Truck Stolen from Phoenix 1/15/07

[GTX]

The truck in my sig was stolen last night from a hotel in north Phoenix. No broken glass just gone. Heard noise outside at about 8:30 PM but it was somebody unloading thier car. truck was gone already, between 6:30 and 8:30 PM. Aux fuel tank in the bed with the fill neck and cap sticking up in left front corner. 3 NHRA contestant decals running up the left side of the windshield.

 

[Grizzly]

Wow, that really hurts. I hope they catch the sob. Did you not hear the alarm go off? I wonder if a Club would help.

 

[CDonaldson]

Well that just absolutely sucks GTX, sorry to hear about this. I hope you don't have any problems getting restitution from your insurance company and things go swiftly getting you a new ride. Phoenix is really getting bad with truck thefts. We are having more and more problems with theft here in New Mexico as well.



Good Luck.



CD

 

[Diesel Nut]

I heard something about there being a rash of trucks getting stolen and taken accross the border. All nice, personalized cummins trucks. I don't know, but this is something that was unheard of a few years ago. Now they seem to be targeting the trucks.

 

[GTX]

It sucks. If I was not 930 miles from home I could deal with it better. I got the feeling from the police that if it was not found during the night then it would not be found.

 

[jwilliams3]

Its probably already part of the Tijuana police department. :-laf



Seriously sorry to hear about that.

 

[silverram03]

Man that sucks, did you have an alarm or LO-Jack? I get laughed at all the time by my buddies for using my CLUB but my Dad has been a policeman here in Denver for 18+ years and he has never seen one stolen with the CLUB. That being said if they want it there gonna get it even if that means towing it away. Sorry once again for the loss, hopefully they will recover it. Hearing all these stories of trucks being stolen in Arizona makes me never want to go there, EVER.

 

[Whiskey]

GTX, Sorry to hear about your loss,lotts of that going on. I will keep my eyes open for your truck around Tucson and wher I live. .



Good Luck,

whiskey

 

[CStraface]

So lets talk security. What kinds of things can we do to protect our trucks? ANy Hi-Tech solutions like tracking systems or something of the sort?

 

[GOlsen]

It's been discussed elsewhere on the forum, but check out http://www.ravelco.com They've been in business for 30 years, and have never had a vehicle stolen. Very reasonable prices also.

 

[Regcabguy]

Sentry keys+ thieves?

Can the sentry key on my '07 be overcome? I imagine the technology that went into the sentry's has already been sold to the thieves. I don't keep anything of value in the truck,I just want to keep the truck.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Dave, alot of the trucks that are stolen in AZ are not started. They are pulled away with a wrecker then loaded on a flat bed. Most are parted out in San Luis or Nogales. Like said above, if they want your truck bad enough, it'll be taken. The club may be a visual deterant, but one cut thru the steering wheel with a sawzall and the club falls off. It's also a good idea to cover your window VIN number. Some thieves can take your VIN number and get keys made.

 

[NUKEMAN]

Wow, sorry for the loss. Pretty ballsy in my opinion: 6:30-8:30 P. M. Not exactly the time of day you would expect it. I sincerely hope your insurance treats you right. I know for the first couple months I owned mine I was a bit nervous because of what I owed vs. what the stealsurance co. would have given me. Wasn't pretty. I say we BURN THEIR HOUSE DOWN AS THEY SLEEP #@$%!

 

[MMeier]

Around here if you have a club, the thief will usually leave it where you parked your truck before they stole it. GTX, were you headed up here for the nat'l open this weekend?

 

[Buffalo]

Sorry to hear about the theft of your truck. I live in NW Phoenix & will keep my eyes opened for it.



There was a thread, recently, stating that many of these trucks were going down to Mexico, the engines removed & used for irrigation pumps & generators.



In your case, I hope some kids just took it for a "joy ride" & dropped it off, somewhere.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[UP N MTNS]

GTX Sorry to hear about your truck. .



In light of the recent rise in trucks disapeering I thought I'd pass along a story my buddie told me a few weeks ago.







A friend of mine own's a tow truck co in Idaho and told me about a guy who came to work for them and was a one man crime wave with there company truck. He would drive around find a car/truck hook it up and take it to his scum bag friends shop,where they would tear them down. .



Turns out he had been caught hooking up vehicles by owners a few times and talked his way out of it... "I got a call to hook up a blue Ford,sorry must be the wrong truck" The cops got keen on him and busted him in sting op, he and his buddy are locked up now.



I wouldnt really look twice if some tow driver backed up and hooked up a car/truck... ... unless it was mine





GTX do you have a recent pic you could post up?





It's a sad world where living in.

 

[Giachino]

The truck in my sig was stolen last night from a hotel in north Phoenix. No broken glass just gone. Heard noise outside at about 8:30 PM but it was somebody unloading thier car. truck was gone already, between 6:30 and 8:30 PM. Aux fuel tank in the bed with the fill neck and cap sticking up in left front corner. 3 NHRA contestant decals running up the left side of the windshield.

See my signature, I was at the Crowne Plaza I17 and Bell Road, stolen between 10-11pm from the hotel parking lot..... never recovered (they go to mexico and dont come back)... . my 06 now has the chip key, ignition kill switch and a club for the brake pedal... . Sorry for your loss, I can relate.



I had 21st century insurance, they actually took care of me and the truck was only a year old... . Dont take their first offer if it's too low, some insurance companies try to low ball and if you dont put up a fight you get screwed... . do your own comparison shopping if you need to and provide them the info... . (I didnt have to do this, but a friend of mine did and it worked, he got a few extra grand)



Just remember, worse things could happen, as much as it sucks, it's all relative... . and ultimately, as much as we like our trucks and wish great harm upon the individuals , it's just a vehicle!



PS if your still in town and I can help you with anything, pm me and i'll give you my contact info.

 

[MFalkinham]

So lets talk security. What kinds of things can we do to protect our trucks?

It sounds like most of the trucks being stolen in AZ are taken using low-tech means. Often the door handles are jimmi'ed and the steering columns cracked to get at the ignition. Jimmi Jammers and the Sentry key system are solid counter-measures. If your truck doesn't have Sentry installed from the factory, you can have any Dodge dealer install the EVS-II kit, which also comes with a shock sensor to detect glass breakage and noise, as well as window decals as a warning to scumbags.

As for the tow-away scenarios, defensive parking and alarms are as good as it gets. ALWAYS back into the parking spot when at a hotel, and set your emergency brake. The theives can still jack up your rear axle and roll the truck out of the spot for hookup, but this takes time and looks suspicious. Park directly under security lights and near the front entrance whenever possible. Watch for any security cameras and try to park within their view. Have a dedicated tote bag for your electronics and other valuables to make it easier to take them into the hotel room with you. And as was mentioned above, cover up the VIN number on the dash.

 

[GTX]

Did not have an alarm or the Sentry key. I normally disable it but had not done it yet. I think they started it. The wheels were cranked to the right and there was not any skid marks on the pavement. No evidence it was even there. No calls from the police yet. So I suppose it is Mexico with a new owner. Stayed at this hotel 4 other times and never had a problem before. Guess it was my time. I do not have any pictures with me.





MMeier,

No I was not going to the open in LV. I ran the 2 NHRA races last fall and after 2 weeks in LV the wife said she had enough of that place for a while. I was planning on running the 2 division races in AZ in March. Guess that may not happen now.



Giachino,

Thanks, I will if I need anything. I work with some good guy here so I should be covered. The company I work for is giving me a rental car to finish out my trip.

 

[JasonCzerak]

I say shoot them. I mean, they are most likely illegal, they have no "name" per say. Who's going to miss them?



I'd also blame border patrol a bit (assuming they are using normal roads to cross into mexico, if that's were the truck ends up).



Crimes up for dodges trucks (or anything)... Every truck leaving should have the ID of the driver/passangers and registration checked and matched prior to leaving.



If they don't match, truck reported stolen, shoot the driver in the face, toss body over border.







Edit:



Good thing I don't and won't own a firearm... . :-laf