First to have...Ranger Stolen

[Dan Kobler]

So woke up this morning and walked out to my truck and it was nowhere to be found. Luckily the ranger comes with Ford Pass and I knew exactly where the vehicle was last parked. Called 911 and they were able to recover it within the hour. I'm religious about locking my vehicle and can remember hitting the lock button yesterday but it's possible they used some other device to get into the vehicle or it was just unlocked I'm not positive. But the extra key was in the center council and that how they drove away with it.

So my question to everyone is has anyone had something similar happen before? I called my insurance company and they said they will pay for a new key but not to rekey the truck (XLT) Any advice on if rekeying is needed. Or just reprogram the vehicle so they can't drive away but they still could get into the vehicle. I'm assuming the dealer will charge an arm and a leg. Is re-keying the manual locks something lock smiths do as well? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

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[Fordguy]

You have got to wonder how they started the truck without a programed PATS key. Push button start can be hacked, but key start is almost impossible.

 

[Floyd]

When your keys are reprogrammed they exclude any key which is not present and cycled. (that is for the ignition)
So your new key and the key you have left will work, but the lost or stolen key will not work AFTER the new key is programmed.. No worries except between now and the time you get your new key.
The good news is that should you find your lost key or recover your stolen one it could be reentered .... Problem is if you do you would need to be sure that the key had not been cloned.
I guess the mechanical door key may still be a problem though.
I hope they catch the SOB with the key in his pocket!
So very sorry for your loss and for the terrible sense of violation left in its wake.

 

[rangerdanger]

Sorry to hear that, I used to use a steering wheel lock on my old Ranger since it didn't have an engine immobilizer. Anyone with a screwdriver could start it and drive away.

 

[Hounddog409]

You have got to wonder how they started the truck without a programed PATS key. Push button start can be hacked, but key start is almost impossible.

"But the extra key was in the center council and that how they drove away with it."

miss that part??

 

[Dan Kobler]

"But the extra key was in the center council and that how they drove away with it."

miss that part??

Yeah, I've been known to lose my keys so hence why I had it in there. But as everyone mentioned once the new key and existing key is re-programmed the old one won't work anymore. So they could open the vehicle door but if you don't have the programmed key the alarm goes off within 10 seconds of that happening. So I would feel pretty comfortable not changing out the key cylinders at least right away. Maybe eventually.

I was able to order a new key from carandtruckremotes.com for around $60 (Rem10 for 10% off) and the local locksmith said he would cut the new key and reprogram it for $95. Not a terrible price compared to the dealer cost.

In the mean time parking it in my parents garage on the other side of the city until I can get the keys reprogrammed. Don't need a round two of someone taking my truck!

 

[samsd]

To bad the cops did not stake it out and catch the low life's when they returned.

 

[PvtZoller]

They key was in the center console? I would assume that an attempted burglary escalated into grand theft auto out of nothing more than opportunity.

 

[SubVet]

So my question to everyone is has anyone had something similar happen before?

Well, it happened to me years ago. I had an Explorer with the keypad so I left the key in the ignition all the time. It was pretty well hidden... Well, these guys had a flashlight and stole it out of a casino garage in Vegas.

Two weeks later the police find it and hooked it to their tow yard. I went to pick it up, Other than the passenger's door being drilled out, no damage. The guy comes out with a duffle bag and askes if its mine. I said, "If it's in the truck it's mine....."

They had moved into my truck, CDs slotted carefully on the visors. The duffle bag contained a Notebook PC and a Canon 35mm Camera among other things. LOL I called the police because their photos were on the PC. The cops said to "bring it down as "evidence"" AFTER telling me unless there was a witness they won't investigate.......Soo I said "I'll be right down" And kept the stuff....Which more than paid for a new passenger door lock.

Since that event, I do not keep ANYTHING in my vehicles that has my address. They could have gone to my home and used the garage door opener and wipe me out......

 

[khyros]

Herm... I often go out on the water and leave my keys in the truck, using the keypad to lock it. I wonder if one of those aluminum bags like EZpass comes in would prevent the key from being used, such that I could hide it in the truck (so I don't lose it on the water), but if someone broke in, they wouldn't be able to just start it and take the truck. Has anyone tried this?

 

[Washashore]

Herm... I often go out on the water and leave my keys in the truck, using the keypad to lock it. I wonder if one of those aluminum bags like EZpass comes in would prevent the key from being used, such that I could hide it in the truck (so I don't lose it on the water), but if someone broke in, they wouldn't be able to just start it and take the truck. Has anyone tried this?

Yes it will work, but maybe a better option is to keep your key with you in a waterproof container like this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019M3JUQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_jMR3Cb2ZCBPD5

Its sold as a boat bailer, but it works great to keep my keys, wallet, and phone dry and secure. I use this on my boat, kayak, and paddleboard.

 

[MSG W]

Herm... I often go out on the water and leave my keys in the truck, using the keypad to lock it. I wonder if one of those aluminum bags like EZpass comes in would prevent the key from being used, such that I could hide it in the truck (so I don't lose it on the water), but if someone broke in, they wouldn't be able to just start it and take the truck. Has anyone tried this?

I also "hide" my keys in the truck when I am out in the water / wild . . . on my old f150, I used a D-ring with the keys and hung it under the truck. my current plan was to place the keys under the seat and use the key pad on the door .. . may have to rethink all of this.

 

[RedlandRanger]

I also "hide" my keys in the truck when I am out in the water / wild . . . on my old f150, I used a D-ring with the keys and hung it under the truck. my current plan was to place the keys under the seat and use the key pad on the door .. . may have to rethink all of this.

I used to have a hide a key on my old Ranger - on the frame rail - I actually used it once when I lost my keys while hiking. I would like to do something similar with this truck, but I'm not sure what I can do. I don't really want to put a key fob in a hide a key, but without the fob, the truck won't start. Maybe I need to reconsider getting the key pad and leave the fob in the console, even though the keypad is fugly.

At least when I lost the keys for my old Ranger I was able to get in with the one in the hide a key and go home. And buying a new fob was < $10 and I could program it myself - this new fob will be a lot more than that. You can find the fob for under $100, but then it has to be programmed. It is my understanding that you can't program them yourselves. Does anyone know if that is indeed true?

I'm interested in ideas on how to accomplish all of this - sounds like many of us have similar needs.

 

[uthunter]

Amazon has a small foil lined key pouch I put my keys in and put them under the rear seat. At least the truck won't detect them and somebody would have to really look to find them

 

[RedlandRanger]

Amazon has a small foil lined key pouch I put my keys in and put them under the rear seat. At least the truck won't detect them and somebody would have to really look to find them

So you have a keypad that you use to get in the truck?

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