Mr Brew-Ski
Southern California
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Joined: 06/01/2007
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I was awakened early last Sunday by a persistent knock on my front door, when I opened the door & saw the police officer "I knew it could not be anything good." He politely asked if I knew the tailgate was missing on my 2007 GMC 2500HD LMM Sierra parked in my driveway.
Theives had stolen seven tailgates on my normally crime free suburban street that night. In speaking with a neighbor who was also a victim, only tailgates from Fords, GM's, & Dodges were taken. It appears the Japenese trucks had locking tailgates. I am posting this so others know there is a large black market for tailgates. If your tailgage does not have come with a lock, there are inexpensive aftermarket locks available. In my case my deductable is more than the cost of a tailgate so I'll have to absorb the replacement cost. To make matters worse my 16 year old son who is in love with this truck asked "Dad, I don't know why you didn't lock your tailgage." Huh, as it turns out, I had a factory installed lock on my tailgage that I had never noticed much less locked,
Shame on me!
Lock it or loose it!
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weathershak
Delaware
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Joined: 12/11/2006
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Hope they find the jerks..
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marvmarcy
Polson, MT, USA
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Here in Elizabeth City, NC, a sleepy town that usually has crime only in and around the small ghetto area of town, there is a sudden increase in theft. I'm guessing the economic outlook has something to do with it, but certainly isn't the only reason. We just had a very expensive bicycle stolen from the back yard, in an area with motion detectors and flood lights, and we were sitting in a room 30' away with the shades open. Thieves are becoming more bold. The rewards are great and likelyhood of punishment slim.
Sorry for your loss. Don't blame yourself- you didn't put a "Help Yourself" sign on the tailgate.
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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Much the same thing as the junk yard operators and stolen catalytic converters and other metals. If they'd find the body shop operators that are buying the stolen tailgates, and bury 'em under the jail, it'd soon stop.
Jim, "The things I overheard when I was talking to myself!"
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SemperFiCop
USA
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Joined: 10/19/2007
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There's a big market in Mexico for them...
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goreds2
OH H ..... EYE OH
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Mr Brew-Ski wrote:Theives had stolen seven tailgates on my normally crime free suburban street that night. In speaking with a neighbor who was also a victim, only tailgates from Fords, GM's, & Dodges were taken. It appears the Japenese trucks had locking tailgates.
I have an 01 Nissan Frontier that has the locking tailgate. I think it was originally made for protecting the bed extender from being stolen. I am fortunate to have my truck in the garage.
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dons2346
Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of So. CA
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Had a '72 Chevy 3/4 ton once. Went out one morning and someone had stolen 1/2 of the two piece driveshaft.
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Visaliaipa
Visalia, CA
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Joined: 01/31/2008
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Given the higher prices of scrap metal alot of things are getting stolen for that reason. Here in the central valley of California copper theft is v ery prevelant. These guys go out to a filed of grove and strip all the wire off the pumps then go sell it. Occasionally they find one or two that get electrocuted becasue they make a mistake.....Honestly I'm not smiling.
The other thing with metal theft is stolen vehicles and stolen vehicle components. They will do two things....1-steal parts of the car i.e. tailgates, cat converters etc and go sell them to the scrap yards. 2-Steal a car and cut it down with a torch and take it to the scrap yards. Once its all cut up its no longer a vehicle and can be taken to scrap yard with no paperwork. Almost too easy.
Also if you have a SUV or Escalade with big 20, 22, 24 inch rims lok out becasue they are targeting these too. They typically steal them drive them to an isolated place, take the rim then torch the vehicle. Most Escalades or GM SUV's can be stolen in about 30 seconds or so. Just something to remember.
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Kajtek1
CA
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Joined: 12/04/2002
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SemperFiCop wrote:There's a big market in Mexico for them...
REALLY ????
Driving all the way to the end of Baja I don't recall seeing any full size truck with Mexican registration on it.
I better start locking cars and tools at my house.
Pessimist sees dark tunnel, optimist sees a light at the end, realist sees lights of coming train.Engineer sees 3 idiots on the tracks.
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fordsooperdootydieselsmoker
OrangeCountyCalifornia
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I got a fairly good deal from Ebay, a painted to match in factory paint new "shell" tailgate, you transfer over the hardware and logo's. It was a place called pershing auto body parts. Taiwan tailgate, not really oem quality..but cheaper! Primed for $103.00 + shipping, painted for $243.00...
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