Stolen 2024 Tacoma Houston TX

[Brent@ANParts]

That's horrible, I had a collector car stolen a few years back and I don't wish that upon anyone. I know it's no help now but after that experience I started putting AirTags in all of my vehicles, somewhere discreet.

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[TX-BluStreak]

Wow, I'm so sorry for your lost. I believe @tacorancher also got his 3G truck stolen right in front of his house in broad daylight. Perhaps he might have some pointers or insights on how you could get another vehicle (another 4G) via insurance $$$. Thieves in Houston are becoming bolder, craftier and more ruthless.

It’s not much but perhaps y’all should invest in getting a faraday pouch bag for your key fobs. It’s a RFID signal blocker that keeps thieves from hacking into the signal that operates your truck.

I was skeptical at first until a tech from Toyota Lift of Houston came out to the job site to replace the key for one of our forklifts. I asked if his equipment can copy the signal from my key to make another and to my surprise, he was.

So now I keep my key stashed in the faraday pouch at home or at the office and I have an RFID card that I keep in my wallet (to keep unwanted guests from stealing my bank cards).

 

[ArnoldN.]

Yeah wow that’s crazy. Thank you for sharing I’ve been considering getting those pouches to put my key fobs in. I hear you can pick them up with a scanner if the keys are relatively near. I had a steering wheel lock on my truck as well but guess if they really want something they’ll manage to get it.

 

[trailhunger]

When you get it back/replaced definitely buy a movement sensor, get an OB2 lock. The AirTags are good too / not sure if they can wake your ass up at 3am when your air tag truck leaves range, but for redundancy tracking a no brainer.

None of these can prevent a tow-away but they will buy you & law enforcement time in pursuit.

A movement sensor, exploding pepper spray gun, 911 and that would be my best defense at 3am to try to prevent a theft like this. I’m guessing grand theft auto on vehicles at this price those thieves are packing heat too.

Surprising that the truck's alarm won't trigger when they're trying to tow it away..

Always stash fobs in faraday bags like mentioned above

 

[ArnoldN.]

So update it was not towed. The complex caught a video of the person opening the vehicle and starting it. I’m guessing they some how made a key. They struggled to shimmy the truck out of the spot because of the little give the steering wheel lock had but eventually I’m guessing they got it off. Someone had been watching and waiting. They walked all the blind spots and never entered the complex through the gate or with a vehicle.

 

[dvrgz]

@ArnoldN. im sorry this happened to you man . But thank you for posting. Just bought some AirTags and re-subscribed to the Toyota app because of your post.

So update it was not towed. The complex caught a video of the person opening the vehicle and starting it. I’m guessing they some how made a key. They struggled to shimmy the truck out of the spot because of the little give the steering wheel lock had but eventually I’m guessing they got it off. Someone had been watching and waiting. They walked all the blind spots and never entered the complex through the gate or with a vehicle.

 

[tacorancher]

As @TX-BluStreak said, someone stole my 22 Tacoma from the front of my house in the heights. Was really upsetting. Houston has become a dangerous urban place to live with some sophisticated business-gangs unfortunately. This is why I’m always going to my ranch. Safe and quiet there.

I will also endorse the faraday cages for your keys. I have them too.

 

[trailhunger]

So update it was not towed. The complex caught a video of the person opening the vehicle and starting it.

How far was your fob(s) from the vehicle on average each night?

Opening the vehicle without tripping the alarm…? You were certain cab was locked that night?

 

[ArnoldN.]

I was certain the cab was locked along with having a steering wheel lock on. I’ve been pretty paranoid waking up in the middle of the night due to people’s wheels being stolen here so I’ve been very purposeful when locking and putting n the steering wheel lock.. Unfortunately my truck with the RTT was too long to put in a garage and while I’m renovating my home this is the closest decent apartment (so I thought). I too am in the heights. My keys were relatively near the front door which is roughly 3 floors up from ground level and I’d say 50-60 yards from the truck.

 

[Crazy Mary’s Husband]

People suck. I hope he gets his #### bitten off in a hooker accident.

 

[h2o-bar]

Super Bummer ArnoldN. I've also had a rig stollen out of my apartment complex .

In lieu of a faraday pouch I disable the key fob when parking for the night. I guess that thieves can't highjack the signal between the fob and truck then.

To disable the key fob on a Toyota Tacoma for battery saving or security, press and hold the lock button on the fob and then press the unlock button twice. The red light on the fob will flash four times, confirming it is now in sleep mode and not transmitting a signal. To re-enable the fob, simply press any button on it.

I also have a AirTag on all my rigs (when I got burned it made me think a little different about security)

 

[tacorancher]

I was certain the cab was locked along with having a steering wheel lock on. I’ve been pretty paranoid waking up in the middle of the night due to people’s wheels being stolen here so I’ve been very purposeful when locking and putting n the steering wheel lock.. Unfortunately my truck with the RTT was too long to put in a garage and while I’m renovating my home this is the closest decent apartment (so I thought). I too am in the heights. My keys were relatively near the front door which is roughly 3 floors up from ground level and I’d say 50-60 yards from the truck.

Hey man - I live on heights blvd - let’s hang out !

 

[trailhunger]

I was certain the cab was locked along with having a steering wheel lock on. I’ve been pretty paranoid waking up in the middle of the night due to people’s wheels being stolen here so I’ve been very purposeful when locking and putting n the steering wheel lock.. Unfortunately my truck with the RTT was too long to put in a garage and while I’m renovating my home this is the closest decent apartment (so I thought). I too am in the heights. My keys were relatively near the front door which is roughly 3 floors up from ground level and I’d say 50-60 yards from the truck.

Wonder how they relay attacked that fob, maybe from another vehicle close by waiting for you to pull up / Wild that they didn’t drill out the club bore right there. Wreaks of not only being watched for awhile but maybe multiple people in on it

 

[ArnoldN.]

Well I have a hunch that someone that lives here knows something. I have my suspicions particularly because the day I parked it I clocked someone that just gave me an odd feeling. Anyways none of that if actual evidence but I’m not giving up on at least finding the responsible party. I’m really grateful for all the pointers that everyone has provided. Truly a great community. @tacorancher im game anytime.

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