Stolen taillight - more expensive than you might think

[jflogerzi]

Insurance....

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[daniel3507]

Does anyone know what tamper resistant bolts fit for this application?

 

[Cabose-1]

Sorry to hear about the thieves. As for me, i can inly do so much. Rivets and cutting bolts sounds like a really good idea though.

I have a teannu cover, however you spell it) but it is soft and takes a dollar store knife to rip it.

Most times the bed cover is off because it gets in the way when used for work. So i only use it for travel or when its rainy and i need to use the bed.

I park mine in the garage at night and when traveling cross my fingers. I know those taillights are a premium. Too bad they are not harder to steal.

 

[MountainGoat]

salt + stubs = pain

So what? Whatta they gonna unionize? BACK TO WORK!

 

[McLeadslinger]

Hope my tail lights are worth dying for because that’s exactly what will happen to a thief on my property.

 

[12Bravo20]

https://www.oemfordpartscheap.com/p...p4MCUJbx1VeNZgnPZgTzVvcILsANTXLkaAhyuEALw_wcB

That is $20 cheaper than Levittown Ford. They want $734.50 for the housing and another $415.51 for the Blind Spot Radar Sensor.

Tail Light Assembly

Blind Spot Radar Sensor

 

[O-Ranger]

At $3.5K I think the auto body shop made out with a pretty penny, glad to hear you have good insurance and it was covered. I was in my local Ford dealer picking up my truck from service and someone was getting their taillight replaced that was broken or faulty, and Ford said it was $1,200. Still very expensive for a taillight due to the blind spot detection system inside.

Thieves suck, I am sorry you had to go through this.

Going through the bill, they shop only charged 2 hours of labor. It was almost entirely parts costs. There were a few brackets and sockets that added more.

 

[jcru1017]

When I bought my tri-fold tonneau hard cover, I didn’t even think about this. It was an additional $1200 but it locks the tailgate and locks on to the bedside

 

[RedDakooter05]

I've had people steel wiper blades and rip off the cheap mudflaps off a truck years ago, so this honestly doesn't surprise me.


Some people really need to step on a lego and take a tumble down steel-grate stairs.

 

[NeptuneRanger]

This is just awful on many levels, having said that, managing risk is all about situational awareness and actuarial stats. Given part shortages, we will be seeing more if this, a thief may not risk being caught for a 50 dollar taillight part, 1,200 each changes the risk reward calculation.

I own property in AZ and CA, in AZ garages are the norm, in CA with all the condos and town homes, shared row garages and outside parking are more common. Your truck might be out of earshot and/or eye sight. You certainly can’t start shooting in that environment to protect property, can’t do it anyway, but especially in close quarters.

It is a shame to grind down the bolts but that will work ! Not sure if your condo will allow for motion detected flood lights mounted to point at your space.

Living in SoCal and parking a car outside, it is just a matter of when not if someone messes with the truck. It happened to me several times, part of the sunshine tax. Best of luck, keep your comprehensive deductible as low as you can and live your life.

 

[Toytec]

I park mine in the garage at night and when traveling cross my fingers. I know those taillights are a premium. Too bad they are not harder to steal.

Phillips or slotted button headed bolts filled with JB Weld when torqued. Slotted seems better in case of removal needed and all will need is a dremal which I assume most thieves don't carry.
I do like these though. Not the correct thread shown.
1/4-20 x 1" Button Head Torx Security Machine Screws Stainless Steel Tamper Proof, Qty 10: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[dtech]

Phillips or slotted button headed bolts filled with JB Weld when torqued. Slotted seems better in case of removal needed and all will need is a dremal which I assume most thieves don't carry.
I do like these though. Not the correct thread shown.
1/4-20 x 1" Button Head Torx Security Machine Screws Stainless Steel Tamper Proof, Qty 10: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

I think "tamper proof" is a misnomer, I recently bought a set of "tamper proof" bits for $8.95 0n Amazon so I could disassemble my "tamper proof" fireplace gas valve. Any properly equipped thief worth their salt should make the investment.

 

[Mokume]

Really just need to start chopping hands off.

I'm with you, there's been thousands of catalytic converter thefts in Honolulu.
The cutting tool of choice appears to be a cordless sawzall.
The penalty? cut each finger off one by one with said sawzall
When the thief passes out from the pain and eventually goes into shock, toss their raggedly ass into the ocean as marine life fodder...

 

[jcru1017]

It’s sad that Californians are just “okay” with the crime at this point. The homeless, the taxes, the crazy laws…. I feel like I could go on and on, but yeah.. this doesn’t surprise me one bit and it’s discouraging that good people have basically just accepted it for what it is and consider it a “sunshine tax.”

As a Californian, I am not okay with this. I’ve lived in nice suburban areas and in LA (Glendale) and it pisses me off what is going on and this No Bail law. I know there are a lot of Dems that lowkey are bothered by property crimes too, but like you said, they just accept it. My wife and I are debating on moving to AZ.

 

[pbethel]

They can't build houses fast enough for the Californians moving to Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Idaho.
Are they going to turn these states into open sewers too?
Quit voting for progressives.

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