locksmith vehicle stolen

by **Romstar** » 17 Nov 2006 1:26

Last time I saw a mechanic have his tools stolen, everybody was very sympathetic.

Not one spare tool to be found.

Guy had to spend something like $15,000.00 in a single day just so he could keep his job.

Romstar

by **ldnlksmth** » 17 Nov 2006 23:12

great news everyone, the vehicle was recovered. I turned onto a major street and was cut off by the truck. I got on my trusty cell phone and called the owner. He thanked me for my concern and informed me that the truck was recovered earlier today. Turns out everything was in it and although there were a few new miles and a little less gas in the tank, everything seems to be in working order. Turns out the vehicle was stolen from the mechanics when they left the keys in it in the shop overnight.

A lesson here: Key your side and back doors differently. install a cage between the cab and the back. keep the back door keys seperate from your vehicle. Never give up hope.

by **Legion303** » 17 Nov 2006 23:46

That's good to hear. Sounds like a couple of kids just wanted to go joyriding and weren't interested in the contents.

-steve

by **Mutzy** » 18 Nov 2006 7:15

it's funny how people do that. Driving around in something that has so much more worth than a few hours of joyriding...

by **ldnlksmth** » 18 Nov 2006 18:09

no kidding... just the tools alone (not even the specialized ones) are worth thousands. Add the 'street value' of the picks, pick gun, drill jigs, safe opening information he carries (I've since encouraged him to get his info on PDA and keep it with him), HUGE crime spree potential.

by **I Pik U** » 18 Nov 2006 22:14

Good to hear he got it back. Very lucky.

Now, about that "cutting off" fiasco. :wink:

by **ldnlksmth** » 19 Nov 2006 14:29

he was on his way to a lockout call where the person had CAA but also called him, said that if he got there faster, he would get paid. I was speeding and so shouldn't be too upset by that.

I forgive other people for driving erratically... I'm a horrible driver. Everything in my truck and car must be in a padded container and bungeed or it breaks. I acknowledge this fact. I work with a courier service when things are slow. The owner of the company is a good friend who helps me out when I need extra $$$. I've learned to drive quickly and aggressively. it works for me, and I've never been pulled over. I don't get too stupid, and I always get there the fastest.

by **maxxed** » 19 Nov 2006 21:05

Great to hear that the vehicle was recovered. I had a service truck stolen about nine years ago. I my case the vehicle was recovered but the contents, includimg work benches, were taken. I did get some support from a couple of other lockies and I did have a lot of spare tools, so it did slow me down.
Fortunetly all my equipment was insured for replacement value and all of my machines were purchased used and were not in the best condition. There was a limit of $1000.00 per item so I did have to pay something but the amount I payed for the upgrade was worth it.

by **ldnlksmth** » 20 Nov 2006 22:02

I bet everyone's got a 'this was stolen' story... I had a multi-tool taken from my tool box when my truck went in for service one time... got it back and the techie lost his job. I've lost countless things from jobsites, some entirely my fault and some not so much.

by **77luke** » 14 Dec 2006 7:03

Funny...I was thinking about this earlier today becuase I will be doing lockouts in the next couple of months. Maybe removing the locks completly from the vehicle would help.

Maybe there is some reason why this wouldn't work, but if you could change your windows from the regular glass to plexiglass, at least they couldn't use the "magic rock" and get in.

by **Father Time** » 15 Dec 2006 19:15

A cheap way to go is just install a hidden cutoff switch to the spark coil or something.

Can't steal what you can't start.

.

by **ldnlksmth** » 16 Dec 2006 14:36

I wouldn't bother changing the glass, because plexi-glass can be broken too. Your best bet there is putting a cage up to cover the glass so if it gets broken they still can't get in. I've also put limo black tint on my rear windows to remove the temptation (out of sight out of mind). Removing the locks would really hamper your ability to get in to the truck.

Installing a cut off switch is a good idea. Most older ambulances have them to prevent things being left on, but it does a great job of confounding people who don't know where the switch is.

by **Squelchtone** » 17 Dec 2006 0:18

maybe the van was stolen to get a restricted key blank or dup a key on the hpc1200.. hope he didnt have premade keys to local business hanging on a peg board in the back. :-/

I could pick better vehicles to steal for a joyride. a van with company logos isnt on my top 10 list. too visible since its the only one in town with that logo.

glad to hear it was found though.

Squelchtone

TOOOL Boston

by **Firearm** » 17 Dec 2006 2:00

The kids around here don't even use rocks. They carry old spark plugs and throw them on the ground to break the porcelain and throw that against the window. They say it breaks the glass without making a lot of noise. Never tried it myself, but we catch the little buggers with sparks plugs in their pockets all the time. Glad to hear you got the truck back with everything in it.

by **ldnlksmth** » 17 Dec 2006 21:20

He's a smart cookie, keeps his 'house' keys on a key ring with him (it's huge, actually takes up a breifcase). He has tons of master key systems in his laptop (also not kept in the truck overnight). Most kids wouldn't know how to use the code machine to originate a key on a blank, but it is a possibility, he does have some major contracts (local brewery being one of them) that could present a tempting target. Looks like his blanks weren't touched.

I still think it's a VERY good idea to cage off the back (put a divider between the cab and work space, fence off the windows) so that breaking the windows doesn't get anywhere.

I'm recommending to all locksmiths in the area the idea of the cutoff switch. There are a few companies on the road with lots of trucks (not locksmiths, but other people I've worked with) and they use an electronic immobilizer on a key fob. Pass the fob over a spot on the dashboard (not marked, just have to 'know' where it is) and then you can start the vehicle normally. Little too extravagant for my liking, but it's very, very effective. One contractor I know put that in all of his trucks and reduced his theft rate from about 50 a year to just 2 (one left the keys in the ignition and the truck running, the other one was hauled off by a flat bed). Costs over a grand per truck though.

locksmith vehicle stolen

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