Anti-theft measures

[oddlou]

Hi, all. I was looking at the mostly annoying Neighbors app on my phone (lots of "I saw a coyote! (the animal, not the people-trafficker) and "I heard a loud bang! Gunshots!?" (usually fireworks) and "there's a helicopter flying around, anyone know why?!" (because you live in a city)) and noticed a few instances of actually concerning crime--there's been a lot of catalytic converter and tailgate theft. I usually park my truck in my driveway inside my gate and making sure the tailgate is locked helps, but was curious to know if any of you have installed any anti-theft measures for your tailgates and/or catalytic converters.

Thanks,

Lou

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[discothan]

Install flood light(s) that have motion detection/turn on by motion.
Also if there is a Window view from your house down to your truck, might install a web cam that has an app or SimpliSafe monitoring.

 

[Plat_2021]

the Platinum has a standard alarm system with motion detection, that I think would go off if, especially for the tailgate. if you can climb under the truck and cut the catalyst converter off without disturbing the motion sensor you might be able to get a way with it.

 

[Bigal323]

I wonder if it would possible to add a simple switch to the fuel pump relay without causing codes. Essentially you can put a switch or button anywhere. If the truck gets no fuel. It wont drive off. I dont know about cutting into a 2021 harness yet though....

 

[BLoflin]

They aren't driving them off, they are cutting off the converters. On just about any car. And they are fast, battery powered side wheel cutter. There are business's fabbing a metal surround to slow them down and make them decide to move to the next car. But muffler and brake shops don't like them, when they have to work on the undercarriage, as they have to cut them off.

 

[flatag]

I park under floodlights with 4 video cameras and one large scary German shepherd

 

[UNIKRN150]

I wonder if it would possible to add a simple switch to the fuel pump relay without causing codes. Essentially you can put a switch or button anywhere. If the truck gets no fuel. It wont drive off. I dont know about cutting into a 2021 harness yet though....

Just pull the relay and take with you. That's what I used to do with my Mustang.

 

[jeffcrum]

Use home protection. Not truck protection!

 

[oddlou]

You guys revived this thread and then changed what it was all about! That said, I'm not terribly worried about someone stealing the whole truck while it's on my property--it's parked behind my gate at night and @flatag, I'll see your "large" scary German Shephard and raise you a huge, ornery Neapolitan Mastiff and even bigger English Mastiff. ? My initial concerns were more about someone taking the catalytic converter or tailgate off the truck when it's not on my property. With the tailgate locking with the truck, I just have to keep reminding my wife to lock the damn truck. As for the catalytic converter, it still worries me, especially since it's so easy to get under these big ol' trucks, but it seems I just need to be smart about where I leave it.

 

[flatag]

When they climb under my truck to steal my catalytic converter and they see how rusty the underside is they will probably leave a few bucks under the wiper!

 

[Pedaldude]

A bunch of cats have been reported stolen on Nextdoor in my neighborhood as well. So I decided to look into it.

Most are using cordless Sawzalls but some are using grinders with cut-off wheels and still others, pipe cutters.

There's several concepts, one is to cage the so it takes longer, others wrap them in cable or clamps with cable or chain. The latter methods are taking advantage of the hope that the thief won't be carrying a bolt cutter to cut the chain or cable off, since there's a big challenge in cutting a moving chain or cable and if something like a wire ribbon is used, it can even foul the blade and jam it.

With a grinder, the best bet is to limit access and make it so the cat can't be removed without destroying it, or use aluminum which can load up most cut-off wheels and make them unable to cut.

There are also aftermarket transmission skid plates that cover where the catalytic converters are. I think one of those at the least will put you ahead of your neighbors, since it's really just about inconveniencing the thieves at this point.

Here are some pictures that I found looking around:

 

[CarolynStride]

A bunch of cats have been reported stolen on Nextdoor in my neighborhood as well. So I decided to look into it.

Most are using cordless Sawzalls but some are using grinders with cut-off wheels and still others, pipe cutters.

There's several concepts, one is to cage the so it takes longer, others wrap them in cable or clamps with cable or chain. The latter methods are taking advantage of the hope that the thief won't be carrying a bolt cutter to cut the chain or cable off, since there's a big challenge in cutting a moving chain or cable and if something like a wire ribbon is used, it can even foul the blade and jam it.

With a grinder, the best bet is to limit access and make it so the cat can't be removed without destroying it, or use aluminum which can load up most cut-off wheels and make them unable to cut.

There are also aftermarket transmission skid plates that cover where the catalytic converters are. I think one of those at the least will put you ahead of your neighbors, since it's really just about inconveniencing the thieves at this point.

Here are some pictures that I found looking around:

Some of those are looking kind of Mad Max, lol. Subtract 40 lbs from available payload.

 

[jperry5835]

A bunch of cats have been reported stolen on Nextdoor in my neighborhood as well. So I decided to look into it.

Most are using cordless Sawzalls but some are using grinders with cut-off wheels and still others, pipe cutters.

There's several concepts, one is to cage the so it takes longer, others wrap them in cable or clamps with cable or chain. The latter methods are taking advantage of the hope that the thief won't be carrying a bolt cutter to cut the chain or cable off, since there's a big challenge in cutting a moving chain or cable and if something like a wire ribbon is used, it can even foul the blade and jam it.

With a grinder, the best bet is to limit access and make it so the cat can't be removed without destroying it, or use aluminum which can load up most cut-off wheels and make them unable to cut.

There are also aftermarket transmission skid plates that cover where the catalytic converters are. I think one of those at the least will put you ahead of your neighbors, since it's really just about inconveniencing the thieves at this point.

Here are some pictures that I found looking around:

some of those make me wonder about heat dissipation, those cats get really hot and need to shed the heat off.

 

[fmdog44]

Places that cater to off road mods will have the skid plates to protects transmissions. We have "4 Wheel Parts" here in Houston. Painting them with paint for heated metal is a deterrent because the buyers won't buy in most cases knowing it was stolen.

 

[TexasGardeningGirl]

are you guys talking about the ford lightning? because the lightning does not have a catalytic convertor.

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