Would this strategy still be effective for protection against a flat-bed?
http://www.towinglosangeles.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/centurycitytowing2.jpg
evil has no limits.
TRD Pro Stolen
- Thread starter confuzshuz
- Start date
Would this strategy still be effective for protection against a flat-bed?
http://www.towinglosangeles.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/centurycitytowing2.jpg
evil has no limits.
ouscubagrad
New member
Gypsy tow trucks are getting more and more common, unfortunately. There is a huge black market in Mexico for stolen cars from the USA...
confuzshuz
New member
Hello to the T4R community. Just wanted to give an update. Unfortunately, the vehicle is still missing. However, it turns out my air compressor and emergency kit, which I keep in the vehicle, were thrown out and landed on the neighbor's yard, about 4 houses down from me. The neighbor found the bags in the front lawn Saturday morning around 11 AM. It was returned to me this morning. The receipt was inside the storage bag and it had my address.
When I filed the report, PD told me that I might get a call from a detective on Monday. I'm gonna bring up the compressor as it might have the suspects fingerprints on it.
The 4Runner has an alarm. It did not go off. There was no broken glass either. The dog didn't even bark. I doubt it was a towed. My room window was open and I think I would have heard it. Both keys are in my possession. I was intending on getting LoJack, but I guess I waited too long.
To give further insight, I brought the vehicle in for its 5000K service at 9AM at the Toyota dealer on Friday. I didn't get it back until 5PM or so. I don't know if that means anything, but who knows. There was an alignment done as well, but it usually doesn't take 8 hours to take care of these things.
In any case, I did call the insurance company on Saturday. I was told I would be receiving a call on Monday.
For those of you that are familiar with Sylmar, it has gotten worse over the years. My neighbor's car was broken into about a month ago. Alarm did not go off either. Our community security isn't very helpful. However, the gates to the community do have cameras. I just need to find out if they work.
I'll keep everyone updated as soon as I have any new information.
Again, thank you.
When I filed the report, PD told me that I might get a call from a detective on Monday. I'm gonna bring up the compressor as it might have the suspects fingerprints on it.
The 4Runner has an alarm. It did not go off. There was no broken glass either. The dog didn't even bark. I doubt it was a towed. My room window was open and I think I would have heard it. Both keys are in my possession. I was intending on getting LoJack, but I guess I waited too long.
To give further insight, I brought the vehicle in for its 5000K service at 9AM at the Toyota dealer on Friday. I didn't get it back until 5PM or so. I don't know if that means anything, but who knows. There was an alignment done as well, but it usually doesn't take 8 hours to take care of these things.
In any case, I did call the insurance company on Saturday. I was told I would be receiving a call on Monday.
For those of you that are familiar with Sylmar, it has gotten worse over the years. My neighbor's car was broken into about a month ago. Alarm did not go off either. Our community security isn't very helpful. However, the gates to the community do have cameras. I just need to find out if they work.
I'll keep everyone updated as soon as I have any new information.
Again, thank you.
Good luck to you brother. I'm just down the road from you in Sherman Oaks. Had my 'Runner broken into and my briefcase stolen a few months back. Really shitty, I'm sure it was someone looking for a laptop. Instead, the idiot got 50 pages of commodities research.
I really hope stealing 4Runners with offroad gear doesn't become a trend. I would really hate that. Purely out of curiousity, which dealer did your service? Hamer? I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but you never know.
Best of luck, hang in there.
I really hope stealing 4Runners with offroad gear doesn't become a trend. I would really hate that. Purely out of curiousity, which dealer did your service? Hamer? I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but you never know.
Best of luck, hang in there.
DesertCanyons
New member
Steering wheel lock
Yes, probably so. Your link shows a flatbed tow truck with side gates. Here in So Cal the tow trucks don't have the side gates. It's just an open flat bed.
With the wheels locked at a skew you could not pull it up a narrow truck bed without it rolling over the side. I'd expect the same results whether you pull it forward or backward, but it'd be worse in reverse.
Yes, probably so. Your link shows a flatbed tow truck with side gates. Here in So Cal the tow trucks don't have the side gates. It's just an open flat bed.
With the wheels locked at a skew you could not pull it up a narrow truck bed without it rolling over the side. I'd expect the same results whether you pull it forward or backward, but it'd be worse in reverse.
wonder if you can ask the dealer if it was possible to check if a new key was made for your 4runner while it was being serviced.
Bevo
New member
It does seem like a strange coincidence that it silently vanishes on the same day it was in for service.
You can use air skates and a jack to easily fix this. We use air skates and a lot of other tools to move 'tools' around here in the Portland, OR area. Take a several ton tool and move it with out damaging the RMF or causing any particulates into the air due to clean room =).
If they really had that equipment though, they should have gone after with more 0000's on it.
Bevo
New member
Yes, they do come with nav, but I don't think there is a way to do a locate through it. It can be done through the Safety Connect service, but that is only available on the Limiteds I think.
I don't think that Lojack came from APRS.
But that reminds me, I need to finish my APRS setup. At this point, probably easier to buy a TNC2 than wire up my TinyTrak3 and serial GPS.
wadle5
New member
Dealership nay Stealership in question
I might be hitting the ground running and grasping at straws. . .but basic 5k maint takes ALL DAY, and later that night the vehicle is stolen, with no alarm, no sound, no forced entry. Although a repo wrecker is plausible it seems extremely coincidental that after picking up from the dealership on extended stay(someone could have copied a key and they have your address info on file)
Either way sorry man, but good luck, and I would definitely bring the dealership up to law enforcement. Moreso go to the dealership yourself and ask the Service Manager for a record of all individuals: service tech/service writers/porters/detailers who ran it through car wash. Anyone and EVERYONE involved with your vehicle that day, including whoever provides the spare keys in the parts dept.
GOOD LUCK we are rooting for you:cowboy:
edit: also ask the dealership who are new employees/summer help/has this happened in the past/is the dealership known for this? I would absolutely start to do some of my own legwork instead of relying on authorities if my brand new TRD PRO was stolen. . .and then some.
I might be hitting the ground running and grasping at straws. . .but basic 5k maint takes ALL DAY, and later that night the vehicle is stolen, with no alarm, no sound, no forced entry. Although a repo wrecker is plausible it seems extremely coincidental that after picking up from the dealership on extended stay(someone could have copied a key and they have your address info on file)
Either way sorry man, but good luck, and I would definitely bring the dealership up to law enforcement. Moreso go to the dealership yourself and ask the Service Manager for a record of all individuals: service tech/service writers/porters/detailers who ran it through car wash. Anyone and EVERYONE involved with your vehicle that day, including whoever provides the spare keys in the parts dept.
GOOD LUCK we are rooting for you:cowboy:
edit: also ask the dealership who are new employees/summer help/has this happened in the past/is the dealership known for this? I would absolutely start to do some of my own legwork instead of relying on authorities if my brand new TRD PRO was stolen. . .and then some.
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jrandom
New member
I completely agree with others. Too close to be a coincidence IMO. To add, I would guess that no fewer than four people (service writer, mechanic, lube tech, alignment specialist, wash boy, lot boy, cashier, ect) had access to your keys at any point in time. Anyone one of them could have cloned your key and sold it. Just saying don't overlook it.
kapp_badbloodz
New member
****ing THIS!
Stealerships usually make you drop it off and they work on it at their leisure. That is the only patsy they may have. But since it took forever... i'd suggest letting the PD know when they talk to you.
EDIT:
Its also incredibly easy to steal newer cars now adays. They have these things called computers in them. All you need is a gateway (internet/BT/etc). I believe you can manually shift from P to N and roll the vehicle... make sure you keep your hands off the compressor and other items so they can pull prints. Also get the names of the people who have handled the property handy so the PD can talk to them and get prints so they can identify friendlies who have handled the items. Start taking notes on things that you remember. Vehicles that have followed you that didnt belong in the area perhaps. A few drive bys at odd hours. People asking you questions about your car. Nothing is too minor. But... like someone else said: if these are professionals your truck is probably gone
in NJ kids would steal popular cars and literally HACK THEM TO SHIT just to get your hubs. It was bad.
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Mgyver1
Member
I highly recommend Lojack and think it works incredibly well. There's no yearly fee with the basic Lojack but they do have higher end systems with extra features that would have a monthly fee. It is expensive up front but it's a one time purchase and will always be there if you need it.
I could be wrong, but back in the day when I though Low Jack was a good system, my thoughts of Low Jack went down the drain when I realized that the local police had to be equipped with the Low Jack location system and if they didn't have it, you were screwed.
I heard about Low Jack going GPS, but haven't looked into it, and do you know what happens to GPS when in a brick building or under a bridge?
Hellamatic
New member
It was probably [MENTION=104049]marshal[/MENTION] stealing it so he could put the TRD Pro decorations on his truck while it's in the body shop.
Seriously though, having a vehicle stolen sucks serious balls. I had my '98 ram stolen back in 2002 and it was a huge pain in the ass. They ended up finding it within 24 hours. I didn't go through insurance to repair the damage they caused or the stereo gear they stole, so it was $2000 out of my pocket. Including $500 just to get the truck out of hock at the impound yard. Hope it all works out for you man.
Seriously though, having a vehicle stolen sucks serious balls. I had my '98 ram stolen back in 2002 and it was a huge pain in the ass. They ended up finding it within 24 hours. I didn't go through insurance to repair the damage they caused or the stereo gear they stole, so it was $2000 out of my pocket. Including $500 just to get the truck out of hock at the impound yard. Hope it all works out for you man.
marshal
New member
Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick
