I recently had a Catalytic Converter attempt on my 2003 S-type v8 - they cut halfway through the top and the bottom of the exhaust pipe, luckily they either gave up or were disturbed, I've had the exhaust pipe welded and all good - As the undertray was also left hanging down, my husband is of the mind that a metal undertray would prevent another attempt - does anyone know if this would be a deterrent? our Jag garage say they gave up because the top is too far up into the engine area - can any of you offer advice please (I'm in the UK)

 

Not sure if a metal undertray is going to deter thieves any more than a plastic one.

Park the vehicle in a well lighted area and let the police know what happened. If possible, garage the vehicle so it's off the road.

 

Plenty of this has been going on in the UK (& probably EU) for a number of years, they're even doing it in broad daylight to cars parked on the street. With power/air tools they can jack up a side of the car, cut out the cat(s) & be off in around a minute.

 

they are a PITA to cut off with a cordless sawzall.

leave a note on the bottom of the vehicle to inform them that there are easier vehicles to steal from 👍

 

Thanks for your reply, however, my car is parked in a well lit off-street residential car parking area, it seems nothing deters these thieves except making it difficult for them to do their dirty work .

 

You might consider a cat theft alarm that goes off if anyone beginsto climb under the car. This [hopefully] prevents not only theft, but damage from theft interrupted. Thus far none of the local fauna has set it off even though I park on the street. There is a good YouTube video on making one at home using an inexpensive Kerui alarm system. I put one on my Prius as the cat thieves were closing in on my neighborhood.

 

It could incorporate this handy feature:

 

It certainly forecloses the possibility that the car owner might have to make court appearances to testify against the perp. However, since we don't know from which side the perp will elect to attack the catalytic converter, the device would have to be installed on both sides of the car with separate and clearly delineated switches to minimize, but by no means totally avoid incinerating innocents on the other side [valets, doormen, passersby, classic car oglers, dates, spouses, meter maids, etc]

 

Acceptable tactical losses ?

 

I think the term is 'Breakages'.

 

I notice that in these replies you have managed to "configure your garages". Despite reading a good deal more about the website, I could find nothing that instructs on that topic [aside from the notation that one must have 40 or more posts to join this elite] nor a reference to where or from whom one might go to obtain that knowledge. How did you do it?

 

Go to User CP>Settings and Options>Edit Signature.
Put your car details in your signature box and save.

 

Thanks, Sportson. I never would have found it myself.

 

My pleasure