Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Circumcised by Catalytic Converter Thieves
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is one of a handful of famous mascot vehicles roaming the highways, along with the Planters Nutmobile and the L.L. Bean Bootmobile. Though it looks outlandish, the Wienermobile is built using normal automotive parts underneath, which is how enterprising thieves in Las Vegas made off with the catalytic converter from one in a hotel parking lot.
The Wienermobile was in town for Super Bowl-related events when thieves hit the vehicle at a local hotel on Thursday night. Corn Dog Clara and “Chad”dar Cheese, the Wienermobile’s faithful crew, discovered the theft Friday morning. They had the vehicle towed to Penske, which services Wienermobiles across the country, where it had a temporary catalytic converter installed.
Wiener jokes aside, catalytic converter thefts are a significant and growing problem across the country. Las Vegas reported 2,600 thefts last year, a 72 percent jump over 2021. Thieves grab the automotive components for the valuable materials inside, which include palladium and platinum. If you’re worried about thefts, police recommend parking in a well-lit area to prevent making your vehicle an easy target. You can also buy an anti-theft device or get a car alarm. Many experts recommend etching your vehicle identification number (VIN) into the catalytic converter so it can be traced if stolen and sold.
[Image: John_P_Anderson via Shutterstock]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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So if the Weinermobile has been circumcised with its catalytic converter removed its now a Kosher mobile. Hot dog!
“police recommend parking in a well-lit area to prevent making your vehicle an easy target. You can also buy an anti-theft device or get a car alarm.”
so solve the problem myself? Thanks Officer Friendly…I’ll keep that in mind the next time you are griping about police funding being cut. Maybe do your fncking job. What…Too busy keeping us safe from those heinous speeders or beating some minority’s a$$ to enforce laws? If it was some dude in bone stock Hyundai that was “too loud” or Someone stealing Tom Brady’s Jersey you’d do something about it. Yeah eff off pig
I'm going with the Zippo Car.
Hmm..I relish what this kind of news could bring! Frankly, I never expected to hear THIS!
I wonder if they’ll ketchup to the thieves?! When they do, the cops will really tell them that they don’t cut the mustard! Although there’s gotta be SOME catalyst for stopping these crimes! I’m sure if these crooks are caught, after some grilling, they’ll come clean!
So keep your vehicle in a safe spot, eh?! I wonder how long the thieves were casing the ballpark before they made their move?!
I swear, I never sausage a thing!
I’m here all week—try the hot..err..VEAL! 😂😂