4Runner Broken Into - This Sucks

[polvadis]

My 4Runner got broken into last night. Someone completely smashed the rear passenger window in my street parked car.

Missing are:
-Alpine CD player - although they didn't find the remote, and did not take the XM receiver under the seat. Didn't brake anything while taking it out which is good. I found 4 neatly placed screws on the floor.

-TomTom GPS - even though it was hidden in the pouch behind the seat, and the mounting was under the seat. I did have a security code set on the unit so I hope that will either make the unit useless, or at least harder to get into.

-Center Console Clock - and this is the weirdest of all. Why would they take the clock? Even more strange, I can't locate the wire that would have connected to the clock. I put the entire center console together and all plugs are accounted for, except the would be clock plug.

-Gerber Axe and Foldaway Shovel - camping stuff I just kept under the passenger seat

-Emergency Car Kit - simple Costco kit with bunch of stuff like a tow line, air compressor, and couple of tools. BUT all of my kayak straps were in it and that's gone, too.

I've never had anything like that happen to me so I'm a little shaken up by this. I keep looking at the steering wheel and wondering if they had taken the airbag or not, the space between the horn and the column feels awkward (and it seems empty in there) but I never looked at it before. I'm assuming if the airbags would be missing some warning light would pop up, but I've got none.

Went to a police station and made a report but I don't expect to ever see my stuff back.

Who steals car radios these days? I thought no one really cared for a $200 dollar radio anymore. And why take the clock? This Sucks.

 

[4Evr4RunN3R]

Im sorry to hear that. It happend to my dads car one time and their is no worse feeling in the world. Wish yu luck and hope you recover.

 

[Tomsriv]

Thats a bummer dude. LA sucks!

My friend had her Honda stolen and a few days later the cops found it on the side of the road and had it towed to the impound lot. Someone had taken it for a joyride.
This was about a $1000 car and she had to pay $500 to get it out of the inpound, plus the whole steering column was messed up from them hotwiring it. The police told her "Your lucky you got it back" and she told them
"Yeah, I'm really f**kin lucky!"

 

[polvadis]

Could someone show me how the clock was connected? I went back just now and took it apart again. I really don't see any wiring harness for the clock. I have two plugs free but I want to say that they're both for the radio cause they're tied together.

I also see that this clock is not that cheap. Found one on eBay for $60 some bucks.

Thanks.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Man that really stinks. Did your radio have a detachable faceplate? I would think it would be pretty easy to sell a stolen cd player.

 

[polvadis]

Just an off the wall question;

Would it be really obvious if the drivers side airbag was missing?

I can't imagine a clean way of getting it out in a hurry at night, but I'm just paranoid now.

 

[Tomsriv]

Yeah it would be really obvious if they took out the airbag. To do it "right" in order to hide the fact that it is gone you need to go to a lot more work. To turn off the airbag light would require some work, along with not tearing the cover of the steering wheel. If it were stolen they would take the whole cover and center of the steering wheel. A thief wouldn't go to the trouble to hide the fact that it is gone. Only a shady used car salesman with some time on his hands could pull it off.

 

[trd_4runnin]

That really sucks man, I'm sorry to hear bout that. My 4Runner has gotten broken into twice in the last 8 months or so. 1st time they broke my alpine cd player, radio bezel, dash, and window, dumped a pop on my center console causing my rear window button to go out. Insurance paid me for all new parts, and thanks to ebay I made out like a bandit on this one. 2nd time they broke the window, removed my Old Man Emu box with my stock springs and left it laying on the ground. This time I had to buy my own window so it sucked worse.

I wouldn't worry about the airbag though. As already said a thief would have to go through a lot of trouble to make it look like it was still there, and not many thieves would care to do that. They aren't trying to hurt you, most likely just sell your alpine for $60 so they can buy this weeks drugs.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Sorry to hear and that is odd they would want the clock.

the respect they showed the truck and the clock almost makes me wonder if they are a 3rd gen also.

Was your faceplate off the Alpine Head Unit? or is it removable?

not like it matters, I am told you can buy any faceplate if you want....

If you have to park on the street then you may want to keep your comprehensive insurance at a zero deductible to cover these types of idiot actions.

Very sorry for your losses sir, you most certainly did not deserve this to happen to you ,nor anyone for that matter.

 

[trd_4runnin]

Ron has a good point about the comprehensive deductible. To lower my comprehensive deductible to zero only added about $15 to my monthly premium.

Also, definitely make sure you keep the faceplate off. Sure you can buy a faceplate, but most of the time they are damn near as much money as the cd player itsself so its not really worth it, plus they would have to know at the very least what brand the CD player is. My faceplate now comes off every night.

 

[Tomsriv]

That is why I strongly believe in keeping the stock head unit, and just upgrading the amp and speakers. It is less of a theif magnet and it doesn't hurt the resale value either.

Funny about the clock though. Check and see if anyone in your neighborhood is replacing their 4runner clock next week.

 

[polvadis]

My Alpine did have a detachable face plate. I used to always take it out. Then a little less often, then I would mostly leave it in, and then finally I would never take it out. That's gonna change with the new radio, which by they way is gonna be the exact replacement of my 3 year old unit. Found it on eBay for $75 bucks. I got discouraged from getting a brand new radio since my incident, it can be taken away so easily why would I spend anymore than absolutely necessary...

I also snagged the clock off of eBay for $41, and I'm getting the new rear passenger glass, tinted and all, replaced tomorrow for $145.

I hope to forget about this nightmare soon and move on, but of course more cautious this time around.

Thank you for all the responses. I realize that a brake-in occurs every few seconds out there so who am I to complain... but it hurts so much when it actually happens to you.

 

[polvadis]

That is why I strongly believe in keeping the stock head unit, and just upgrading the amp and speakers. It is less of a theif magnet and it doesn't hurt the resale value either.

Well, I like the Alpine. It was a little more powerful, it allowed me XM radio access without any additional tuners stuck to my windshield, and an Auxilary port for an MP3 player.

However, my sister just bought an '09 Scion tC which came with a Pioneer radio, Aux input and an iPod adapter... if I had that radio I'd probably think twice about getting an aftermarket one.

 

[icantsee]

That sucks. Sorry polvadis to hear this.

Karma will kick those A-Hole hard!!

[pictures]...Broken Window
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=306828

 

[trd_4runnin]

IMO opinion there are A LOT more pros to an nice aftermarket cd player, then there are cons. Take the faceplate off EVERY night and there is absolutely no reason for anyone to steal it.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

IMO opinion there are A LOT more pros to an nice aftermarket cd player, then there are cons. Take the faceplate off EVERY night and there is absolutely no reason for anyone to steal it.

:iagree:

 

[polvadis]

Great News!!!!

I got a call today from the Sheriff's Detective saying they made an arrest and he's got my Garmin GPS.

Since LAPD and L.A. County Sheriff are different entities he didn't even know of my report. But he turned on my Garmin hand held GPS and there he saw my parents house address as one of the saved waypoints, found the number in the phone book and called my folks who then happily gave him my number. This is some good old fashion detective work paying off.

He said they recovered a bunch of things and I just faxed him a list of all the stuff that went missing from my car. But I at least got one thing back for sure, my Garmin GPS.

I also asked about the 4Runner clock and he said that the thieves were in fact driving a 4Runner themselves when arrested. Professional 4Runner thieves. hehehe.

I'm very happy right now. I got a new glass today and with this news it might not be as bad as I thought it was.

 

[spongerx]

Good news.

I used to live in Torrance and had my car broken into too. It's a terrible thing when it happens to you. I'm glad they got those guy's.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

revenge is sweeet

very cool!

 

[Tomsriv]

Awesome! Thats great news man!