12/18/2021
Believe It or Not
A few weeks ago we called our long-time client to tell them that their 2006 Honda CRV winter maintenance had been completed and the vehicle was ready for pick up. They mentioned that they were going to try and pick the vehicle up by the end of the day, but if they couldn’t, they would get it in the morning. Chris needed to implore that this client do their very best to pick the vehicle up for 2 reasons. The obvious reason a busy repair facility would like its clients to pick up their vehicles soon after repairs have been completed is because we need the space for our other clients scheduled appointments. Side note, on December 18, 2021 as I write this, much to our dismay, we have a “new” client’s vehicle that has been ready for pick up since November 17, 2021, yet still being stored at our busy shop. Anyway, the second reason that has just recently come to our attention, which should motivate our client’s to pick their vehicles up ASAP is theft. We have all heard on the news, reports of vehicle’s being stolen right out of people’s driveways. Thieves have figured out how to copy the transmitting signal of your key fobs and simply drive your vehicle away as you sleep. Sad but true. Well would you believe that thieves have also been stealing license plates off vehicles parked outside of auto repair facilities? Apparently they use them to commit crimes such as; fuel theft, then simply discard them when they are finished, adding hassle and frustration to the shop owner and clients already busy lives. But the main reason Chris asked that this client do his best to pick up his 2006 Honda CRV is due to catalytic converter theft. Thieves are actually climbing under SUV’s with cordless saws and cutting expensive catalytic converters off of vehicles. They then sell them for hundreds of dollars (a fraction of what it costs for our clients to replace). They seem to target SUV’s and pick-up trucks as they are high enough off the ground and give the thief easy accessibility. Back to my story, our client scrambled to pick their vehicle up before we closed for the day but I can’t help to think they were just humoring us and did not fully grasp our concern. Fast forward 2 to 3 weeks later, as I look through our schedule I notice this same client’s vehicle returning for catalytic converter replacement. Turns out while parked safely in their secure, security monitored condominium underground parking 10 tenants had their vehicles catalytic converters stolen. Each one of those victims of catalytic converter theft were now faced with either paying out of pocket for replacement (what a shop owner would most likely do if misfortune happened while vehicle was under their care) or making insurance claims and being required to pay $500.00 deductible (my client’s case). Ironically, the thieves would most likely receive $150 – $350) depending on make and model of vehicle, while leaving this significant wake of destruction in their path. So, what can you do to help prevent this? Consider where you park your vehicles overnight. Report any suspicious activity you may come across, regardless if you think it will result in the prevention of thefts. The information you provide may help catch a thief in the future. These thieves count on society accepting this behavior as something that happens from time to time and find it to be easy money. Make no mistake, these kinds of thefts affect us all through the insurance rates we will pay in the future.
