F150 Tail Light Theft Ring

[CircusCowboy]

Anyone else seen this? Do you think this include the Lightning?

Texas police break up Ford F-series truck taillights theft ring | Fox News

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[Grumpy2]

I have had a taillight replaced, and it was $2000 by time the radar was calibrated. So yes, a Lightning taillight is very valuable, keep your tailgate locked, it will help.

 

[TMND]

All the “brand new” ones on eBay for $700 im sure are stolen (one reason I haven’t bought). Just waiting for a aftermarket supplier to step up

 

[21st Century Truck]

There is a seller on the internet who provides a surprisingly low-priced set of steel angled plates to bolt on inside the tailgate on the taillight inner surfaces, using the taillight screws. He also provides security screws with the kit.

These angled thin steel plates prevent anyone from jimmying open the tailgate side latches to get to the taillights.

I plopped these on my truck... I mean, why not? Easy cheap insurance.

Just to make things even more of a PITA for a potential thief, I added another pair of security screws with a different security head design... now my taillights each have two security screws with differing heads to hold them and the LatchLid plates in place.

Everything = a 10-minute installation.

URL: https://latchlid.com/latchlid

 

[aldera]

If you're a 2024 0r 2025 owner, it looks like Ford updated the latch mechanism so that the thieves are twarted a bit.

 

[MaintGrl]

Oh, those were some handsome individuals . . . NOT

 

[evowner]

Seriously, we have 400 volt batteries, cant we just make it a shocking experience. Just have to remember to turn it off before service. Good mechanics are hard to find.

 

[CircusCowboy]

There is a seller on the internet who provides a surprisingly low-priced set of steel angled plates to bolt on inside the tailgate on the taillight inner surfaces, using the taillight screws. He also provides security screws with the kit.

These angled thin steel plates prevent anyone from jimmying open the tailgate side latches to get to the taillights.

I plopped these on my truck... I mean, why not? Easy cheap insurance.

Just to make things even more of a PITA for a potential thief, I added another pair of security screws with a different security head design... now my taillights each have two security screws with differing heads to hold them and the LatchLid plates in place.

Everything = a 10-minute installation.

URL: https://latchlid.com/latchlid

In the video I posted, the owner showed how they actually took the plates off the inside of the tailgate to trigger the tailgate to drop. Do you know if this is possible to do on a Lightning as well? Mine is power only and has no manual latch.

 

[CircusCowboy]

If you're a 2024 0r 2025 owner, it looks like Ford updated the latch mechanism so that the thieves are twarted a bit.

My 2024 does not seem to have this mod. I will look into the security plates and security screws. Maybe mix-n-match the security screws to make it even more of a pain to remove.

 

[CircusCowboy]

I have had a taillight replaced, and it was $2000 by time the radar was calibrated. So yes, a Lightning taillight is very valuable, keep your tailgate locked, it will help.

My tailgate is power only and locks as soon as I walk away. But it looks like thieves are accessing the latch from inside the bed.

 

[CircusCowboy]

I have had a taillight replaced, and it was $2000 by time the radar was calibrated. So yes, a Lightning taillight is very valuable, keep your tailgate locked, it will help.

I have a 2024 Flash with a power tailgate only. It will not operate without the fob or the button in the truck. but I do not have the new flange that ford came up with. I am just wondering how difficult it is to get the tailgate to drop on a power only gate?

 

[bmwhitetx]

In the video I posted, the owner showed how they actually took the plates off the inside of the tailgate to trigger the tailgate to drop. Do you know if this is possible to do on a Lightning as well? Mine is power only and has no manual latch.

The center hole entry path is not there if you have the work surface tailgate. At least according to one of the instruction sheets on their eBay listing. So maybe the work surface would also prevent the inside plate removal method.

Good point about the power tailgate perhaps being immune to this.

 

[BennyTheBeaver]

Can anyone recommend a security screw size for the tail lights? Bonus points for a link...

Thanks in advance!

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