Is there a VIN tag on the tailgate?

No point, so no

 

Should put an airtag in your tailgate. =p

 

I’m missing a toe after getting run down and going over top the car full of assholes I confronted trying to steal the cats off my Chevy truck a few years ago….got ripped off when I hit the ground.

I’m a bit more cautious in my approach these days.

 

Good point, but you cannot guarantee if the seller is the thief without investigation. Police tend to at least handcuff all arguing parties and sort it out later.

 

if it's the same color and posted for sale in your town or area I'd highly suspect it was mine too. Seems logical.... people need money for meth and whatever else they do these days.

 

This is true but I reckon even setting the thief aside if it is OPs tailgate and he gets it back that's good.

The turnaround being so fast is what makes me suspicious at least enough to warrant further thought.

 

If I were a crackhead that stole tailgates I would have a system.

Steal a couple of each color, then sit on them for 4-6 months. Then go steal all those same colors again and post the first set on facebook market for sale. People who just got their tailgates stolen will see the ads and meet up thinking its their tailgate. But it was stolen 4-6 months ago so they will just buy it thinking they found a decent deal on a tailgate thats the color they need.

 

^^^

You licked too much of that shit under your seat, my friend..

 

You would be the first crackhead ever willing to wait 4-6 months for a score.

 

Well there's a large part of the problem.
To make it worse- if you were to handle this situation on your own, there is a very good chance they would find the gumption and resources to prosecute you for anything not above board.

I feel for ya. In the end, many of the mid-major metros are infested with this problem.

 

what kind of security devices did you have on the tailgate?

 

in CA the OP would be put in jail and the thief would get $1,000,000

 

Scary how many place in the USA that "crime is legal". But I will stop there for fear of starting a "spirited discussion".

 

You can’t shoot somebody over property in any state. You have to have a reasonable fear for your life.

 

It belongs to me. Thats the only security measure that should be necessary.

I use my truck as a truck…the tailgate goes up and down 10 times a day. Locking it every time would defeat the purpose of having it in the first place.

if you’re one of those assholes that is gonna try to convince me that this was my fault…go ahead and fuck right off right now.

 

Correct! I live in north Georgia too and you cannot shoot someone just for being on your property or attempting to steal say your lawnmower. But the moment that poor bastard steps across the door sill, you can dispatch with extreme prejudice where I live. As I like to say, someone's going to the hospital.

 

No one is suggesting the theft was your fault. We are just suggesting that some measures can make theft difficult enough to convince people to move on to the next truck. Even those who put on the theft prevention devices can have the tailgate stolen. We are just saying these devices are like actually turning the lock on the front door at night ... convince people to move on.

 

A few so cal forum members have made posts about having their tailgates stolen and found online (offerup/Facebook marketplace) for sale shortly after. It's the same group of thieves in so cal. They've got a ring going.

 

As a CCW permit holder, that's what my training has told me.