Can a 2005 4runner be stolen? Help!

L

lisakaylopez

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My ex-husband (friend) had his 2005 4runner stolen just before Christmas out of a Walmart parking lot while buying presents. The surveillance video showed a guy testing door handles and then opening his door somehow. He soon after drove away. A police report was taken and the car has not been recovered, but the insurance company (State Farm) did an investigation and decided today that there is no way that his vehicle could have been stolen unless he provided a key to someone. They denied his claim and he has to continue paying on this vehicle he no longer has to save his credit w/o filing bankruptcy. Can anyone help with stories or proof? He may have to get an attorney that he cannot afford and the stress is affecting his whole family and him greatly. Maybe if I can get info to provide to him or his attorney, he won't have to pay so much to defend himself. Thank you for any help in advance.

Lisa
 
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I think the key (no pun intended) is the "provided a key to someone" part. I'm pretty sure these cars can't be started without a programmed chip key. The question is where did the thief get one?

Been to the dealer recently? Someone there could have programmed one while it was in the shop.

Have a spare on the car somewhere? Someone could have located it and used it to take the car.

Was the car unlocked? Should be able to tell that from the vid.

Leave the keys under the mat for a quick trip into walmart? Thief could have found the keys and driven off.

So, was the key "provided"? Probably not. Could the thief taken advantage of any of the above scenarios (and many more I didn't mention...)? Probably.

Sorry to hear of his misfortune. Best of luck working it out.
 
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The answer is yes, any car can be stolen provided the thief knows what they are doing. Some are harder than others to steal, but they can be stolen.

That being said, you can't start the vehicle without somehow bypassing the immobilizer system which requires some knowledge (I honestly have no clue how to do this as I never bothered looking into it.) You can't add a new key ID without an old Key ID UNLESS they had an aftermarket tool that could erase and reprogram the keys (these are often regulated and require locksmith licenses to own and operate.) A key could be cut by the VIN number, but usually they require a Title or some sort of proof of ownership.

In short, unless the thief had a way to bypass the immobilizer, they would not be able to steal the vehicle. More than likely you're friend left a key somewhere where the thief could find it.
 
The reality is they can't deny the claim on that basis even if they could prove he left the keys in the truck. Theft is theft, someone took the truck w/o permission. That is theft. If any of us left our truck running and unlocked while we went inside it would still be theft. The only argument the insurer has falls under "contributory negligence" which would mean the insurer would have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that your ex was negligent in his actions that led to the theft and he contributed to the loss. Even with this being proven he would only be partially responsible for the loss.
 
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Sorry to hear that he is going through this BS. I have dealt with State Farm in the past and they can be shady like this when it comes to claims, from both sides of the coin.

As CXS has stated is the way it is supposed to be. They have to prove and then, it's still a claim. My previous 04 T4r was stolen also, it is a claim.
 
Sorry to hear about your misfortune but State Farm sucks major ass. Not surprised at all they weren't a bit helpful, they seem to be stuck in the 70's antiquated business model and are not customer-centric at all. I'm glad I dropped them for Geico and maybe you should consider that also even tho it would be after the fact.
 
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All of this is great info and great responses that I can provide to him and his attorney that will hopefully help him bypass this nasty, unfair situation. Thank you to all so far and thank you in advance for the future replies and direction. Lisa
 
ghostridr said:
Sorry to hear about your misfortune but State Farm sucks major ass. Not surprised at all they weren't a bit helpful, they seem to be stuck in the 70's antiquated business model and are not customer-centric at all. I'm glad I dropped them for Geico and maybe you should consider that also even tho it would be after the fact.
Click to expand...
Lol, I agree and it will be after the fact, but none-the-less, they will be dropped by him and my family for sure.
 
Any chance you have a remote start installed on the car? A lot of those units need to bypass the immobilizer and some will require a cloned key (or at least the chip) to be taped or put in a box behind the dash so that the car thinks the key is present at all times.
 
thats crap, it would be very difficult to have one stolen but nothing is impossible. It could have been a previous owner or something like that who had a key, or is good at bypassing systems. I have heard if you leave your keys in the car and its stolen insurance doesnt have to pay, sorry to hear about the loss
 
Any vehicle can be stolen. Not sure it happened, but one way to bypass the immobilizer is for someone to have a computer from a different t4r with its key. They just go under the hood, disconnect existing computer and plug in other one. close hood, get in and away they go. No, I am not a thief, but saw a documentary on it and it is amazing how they can get around the most sophisticated systems. The insurance company is trying to gamble on the fact that you have little knowledge and will accept their findings.
 
People can buy the device a locksmith uses to program keys from the internet relatively cheap. All they have to do is use a blank key with a chip. A lot of the laser cut keys can break the lock easily but the chip normally deters your average thief since they don't have the the tool to program it.

For the insurance company to claim it is impossible for a new car to be stolen is full of $$$$.

Everyday new cars are stolen that are laser cut and have chips. For them to even claim blows my mind since they see it everyday. I would take them to court then drop them like a bad habit.
 
Joeggernaut said:
Everyday new cars are stolen that are laser cut and have chips. For them to even claim blows my mind since they see it everyday. I would take them to court then drop them like a bad habit.
Click to expand...

Case in point Gone in 60 Seconds! But seriously that is really unfortunate situation and now has me slightly worried as I need to have new keys for my car made and such at the dealership.
 
stories like these that makes me want to invest in more security for my 4Runner. such as an aftermarket alarm and a GPS tracker.


This story sounds odd to me though, I can't see State Farm taking such a strong position on this issue without a reason. I'm not saying either you or State Farm are wrong but I have a hard time believing State Farm is trying to screw your ex out of his claim. what is the cost of one claim on an older 4Runner to a company as big as State Farm? hardly worth their time.

There has to be something they found in their investigation that they don't like, maybe a key was left inside or the vehicle was left running (since it was winter I could see this happening) it doesn't mention weather you can see the thief start the 4Runner in the video.

I know you can't get out while the 4Runner is running and lock it with the FOB, it will just unlock itself. I'm pretty sure I've tried this while warming my 4Runner up in the winter and it doesn't work.

bottom line is, it is possible to steal a 4Runner but it isn't easy and a thief that is checking door handles in a parking lot doesn't sound like a guy that went through the effort of making a fake chipped key to get that 4Runner specifically. He must have found a key inside.

Just my .02 Hope your ex gets it all sorted though.
 
You would be amazed at how many people leave a spare key in the glovebox, console or door pocket.

The people with the smart keys in the car are the best since you don't even need to put the effort in to find it. Touch the door and it unlocks and you just drive away. I have had people lose their smart keys in the car and they just leave it.

There are programs out there that will search for the code and will send the signal to the car to start. All they need is a laptop for the smart key setups and blank key for the keyed trucks. They do not even need to sit in your car, they can unlock it from a few spots away in a parking lot.

I would assume most thieves are too dumb to figure out the tech stuff and will just look for the easy car thats unlocked and see if they have a key inside.

There is nothing you can do to stop someone from stealing your car all you can do is delay it and make it harder so they go onto an easier target. If a professional car thief wants your car, its gone. For a insurance company to say it can't be stolen is just crazy.
 
wadle5 said:
I have always wanted to get one of these. Hidden unless you are clearly looking for it, but then you still need the physical key to the device
Ravelco featured in Car Magazines - Reviews and more anti-theft tactics
Click to expand...

How the hell has no one beaten one of those things? I am googling ut and its just a plug... a 16pin plug with some fancy wiring, no module, no real way to properly secure the vehicle other than essentially a giant relay/shortpin being unplugged.

The factory wiring still has to connect to the plug which is a weak point I suppose...

I'm not knocking the product as I haven't got enough information... but honestly from looking at this thing... I don't see how it hasn't been bypassed...
 
i think the immobilizer is above the glove box. unless u had some security done to your truck, the installer might have found you.
 
One more thing to add on the RaveClo I just noticed a couple mentions in various posts... Some people are claiming, tampering or attempting to bypass the Raveclo will fry the vehicle's electronics (not exactly sure how...)

"If the intruder fools around with the Ravelco system, he will short out your electrical systems....starter/ignition/fuel system/etc/etc/etc and even you will not start your truck afterwards."

RAVELCO Anti-Theft Switch - Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum

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