Truck Stolen from Phoenix 1/15/07

[GTX]

Heard from the insurance company today. The settlement is pretty good, better than we thought. So now I get to go shopping.

 

[Grizzly]

Heard from the insurance company today. The settlement is pretty good, better than we thought. So now I get to go shopping.

Good deal. I'm happy to hear that.

 

[jelag]

I had an 01 that was hit and totaled when it was parked... I had bought it in Canada and imported it back to the US..... they never asked what I paid for it new... . but at the time it was close to 3500 back of my best deal at Dave Smith... . We actually got a new truck for nothing based on what they valued the old truck for... something that I didn't expect...



GTX I hope that they make you whole... . that's what insurance is all about... .

 

[CDonaldson]

Hey GTX.



Glad to hear you are being taken care of by your insurance company. Hope to see some pics of your new rig soon. This theft stuff is really something that's out of control an the grief it causes, well, you know.



I got the Jimmy Jammers, the tailgate thing, and the tail light screws. Am having the Revelco installed on the 10th of Feb. As I see it I am doing everything I can. If my truck gets ripped off, or even parts from it, at least I can say I tried.



CD

 

[bighammer]

GTX, that's good news. I hope I never have to make a claim like that, but I hope my insurance takes care of me as well. What company are you with?

 

[GTX]

Been with Farmers for about 16 years so I was hoping we would be treated right. We are getting almost enough to pay for a new one. Then it will be out of pocket to outfit it for pulling.

 

[CDonaldson]

I too have Farmer's Insurance, switched to them 5 years ago when I moved to New Mexico, they seem to be an excellent company. I have never had to make a claim with them, truthfully, hope I never do. I'd rather pay for it and NEVER use it, about the only thing I feel that way about when it comes to paying and not using.



Still, looking forward to the pics of your new rig. I hope you get it all straightened out real soon. Good thing hitches aren't too expensive, but that is a minimal thing as compared to what could have been coming out of your pocket. Look into the replacement value coverage, it certainly is worth it's weight on a relatively new vehicle with the expensive add-ons we all get.



CD

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Stolen trucks, another one...long post

Stopped by a jobsite today to see a friend of mine I haven't seen in a few months. He drives a 4X4 Dodge 2500 Ram (Hemi). Funny thing, he wasn't driving his truck today he had some old pickup hauling his tools.



It seems on the 18th of January HIS truck was stolen from a restaurant parking lot @... . I-17 and Bell Rd. Hmm, interesting. Well, it gets better.



This past Monday he gets a call from authoities in Casa Grande, AZ that they HAVE his truck! It's in some impound/towing lot there. He gets the address and calls his wife and they are off to Casa Grande to see it.



Naturally when they arrive and find their truck they are devastated. The truck is pretty much totaled. Everything is damaged on the outside of the truck, he didn't think one panel was left undamaged, mirrors ripped off, tires flat, wheels bent, mesquite bushes sticking out of the grill, cactus and rocks jammed in the suspension. The interior didn't fare much better. Water everywhere, overhead lights missing, a complete disaster.



After the initial shock of this disturbing visual of his truck, he starts to notice little things that puzzled him. Both headlights were broken out with the wires ripped or cut loose. This was also the case with the rear lights as the wires were hanging down. He thought at first it was because of the obvious crash that the truck had been it, but he couldn't figure out why the wiring would be so messed up? Then, he noticed the ten or twelve backpacks in the bed of the truck and the shot gun shells. So he picked up one of the backpacks and it was full of kid's clothes. He checked a few others and the same thing. Now his train of thought was off the damage to his truck to "what's going on here, what was my truck involved in?"



He goes over and starts talking to the recovery driver at the yard with the obvious questions, where did you find my truck and what do you think happened to it? This guy tells him that they recovered the truck on the reservation in southern AZ. He says that they recover a lot of trucks there, and points to the couple of dozen 4X4 trucks parked with my friends. Most of those were RAMS. This guys tells my buddy that this is real common nowadays. The Coyotes' steal 4X4 trucks to use in the smuggling of illegals over the border. And it seems the Dodges are easier to steal than Ford or Chevy's. The smuggling is usually done at night, so they don't use any lights at all, to easy to spot and they drive through the desert and in the mountains at a high rate of speed which explains the damage.



He is pretty sure he will fare okay with the insurance company and is going to wait before he gets another truck. I thought after reading the initial post on this thread that this might be an interesting story since many of the details are so similar and may offer another an alternative explanation as to what happens to all these trucks that are stolen.

 

[Grizzly]

The Coyotes' steal 4X4 trucks to use in the smuggling of illegals over the border. And it seems the Dodges are easier to steal than Ford or Chevy's.



I thought Dodge was the hardest truck to steel. I know fords are easy.

 

[JRD]

When my truck was broken into, I saw how they gained access. I dont think Dodges would be that hard to steal at all. Give me a flat head screwdriver, and a small hammer, I can be in your truck in about 5-6 seconds no problem. Id post how they did it, but I dont want to educate anyone who doesnt already know how... If it wasnt for the Sentry key, my truck would be gone. With out the Sentry key, Id say a good thief good break in, bust the column and be gone in 20-25 seconds.

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

If you have an alarm, be careful where you put the "brain" for it... I went looking for my dealer installed unit the other day as I wasn't sure where it was or even what system it was. Long story short, a screwless dash is great for quick and easy access if you know where to look. I had no idea where to look, but once in the truck I could have cut out the alarm in a matter of seconds.

 

[GTX]

PatrickMarshall,

That's what I was afraid would happen to mine. But it would be found in just good enough shape that they would not total it.



It has not been found that I know of. All paper work is off to the insurance company so now I just need the check.

 

[bighornram]

Hey guys, truth of the matter is, the alarms can be silenced or if not silenced, nobody pays attention to them anyway. The chipped keys and keyless entry systems can be defeated in seconds with $100 on the internet. You have to fix your trucks so it CAN'T BE HOTWIRED. Read about the Ravelco anti-theft device. 30 years, 3. 5 million installed and NONE ever defeated. You can read about them on my website but note there are regional distributors and you must by from your area distributor. Read about it, if you are interested (you should be) I can put you in touch with a rep in your area.

#ad

 

[CBrahs]

Here is mine. Just to expand on the previous post, $100-$150 gets you a code grabber, lets you catch the signal sent out by the key fob and lets you resend the signal when you are gone. That silences the alarm (factory or aftermarket alike), another few $$ and you can get a bypass module and that kills the sentry key. FYI, the manufactures brag about their alarm systems, honda suposedly has the best one out there for factory (then why is it the top most stolen car?).



Here is my install of the Ravelco.

 

[CStraface]

I have been contimplating whether or not to get the Ravelco... . Austin TX... what do yall think? Close enough to the border?

 

[MickeyMiller]

I don't think it matters where you live, Jimmy Jammers and a hidden starter cut off switch would seem to be just a 'normal precaution'. I have a friend with a diesel Suburban with a hidden remote fuel cutoff swith... seems like a good addition.

 

[CBrahs]

I have been contimplating whether or not to get the Ravelco... . Austin TX... what do yall think? Close enough to the border?

I don't think it is just a "border" thing but being closer to the border does increase your chance of things happening. People up north have had thiers taken too. I would not take the chance. We are 4 hours from the border and that is cruising right along. Over 16 diesels have been taken in the last 2 months. I talked to a guy today at an accessory shop and there is a ton of Bobcats being taken too! We are working a deal to start installing ravelco on heavy equipment.

 

[GTX]

Update

Got a call this morning saying the truck was found. It is in the inpound lot in Benson AZ. Not in a driveable condition. My claim is closed with the insurance company so they are going to get it and send it to a salvage auction. Seems it was used to commit a crime. So it may be months before the insurance company will get it.

 

[ohnoitsyu]

Wild...

At least the insurance is taking care of it, and you have some closure.



I wonder why it's not driveable.

 

[Grizzly]

I am totally surprised, I figured that it would be deep in Mexico by now. Where was it found and why isn't driveable?