TRD Pro Stolen

[jkb505]

^^ that's messed up for real

 

[MSinDC]

I would get ready to file a diminished value claim. Seeing as the vehicle was stolen and then damaged (in an unknown # of places) it's going to be worth a lot less than what it was before. Even if you plan on keeping it for a long time, the value lost to you is real. I mean how many people would buy stolen/damaged Runner for anything near what the blue book is. If you decide to trade it, get the diminished value first, because the trade in value is going to reflect the recent events. Good luck with however you choose to proceed!

It's going to get tricky since you'd be filing DV with your own insurance company (1st party). California's one of the states that doesn't have any laws stating that insurance companies have to pay out for 1st party DV claims.

 

[1engineer]

I would be curious to learn how a vehicle such as the 4Runner can get stolen and driven away if:
A. The vehicle was locked to begin with, and
B. There was no key stolen and used.

Pretty sure McGyver would have a tough time defeating the engine immobilizer and steering wheel lock in a short period of time.
I'm sure it can be done but I would think it would take specific tools and a bunch of time.
Looking forward to the OP's update.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

I've been following this thread and feel about the same as the general consensus.

OP, Happy you get your vehicle back! As in my case I did get mine back and drove it until it dropped so the diminished value didn't factor in too much.

I too am curious how someone could get into a modern vehicle and take it for a "joy-ride" so seemingly easily.

Hope you get yours back in great shape and can enjoy your 4Runner again!

I would also suggest rigging up a trip-wire or some form of motion alarm when parking the car at home again. At least this way the noise will alert you if it happens again.

 

[FordyceCreek]

Might learn more when you see the vehicle, is the steering wheel column smashed? window broken? ect....

 

[2014 Warthog]

I would be curious to learn how a vehicle such as the 4Runner can get stolen and driven away if:
A. The vehicle was locked to begin with, and
B. There was no key stolen and used.

Pretty sure McGyver would have a tough time defeating the engine immobilizer and steering wheel lock in a short period of time.
I'm sure it can be done but I would think it would take specific tools and a bunch of time.
Looking forward to the OP's update.

Well defeating the steering lock takes 0.5 seconds like it always has. Jam screwdriver into lock and turn...

As for the immobilizer, again it was coincidental to the extreme that it was stolen the day it was serviced.

A LOT of crime is associated with business employees, those guys would have the equipment and know how to do that. Like having a contractor come do yard work, employees case the house while your not home, 2 days later their buddies rob you while at work.

 

[Jetboy]

I would get ready to file a diminished value claim. Seeing as the vehicle was stolen and then damaged (in an unknown # of places) it's going to be worth a lot less than what it was before. Even if you plan on keeping it for a long time, the value lost to you is real. I mean how many people would buy stolen/damaged Runner for anything near what the blue book is. If you decide to trade it, get the diminished value first, because the trade in value is going to reflect the recent events. Good luck with however you choose to proceed!

Yep. Generally theft recovery = branded title = no warranty = roughly 50% of book value. I would fight very hard to make the insurance company accept it as a total loss and buy a new one. If not then you'll often have to sell it to prove the diminished value claim.

 

[rydr1]

I just want to make sure I understand what you are saying here. Are you suggesting the OP staged the theft of his vehicle in order to make an insurance claim?

I'm saying it's a possibility...

 

[ben550]

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.

It does seem like a strange coincidence that it silently vanishes on the same day it was in for service.

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.

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'm not saying someone at the dealership couldn't have done it, but holding the vehicle all day for a service is actually not as uncommon as you might think. At our dealership we'd much rather the customer leave it for the day so we can better dispatch priority work vs. rushing everything out the door (more likely to cause mistakes, errors, ect.) But it is possible someone could have copied the key and/or obtained the key code.

Best of luck in recovering it, I find it odd that they ditched your gear on your neighbor's yard; that seems weird to me at least.

A LOT of crime is associated with business employees, those guys would have the equipment and know how to do that. Like having a contractor come do yard work, employees case the house while your not home, 2 days later their buddies rob you while at work.

After reading this thread I find some of the details very interesting.
1) You have a very desirable truck. A shady employee would definitely notice it...
2) The long service time could have aided in a key being made... Might not have been one person. Could be a crew working at the dealer who's also working for another organization...
3) It sure sounds like the vehicle was just opened and driven away... due to the technical stuff in the truck makes sense it was a duplicate key.
4) The fact that your stuff was thrown out on your neighbor's lawn a couple houses down is very odd. But it proves that whoever jacked your truck knew it was back there in the trunk... also points to someone who was familiar with your truck or recently in it... I mean what vehicle thief is going to be back in the trunk after just jacking the vehicle... He would have had to have known about it being there... odd that he threw it out but could have been "sympathetic" to you... haha.
5) If you have extra $$ I'd hire a private detective to do surveillance on the service department of that dealership. You never know what you'll find. The cops won't waste their time on that but you could dig up some real nuggets...
6) I would also suggest placing a hidden audio recording device/camera in your truck whenever you drop it off for service. You can review it after and see what really happens to your truck in the back... Check your state laws to be sure of the legality of the recording...

If I were you I'd hope for an insurance check to buy a new one. I'd never want it back after it was stolen like that... Its probably el chapo's new ride down south...

 

[newbian]

A LOT of crime is associated with business employees, those guys would have the equipment and know how to do that. Like having a contractor come do yard work, employees case the house while your not home, 2 days later their buddies rob you while at work.

All of that covert ops just to steal a 4Runner? Granted it's a TRD Pro...but still. It's not a Lambo we're talking about. Then again I have no idea how much money a modern SUV stripped down nets these crooks.

And then to ditch it 5 miles later? Just weird. That being said, OP, I'm glad you got your car back.

 

[chmura]

Ditching a stolen car close by is not weird at all to me, even it were not damaged at all is still normal.

People that want to commit a serious crime usually steal a car and commit the crime and dump the car. Pretty normal behavior if you are a crook. No 'smart' crook would commit a crime in his own registered vehicle.

As bad as it sounds If my TRD PRO was stolen I would not want the car back. It just gives me a bad taste in my mouth knowing crooks were in my car. The only car I would want back is if a classic car that I had was stolen. Any other modern car can be replaced.

 

[Phoenix4R]

Yep. Generally theft recovery = branded title = no warranty = roughly 50% of book value. I would fight very hard to make the insurance company accept it as a total loss and buy a new one. If not then you'll often have to sell it to prove the diminished value claim.

Unless it has catastrophic damage, keep dreaming. The insurance company isn't going to replace your car for you just because you decide you don't want it anymore.

 

[DesertCanyons]

Seeing the damage for yourself

..... This morning, I received a call from my insurance company stating that the 4Runner was recovered....

... I called the police and found out the report stated that it was in driveable condition and not stripped or burned, but had "traffic damage." I called back the insurance company and informed them of the traffic damage. I was instructed to let the insurance company pick it up instead. So they did. I'll find out more details tomorrow. I'll provide details as. Get them.

I'm crossing my fingers that if it will be repaired, the damage is only cosmetic and minimal. Again, thank you for the continued support.

If at all possible, I would want to see the vehicle before they repair it. I'd want to know what kind of damage occurred, if the ignition key was jammed, what kind of structural internal damage may be associated with the traffic damage.

Usually with insurance claims for traffic damage, you get to choose the shop that repairs it. The shop has to justify the parts it chooses to repair/replace and the insurance claims adjuster may want to see the car to verify the claim. This prevents the insurance company from choosing the cheapest shop around, using aftermarket body parts and using a shop that does poor work.

Seeing the vehicle may give you some idea of how the car was stolen. :sadwave:

 

[2014 Warthog]

A lot of thefts are "professionally" done, my "hilux" was stolen twice by professionals. They did a light strip and then drove it back to a nearby neighbored specifically to be found and retuned as quick as possible. THey also for some reason emptied out worthless personal items. I have NO idea why. Maybe they make the theft too "personal" so they get rid of the stuff quickly, dunno!

In other places they steal them and drive them to mexico.

Or steal it to use for a "job" (smuggling, transporting etc) then dump it. New cars and different cars are FAR less suspicious when performing illegal activities than a ratty old beater travelling the same old route over and over.

Hard to say but yes, a lot of thieves are actually pretty serious professionals and have their routines down...

 

[Jetboy]

Unless it has catastrophic damage, keep dreaming. The insurance company isn't going to replace your car for you just because you decide you don't want it anymore.

Have you ever looked at buying cars at auction? Lots of theft recoveries that are practically new with no damage at all. They don't end up at auction because the insurance company could return them to the owner and not payout a claim. I'm sure it's state law dependent to some degree and also based on the terms of the insurance contract. Many insurance policies have a new car replacement option.

 

[Phoenix4R]

Have you ever looked at buying cars at auction? Lots of theft recoveries that are practically new with no damage at all. They don't end up at auction because the insurance company could return them to the owner and not payout a claim...

They end up at auction because the insurance company pays out a total loss claim before the vehicle is recovered. Then the vehicle is recovered and it's the property of the insurance company, which they then sell.

My dad had his 1979 Z28 stolen in the early 80s. They actually recovered it two years after he was paid out. The insurance company obviously doesn't give you your car back after you've been paid out for it.

 

[mc813]

All I need to know is...who does OP sue now?! opcorn:

 

[Jhalko]

My brothers car was stolen out of the driveway. Recovered nearby a few days later not far away with only entry damage. The cop that found it suspected the thieves were nearby and dumped it to avoid getting seen and chased. This scenario doesn't seem that odd to me.

 

[Jetboy]

All I need to know is...who does OP sue now?! opcorn:

The car thief....

 

[DAGNABIT]

and all this time I thought the TRD PRO was theft proof