My Stolen Rig Is Found

[cruizer]

Trucks around here appear to be getting stolen with tow trucks. Some theives dropped a stolen truck off near my shop, You cuold see the dually tracks and how they rolled it in on and off the dollys. To steal a Diesel, it'll make alot of unwanted noise when you start and drive off with it, + alarm systems going off.

How long does it take to hitch up to one, lift it and drive off . A few minutes maybe and real quiet if the tow rig is a gasser. No alarms would go off unless the victim truck had mercury level switch built into the alarm.

[Black Wolf]

Might not be a bad idea for you guys running portables to invest in some high visiblilty "Tire Boots" like the Police use for 24 hr suspensions for impaired.

They were on sale here in GP last week at Custom Truck Toys.

BRIGHT YELLOW !!!

One on each axle should slow them down, or at least make them thing twice before using the tow truck.

Another idea is "Line Locks" on both axles.

Theft deterrents will only stop the un-motivated thieves.

If they WANT it bad enough, you cannot stop them unless you are driving it.

[droptopgt]

those trucks (f350's) are a joke to steal. Anyone else on this forum have one, google f350 theft and see what pops up. Easiest trucks to take.
As other people mentioned, invest in some good quality alarm stuff.

[c wagner]

If they WANT it bad enough, you cannot stop them unless you are driving it.

Something tells me if they pop out of the ditch with a gun they are still getting your truck. You just might not be around to report it stolen.
I like the tire boot idea, it's a pain and unfortunate that we have to do such things but I guess that is what the world is coming to.

[griff01]

Trucks around here appear to be getting stolen with tow trucks. Some theives dropped a stolen truck off near my shop, You cuold see the dually tracks and how they rolled it in on and off the dollys. To steal a Diesel, it'll make alot of unwanted noise when you start and drive off with it, + alarm systems going off.

How long does it take to hitch up to one, lift it and drive off . A few minutes maybe and real quiet if the tow rig is a gasser. No alarms would go off unless the victim truck had mercury level switch built into the alarm.

Doesn't even take a few minutes. I know a repo guy who uses a wrecker with the rubber belting slings and what looks kind of like a tractor hitch bar. He just backs the hitch bar (it has a 2 5/16" ball on it) under the bumber area, raises the bar from inside the cab (hydraulics) and takes off. He then goes down the street and secures the vehicle.
It doesn't matter to him (or the thief) if the ball tears up something.

Griff

[admweld]

Sorry to hear of your loss.People just can,t leave nice things alone.Hang in there good luck.

[cruizer]

Now you guys have me all scared, so my done up 2003 F350 supercab diesel is going into Certified Radio for a full alarm system with a lift sensor and automatic kill next tuesday....

[kiwi]

Now you guys have me all scared, so my done up 2003 F350 supercab diesel is going into Certified Radio for a full alarm system with a lift sensor and automatic kill next tuesday....

The bottom line is, you may slow them down...but if they want your vehicle they are going to get it. I sorry your truck was stolen.

[fun4now]

i would think the insurance company would give you a reduced rate if you added an alarm system to it. that might help offset the $$ of the alarm.
at the very least a home made cut off switch would at-least keep them from driving away in it. almost nothing pissess me off more than some one steeling another man's tools.
sorry for your troubles, hope the insurance guys get ya payed off soon so you can put most of it behind ya.

just a thought ???
how about a lap top computer with a camera out the hotel window, pointed at your truck. wont stop them but may help catch them. just set it to record to the hard drive. if nothing happens, delete the file. no waisted space on the comp. after all its probably sitting on the desk charging any way right, add a camera and ya might get lucky. well lucky would be a bad choice of words when your truck is gone, but ya get the point.

maybe a how to keep your truck safe post would be helpful. nothing so specific as to hep the bad guys, but stuff to help the rest of the working fokes with home made and purchased safty devices.

[cruizer]

The problem with that toggle kill switch for us in really cold Canada is that the automatic warm up @ automatic remote start wouldn't work. Thats why I went for the top of the line alarm, motion level , and automatic kill after somebody starting it and attempting to drive away. They have 10 seconds after they turn that ignition switch before the detector automatically kills the engine. Since the glowplugs take 5 of that at least, they would not get far.

I suppose a wrecker could pick it up, Alarms would be quite loud when they did that though.