Stolen spare tire....

It would appear that the cable was cut through the hub center. How to do it? Hacksaw blade, dyke cutter and a tremendous grip, portable dremel type tool with cut off wheel. I would think that if you ripped the valve stem off the wheel, deflation would let you push the tire up a bit. Perhaps enough to simply un hook it....

Probably not as hard as you think, but to time consuming for most dirt bags...

DanC
 
Keep an eye on the other 4Runners that you park next to, guys who steal spares especially ones as hard as underneith the truck know what their doing, and have to specalize in it, the rim/tire both where probably sold for 50 bucks to someone who had a damaged wheel, maybe they will come back maybe they won't.

I know of several people who had spares stolen and somehow they do it, it's hard but can be done.

If you park in high crime areas, just bad areas thats the risk you take, I use to know guys who would get you anything you want for your car, real cheap they had kids do it, I had a cousin who had a TL, they stole the HID 3 times he went to sell it and they stole the HID again, everytime was 4000 in damage, it's to bad they never get caught in the act.

I've looked at the spare and my tools that could cut it down won't fit and I could not get leverage so who ever did it must of figured it out, I'd ask the other people if they ever lost a spare, it's to bad you did not dust the underneith for fingerprints, maybe the person who did it is on record;):
 
You are not going to believe but there is more to this story....
So today I went back to work and I decided to go few minutes earlier to look for those pieces that hold spare. I thought that I might save at least few $$$ if I find them.. I went to the place I parked on Thursday and I found all those pieces. So I picked all of them and I have some pics to show You how they look like. But wait..There is more.... Around 10 am I talked to my boss and told him about my missing spare and he said that it
 

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Also I stopped today in one small show that sells used tires and asked for rim to 4R..They had it of course. They asked 150$ for it with a used tire....With brand new tire 250$. However since it had some scratches and they couldn
 
Damn, just read this thread and that totally sucks man. I'll definitely have to buy one of those as its cheap insuarance...

$40 now, or a couple hundred later... easy choice..
 
Those pictures are amazing. You can see where the person cut the cable. I am glad you got your parts back.

I went out and checked mine, just in case. By the way, I left the profanity in this thread. I figured you were mad and it came through. By the way, the guy you stole your tire is a real asshole.
 
i would not suggest getting the cable locks. get something like what i found and posted earlier. these guys have cable cutters.....so a cable lock is not going to stop them.

btw.....is there some kind of serial number etched into the rims somewhere? i was just thinking that if there is, and you find these rims at a shop you can check it, and if it's yours or scratched off...call the cops.
 
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TranceKrayz said:
i would not suggest getting the cable locks. get something like what i found and posted earlier. these guys have cable cutters.....so a cable lock is not going to stop them.

btw.....is there some kind of serial number etched into the rims somewhere? i was just thinking that if there is, and you find these rims at a shop you can check it, and if it's yours or scratched off...call the cops.
Click to expand...

:iagree: Forget cable locks...... Many people have chains with locks but I think that lock You found is perfect.

As for number...forget it.....I'm sure that most of those small "used tire stores" sell stolen rims and tires. Some teen punks steal stuff and sell them for 50$ to the "used tire store"and that store asks 150$ for rim alone.... And because there is so many of these places it is almost impassible to find the one I
 
peter78 said:
I went out and checked mine, just in case. By the way, I left the profanity in this thread. I figured you were mad and it came through.
Click to expand...

When You go and check your spare, you can only see if it is still there or they stole it already. So if You live or work in a bad area, better install something to be safe....and if not ...well....lucky You...;):

As for profanity.....thanks for understanding.... Can You imagine what could that money (that I have to spend now on new spare) buy for my 4R ??? That is what makes me so mad....:mad:
 
Theft clue

Looking at the pictures of the spare tire retainer (thanks for taking the time to post them!) I see that the metal tab that's meant to protrude up through one of the lug nut holes is bent over nearly flat, instead of being at a right angle to the retainer. I wonder if this is a clue to how they got the retainer off? Of course it may just be that the retainer was run over after it was on the ground, and the tab was bent that way.
 
TranceKrayz said:
btw.....is there some kind of serial number etched into the rims somewhere? i was just thinking that if there is, and you find these rims at a shop you can check it, and if it's yours or scratched off...call the cops.
Click to expand...

The tire pressure sensor should still be registered to the vehicle. Find the rim, move it close to the 4Runner, if the blinking light goes quiet, it's your rim.
 
Seems like a simple cover to prevent access to the tire carrier and cable would provide a solution.

Cut some 2X6 or 8 to fit within the wheel cavity. The longer the beter. Bore out a center hole big enough to accomodate the protruding carrier spring-not all the way through. Drill a hole to align with one of the wheel's lug holes. Get hold of a 3/8" Carrige bolt 2-3" long , a hex nut, washers and a wing nut. Pound the carrige bolt into the wood so it won't spin! A hex nut turned all the way down will lock it in place. A stand-off or snip of hose will protect the wheel. Or you could bore a recess to accomodate the nut below the surface.

Lower the tire. Fit it to the wheel from below. From the top side place the washer and tighten down the wing nut hand tight. Raise the tire back into place.

Your spare is now armored against theft from below. (Unless the dirt-bag can split the block or grind off the bolt head-NOT.) Down side is you'll have to undo the wing nut to release the block before taking the wheel off its cable/carrier. On the other hand, you'll always have a piece of lumber to set your jack on if needed. Given the crud potential of this location use stainless hardware and tread protectant.

*** NOTE ****I haven't made one - Clearance between wheel and chasis is a potential problem. However, the cable spool looks pretty tall so its probably not an issue. Don't use bolts any longer than necessary.***

Feel free to use 2 or 3 bolts if you want. If rattling is a concern, put a spring under the wing nut. I'm sure some of you will want to dimond plate the exposed side or use a metal plate instead of wood.

DanC
 
mustangsally said:
The tire pressure sensor should still be registered to the vehicle. Find the rim, move it close to the 4Runner, if the blinking light goes quiet, it's your rim.
Click to expand...
Is this how it works? I was wondering how do they work.....So if I buy new sensor from dealer do I have to program it somehow?
 
DanC said:
Seems like a simple cover to prevent access to the tire carrier and cable would provide a solution.
Click to expand...

Thanks for good idea.... Cover will also work. My dad suggested same thing. The only problem is that it's too late for me. I hope that at least others after reading this thread might think about locking their spare. .
 
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