wow, two minutes! I thought the newer trucks/cars were harder to steal. I wish you the best. There's nothing like feeling violated, I'd also think hard if any charge receipts or any link to your social security was in the glove box.
Keep up with the insurance company.
May the force of good be with you.
Marc
St Pete Police found it this afternoon. Probably out of gas but can't tell yet...dead battery. Theives jammed a special tool through the driver side key hole. The alarm went off, but once the truck was started it apparently shuts off. BTW, the theives must have quickly broke open the sterring column and used a flat head screwdriver to start it because like I said earlier; the Wal Mart manager viewed the security video(only 2min).
I was parked six spaces from the front of the store. I rarely frequent this store.
Oh yeah, nothing was taken except small change.
The only damage appears to be during break in and sterring column. Insurance adjuster comes tommorrow.
The only thing I can think of do do differently would be to leave the truck unlocked with the key in the ignition. This way when police find it, there might not be any damage.
Glad you got your TV back and the damage isn't extensive.
One thing we are told here by the Govt insurance company is that a not too expensive option for vehicles that don't have it is a vehicle immobilizer that won't let the vehicle start unless the actual key is used. My car and truck have them built in.
In addition to that many folks here have the steering wheel locks that are clearly visible to a thief.
Of course all of these can be circumvented, but each thing takes time, so if they see that you have these they are more likely to go find one that is easier to snag.
I detest these people with a passion. I had one of my trucks broken into 5 times in 6 months. Even when I left it unlocked they still punched the locks out because they were too stupid to actually try the door handle first. I left the ashtray (coin collector) open so they could see there was no money to steal and they stole the ashtray. I also left the glove box door open so they could see there was nothing in there either. I carried the insurance papers with me in my briefcase so they wouldn't have my home address and name info, something I always do. Alternately we hide it in the trunk so it's always in the car, particularly if we share the driving. They'd jam a screw driver into the ignition switch on the steering column and snap it out only to realize I had an immobilizer on it, so then it got keyed. I got fed up and sold it. Each incident was a new report to the police and insurance company so I had to pay the first $200 each time. After the second shot I started fixing it myself.
Anyway, very glad you got it back.
Barry
__________________ Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch) 1951 Flying Cloud 21' 1957 Pontiac Safari 2dr wagon TV
I possible theft attempt happen to my '94 Z-28; steering column shattered by pulling the column casing apart using the turn-signal stalk for leverage - either that or it was a terrorism from a co-worker. Anyway, they did not defeat the key & steering lock... I just went without turn signals for 60,000 miles. The only way I see to be pro-active would be having a silent alarm paged to your cell phone or something similar which could give enough time to notify authorities in time to have responding officers actually see it in action. Once they get thirty feet from vehicle they are as good as immune since no fingerprinting or other forensics will be employed...
Dreamweaver
No leave unlock, no key in Igniton .Of course U know thats an automatic cancel on your insurance. So Glad U got it back with minamual damage. We work so hard for what we have and it gaulds me when people steal from not only me but anyone. BEST of Luck to U in the comming year
Roger
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