once take my oil filter off my car when i was parked on prentis and third. My oil filter is in the wheel well and not to hard to get to if you wanted to take it. It was nice to drive and get on the lodge right away and have my engine blown. |
Ladyinabag Member Username: Ladyinabag
Post Number: 253 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2007 - 12:51 am: | |
Steelworker- Sounds like somebody was mad at you. |
Mtm Member Username: Mtm
Post Number: 208 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2007 - 1:40 pm: | |
Another WSU shoe theft, except these were size 5, specially dyed light pink to match a bridemaid's dress. Some Cass Corridor hooker with very small feet got a great deal! |
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall
Post Number: 117 Registered: 05-2004
| Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 8:07 pm: | |
It would be nice to catch the bums and give them a sex change on the spot. |
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81
Post Number: 1428 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 12:50 am: | |
or a shotgun up the a hole |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1643 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 7:13 am: | |
i would merely like to beat their kneecaps into a pinkish paste with a tire iron |
Mtm Member Username: Mtm
Post Number: 211 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 11:01 am: | |
Whoa, whoa, guys! Is a $60 cat. really worth a shotgun? I realize that you're probably kidding but isn't that kind of attitude what gets this area so much bad press. Okay, I lost a $50 pair of shoes that were custom fitted and dyed but I more laughed at the theft than got angry. I hated those shoes (and the associated frilly dress and hat) anyway! |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1644 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 11:10 am: | |
mtm, better the anger come out in words than in action i suppose no, i'm really not nearly as pissed as my overly graphic statement above might lead you to believe, the whole scrapper thing in general just frustrates me |
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis
Post Number: 289 Registered: 07-2005
| Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 7:56 pm: | |
What surprized me, was last week at the Pointe Plaza (St Johns Hospital) right next to Mack a new Ford had all four wheels stolen from it in broad daylight. When I drove past they were pulling it on a flatbed truck. And the hospital is suppose to have a security truck that drives around. The only thing I can think of is they jacked it up on blocks, took off all of the lugs and then pulled all of the wheels at the same time. |
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81
Post Number: 1434 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 1:07 am: | |
A new cat costs more than $60. |
Granmontrules Member Username: Granmontrules
Post Number: 70 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 2:11 am: | |
A friend of mine had her new cadillac stolen from in front of Neiman Marcus at Somerset Mall two weeks ago. Who would have imagined in Troy? |
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet
Post Number: 448 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 9:41 am: | |
We need a Federal Program to stop all this. Troy? OMFG, what next! |
Ravine Member Username: Ravine
Post Number: 908 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 5:39 pm: | |
I'm kind of a hard-nose, but it's my feeling that if a person who is stealing another citizen's property gets shot in the fuckin' head for it, that's O.K. with me. The life of a serial thief deserves less respect and consideration than the life of a stray dog. Lots less. Good fucking riddance. If people like that got whacked on a regular basis, the occurrence of that type of shit would slow way the hell down, and we would have a better environment. And don't come whining to me about how the punishment should fit the crime (which, in my opinion, it does.) Are we enjoying having the streets safe for low-life criminals? |
Michigansheik Member Username: Michigansheik
Post Number: 196 Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 7:24 am: | |
troy is now closed! thats what would happen if this happen if something like that happens again soon! lol |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1682 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 12:33 pm: | |
quote:Is a $60 cat. really worth a shotgun? What are you talking about? The replacement cost for these is more like $900. When you're talking about a guy driving around with a trunk full of sawed-off catalytic converters (as reported above), that is some pretty major crime, degrading quality of life for a lot of people in the city, and degrading the city as a whole.
quote:I realize that you're probably kidding but isn't that kind of attitude what gets this area so much bad press. I think we get a lot more bad press on our crime problems that we do on any sort of problem with vigilantes. I'm trying to think of the last time there was a major negative news story on an out-of-control vigilante, and I can't think of one. We never really had a Bernie Goetz type of celebrity here. I do agree with you that good policework and prosecution is vastly preferable to resorting to vigilante-style justice, but I still don't see vigilantism as a major problem at this point. |
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey
Post Number: 197 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 12:52 pm: | |
A hooker stole my virginity on 8 mile. |