Tailgate theft....How to prevent it....

TOYOTA sells the tailgate for a huge profit - and their dealers carefully hold the price line. In particular the fully assembled parts with a camera incorporated into the hand latch - priced like gold or unobtainium. When you find one that has no extra protection against theft - it can be removed from the truck literally in seconds. If the owner doesn't have insurance that covers the theft - the huge profit demanded by the TOYOTA dealers drives them to go looking for a "used" part. This market place - Craig's List for instance (or simple networking) - is a way for stricken owner to try and get a replacement. So they are now creating a demand for the stolen parts - and on and so forth.

Since thieves want a quick easy score - devices that are effective at slowing the theft process can prevent some of the parts from being lost. Given time and total access - thieves can figure a way to defeat just about anything.

I have heard that the fancy GMC pickup gate with a full load of the gadgets and doodads - is about $5000 dollars.

 

Thank you for the heads up and the very simple solution or at the least very sound deterrent. Never thought about tail gate theft before, but I am clamping for sure because these jokers here in Jacksonville, Fl will take anything not secured down.