Someone stole my tailgate!

[KD5NRH]

They aren't cheap to replace and often aren't easy to find (on the used market).

Have you checked your local shady used parts dealer in the van down at the corner?

[chabouk]

I thought you "couldn't" steal a tailgate if you had a tailgate lock installed. Am I wrong?

If you can defeat the lock and drop the tailgate, you can steal it. As I understand it, the locks are child's play (but my newest truck is an '82, so I don't have much experience here).

I think there are devices that prevent lifting the tailgate off the hinges, but even those are just deterrents that could be defeated by anyone with time and tools. Most thieves of opportunity have neither.

[phrogg]

Get some heavy-duty weatherproof labels, print them up with your DL number. Go to your tire store and offer them a few $ per wheel to pop the tires off and put the labels on the rims.

I actually have acquired a set of letter/number stamps and will stamp the number right into the wheels both between the lugs (which are hidden) and inside the wheel. I put that plan in place right after this happened.

Hadn't considered what to do with the tailgate before. I'll do a few things to that when I get it back. Sent the body shop off on a quest to locate a used one. Even better, if they can find one that is the right color and which my key already fits

[JNMAR]

Came out of the house this morning through the garage and headed to my truck which is backed up against the garage outside...and the tailgate was gone! The big dually won't fit inside the garage so it has to sit outside. It was backed within about 3 feet of the garage door. They scraped the tail light on the drivers side as they took it around between the two trucks parked out there. Didn't touch anything else. But dang that makes me mad. Headed to dealer right now to price one out and Insurance adjuster meeting is scheduled this afternoon.

And that all comes on the heels of my tires and wheels being stolen! Today is the day I should get my new wheels and tires because THEY were stolen 2 months ago. The tow truck driver that had a legal right to tow my truck at that moment did so and then swapped them onto his truck while he had it in storage for 2 days. Claimed he didn't swap them, I didn't have any way to prove that the wheels now swapped between our two trucks were actually swapped. Police and Insurance really want proof because they have been trying to catch this guy for years. But nothing was concrete. But they all believed me (had over 100 complaints/claims against the same guy) and the insurance company paid for new wheels and tires. The thing is that one of the owners of the tow company is also a Criminal Trial Defense Lawyer as well as owning a Private Investigations firm. They cover their bases VERY well. However, this incident was the one that prompted me to get my CHL.

And in between these two incidents someone broke into my wife's truck at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and rummaged through everything. They took nothing - left Canon AE1, Oakley Glasses, iPod charges and the like strewn about in the truck. I think they were looking for guns but I decided moments before leaving home that I'd rather drive there without a weapon than leave a gun in the car all day long in a situation where it was likely to be stolen. Glad that I made that choice.

So I guess I'll start working on that whole home security/DVR system I've been researching. Just as soon as I recover from all these danged deductibles!

Wasn't me, I still need one. Mine's held closed with a ratchet tie down strap and has a large U shape. It sorta looks like the trunk of a very mature Elm tree, complete with bark imprint. It got in my way while backing up with my tailgate down one day. They're not cheap nor are they easy to find...or maybe I just don't know the right tailgate supplier...