12-23-2022, 02:48 AM
I've mentioned before that our shop is in a somewhat unsavory part of Orange County. Years ago, we retired one of our F350 Dually tow rigs to our office to use as a shop truck. It was parked behind our shop. The tailgate was stolen twice. One of the times I went to buy a replacement from a guy on Craig's, he had me meet him at a storage unit where he had dozens of tailgates from several different types of trucks. I had my choice of three different ones from his collection in our color. Wonder where he got them....
The truck itself was stolen four times in two years. The first three times, it was found within a few days, within a few blocks of the office. An older Ford diesel can be breached, started and driven with nothing more than a large, flat-blade screwdriver, and it was taken just to move things - easier and cheaper than renting a truck, I suppose. Once, the thief left us a rather nice set of ratchet tie-down straps in the back.
I got very good at changing out the complete lock set in the truck - Ignition, both doors and tailgate, within an hour. The fourth time, it disappeared for good. We replaced it with the boss' old Honda Odyssey van that his family used to haul the family around with. Their kids were grown and the van was spent. It's beat up, faded paint, and fits the neighborhood. It's had its converter stolen, and the license plate a few times, but, luckily, it hasn't completely disappeared.
The truck itself was stolen four times in two years. The first three times, it was found within a few days, within a few blocks of the office. An older Ford diesel can be breached, started and driven with nothing more than a large, flat-blade screwdriver, and it was taken just to move things - easier and cheaper than renting a truck, I suppose. Once, the thief left us a rather nice set of ratchet tie-down straps in the back.
I got very good at changing out the complete lock set in the truck - Ignition, both doors and tailgate, within an hour. The fourth time, it disappeared for good. We replaced it with the boss' old Honda Odyssey van that his family used to haul the family around with. Their kids were grown and the van was spent. It's beat up, faded paint, and fits the neighborhood. It's had its converter stolen, and the license plate a few times, but, luckily, it hasn't completely disappeared.