TRD Pro Stolen
- Thread starter confuzshuz
- Start date
I didn't mean to quote you, but I did get your joke.
My point was don't depend on one level of security. I have watched people take the fancy luxury cars with all the top of the line security systems in seconds.
Yes, a pamphlet for his next purchase.
I know some thief's are stupid, but it would be a new level of stupidity for a thief to work at Toyota and take Toyota paperwork to steal a car.
kboxvegas
New member
I would not underestimate the stupidity/laziness of thief's or the police. I have one that I seen first hand that I still do not believe. This is going to be long-winded but here it goes:
My friend had his Tahoe stolen a couple years back. They stripped the interior and took the rims, it was ditched in the parking garage of the Rio Hotel and Casino and despite having cameras everywhere the cops claimed there was somehow no video. However, there was some personal crap that they left behind including some paper with a females name on it from a local community college. The cops did not seem interested in this information at all.
So insurance ends up paying out, and after a couple weeks he gets the interior replaced and orders the same rims. He goes back to the shop where he got his rims from to get the new set installed and there is a single cab GMC there with the same rims/tires that were stolen. He talks with the shop owner and after going over the receipts from the first set the shop owner who was sympathetic to his situation told him that the owner of the GMC was getting an oil change and the TPMS reprogrammed. The shop owner was even able to confirm that the TPMS sensors were still programmed to his Tahoe. They called the cop assigned to the case and was ultimately told "he would look into it" and refused to come to the shop, he did not even want pictures or a statement from the shop owner.
The shop owner ended up leaving a card in his truck with the thief's name on it. My friend found the guy on Facebook and noticed the girls name from the left behind papers in his friends list. Come to find out she works part time at a small coffee shop by his house. Him and his brother go pay her a visit to "return her misplaced papers", they pressed her a bit and dropped the guys name given to them by the shop owner, she starts freaking out and admits that the guy stole it saying that guy and his friends have stolen multiple cars to joy ride and strip them. She even tells them where he lives and agrees to give the cops a statement. So they call the cop back and he once again refused to come out or even talk to the girl over the phone.
Dejected, they decide to drive by the guys house later that night and there was a newer Acura in the driveway with mismatched rims and no plates. He could see that the steering column was busted and the interior was torn apart, so he took pictures of the car and the VIN. He called the cop back and left a message, then called the non emergency line to give them the info on the obviously stolen car sitting in the thief's driveway. To his surprise they began questioning him about why he thinks it is stolen and what possible involvement he could have in the theft so he hangs up and leaves. The next morning the car is still there so he calls the cop back and gets told he is playing with fire and to let him do his job.
My friend never heard anything from the police after this point. However, on a somewhat positive note, a couple weeks later the male suspects house appeared to have had objects thrown through every window in the house. I guess he pissed someone else off as well.
TL;DR
Thief's are stupid and cops are lazy bastards, even when spoon-fed all the information needed to catch a thief.
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1000MPH
Senior Member
Good one. My friend was involved in a hit-n-run with a taxi in San Francisco. Medium damage to the car with a minor injury to his passenger. The cops were flagged down but wouldn't take a report or even get out of the cruiser. The taxi left its bumper and license plate at the scene but they still didn't give a rat's ass.:jaw:
TheLast13
New member
Who said it has to be a mechanic? I worked at a Toyota dealer a few years ago. The mechanics there, never really had time to run off and make a key. Plus most of the mechanics were pretty jaded with cars anyhow. If you work on cars all day every day, what's the point of stealing one for a joy ride? Its not like the TRD Pro is so special, Im sure there are others that role into that dealership.
My guess is if it was an inside job, it was the Porter or lot attendant. He is the one that just runs around all day moving cars, pulling cars into the service bay and out. They are usually basically kids (18-24 y.o.)
He is the one running around without supervision and no real place to be.
They have access to the parts department and the service bays. He could pull any VIN info he wanted and have a key cut without even taking the original key from the mechanic. They don't need an original to cut a key, just a VIN.
Check with the OP. You usually have the option to buy the vehicle back at salvage price after a total.
Jetboy
New member
www.copart.com It's the most common auction site I know of. I'd guess it'll probably be there in a month or so.
Toyotas go for very high prices at auction because even with salvage title they are easy to sell as compared to other brands. Since practically every finance company limits loans to 50% on branded titles, it'll probably be somewhere around 50% or less of MSRP. TRD Pro will probably go a bit higher than that because it's such a desirable vehicle and very new. So I'd guess bidding will go up to around $20-25k.
On theft recovery 4runner I wanted to buy a year ago was in good but not great shape - I went down and looked at it in person. No damage, 10k miles, SR5 was bid up to 27k, so sometimes weird things happen. That's pretty unusual though.
This is a pretty interesting case to see what it sells for - 2015 4runner with no apparent damage. Theft? http://www.copart.com/us/Lot/29918125?searchId=1846579029
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Wow, I had no idea that prices would be that high. I was thinking since it was branded title the price would be drastically cut. I guess this shows how toyota holds its value.
My 2015 4runner limited was stolen at Montreal while me and my wife was on vacation over labor day weekend. It was parked at the hotel and the next morning it was missing. Hotel manager who saw the camera saw those thief just easily open the door and after awhile (didn't ask exactly how long) they drove off with the car. I am sure I locked the door and the key were still in my hotel room the whole night. My other key were in my New York home. It is the worst experience of my life. I am going through the insurance claim now. But Montreal police is not very co-operative. My adjuster and myself been trying to reach the police department to follow up. That officer is just not available and never return calls. Toyota safety connect been trying to contact them to confirm the case so they can start tracking the vehicle. No luck for them to reach the officer as well. Any one have any suggestion of how to deal with canada police dept?
T4R2014
Elite Member
Wow, that truck would have been sitting on its brake rotors if I was your friend. Possibly worse.
As discussed previously, LoJack only works in certain (urban) areas.
If your car has LoJack and is stolen and then driven to, say Dawsonville, it will be unrecoverable by LoJack.
Toyota safety connect been trying to get in touch with the police. They have to validate the case and need the officer badge number to start tracing. They are waiting for the officer to call back.
Kenny Powers
New member
Law Enforcement is all about chain of command. If you've asked the officer for help and he has had chances to do it, but hasn't- go up the chain of command. Car theft is a big crime and they need to be responsive. Start with the guys Sgt. And go up as needed. I can assure you a Police Commander or Assistant Chief does not want to hear that their officers are not following up with crime victims.
confuzshuz
New member
If anyone wants to buy it: http://www.copart.com/us/Lot/29010495#
