Well, it's been an interesting week to say the least. Last Tuesday morning while going out for the morning paper I noticed a big empty spot in my driveway where my truck had been parked the night before! The officer that responded to my call made it clear that the odds of them finding my truck were pretty slim, most stolen vehicles of this type wind up across the border into Mexico very quickly. In fact, he told us that they wouldn't even be looking for it, but if it popped up, they would obviously let us know. I was despondent. I bought my truck new four years ago, during that time, we've put 70000 absolutely trouble free miles on it, and at this point I had the truck set up exactly the way I want it. It's never let me down. The memories my family and I have of our multiple Dune trips in this truck are priceless, and we truly thought of it as a member of the family. As I underwent knee surgery the Friday prior to the theft, my plan was to spend all week at home, keeping the leg elevated, and just relaxing. Instead, I spent the entire week online in a halfhearted seach for a suitable replacement, just knowing deep down that I'd never get enough from the insurance company to get a similar truck. so I spent the week trying to convince myself that the high mileage beaters that fit my price range were going to work just fine. I was unsuccessful in those attempts to convince myself. Seems like every used Dodge I looked at online was either the wrong color (black paint where it hits 120 degrees in the summer? No thanks!), had the wrong equipment (who buys a 4x4 with an open differential?), or too many miles (how do you put 110K miles on a pickup in two years anyway?).
I nearly had myself convinced that I could live with a Duramax, until I drove a used '06 (LBZ engine, 350hp, 650 tq), which, while fast, felt like a loose bucket of bolts compared to my Dodge, despite having half the miles. I didn't even look at Fords. Any replacement vehicle I'd get would have to be a Cummins powered Dodge. Needless to say, by this morning, I was hoping for a miracle, and around noon today, one arrived, in the form of a phone call from the Phoenix PD! they had found my truck in the parking lot of an apartment complex about 15 miles south of my home, the apartment manager called them about it, according to her, it had been in a tenant's assigned spot for about a week, the tenant was complaining, so she called it in. The Police department told me that if I could get there in the next thirty minutes with identification and keys they would wait, otherwise they would have to have it towed. Twenty eight minutes (and several red lights) later, I arrived, expecting the worst, but pleasantly surprised. When the truck was stolen, the thieves hit a large electrical junction box in my yard, and took out a large bush. The damage from this was evident, both doors on the passenger side are caved in below the molding, and there's fairly extensive scratching down the right side of the truck. There's a small dent below the driver's door handle where some sort of tool was inserted to unlock the truck. That was it for exterior damage. (I won't count the liberal dusting of fingerprint powder all over it as damage) On the inside, the plastic surrounding the steering column is cracked, and the ignition, while intact, is kind of boogered up. They also tore the cover off the ashtray and took my XM Roady. I had a lot of stuff in the console, it was tossed all over the floor and on the seats, but not much seemed to be missing. I also had a portable air compressor, tow strap, some tools, and trailer hitch under the rear seat, amazingly, all that stuff was untouched!
It took a little bit of force, but I managed to insert the key fully, turned it, the truck fired right up, and sounded just fine. I drove the truck to a body shop near my home, on the way there, it felt fine. No strange noises, engine felt normal, tranny shifted fine, no weird vibrations or noises. all the windows work, the radio works, lights and signals work. so now I've just got to get the damage estimate and square up with the insurance company on that, rather than go thru the hassle of coming to an agreement on replacing the truck. I'm figuring $3-$4K in total damage, that'll be a lot easier pill for the insurance company to swallow, and my truck will be good to go again. Sorry for the long story, but I just feel so good about gettting my baby back that I just had to share. I thought about posing something about my truck being stolen last week, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Now that I've got it back, it's a lot easier to share my story!

 

Congrats!! other than a few bumps and bruises you are one lucky guy. Besides now you get a new paint job.

 

need more 'Enter' key!!! I ain't reading all that! LOL

 

Congrats, darn lucky!

 

I just teared up a little....

Congrats!

 

Glad you have your second best friend back!
Don't you wish for just one second you could have your way w/the ones who stole it! There's nothing worse than some low life stealing things from you which you've worked hard to obtain. I say this on the basis that I too have been burglarized and had my entire house cleaned out by thieves...twice in two weeks. I now sleep w/a Glock under my pillow. Glad it worked out for you, as I've yet to receive any of my things back.

 

Congo Rats on getting your truck back. I always wonder why people steal satellite radios, make sure and get it reported stolen. I guess it's the same reason they steal radio face plates, just to be a butt head.

 

no would be a good time to get a very good alarm onthe truck

 

Apparently, the larger trucks are now really popular to steal here in the border states. I am glad your story turned out well. Here in Austin the theft of the 3/4 ton trucks has increased lately.

 

Question did your truck hasve the Chip in the key that will not let it start without it or is that just BS

 

Congratulations on the return of your friend. My stuff thats been stolen has never been found.

 

When your truck is now the price of a BMW or a Caddie, and its got all the options similar to those kinds of cars...of course its going to be stolen more!

But, nevertheless, I am glad to hear a happy ending to this story!

 

Living in Phoenix, I hear stories all the time about having trucks stolen. My buddies '03 SD was stolen. My biggest fear is having my truck stolen; I waited so bloody long for this truck and expect to have it for a LONG time. I don't want a replacement with the emissions crap. I am nearly complete with mods (so far).....

Short version: I feel your pain.

Tony

 

I too wonder what's the deal with the chip'd keys? What's the point of selling $80 keys that require the service dept to program if some low-life that can't back out of a driveway without hitting something can start the truck without one?

EDIT: Almost forgot, congratulations on getting the truck back. Your orthopedist is probably glad as well that you got out and about exercising that knee to keep it from freezing up.

 

congrats on getting her back.

when i was without my truck for two weeks while it was in the shop i started going through withdrawl. even though i knew i would be driving her shortly.