4Runner Stolen - CO 491-WKD - Salsa Red

[Griff410]

My 4Runner was stolen out of my garage early morning hours of 9/16/17.
Colorado license plate: 491-WKD
Here's my garage link with pictures and description of all my mods. It does currently have the Hi-Lilft jack mounted to roof roack and the low profile gas tanks on top.
If anyone sees this out and about or comes across any of the parts for sale, etc please reach out to me on here or phone: 256-452-2200

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/dto_garage.php?do=viewvehicle&vehicle_id=6331

Thanks a lot.

Dustin

 

[CO-Cygnus]

Stolen out of your garage? Jeez.

 

[Griff410]

Yeah... Walked down to head out for breakfast and the garage door is open minus the 4Runner. Word from cops and insurance is this is becoming more common in Denver area with door openers being so easy to crack now, especially the older and more common ones like apartment complexes use. Make sure yours has the "rolling codes" to prevent yourself from being jacked like me.

 

[MissouriBreaks]

I am flying into Denver on Thursday and driving to Southern Colorado for work. I will keep an eye out for it.

Good luck in getting it back. Carjacking/Car Thefts in the Milwaukee area are terrible. Around here, it is often young kids who take the vehicles on high speed chases and crash them, often killing someone in the crash

 

[jb10]

oh man. sorry to hear. if i see it around i'll be sure and let you know.
hope you get it back

 

[LandCruiser]

I've seen people break into a garage using a coat hanger between the door slats to pull the emergency release and lift the door by themselves.

Most new garage door openers have a lock feature that when the car is in the garage, you can lock it and that will prevent it from opening it even if it receives an open signal.

If the truck is in the garage, I usually lock it before going in the house. I also removed the emergency release latch cord, so people can't pull it from outside.

Since you live in an apartment complex or condos, I bet you there is security footage of that thing, and it might even be somebody who lives close to you. You can also try to see if it showed up on the 470 tollroads.

 

[Griff410]

Thanks a lot guys - really appreciate it.

 

[CookieRoe]

Cant see your pics. Anyway, that really sucks. Hope they find it undamaged. Good luck!

 

[jrandom]

WTF out of your garage? (not that a garage is all that secure) I think it is more of the creep factor.

:sorry: Hope you find it, good looking truck.

 

[No Name]

Will be on the lookout...

 

[WallyT4R]

I can't stand :gun6: thieves! Hope you find it safe.

 

[LA2SD]

I can't stand :gun6: thieves! Hope you find it safe.

+1 Hope you find it too

 

[ColoradoToyota]

will be on the lookout in SE Denver

 

[Oldmanb777]

That really sucks. Seems like the new normal around here. I think I have seen your Runner, not recently, but remember it. Its just too clean and nice for a Colorado car, so it stands out.
What I don't get is............Why someone would go to the trouble of breaking into a garage to steal a vehicle, when so many are out on the street, as easy pickings. Did they load it up with more stuff, or just take your sweet ride?

I hope turns out ok for you. Good luck.

 

[bodaciousol]

Dang. What was the outcome? Did you recover it undamaged?

 

[Seymore Butts]

Sorry to hear that and I'll keep an eye out.

How did they get it started? Or did they tow it away?

 

[Griff410]

Recovered!

Hey guys thanks again for all the well wishes and I'm happy to report that after being missing for nearly 2 months the police called and stated they recovered my 4Runner. Sorry for the delay in posting back but it's been insane dealing with insurance nearly every day for 2-3 months since the theft. It was abandoned in a closed Kmart parking lot in southwest Denver. Windows down, sunroof open so there's no telling how many times it snowed and mildewed inside but I know the smell was awful.

Here's a link to the pics taken at the impound yard: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Cb7ZDyISXA1idNzU2

Unbelievably nearly all of the off-road components were still in tact, minus the light bar, hi-lift jack, and everything I had inside the vehicle. It was stripped out completely interior-wise and appeared a pack of filthy dogs had been inside along with a bag of soil. The criminalist who processed it stated there was several traces of meth so it appears I got jacked by some real winners who luckily had no idea how to disassemble a vehicle.

The good news is after having it towed to my shop, the engine, frame, and body were still in good working order so I've had it stripped out completely (carpet, seats, etc) down to the frame to bleach out the stench and any trace of the idiots who stole it. Going to be a bit of a road back but just thankful to have it back whole! Thanks again for all the well wishes guys, ya'll are awesome. I'll be posting some updates on the "renewal" process to get my 4Runner back out there, insurance is being decent to deal with so I'm hopeful it won't take too long!

- Dustin

 

[TacoRunn0517]

Man. Glad you were able to find your vehicle. Although not ideal, this will be a nice project to bring new life to your Runner.

 

[Griff410]

Thanks man. Yeah no doubt... I was bumming hard because all the new runners, trucks, etc SUCK as far as power is concerned and just have way too much plastic so yeah definitely ecstatic to have the V8 back. Just shit you never think will happen until it does, and even though the odds are against it happening again I think a LoJack might be in order just to put my mind at ease. Especially since I plan to get it back to whole and then some.

 

[brtnstrns]

Damn they did a good job of trashing that thing. It's great you recovered it and are happy with having it back and getting it restored. Personally, I would be pretty bummed knowing it went through all that and probably not be able to look at it the same way again. But that's just me - if it ends up being up to snuff to your liking, that's awesome.