Truck Stolen from Phoenix 1/15/07

[BFoughty]

That is odd that border patrol does not check them. There is a group of fire fighters here in Oklahoma that go to mexico every year to fish. I guess passing thru in Texas is a lot harder to do. They get stopped and have to show proper OWNERSHIP and INSURANCE papers to get across as well as ownership and Insurance on the boats. They always complain about it being a big problem... . i guess they should be lucky.

 

[CDonaldson]

As of Jan 15th there are NEW things taking place at the US-MEX border crossings. It may be that some of this theft stuff will decrease as a result, or at least driving a stolen truck across the border will decrease. We have to have a passport now to cross into Mexico, and we have to have paperwork stating the purpose of our trip AND a return date. Without the paperwork to return you will not be able to come back into the US, citizen or not. This is already causing problems at the border. You must show registration, insurance and your driver's license AND they ARE checking the VINS against the registration now. That is something that was not happening, and I suspect someone with the right software could have been making fake registrations, etc and the thefts went undetected because the paperwork seemed OK.



By now, thieves probably have one of those boxes that will pick up the codes for your security system when you use your remote and a signal is transmitted. It gives them undetected entry, if you do not have the Sentry key activated it is all down hill from there. The more devices you have in place, like the jimmy-jammer, club, cut-off switch, etc the more difficult the theft will be, and many times they will just pass on a vehicle that offers too many interferences to a neat, clean theft. I take my dog a lot, that is the best deterrent there is, but you must train your dog to stay in your vehicle or they just open the door and the dog gets out, either that or tie the dog in so it can't get out. Still, if they really want your truck, they will take it. The tow truck thing is the most used method according to police stats, my insurance agent told me that.



CD

 

[CStraface]

Well then sounds like someone needs to start making parking boots and selling them on TDR so we can make darn sure our trucks ain't goin anywhere!!!

 

[Grizzly]

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.

This is very good advice, thank you. I'd like to add one more piece of advice. When my wife or I park our vehicles in any parking lot, we lock the doors with the lock button on the door before we step out of the vehicle. That way in case some would be thief is waiting with a box device to detect your code, he won't get a signal. In older vehicles, that may not set the alarm. One more thought, if your wife is going to put her purse and maybe packages in the trunk, have her do it before she parks in that lot, just in case someone is watching.

 

[UP N MTNS]

As of Jan 15th there are NEW things taking place at the US-MEX border crossings. It may be that some of this theft stuff will decrease as a result, or at least driving a stolen truck across the border will decrease. We have to have a passport now to cross into Mexico, and we have to have paperwork stating the purpose of our trip AND a return date. Without the paperwork to return you will not be able to come back into the US, citizen or not.

Just a FYI:

Acordding to the US State departments web site, you only need to show a Passport to if you are flying into/out of Mex/Canada as of Jan 23,2007.



After Jan 1,2008 according to there info is when you will need a passport to walk/drive over the Mex or Can border...



http://www.state.gov/ search Mexico



Heres the pdf with the info.

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/77115.pdf



I only looked cause I'm going to Canada in Feb and my passport expired,and wont be able to get a new before then..... I dont want to get stuck in Canada... ... LOL

 

[CDonaldson]

Thanks UP N MTNS for the clarification. I recently renewed my passport in April 2006, and got a flier about this stuff at that time, I missread the 2008 date for the foot traffic - guess I was stuck in the 2007 mode of thinking. The date on my information from the gov publication regarding the flying stuff is Jan 15, 2007. They must have changed it to the 23rd.



We DO need some better theft deterrent and prevention to solve this problem at our individual levels, especially those who would have more than normal exposures. This is NOW becoming an enormous problem here in New Mexico too.



CD

 

[GOlsen]

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.

All good stuff. Another good thing to do, is when you park, turn your wheels all the way to one side. It makes it way harder to pull it out of a spot, or up a flatbed.

 

[RTillery]

I have a Sentry Key system but sometimes still do this: If you have a 4x4, set the parking brake hard and put your electronic transfer case into neutral. Check your manual on how to do this. If the thief is going to try to drive it away, he is going to have to figure out how to get the transfer case back into gear, if he can even figure out what is wrong. Just another trick to slow em down.



I like the idea of backing into the parking spot to make it harder to tow. Gonna start doing it.

 

[DerekW]

you can't stop a thief forever

Hey I was reading a theft website that was tlaking about thieves. In order to protect yourself from your car getting stolen it just might be best to build a wall with a moat around it cuz I read something really funny. but might not be to the any guy who has lost a vehicle to theft, but its still kinda funny how rediculously retarded thieves can be. I read this "Some theft teams use casters to elevate a car off its wheels and then roll it a few blocks away then load it onto a flatbed tow truck. " I think that was the best thing I red on the the site cuz the rest was so boring after reading for 45 minutes about theft. Theres no way in the world your gonna stop a thief with race jack and casters. you could try to concrete an anchor and chain your truck up with even a ships anchor chain but they can always bring a torch and roll up in a truck that says "Billy Joe Bobbies' Momma's Welding and Fabrication" on the side of the door. So my best suggestion if you want to keep: build a wall that can stop a tank and dig a moat around it and run cables all above the anti-theft fortress (so a helicopter can't airlift it over the wall and moat. Or you could just buy a former top secret government base like Mt. Shorthill built during the cold war era as a telecommunications base located in west virgina deskiesd (sorry brainfart) by a farm at the front of the property then as you pass the farmhouse keep going and pass all sorts of signs that state you can be shot, then reach a gate and a wall that can stop a tank at the gate you are asked info and you simply state "ugh I'm lost" and a car comes speeding up then escorts you off the property and follows you across state line. I remember researching after a visit and coming up with like 3 search results on google in around 2000. And top it off it was blocked out of mapquest until a few years after my visit. But anyways you need one of those bases to safehouse your vehicles or build your own fortress cuz you can't stop a thief.

 

[azpete]

Will be using my Smarty on the no start option more often at the shopping malls when gone for afew hours. Now I have to find a nice looking purse to put the Smarty in.



Sorry to hear about your lose also. Will be looking out for it too.

 

[Bob Cochran]

All of the above are great ideas but to late now. Sorry to hear of your problem and if they have not found your truck in a short time they are right all or part of your truck is in Mexico. Stealing of vehicles is so bad I have joined in a State program that allows my truck to be stopped I think from 1 am to 5 am or anytime withinb 50 miles of the border for "no cause" tho check ID and registration of the truck and driver. I have a sticcker on the front and rear windows so any law enforcement offer will know he can stop it for the check. Will it work? I have no idea but it is free and in this case I don't care if "big brother" is watching I hope he is. As far as getting across the border with the truck there is lots of crossing then the major ones you think of nin the desert!!! Hopefully fewer now as it used to be really open in places. I am really sorry for your lost truck. I doubt it will come this way but will watch for it.

 

[CDonaldson]

Hey Bob. That program sounds like an excellent idea. Of course, the crooks will probably just take a minute a couple blocks after stealing your vehicle to remove the sticker, but it certainly IS a good idea, good start toward curtailing thefts. I think Arizona leads the nation in auto thefts or at least the truck side of them. You are right about all those other places to make it across the border, here in New Mexico there are tons of them too. Let's face it, the border patrol already has it's hand full stopping the incoming, they are probably saluting the outgoing.



I guess that is what we all have insurance for, but it sure is a pain when you have to make a claim and especially so when you loose your vehicle when out of town.



I like the Smarty idea, I did not know it had that feature, I will certainly become more familiar with that one. I carry a back pack type bug out bag with all my personal stuff in it so I guess the Smarty will now find itself a spot in the bag.



CD

 

[GTX]

Thanks for all comments guy's. Still no word from the Police. So far the Insurance company has been good. They said they will settle as soon as I get the paper work filled out and mailed back with a police report. Told me I can get the police report before them so that will speed up the process. Hopefully I can get it before I leave AZ this weekend.

 

[TCDiesel]

I have the GPS Sentry system on all company equipment,Works like this,Call company Phone # they then will lock on to the truck/trailer ,etc,if it moves they will call you immediately,also they can track it. the initial cost per unit about $200. 00 Plus the monthly charge(this varies according to # of units and Times Call first 50 are free after that it . 25 Per call). I have forgot to call and not once has it been more than 3mins before call. Or by the way if they call you its another . 50. If they cut the batteries cable it (if wired correctly) has a internal battery that will last 10 to 14 days. you can hold the unit with one hand ,so its easy to hide. My insurance company lower rates pays for about the entire monthly charge.



Sorry to hear about the theft,But I agree with Jason,its time to start penalizing these thief's.

 

[CBrahs]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174345



this is the link about the diesel theft ring.



ALSO THE RAVELCO CO. HAS COME TO NEW MEXICO!! Contact me for details!

 

[CBrahs]

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.

The sad thing is that a professional thief can have a lap top and about $100 in parts from radio shack and can get into any car that has a "chipped key" or a transmitter even the ones with rolling codes. The Ravelco is the only product out there that disables the vehicle so it CAN'T be hot wired even if you have the ignition key. Go on the www.ravelco.com site and check it out. It is amazing and coming out in the March Hot Rod Mag as well as April Car and Driver.

 

[ROCKJEEP]

Thanks for really making me nervous now. Fred is coming to get my truck sunday and it will be out there. Damn you all.

 

[Fred Swanson]

Don't worry aout your truck Kory. It will be inside the building.

 

[rashwor]

And being a ferd, the thieves don't want it anyway! :-laf



Just teasing. Sorry. I could not resist.

 

[ROCKJEEP]

I know I was just fooling. Truck's ready to go and the drives shafts are in the bed.