reporting stolen 1992 4Runner (white) - Mtn View, CA

[stolen4Runner]

reporting stolen 1992 4Runner (white) - Mtn View, CA [RECOVERED]

Sadly, I am introduced to this awesome forum on the day my cherished 1992 4Runner (SR5, 4x4) was stolen.

I was visiting Mountain View, CA and the theft occurred at an apartment building in Mountain View, CA, near North Rengstorff and Middlefield (near 101), on the early morning of December 26, 2010.

The paint was original, so faded white.

Most significant "birthmark" or identifier: missing trim sticker on right rear
On the left side, the trim sticker is normal & runs the length of the vehicle.

Other than that, this was a classic car, almost.

It may have been stolen for the electronics too:
Kenwood 9960, JL Audio amps, JL sub and more.

Please keep a look out.

If you see it, please call 911 and report the location where you have seen the stolen vehicle for Mountain View Police case # 10-xxxx

Thank you...

 

[stolen4Runner]

The license plate tag: OR WYR-065

that is: OREGON "******"

 

[topdown4runner]

Sorry to hear about your loss.
If you have a picture of your truck, it may help to post it up here.

 

[stolen4Runner]

Thank you..

Yes, it's a major loss for me considering the maintenance costs required to keep an old car on the road.

No pic that is handy. It looked completely stock, white (weathered), and missing the portion of the stripe decal on the driver's side rear quarter panel.

VIN# JTnVNnnWnNnnnnnnn [edited due to vehicle found]

I bought it new, off the lot, in '92, too.
I was in love with that car.

 

[MikesToy]

Sorry to hear 'bout your loss. I'll keep an eye just in case it ends up here in Colorado. But how did they steal it? Were keys left inside or did they just hot wire it?

 

[stolen4Runner]

Evidently the thieves were working on my car for more than one night. The morning prior the morning of the theft, I had noticed all door locks were in the unlocked position but car alarm still armed. Highly irregular. I had naively assumed some sort of alarm glitch and went about my day. The reason I know I was dead wrong about this being an alarm glitch is because the unlocked positions included a door where the electronic door lock has not moved the post for nearly one year because it is sticky. So, in normal routine, that door post remains locked (down) when alarm in armed or unarmed state.

BTW, how does a thief get past a python 900 series? Perhaps I should Google that. Which alarms are most secure? Yes, perhaps I should Google that too.

UPDATE: vehicle recovered and impounded.
Police v-mail message said it was punched and torn up inside, especially console area; but drive-able; windows down; wet inside.
I fear that it will not be pretty.

Evidently, it had been driven to another location, stripped inside of the good stuff, and then abandoned for 1-3 days during which it was rained in.

I had a $2000 head unit in that vehicle -- not to mention all the basic maintenance. Of course, I know the nav system is gone without viewing.

Does a web site exist for stolen electronics serial numbers. I should Google for that, too.

I wonder how much damage a 4Runner interior can take before the vehicle is "totaled"? I hope not more than the KBB value. Hopefully my repair history (which is lots of $/year) will have a significant affect on the value of my car as far as the insurance company is concerned. Or am I effing dreaming?

I spent $4K-$5K on it per year. After all, it is a 1992 with over 200K miles. I was thinking that I was grooming it for classic car status. Now I am questioning all these "bright ideas". Ugh.

(based on my initial dialog with the insurance claims person) some things are not seeming right with regard to insured value versus the true value based on how much money I recently "invested' into the car... I get the impression I am going to be left holding a big bag of financial loss. How can I avoid this? Or is it too late?

In reality, must a different category of car insurance be purchased for vehicles that are old but yet piles of cash are still being poured into them?

OK, Now what?

There must be important things I should be (thinking about and/or) doing to maximize the recovery with the insurance company.

I'm grateful to receive ideas or advice from those that have experiences or otherwise some knowledge about recovering from these situations, either direct or vicariously (hopefully the latter).

thank you, everyone, for your input.
I really appreciate it.

 

[gptoy96]

Glad to hear it's at least found. Hopefully in not too bad of shape.

Considering the history of this truck with you and the money you have invested in it perhaps even if insurance writes it off you might want to consider buying it back from them after. Just a thought. If I had that kind of history with my truck I'd be tempted to do the same.

Either way it's a crappy thing you've had to go through. Punks that do that are scum and one day they'll get what's coming to them.

 

[stolen4Runner]

Hello,

I appreciate all the support from you good people on this forum. I am very glad to be here now ...

Well, I cannot fathom how fortunate I was to recover my vehicle sans the expensive nav/audio components. Damage to interior was obvious but localized. The dash looked nothing worse than what one would expect from car thieves with tools; who took their time to unhook all the connectors without haste. Even my dangling clock was indicating the correct time after being in the impound yard for 10 days... Such gentlemen.

After being back in the vehicle, I am reminded of how well it seems to perform. I'm no 4Runner expert but I think mine runs well. Today, it turned over to 210,000 miles while I was driving it around seeking repair estimates for the dash.

Although, I was not planning to buy a new dash, I was planning to get new seats, anyway.

If anyone reading this thread has a recommendation for after-market seats that are very compatible with a 1992 4Runner, then please share the name of the manufacturer (and model, if known). There must be some amazingly good seats out there for people who want good ergonomics.

btw, I will find the appropriate place to post that question. I won't post on this thread forever.

Now, I will probably add more security features to prevent this from happening again, buy new seats and maybe find some after-market carpet, to make it all seem new again. (I'm open to suggestions for carpet solutions, PM me if you know something and if it's worth sharing, then I will post the question in the appropriate forum and point you to the post)

And of course an iron bar that locks down the steering wheel to the brake or clutch! Does anyone recommend a particular maker or style of one of those steering wheel locks? Yes, I absolutely need to buy that as soon as possible. That's my 1st priority.

I will also find the appropriate forum to ask:

Where do you get 4Runner parts?

I'd like to find a dashboard.
Mine is certainly repairable... but it's going to look obviously damaged, if repaired. It's pretty messed up. I'd prefer it not look that way.

The other thing I need to do is research how to be properly insured. It is pretty clear that normal car insurance is not adequate for older vehicles that are upgraded or customized. My insurance company kept articulating and posturing like they were going to total my car over a dashboard. WTF? They are acting like vultures. They do not act helpful with regard to my repairs.

Hmmm... What to do about good insurance? Seems like a scam on some levels.

 

[gptoy96]

Glad you got it back, and by the sounds of it could've been a lot worse.

I'm not too familiar with that style and what's available for you but just had to say good to hear things seem to be heading on the right track.

You're on the right site to find what you need.