Stolen taillight - more expensive than you might think

[Racket]

As much as I love the bravado, you’d be the one likely in jail. There’s LEO’s on this forum that would advise against doing that. I know the Castle Doctrine here in Maine would not cover me in that situation.

The expense of defending yourself if you were wound or kill a would be thief would exceed the cost of the truck.

And killing someone - even justified - is a serious psychological/emotional burden.

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[DonB]

Between these screws https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SBYYQ7K
and a bed cover, I think I've done every thing needed as a deterrent.

 

[JustWideman]

I guess this is another reason to get my tonneau cover sooner rather than later

I had a cover on my truck and it did not matter, they just jacked the lock and unscrewed it once the tailgate was down. Unless there is a cover that locks into the tailgate that can't get cracked easily.

 

[Friday yet?]

Beyond sucks. Hate a thief. Loath, despise a freaking thief.

 

[Ranger Lariat]

I had a cover on my truck and it did not matter, they just jacked the lock and unscrewed it once the tailgate was down. Unless there is a cover that locks into the tailgate that can't get cracked easily.

So now not only do you need taillights but a tailgate.

I’ve installed anti tamper bolts on mine, but honestly considering a sticker that says that.

The POS thief that only has a screwdriver (and crowbar to F Up my tailgate) might look elsewhere, not having any anti tamper drivers with him.

Can I ask where your truck was when it was damaged?

Man sh1t like this pisses me off!!!

 

[JustWideman]

So now not only do you need taillights but a tailgate.

I’ve installed anti tamper bolts on mine, but honestly considering a sticker that says that.

The POS thief that only has a screwdriver (and crowbar to F Up my tailgate) might look elsewhere, not having any anti tamper drivers with him.

Can I ask where your truck was when it was damaged?

Man sh1t like this pisses me off!!!

It was at my townhome complex parking lot, 30 feet from my house. A neighbor had a camera that did not cover my truck area but caught a guy driving around without a front plate (illegal in Texas, or an out-of-state reg) wearing a ski mask in the car around 11 pm.

The tailgate does not seem to set the car alarm off or I would have heard that and would have spooked him.

A color-matched tailgate is $2k from a 3rd party wholesaler without the handle or backup camera/logo and remove/reattach old hardware. At least my wires were not cut, that would require replacing a lot of the wiring harness.

They will have already f'ed-up your tailgate before seeing the anti-tamper screws and that might make them get rowdier with the truck being outsmarted in that.

 

[Ranger Lariat]

It was at my townhome complex parking lot, 30 feet from my house. A neighbor had a camera that did not cover my truck area but caught a guy driving around without a front plate (illegal in Texas, or an out-of-state reg) wearing a ski mask in the car around 11 pm.

The tailgate does not seem to set the car alarm off or I would have heard that and would have spooked him.

A color-matched tailgate is $2k from a 3rd party wholesaler without the handle or backup camera/logo and remove/reattach old hardware. At least my wires were not cut, that would require replacing a lot of the wiring harness.

They will have already f'ed-up your tailgate before seeing the anti-tamper screws and that might make them get rowdier with the truck being outsmarted in that.

I’m so sorry about this for you. Yea $2k for the tailgate (backup camera / logo maybe can be reused? But handle maybe not, damaged?) The lights themselves are? $1k each, approximately? So this is a $5k theft once it’s all said and done.

I’m in S. California, where they steal everything that isn’t bolted down. Oh, no even when they are! Catalytic converters, wheels, tailgates, antennas, trailer hitch’s…. I’m the guy that parks in the farthest parking spot, to keep idiots from parking near me. But then I’m also farther from anyone seeing someone messing with my cars.

There are literally places I don’t go, that I may want to, because of where I might have to park!

You are right about someone vandalizing if they get pissed off. So what do you / we do?

Well I’ve got an idea, but then I end up in jail!!!

 

[JustWideman]

I’m so sorry about this for you. Yea $2k for the tailgate (backup camera / logo maybe can be reused? But handle maybe not, damaged?) The lights themselves are? $1k each, approximately? So this is a $5k theft once it’s all said and done.

I’m in S. California, where they steal everything that isn’t bolted down. Oh, no even when they are! Catalytic converters, wheels, tailgates, antennas, trailer hitch’s…. I’m the guy that parks in the farthest parking spot, to keep idiots from parking near me. But then I’m also farther from anyone seeing someone messing with my cars.

There are literally places I don’t go, that I may want to, because of where I might have to park!

You are right about someone vandalizing if they get pissed off. So what do you / we do?

Well I’ve got an idea, but then I end up in jail!!!

The camera should be reusable, handle is busted, but only a $40 part is shared with the new Ford Maverick.

 

[pbethel]

I’m so sorry about this for you. Yea $2k for the tailgate (backup camera / logo maybe can be reused? But handle maybe not, damaged?) The lights themselves are? $1k each, approximately? So this is a $5k theft once it’s all said and done.

I’m in S. California, where they steal everything that isn’t bolted down. Oh, no even when they are! Catalytic converters, wheels, tailgates, antennas, trailer hitch’s…. I’m the guy that parks in the farthest parking spot, to keep idiots from parking near me. But then I’m also farther from anyone seeing someone messing with my cars.

There are literally places I don’t go, that I may want to, because of where I might have to park!

You are right about someone vandalizing if they get pissed off. So what do you / we do?

Well I’ve got an idea, but then I end up in jail!!!

Just curious...why do you stay in such a high crime area? Why not move on?
There are still plenty of places where crime is 1: still crime, and 2: still punished.
If you do move just be sure not to vote for the same failed policies that ruined the area you live now.

 

[WhyNot21]

Just curious...why do you stay in such a high crime area? Why not move on?
There are still plenty of places where crime is 1: still crime, and 2: still punished.
If you do move just be sure not to vote for the same failed policies that ruined the area you live now.

Did you move, or is your location shown inaccurate?

"With a crime rate of 41 per one thousand residents, Kingman has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 24. Within Arizona, more than 93% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Kingman."

LINK

 

[pbethel]

Did you move, or is your location shown inaccurate?

"With a crime rate of 41 per one thousand residents, Kingman has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 24. Within Arizona, more than 93% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Kingman."

LINK

Statistics don't seem to match my experience. Especially since the coastal states relaxed their drug laws the druggies seem to have moved on.
I think statistics from 2020 to present would present a different picture.
And since the reason I relocated to Kingman was/is my elderly parents I have to tolerate it for now.
I see a much more rural area in my future once I am no longer tethered here by my obligations.
All that being said, the question stands.

 

[Greatlakespilot]

I had both my tail lights stolen in October of 22’. They used a small punch next to the tailgate handle to pop the lock then dropped the tailgate. 4400 bucks for my insurance. Only damage to the tailgate was the 1/8” hole next to the handle. I opted to just leave the tailgate as is. They quoted my 450 to repaint it. I hate thieves . I was at a nice hotel north of Dallas for training. If I caught him, it would have been an armed confrontation.

 

[Racket]

Too bad you couldn't just pop the lights out and carry them inside like the old removable stereos

 

[Mokume]

Really just need to start chopping hands off.

Exactly!

 

[kendive]

The expense of defending yourself if you were wound or kill a would be thief would exceed the cost of the truck.

And killing someone - even justified - is a serious psychological/emotional burden.

But it would be worth it. F crooks

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