Stealing a Tacoma... Easy?

If you don't activate it, how will it have internet service so you can track it? Oh don't forget to keep it charged.

 

You go to Google play store and in the upper right hand corner you click on the gear then bring the menu down to "Find My Device" and it will bring up a map and show you where the device is, you only need to register it through google, you do not need a cell plan for that feature.

Edit: this works with any android device, I dont know if it works with apple or not.

 

For apple it needs to be on a network to locate. At least I believe that.

 

I make sure I lock it every night, I also have a spotlight with a motion detector and so does my neighbor. His conveniently covers the opposite side of my truck. So far so good but like others have said your best bet is a good insurance policy

 

I have two devices, one a cell phone that does not have a cell plan and I have a Tab A that is wifi only and I can track them both anywhere in the US through google play.

 

Kill switch on the start circuit. But instead of using an obvious switch and attempting to hide it, use a stock looking switch (or more than one) and use that.

Tracking via an old cell phone hidden up under the dash powered by the truck. FreedomPop has a low data free cell phone service.

 

with the old cell phone, the phone is tracked through the GPS which does not need cell service.

 

I thought you lived in CP!

 

It also works for teenage kids...

 

This guy sure did want his back, he was totally heart broken over it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/stolen-2010-tacoma.502229/

 

I live in n nj and in the late 80s early 90s we were the car theft capital of the country
the police were not allowed to high speed chase and the thefts knew this and would just start driving crazy so no chase
I agree that a real car thief will get the car but I used to cut 1 of the starter solinod wires and put in a kill switch hidden in vacuum hoses.
It saved my convertible must gt once and also my old GF cutlass

about twice a year i would see a stolen car blow through a red light and about once a week you could hear a car chase taking place
I lived in a nice area but not far from 2 or 3 hood type areas, they would get off the highway and just hit the local streets and take their pick of cars

could tell ya a bunch of stories

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that 90% of cars stolen are done in one of the following ways, ordered with the most likely 1st.
Older Hondas, etc. with worn out ignition lock cylinders that can be started with a shaved key.
Vehicles left running unattended in driveway or in front of Quick-E-Mart
Hide a key left in glovebox. Crackhead breaks in to steal change and finds key.
Home burglery with key hanging on a hook by the door.

On the subject of home burglery, the easiest way for the thief is to break your vehicle window and steal your registration and garage door opener.

The most likely locations for a car to be stolen from, besides your driveway, are places where the thief knows the owner won't be back for awhile.
Shopping mall, movie theatre, trailhead parking lot, park and ride lot, or anything left in a bar parking lot at 4:00AM. I'm sure a lot of thiefs watch the lots and see when people 1st leave a target vehicle, and know they have at least an hour.

 

If a cell phone is powered on it will find a cell. All phones, active with a contract or not, will complete a 911 call and part of that is a GPS position is reported to the dispatcher. So presumably the police could get just that if they're tracking a stolen car. The accuracy of GPS on a phone can be iffy but it's better than zero.

 

Didn't realize that. Thanks

 

The trackers seem simpler to me. Plus the battery lasts for a year or so and it will text or email you if it's getting low and you replace them.

 

do you have to pay for the service?

 

It depends on which one you get. The one I'm familiar with is $150 a year and you can pay more depending on what different upgrades you want. ie 2.5 minute tracking intervals vs 5 minute etc. It's worth the peace of mind.

 

^^^^ That is why you get good insurance and then don't worry about it more than normal. The police are not going to spend (waste) any time trying to fine your little truck. They have bigger fish to fry.