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“Idiots Missed The Neighbor’s Cameras”: Youngsters Steal Car Parts, Face Car Owner’s Pro Revenge
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“Idiots Missed The Neighbor’s Cameras”: Youngsters Steal Car Parts, Face Car Owner’s Pro Revenge

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It’s safe to assume that most thieves hope not to get caught. But while some are extra careful to leave without a trace, others tend to be much more relaxed; or inattentive, at least.

Take this redditor’s story, for instance; after someone stole the catalytic converter off his truck, it didn’t take long for him to recognize the thieves as they were caught on a neighbor’s camera. Knowing full well who the crooks were, the owner of the car took matters into his own hands and decided to teach them a lesson by seeking pro revenge.

Sooner or later, many thieves get a taste of karma for their crimes

Image credits: George Chambers/Pexels (not the actual photo)

This guy decided to teach the thieves a lesson himself, after they stole the catalytic converter off his truck

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Image credits: Benhur Emmanuel/Pexels (not the actual photo)

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Image credits:

Thieves seem to be interested in parts of cars of all kinds and ages

Though it’s a sad reality, many car owners are used to upsetting things happening to them. What I mean by that is that there always seems to be something in need of fixing or renewing, and in that brief moment of peace when everything is arguably taken care of, an expensive-sounding noise presents itself.

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To make matters worse, in addition to the constant repairs and the necessary periodic motor vehicle inspections, there’s also theft that adds to the neverending headaches of car owners. It might not be the entire car that’s taken away, but waking up to find that your vehicle no longer has tires is not a mood booster, either.

According to the online marketplace for buying and selling cars, Carwow, if not taken in their entirety, cars of any age or value can become targets for their parts. And unfortunately, thieves looking to dismantle someone’s vehicle are reportedly working hard. That is believed to be related to an increasing number of so-called “chop shops” – businesses that illicitly disassemble stolen cars and sell the parts.

Discussing the problem, Clive Wain, the head of police liaison at Tracker, a company that specializes in stolen vehicle recovery, told Carwow that: “The alarming increase in the number of chop shops largely reflects a rise in demand for good quality used parts in recent years, partly due to the new part supply chain delays. However, the cost of living crisis has also fuelled illegal activities.”

Catalytic converters are becoming increasingly appealing to car part thieves

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While it looks like thieves are ready to dismantle any and every car out there and take whatever part they can lay their fingers on, catalytic converters—the same part that was stolen off the OP’s truck—have become an especially desired catch. According to Vox, theft claims in the US regarding this particular part have skyrocketed over recent years, going from 16,600 stolen catalytic converters reported to insurance companies in 2020, to roughly 51,200 in 2021 and 64,700 in 2022.

If you’re not sure what exactly a catalytic converter is, in the most basic terms, it’s a device in the vehicle’s exhaust system that converts harmful engine-exhaust pollutants into something less detrimental to the environment.

And if you’re wondering what’s so special about this particular piece of the car that attracts crooks like moths to a flame, the answer is pretty simple – the materials. Catalytic converters are usually made using precious metals, such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which can be worth at least a couple hundred dollars if presented to metal buyers. (According to Vox, secondhand converters are not reused in other cars, they end up at refineries that process the metal.)

Unfortunately for the OP, he, too, has lost a catalytic converter likely because the two youngsters were looking to earn some money off of it. But instead, they endured a loss by getting their car destroyed after the redditor got his sweet revenge, which quite a few netizens in the comments applauded him for.

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Fellow netizens shared their thoughts on the OP’s pro revenge

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Miglė MiliĆ«tė

Miglė MiliĆ«tė

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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A writer here at Bored Panda, I am a lover of good music, good food, and good company, which makes food-related topics and feel-good stories my favorite ones to cover. Passionate about traveling and concerts, I constantly seek occasions to visit places yet personally unexplored. I also enjoy spending free time outdoors, trying out different sports—even if I don’t look too graceful at it—or socializing over a cup of coffee.

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Miglė MiliĆ«tė

Miglė MiliĆ«tė

Writer, BoredPanda staff

A writer here at Bored Panda, I am a lover of good music, good food, and good company, which makes food-related topics and feel-good stories my favorite ones to cover. Passionate about traveling and concerts, I constantly seek occasions to visit places yet personally unexplored. I also enjoy spending free time outdoors, trying out different sports—even if I don’t look too graceful at it—or socializing over a cup of coffee.

Jonas Zvilius

Jonas Zvilius

Author, BoredPanda staff

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This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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Jonas Zvilius

Jonas Zvilius

Author, BoredPanda staff

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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Bernd Herbert
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is it possible that they drive around a beat up car with no plate and no insurance?

Mike F
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is possible because, while the cops know who they are and what they're up to, they can't do anything about it because they need to be caught with the stolen items. As far as the car, if you own the property you're resident on, you can have a car/truck that is unregistered and uninsured as long as it doesn't leave the property. The local PD can't keep someone posted near the property to catch them when they are driving the car, but these people know when the police coverage will be thin and that's when they choose to drive. The real justice here would be the idiots meeting up with a very large, very mean dog the next time they attempt this nonsense.

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Fred L.
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awful lot of work to get them arrested instead of simply calling the police in the first place.

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Bernd Herbert
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is it possible that they drive around a beat up car with no plate and no insurance?

Mike F
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is possible because, while the cops know who they are and what they're up to, they can't do anything about it because they need to be caught with the stolen items. As far as the car, if you own the property you're resident on, you can have a car/truck that is unregistered and uninsured as long as it doesn't leave the property. The local PD can't keep someone posted near the property to catch them when they are driving the car, but these people know when the police coverage will be thin and that's when they choose to drive. The real justice here would be the idiots meeting up with a very large, very mean dog the next time they attempt this nonsense.

Load More Replies...
Fred L.
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awful lot of work to get them arrested instead of simply calling the police in the first place.

Load More Comments
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