Stolen tail light thread

[JasonTremor]

The problem with a deterrent that is not on the exterior is that the thief will still attempt to gouge around the handle. With an exterior plate they will give up right away and move on.

I agree with your perspective on that. Until something like that is available, a simple flat plate with two screw holes and a hole cut for the key lock cylinder to engage the power lock mechanism would prevent the success of the theft in most cases.

If they can access the inspection panel on the inside of the tailgate, all bets are off.

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[Langwilliams]

I thought back in the day the early "tail gate locks" were a metal plate that had a key lock in it. You held it over the handle an turned the key. This turned a tab up behind the handle an held the plate in place over the handle. I tried to google search for one but nothing came up. Maybe I'm wrong about the old design. They were a little bulky an ugly an probably not hard to defeat, but like someone already said they are looking for what they're used to dealing with an may not want to waste time figuring out a new security feature.

 

[GitRDone]

7 pages and counting. Man, you really hit a nerve on this topic. Guess I'll be backing into my driveway from now on.

 

[kendive]

guess you could add some style an security with a "shaved handle" tailgate. Remove the handle all together an have it open by remote. Downside is it would cost more than a few sets of tailgates.

Another thing I miss on my F150 I could push a button on the fob and drop the gate.

Our tail gates lock and I have a tonneau cover that is locked... I also park in the garage.

I would have not bought this truck if the tail gate did not lock...

Never heard of people stealing tail lights but I guess they will do anything nowadays.

 

[MarioCart]

I gotta wonder if thieves join forums to read the jibber jabber on deficiencies in security and then take the notes required to be successful.
I know I would keep a pocket torch and pic handy to deal with screws filled with JB Weld. Minor slow down and inconvenience but not a show stopper.

 

[KJRR]

I gotta wonder if thieves join forums to read the jibber jabber on deficiencies in security and then take the notes required to be successful.
I know I would keep a pocket torch and pic handy to deal with screws filled with JB Weld. Minor slow down and inconvenience but not a show stopper.

You give thieves too much credit.
1. You assume they can read.
2. You think the are smart enough to think of that.
3. You think they are motivated enough to take anything more than an easy target

 

[MarioCart]

You give thieves too much credit.
1. You assume they can read.
2. You think the are smart enough to think of that.
3. You think they are motivated enough to take anything more than an easy target

one thing i wont do is assume they are stupid.

 

[IdahoRanger]

Still have my tail lights and my catalytic converter. All is good.

 

[KJRR]

one thing i wont do is assume they are stupid.

That's different than stealing tailights, catalytic converters, and anything left inside.

 

[MarioCart]

you're welcome to continue to assume the thefts and market for such products is run by stupid people. I bet you tail lights have a buyer long before they send the "kids" with the tools and training out to harvest the product.
Loose change and anything they can carry, sure it's probably a junkie looking to buy a pack of smokes, I'll concede that. But they arent carrying tools and searching for the high value items. You just cant sell that easy unless there is a network available to move the product.
Junkies are left to their own devices, they generally dont search into communities and steal bigger items.
Did you know that the clowns who steal cats don't just drop them off at a scrap yard and get paid? they disassemble them, crush the product and package it? They have buyers ahead of time. They don't want to show up at a scrap yard and raise suspicions.

 

[GitRDone]

For sure, modern thieves are less dumb today as the vehicles have evolved, but they still prefer low-hanging fruit. So anything you can do to let them know you are on the case will usually (I say usually) scare them off.

 

[TomBerger]

Same happened to my son. Those lights with BLIS are 1500 each from dealer. Then the BLIS are over $600 each, Plus programming. We bought screws that took security bits to remove. Makes it harder to steal anyway. Sorry this happened to you.

Yep, this what what I did as well. Security tor screws in the tail lights, in the panel on the back if the tailgate, and a bed cover.

The shitty thing is that it wouldn't prevent it if they really wanted them, but it'll damn sure slow them down

 

[Scottlane1171]

Agreed. But more than likely it would damage them if they tried to remove em.

 

[Figarou]

Yep, this what what I did as well. Security tor screws in the tail lights, in the panel on the back if the tailgate, and a bed cover.

The shitty thing is that it wouldn't prevent it if they really wanted them, but it'll damn sure slow them down

Slow them down? Not likely.

 

[pbethel]

Glitter bomb (search You Tube) and LOUD air horn 15-30 seconds after tailgate opens.
Some research could provide something more obnoxious to load the bomb with.

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