'04 TL STOLEN after only six weeks of ownership
04-17-2010, 08:22 PM
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'04 TL STOLEN after only six weeks of ownership
It was Friday morning April 9 between 10 am and noon on Genesee street (in the hood) in Rochester New York. The car was parked within sight of my office. At noon, I come out to go to lunch and confusion sets in - where the heck did I park my car? Confusion soon turns to horror as I realized the car wasn't there. It was simply gone. This was a sad, sad day for me as I just got the car six weeks earlier. It was my dream car.
Cops tell me when taking the report that 95% of the time it's kids just joy riding, or they might sell the car for 50 bucks worth of crack. I wind up cruising the 'hood that night in the old Accord (which luckily I didn't sell yet) and the next morning with 40 caliber Smith and Wesson semi-auto in the seat next to me hoping I run into the little thief's. I'm pissed.
The weekend comes and goes and my shock turns into a deep depression by Saturday night and I require Valium just to calm me down enough just to go to sleep.
Tuesday I get a call from the Police stating that my car is in the police impound and has been since Saturday night (gee, thanks for letting me know). You have never seen anyone more happy than when I got to the impound to retrieve my vehicle to discover that, other than a few scrapes, everything was basically intact.
The Rochester City Police Department pulled over the car on Hudson Avenue (in the northeast hood of Rochester) and made an arrest for felony grand theft auto at 9 pm Saturday night. Other than the car being totally trashed on the inside (lotsa ashes, empty crack baggies, 40 ouncers, and a couple rap CD's in my CD player), the interior was for the most part unharmed. The few minor scrapes and bruises amount to my front and rear bumpers having to be repainted, two rims scraped up really bad and a couple other minor issues. I'm also going to have the car professionally rubbed out. I want it to be like new.
So now you're all wondering - how does someone steal a TL considering it has a theft deterrent system? Well, the previous owner left me a packet of information in the glove box which apparently included the valet key. Easy pickens. Incredibly stupid on my part. But I learned my lesson!
So, for some questions -
First, the insurance company will pay for two refurbished rims. But I'm wondering that since I need new tires soon if I should get a set of 4 new rims and tires mounted from tirerack. The other option is to go ahead and get the 2 new refurbed rims. I was out in my driveway today grinding and sanding the bad rims and it looks like I could potentially touch them up a bit to hide the worst of the scrapes. Has anyone had any success doing this? Anyone have any words of wisdom to help me through this decision? Anyone have any suggestions on rims and tire combos? Like should I go with 18's or stay with 17's? Will 18's work on a stock TL auto trans?
As for the rest of the car, I guess I'm going ahead with repainting front and rear fenders and rubbing, retouching, etc. the rest of the car - unless anyone has any better ideas. Current body work is stock. I would love a body kit and rear deck spoiler, but those options may be prohibitively expensive.
Cops tell me when taking the report that 95% of the time it's kids just joy riding, or they might sell the car for 50 bucks worth of crack. I wind up cruising the 'hood that night in the old Accord (which luckily I didn't sell yet) and the next morning with 40 caliber Smith and Wesson semi-auto in the seat next to me hoping I run into the little thief's. I'm pissed.
The weekend comes and goes and my shock turns into a deep depression by Saturday night and I require Valium just to calm me down enough just to go to sleep.
Tuesday I get a call from the Police stating that my car is in the police impound and has been since Saturday night (gee, thanks for letting me know). You have never seen anyone more happy than when I got to the impound to retrieve my vehicle to discover that, other than a few scrapes, everything was basically intact.
The Rochester City Police Department pulled over the car on Hudson Avenue (in the northeast hood of Rochester) and made an arrest for felony grand theft auto at 9 pm Saturday night. Other than the car being totally trashed on the inside (lotsa ashes, empty crack baggies, 40 ouncers, and a couple rap CD's in my CD player), the interior was for the most part unharmed. The few minor scrapes and bruises amount to my front and rear bumpers having to be repainted, two rims scraped up really bad and a couple other minor issues. I'm also going to have the car professionally rubbed out. I want it to be like new.
So now you're all wondering - how does someone steal a TL considering it has a theft deterrent system? Well, the previous owner left me a packet of information in the glove box which apparently included the valet key. Easy pickens. Incredibly stupid on my part. But I learned my lesson!
So, for some questions -
First, the insurance company will pay for two refurbished rims. But I'm wondering that since I need new tires soon if I should get a set of 4 new rims and tires mounted from tirerack. The other option is to go ahead and get the 2 new refurbed rims. I was out in my driveway today grinding and sanding the bad rims and it looks like I could potentially touch them up a bit to hide the worst of the scrapes. Has anyone had any success doing this? Anyone have any words of wisdom to help me through this decision? Anyone have any suggestions on rims and tire combos? Like should I go with 18's or stay with 17's? Will 18's work on a stock TL auto trans?
As for the rest of the car, I guess I'm going ahead with repainting front and rear fenders and rubbing, retouching, etc. the rest of the car - unless anyone has any better ideas. Current body work is stock. I would love a body kit and rear deck spoiler, but those options may be prohibitively expensive.
04-17-2010, 08:40 PM
#5
Chapter Leader (Houston)
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Consider yourself fortunate to get back your car in one piece. As for rims, yes 18" will hold up on a stock auto trans. There are lots of ppl here rolling around on 20's but I'm not a fan of huge rims so I have some aftermarket 18" wheels.
04-17-2010, 08:46 PM
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I was afraid someone was going to ask that question. It's theoretically possible that the car was left unlocked. Or they could have used a slim jim. But if that was the case, I believe the theft deterrent system would have activated. If the car was left unlocked, this would have been a grave oversight on my part. But still, being within view of my office, the thought never crossed my mind that it would be jacked in broad daylight on a very busy main thoroughfare.
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04-17-2010, 08:57 PM
#8
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Yeah, if they used a slim jim, the factory alarm should of went off as soon as the door was unlocked or the door opened. Even then, someone would have at least seen them trying to jimmy into your car if it was during the day near a busy street. Must of been some professional car thieves. But like I said before, at least you got your car back safe.
04-17-2010, 11:04 PM
#10
Instructor
i HATE people who steal. Anything.
Really, these people need to be shot and have their hands cut off.
I feel your pain man. I might end up in jail for torture and murder if I catch any of these fucks in the act.
Really, these people need to be shot and have their hands cut off.
I feel your pain man. I might end up in jail for torture and murder if I catch any of these fucks in the act.
04-18-2010, 01:36 AM
#14
Burning Brakes
hmmm based on what i read i would think u left your car unlocked or something because if they were professionals i wouldnt think they would like joy ride your car but maybe more like sell it? but dumbasses joyriding around and playing rap and leaving bottles just makes me think like kids finding a car door open with no driver and they just hopped on in. but things can go either way but at least they got caught and u got the car back intact so justice is served at least
04-18-2010, 03:40 AM
#17
Former Whyner
I would sell it.
Its like having a girlfriend get lost and some dudes running a train on her and you get a call saying that they found her.
She will never be the same GL
Its like having a girlfriend get lost and some dudes running a train on her and you get a call saying that they found her.
She will never be the same GL
04-18-2010, 10:28 AM
#18
but it depends on the damage. if its an auto i would keep it....on the other hand if its a manual like mines i would have def sold it cause you dont know what kind of stupid shit they would have done to the transmission, etc.
04-18-2010, 04:57 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
04-18-2010, 06:27 PM
#21
Burning Brakes
But seriously, was it hot wired?
funny shit!
04-19-2010, 07:09 AM
#25
Veni, vidi, vici
Dayum, Good to hear you got your car back. But IMO, the fact you to a gun with you to look for who ever stole your car is INCREDIBlY STUPID. you know, what if you DID find the guys, where you planning on shotting them? Dude, at the end of the day, a car is replaceable, but killing some one is not. you should really think before you take your gun anywhere.
04-19-2010, 03:13 PM
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No, I wouldn't have shot them. It was only for protection in case they started shooting at me. I probably would have just called the cops if I found the car anyway. Or if it was parked, I would have just jumped in and drove away since I still had both keys - and left the old rusty accord there. They can have it!
04-19-2010, 05:37 PM
#29
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You'd be surprised how many punks out there (especially with nicer weather upon us and summer vacation just around the corner) with too much time on their hands will walk along a row of parked cars and pull on each and every door handle until they find one unlocked....
Regardless, I ALWAYS make sure I have positive confirmation that my car is locked.
If your car was locked, the only other way I can think of that a "talented" thief can quickly gain access is to have one of those "code grabbing devices" that reads your keyfob remote signal when locking???
Regardless, I ALWAYS make sure I have positive confirmation that my car is locked.
If your car was locked, the only other way I can think of that a "talented" thief can quickly gain access is to have one of those "code grabbing devices" that reads your keyfob remote signal when locking???
04-19-2010, 07:44 PM
#33
Three Wheelin'
You'd be surprised how many punks out there (especially with nicer weather upon us and summer vacation just around the corner) with too much time on their hands will walk along a row of parked cars and pull on each and every door handle until they find one unlocked....
Regardless, I ALWAYS make sure I have positive confirmation that my car is locked.
If your car was locked, the only other way I can think of that a "talented" thief can quickly gain access is to have one of those "code grabbing devices" that reads your keyfob remote signal when locking???
Regardless, I ALWAYS make sure I have positive confirmation that my car is locked.
If your car was locked, the only other way I can think of that a "talented" thief can quickly gain access is to have one of those "code grabbing devices" that reads your keyfob remote signal when locking???
most hood kids know nothing more than just going on myspace or facebook.
04-19-2010, 09:25 PM
#35
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People that steal don't understand that we actually had to work hard for what we have.. either way fasho that your car is back in your possesion! i would've done the exact same thing you did if i found out my car wasn't where i parked it.
04-20-2010, 03:11 PM
#37
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FYI - Rochester is a seven hour drive to NYC. This is western NY. We're 1.5 hours east of Niagara Falls. We have a small ghetto, but just about every city does these days.
04-20-2010, 03:54 PM
#38
Ironically, I left my car unlocked last night. It freaked me out this morning when I went outside and saw my doors unlocked. Luckily, nothing was taken from my car. Glad you got your car back. Lock those doors and don't store any keys in, on or around the car or house.
Also, generally speaking, a lot of big cities have less crime per capita than smaller towns.
Also, generally speaking, a lot of big cities have less crime per capita than smaller towns.
04-20-2010, 10:07 PM
#39
I was just wondering:
Is it not true that a valet key will only open the trunk? A valet key cannot start the car - it will crank and crank but never actually start since the valet key lacks the electronics.
Was any other part of the car damaged? Meaning was it hot wired (would require some skill)?
My point is that from what you have said, the car must have been left unlocked with the second full drivers key (containing electronics to start the car) in the glove box - not just the valet key. Does this sound likely?
I'm pressing this point because I'd like to know if our TL's are that easy to steal.
TL-Rocket
'04 TL 6MT
Is it not true that a valet key will only open the trunk? A valet key cannot start the car - it will crank and crank but never actually start since the valet key lacks the electronics.
Was any other part of the car damaged? Meaning was it hot wired (would require some skill)?
My point is that from what you have said, the car must have been left unlocked with the second full drivers key (containing electronics to start the car) in the glove box - not just the valet key. Does this sound likely?
I'm pressing this point because I'd like to know if our TL's are that easy to steal.
TL-Rocket
'04 TL 6MT
04-20-2010, 11:37 PM
#40
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The valet key thus will not operate the glove box lock or the trunk pass-through door. There is a switch in the glove box which turns off the trunk switch, so if the glove box and pass-through door are locked, a person with the valet key can drive the car, but not access the glove box or trunk using the key or switches.