No longer a 4 Runner owner

I have racked my brain about this and am still not sleeping. I am constantly wondering how it happened and feeling guilty that I did something wrong. I have never had such a major loss in my 72 years, so it is really eating me up.

Bill

Cheer up - in the end it's 100% on the thieves (and they will get their karma) and it's not your fault. Sooner than later, you will be shopping for a new 2019.
 
I have racked my brain about this and am still not sleeping. I am constantly wondering how it happened and feeling guilty that I did something wrong. I have never had such a major loss in my 72 years, so it is really eating me up.

Bill

You should not feel guilty or self blame.It is extremely traumatic for good people to make sense of evil digusting acts and loss of personal items and specially a large one at that. There are bad people who do evil things no matter what steps good people take to secure their persons or belongings and these bad people are responsible for your loss so blame them. Hope they get caught and are punished. In the mean time (it's a cliche) but nevertheless works is focus on the little things that bring you joy family, friends etc. Hope you get a good outcome.
 
I have racked my brain about this and am still not sleeping. I am constantly wondering how it happened and feeling guilty that I did something wrong. I have never had such a major loss in my 72 years, so it is really eating me up.

Bill

Bill,

Don't let this get to you and don't feel guilty about it. There are all sorts of sophisticated criminals out there and I doubt that you did anything wrong or that there is anything you could have done to prevent this.
 
I have racked my brain about this and am still not sleeping. I am constantly wondering how it happened and feeling guilty that I did something wrong. I have never had such a major loss in my 72 years, so it is really eating me up.

Bill

Based on what you've told us, you've done nothing wrong.

You didn't steal anything. No need for guilt.

Use this experience as occasion for growth. Turn it into something positive.

That's the quickest way to feel better about yourself and fate.
 
My wife saw this on tv and stopped locking her limited with the fob. She only uses the door button. Now, I do the same, even though I have a key. I don't know if unlock does the same thing.

It would actually be safer for her to only lock the car with the fob. That signal isn't going to be much use to a thief. It's the unlock signal they're after.
 
This. Most thieves will park in the victim's work parking lot with an RF antenna attached to a laptop. When you open the door with the remote, they intercept the signal. Then it's just a matter of figuring out where you live and transmitting the signal.

Car remotes need to move to rolling access codes (like garage door openers) instead of static codes.
The keys already have rolling codes. Just not secure rolling codes. The code device "steals" a code for later one time use. The user could notice to because one time the lock/unlock button would fail to work (the device stole that code for later use). It can then unlock the door. You can't drive off using that stolen code. Only good to break in without a scratch.
 
It would actually be safer for her to only lock the car with the fob. That signal isn't going to be much use to a thief. It's the unlock signal they're after.

When she pulls the handle and the car unlocks I assume a code has been sent?
 
Very sorry for your loss - I can only imagine the frustration. Car can be replaced, and hopefully your home insurance will take care of the other items.

Keep us posted, and keep your head up!
 
You can defeat the club in about 1 minute with a hacksaw. Sorry this happened to you. Instead, I would install a hidden interlock or disable switch.

How about unplug the gas pedal. That would throw the thieves for a loop. They could start the car, but then not be able to drive off quickly as the car will only be idling. Actually, that might be funny to watch. Good luck OP.
 
I have an older 2012 SR5, mine doesn't come with Safety Connect, but I'm not sure if all newer model 4runners have them or just certain class. Can't law enforcement use safety connect and track the car or is that a service you have to sign up for in order to be utilized? I know on GM, LE can locate stolen cars with OnStar. I've always been suspicious of thieves targeting vehicles that don't come equipped with assist/tracking devices.

https://www.toyota.com/owners/resou...se&csrfToken=15435897710355510823494053750818
 
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I have racked my brain about this and am still not sleeping. I am constantly wondering how it happened and feeling guilty that I did something wrong. I have never had such a major loss in my 72 years, so it is really eating me up.

Bill

The only thing you're guilty of Bill is buying a dead sexy truck that someone else wanted so badly they needed to break the law. My gfs Wrangler was stolen last year here in Philadelphia, along with 2 others on the same night. In her case they believe it was a box-truck job where they nab cars off corners that aren't parallel parked, pulling up to them with a box truck and winching them right in and gone..of course the Wrangler is one of the easiest to steal unlike your T4R but rest assured insurance will take care of you. I also just had my credit card info stolen on Black Friday somehow, and attempted $300 gift card purchase online...it's unfortunately the world we live in. All will be good in time, have a nice holiday and enjoy the extra time with family.
 
I have an older 2012 SR5, mine doesn't come with Safety Connect, but I'm not sure if all newer model 4runners have them or just certain class. Can't law enforcement use safety connect and track the car or is that a service you have to sign up for in order to be utilized? I know on GM, LE can locate stolen cars with On Star. I've always been suspicious of thieves targeting vehicles that don't come equipped with assist/tracking devices.

https://www.toyota.com/owners/resou...se&csrfToken=15435897710355510823494053750818

I work for an independent car dealer, and we had a Dodge stolen before. Dodge does have the UConnect system that can track the car, but only if you pay for it. They won't even track it for law enforcement. We had an officer on the case call and ask them and they denied him. GM though on the other hand gave an officer the tracking through OnStar even though the car didn't have a subscription on a similar stolen car case we were helping with.
 
Hey OP, I'm in the denver area and I'll keep my eyes peeled. Did you also check the tow companies here? One company in particular, wyatts towing, is notorious for towing cars even when there are no signs and they are parked legally.
 
when I first read the OP title I thought it was just another POG moving on to another SUV.

Sorry to hear you rig was stolen, I wouldn't trust a CLUB either. With battery operated tools it wouldn't slow anyone determined down.
 
OP - Best of luck and so sorry for your loss. I hesitate to write this because I don’t want to add to the emotional toll, but feel like I need to share this story with you.

Years ago, I had a roommate have her car stolen. Turned out it was a co-worker who took the keys out of her purse after she had just driven the co-worker to lunch that day. She barely mentioned in passing how she thought it was odd how much her co-worker was complimenting her car and later that day had an odd interaction with the same co-worker at her desk, but immediately dismissed the idea of her as a suspect as ridiculous. I pushed her to check it out. We looked up her address, drove to the house, and there in the driveway was her stolen car.

I’m not saying this was the same deal but it sure sounds like an inside job. (That or a towing mixup, as others have mentioned, but I suspect you have ruled hat out from the tracks in the snow. ). If you have even the slightest suspicion, follow up on it. Trust, but verify, and don’t feel guilty about doing so. Nice, upstanding people have a tendency not to check things out because of guilt that they are not fully trusting of the people close to them. If you have anybody close to you with substance abuse issues or money problems, you really owe it to yourself to verify. Otherwise good people get themselves in situations where they justify terrible behavior.

Are all the known keys/remotes accounted for? If you are traveling and some are at home, have someone you completely trust (a catch 22 I know), verify for you.

Again, I hope the thoughts above don’t add to what is surely a tough time emotionally. Best wishes to you.
 
One other thought - talk to all the neighbors. These days tons of people have Ring, Nest, or other cameras pointed at the street. Someone is bound to have seen or caught something. Do that now before that data gets purged.
 
One other thought - talk to all the neighbors. These days tons of people have Ring, Nest, or other cameras pointed at the street. Someone is bound to have seen or caught something. Do that now before that data gets purged.
What dlstyley said.
 
I have racked my brain about this and am still not sleeping. I am constantly wondering how it happened and feeling guilty that I did something wrong. I have never had such a major loss in my 72 years, so it is really eating me up.

Bill

Guilty!? First or all, all you are guilty of is making a sweet ride that had enough value to risk arrest so kudos to you in my book!

Maybe the thieves in the area you were visiting were more hi tech than home but insurance realizes this so add a few bucks for your hassle and have a fun story:) truck will show up eventually
 
One other thought - talk to all the neighbors. These days tons of people have Ring, Nest, or other cameras pointed at the street. Someone is bound to have seen or caught something. Do that now before that data gets purged.

I'd also keep an eye out on Craigslist for the camera equipment. Sorry this happened to you, and good luck.
 

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