Well, yesterday, I had my second Dodge stolen in 16 months. My wife's Durango was taken out of our garage Easter morning 2003. It was eventually recovered 4 days later with $11,000 damage.

I left work yesterday for lunch from my office in Tempe, AZ and my truck was gone. Coworker saw it there at 10:45, but nowhere to be found at 11:45. Doors were locked, and keys were in my pocket. No glass anywhere so I am sure they used some sort of jimmy to pick the lock. Called my finance company to make sure they didn't make a mistake and repossess the truck. Nope, not them (I am current on all payments.)

What I would like to know is how they started the truck? In this day and age, why can't an automaker make an ignition lock that can't be quickly popped? Why do they build a $35K truck with an ignition that takes 15 seconds to defeat?

Turns out that I had a debit card in the truck (along with a 9MM pistol) that the thief used over on the west side of Phoenix, 67th Ave. and McDowell. I saw the transaction 20 minutes after it happened on my B of A website and called Phoenix police, but they didn't even want to send a cruiser by to check it out.

I am just sick about this. I planned on driving this truck for 10 years and then my son (now 6) made me promise I would give it to him when he was 16. He was more heartbroken than I was. I probably will just take the insurance settlement and go buy a 10 y.o. toyota for $2,000. At least that would still be where I parked it at the end of the day. It doesn't pay to try to have anything nice these days because some punk will just come along and take it. Bikes, Cars, Vandalism. This is a vast generalization but it seems like those that don't have nice stuff want to make sure you don't either.

If any of you see a 2004.5 Metallic (Charcoal) grey CTD with H2 Tires and Rims, chrome nerf bars and AZ license plate YUCITUP over on the west side of Phoenix, please call Phoenix PD. I would also appreciate your hopes and prayers that my truck gets recovered before they strip it to the frame.

 

What a bummer....................

My truck is not nearly a new as yours, and it would make me sick, as well as pretty po'd if some jerk took it.

Good Luck on the outcome............

CR

 

What a bummer.
You got me thinking of installing a kill switch for the lift pump. Without the lift pump the common rail diesel won't start.

MikeyB

 

the thief has a master key I'm betting. Check this web page out
http://www.carmasterkeys.net/
Recently a local TV news did a story where they ordered Chrysler, GM, Ford, and some foreign makes from the same site at the same time, and received them all in the same envelope. No one ever asked if they were qualified or if they were locksmiths. The TV crew took their new keys to the largest shopping mall in Winston-Salem, NC and waited beside cars that fit the description of their master key. Long story short, they asked permission from owners to try the master keys to unlock their door. The keys worked in all but one car. (The news anchor speculated had they ordered a different key, they could have gotten into that car as well.) At the end of the story, quoting someone in the police dept, the anchor said police have also seen thieves using home-made transmitters to unlock keyless entry vehicles by turning the squelch-like ****, but often those would set-off panic alarms too.
Thieves can always find ways to get in, the best protection used to be fuel cutoff switches, but now it's satellite tracking with remote ignition disabling systems. Keep us posted about your truck when/if the police find it.
Nat

 

During the last fire in my neck of the woods one of the USFS guys locked his keys in his new Dodge pu. he was poking around and finally we gave him a coat hanger. That guy had no clue as to how to get in, but as he slipped the hanger down like a slim jim, he in one shot, unlocked the thing and was off and runnin. I dont imagine the ignition much harder to undoo without the keys.
Sorry to hear the bad news.

 

That sucks man. I know I'd go and hunt those little so and so's down on my own and give them so good old fashion back woods justice. Then I'd call the cops on them. Hope everything turns out alright.

 

The other way they are doing this is having a friend at a dealership. The friend takes the VIN, looks it up and makes a key or orders one. Up here they figured out that the computers are easy to access at the dealerships. No real way to prove who ordered the key.

The other way they are doing it is to get some info from a previous theft at the house or vehicle. They then use this info to order the keys, posing as a friend helping out etc etc.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

I caught a person trying to break into my 90 Ram while I was in Phoenix. I was walking up to the truck and theres this guy with a coat hanger. So I asked him if he locked his keys in the truck.
He said; "Yes" thinking he had help to steal this truck.

When I was done adjusting his posture I called the cops. When they arrived they commented he had taken a bad fall and that was more then they could do.

 

Man that sucks!!!
To prevent this kind of thing happening to my truck I had the dealer install an immobilizer. Even if the ignition switch is ripped right out they will not be able to start the truck. So whenever I park in some place that I am suspicious of, which is most places) I immobilizer the truck and put my "Truck Club" on the steering wheel.
Now if they want to steal my truck they have to work at it. OK, there may be some damage, but I suspect that the truck will still be where I left it.

 

I also have the immobilizer worth the $400 they charge for it less than my insurance deductable. I beleive they give you a break on rates if you have one. hopefully you get it back before they can do any harm.

 

my truck was recovered about a month ago. I just got it back from the dealer last week. They did around $9k in dammage but nothing serious enough for a total loss. After all of that work you put into it, its all gone

Just yesterday a man was shot on a city street for his sport bike. Makes me want to buy a old beater to drive.

 

Most -

Assuming that my truck is not recovered, I am going to go buy a beater. No worries, no hassles, no payments. Not to get emotional but I don't need this "poop". I am too busy trying to get my work done, be a good husband and raise some well adjusted kids. I don't want to have to constantly worry about who is sneaking into my garage to steal the kids bikes, or is my truck still out in the parking lot. Too much darn mental energy wasted on things that really aren't important in life.

Well, enough of my sob story. I just pray that there will be some justice done in this life or after.

 

Since you've had two to get stolen, perhaps it's time for this. Trunk Monkey
http://www.bigads.com/
Click on it when you're back on your feet and can use a laff.
You have to click on WORK on the bottom of the page then select the CHIMP PIC (reading a magazine) of their most successful commercial ads.
Nat

 

that's good stuff!!

 

Alrighty then! They found my truck! The highway patrol pulled over a guy in Tucson and he happened to be driving my truck. Officer said the truck was in good condition but the ignition has been popped. Anything that wasn't screwed down is gone, but hey, I'm getting the truck back.

Officer didn't say this but the thief is probably an illegal alien who was on his way to get the truck over the border. According to the Patrol Officer, he wasn't the type to be driving a CTD.

I will make the 100 mile trek down to Tucson on Saturday morning. I will give an update on the condition when I get back. Yeeeeehaw!

 

Congrats.

Hope it isn't in too bad of condition.



phox