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Thieves are now stealing tailgates right off new trucks.

I thought most new trucks came with locks, but I guess owners are not actively locking them?

CHLLady wrote:http://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/t ... ommunities

Thieves are now stealing tailgates right off new trucks.

I thought most new trucks came with locks, but I guess owners are not actively locking them?

I doubt the locks would stop them.

Because this is a "quick hit" type of crime (like smash & grab burglaries of items from inside vehicles) even a seemingly minor deterent can help.

A $2 hose clamp can prevent the "quick" theft of a tailgate

http://youtu.be/5wtK-OwutUc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My tailgate locks and opens with the doors.

My older brother had his stolen out of a busy Academy parking lot. He got to watch the security tape and it took less than 30 seconds.

Oldgringo wrote:My tailgate locks and opens with the doors.

I like that! What type of truck?

healthinsp wrote:My older brother had his stolen out of a busy Academy parking lot. He got to watch the security tape and it took less than 30 seconds.

Crazy! What kind of truck was it? Did they catch the bad guys?

jbarn wrote:

Oldgringo wrote:My tailgate locks and opens with the doors.

I like that! What type of truck?

Dodge 1500 Lone Star.....

It is disgusting that the manufacturer designs a tailgate that is so easy to steal. That youtube video showed the guy taking it off in 10 seconds.

Don't get me wrong, poor design does not justify theft. However, it is still poor design.

Jumping Frog wrote:It is disgusting that the manufacturer designs a tailgate that is so easy to steal. That youtube video showed the guy taking it off in 10 seconds.

Don't get me wrong, poor design does not justify theft. However, it is still poor design.

It takes more than one and a lot longer than 10 seconds to take the tail gate off of a 2500 Dodge Ram if you've never done it before. Don't ask me why I know this.

Jumping Frog wrote:It is disgusting that the manufacturer designs a tailgate that is so easy to steal. That youtube video showed the guy taking it off in 10 seconds.

Don't get me wrong, poor design does not justify theft. However, it is still poor design.

I am a ford man and all my ford pickups have tailgates that can easily be removed. This issue has been going on for years though. It is nothing new. Tailgates are expensive and make for an easy cash sale for a bad guy.

The upper lines of ford pickup, have a lock on the tailgate. This keeps a person from opening the tailgate and makes getting it off much more difficult, if not impossible. I have a lariat version F250 and it has the lock but my bottom of the line fords for my business have no locks. My guys make them theft proof for me by tearing them up so bad, nobody would want them.

Many people like to be able to easily remove their tailgate, but overlook it's easy for other people to remove their tailgate.

Jumping Frog wrote:It is disgusting that the manufacturer designs a tailgate that is so easy to steal. That youtube video showed the guy taking it off in 10 seconds.

Don't get me wrong, poor design does not justify theft. However, it is still poor design.

I believe that, if not for thieves, it might be a good design.
I would love to be able to remove and replace a part on a car in 20 seconds.
It takes longer than that to replace an air filter or windshield wiper blade.

It's disgusting that some people resort to stealing other people's property.

WildBill wrote:

Jumping Frog wrote:It is disgusting that the manufacturer designs a tailgate that is so easy to steal. That youtube video showed the guy taking it off in 10 seconds.

Don't get me wrong, poor design does not justify theft. However, it is still poor design.

I believe that, if not for thieves, it might be a good design.
I would love to be able to remove and replace a part on a car in 20 seconds.
It takes longer than that to replace an air filter.

It's disgusting that some people resort to stealing other people's property.

Part of the reason it is easy to remove is utilitarian. Back when pickups were purchased mostly by people that needed a truck for their jobs or farms, removing the tailgate came in handy for some chores. Carrying lumber that is longer than the bed for instance. If you leave the tailgate on, the weight of the lumber bouncing on the tailgate will bend or warp it. My guys destroy our tailgates doing this very thing with loads of HVAC equipment. If loading the truck with a fork lift, it is not unusual to hit the tailgate as you drive up to set the load in the bed.

I'm with wildbill on one thing, it is disgusting that people will steal rather than work. The problem is that the penalties if caught are not much more than a slap on the hand. The odds of getting caught are slim to none. I am not sure why this is getting so much press other than a rash of thefts in concentrated areas but this has been going on for years.

03Lightningrocks wrote:

WildBill wrote:

Jumping Frog wrote:It is disgusting that the manufacturer designs a tailgate that is so easy to steal. That youtube video showed the guy taking it off in 10 seconds.

Don't get me wrong, poor design does not justify theft. However, it is still poor design.

I believe that, if not for thieves, it might be a good design.
I would love to be able to remove and replace a part on a car in 20 seconds.
It takes longer than that to replace an air filter.

It's disgusting that some people resort to stealing other people's property.

Part of the reason it is easy to remove is utilitarian. Back when pickups were purchased mostly by people that needed a truck for their jobs or farms, removing the tailgate came in handy for some chores. Carrying lumber that is longer than the bed for instance. If you leave the tailgate on, the weight of the lumber bouncing on the tailgate will bend or warp it. My guys destroy our tailgates doing this very thing with loads of HVAC equipment. If loading the truck with a fork lift, it is not unusual to hit the tailgate as you drive up to set the load in the bed.

I'm with wildbill on one thing, it is disgusting that people will steal rather than work. The problem is that the penalties if caught are not much more than a slap on the hand. The odds of getting caught are slim to none. I am not sure why this is getting so much press other than a rash of thefts in concentrated areas but this has been going on for years.

It may turn out to be like the recent thefts of copper, brass and aluminum. Maybe the lawmakers will upgrade this crime to a felony [if it isn't already] if it continues to be a big problem.