My Truck Was Stolen... Anything I Need To Know?

Check craigslist and other local forums, it's possible the thieves will be trying to sell off your parts.

 

Our 2014 Avalon was stolen last fall. It had been used in two robberies before the police found it about a week later. Auto Insurance paid for the damage done to it and home owners paid for contents in the car. We kept it only two weeks after getting it back and traded it in on a new 2015 Avalon. It just wasn't the same car after getting it back. Maybe you'll be lucky and your truck will not be found.

 

As of right now I am honestly hoping they don't find it. I have heard some horror stories about people getting cars back with all sorts of issues. And if you don't notice something right away you are SOL down the road...

 

I hate to say it but given your proximity to the border, it's likely it could be on it's way or already south of it. Hopefully not though. Since you filed it with the cops they should be on the lookout for it there

 

This^^^^^

It's going to be a Baja truck now.

 

The alarm system I have, has a remote warning device that you can carry with you. If the car alarm goes off, it also sets off the remote warning device. At night, I keep the remote warning device in the bedroom, where I am sure to hear it if it gets triggered.

 

Our Avalon had a really bad pot odor in it after getting it back, couldn't get it out. Plus my average gas mileage was around 23 when it was stolen, 7 when it was returned, so they drove it hard. Just didn't trust the engine, transmission, etc after getting it back.

 

As someone who also has USAA and has had a truck totalled (auto insurance) and had something of value stolen (home owner's insurance), gather receipts for any aftermarket parts or possessions that were in or on the vehicle. In the event that you cannot find the receipts find a website or dealer and take a screen shot of the page to illustrate a representation of the monetary value of the item. Upload all of this as soon as possible to their claims website and upload a copy of or the police report number as well. To attest to the value of the truck gather comparables for sale in your area with similar equipment and mileage to lend credence to the potential argument about your truck's worth. This should help kick start a process that can take over a week before a judgement and dollar figure is reached on their end.

Good luck and I second the notion that you are better off not having the vehicle recovered. Even if by some miracle it has not been thrashed it will forever be a reminder of how your sense of privacy was violated. I feel for you, it is a very violating and disheartening situation.

 

damn, how does that even happen??

 

That is some BS sorry man, that really sucks, I would loose my shit if walked out and my truck was gone.

 

I would love for the DB that took it to run in to a few TW members and get his ass handed to them, some people are the lowest of low. We work our buts off for our stuff then some jerk comes and just takes it.

 

One note: Chances are any bolt-ons are going to be a total loss. Insurance will pay you blue book, period. This from experience. If you happen to have a "replace with equal vehicle" option (which costs more) then you will get back to the same vehicle, but without any of the bolt-on upgrades.

If you want bolt-ons covered, you generally will have to negotiate some sort of rider package that will not be free.

 

Unless you hard wire it to a charger that's not going to work for more than a few days. Never mind getting wet or anything. You'd be better off leaving it tucked away in the center console if you were to do that

 

I have a great insurance agent, checks in with me now and then.
I always update her when I put in anything in my truck and keep receipts.
So far had good luck not getting it solen/vandalized and they assure me that as long as I tell them what I have installed in my truck and keep receipts they'll cover that too.

 

Well yeah lol, I would hide it in the truck not outside of it. If you make a point to charge it every couple days it would work as a kind of poor man's gps alarm.

 

OP, can you elaborate on what security you had? Just the engine immobilizer? Was the area well lit?
Aftermarket security system on it?

 

They make GPS devices for cars alone, perhaps better than a cell phone.

 

Sorry to hear your truck was stolen, there are alot of Sorry Ass People In This World.

 

I know, I was just relaying what someone once told me if you ever need a cheap/easy GPS tracking device, assuming you have an old phone lying around not being used.

Anyway, hope your truck gets recovered OP. Just goes to show that no matter what precautions you take, if someone wants it bad enough they'll find a way. F***ing thieves...