STOLEN 10/19/2024 RECOVERED: 1989 Beige FJ62 - Northeast Los Angeles

[vankho]

Hi all, just wanted to share and reach out to the community. I unfortunately had my Land Cruiser stolen in the Northeast Los Angeles area (Highland Park, Hermon, El Sereno, South Pasadena). Plate scanning cameras detected driving into highland park (York ave) at 1am on October 1st. If spotted please contact local authorities. Apple tag found tossed on Monterey Rd/Ave 60. If you can please share and keep an eye out it would be greatly appreciated. Hoping they took it for a joy ride and it's just parked somewhere...

Notable details for the eagle-eyed FJ enthusiast:
- New beige metallic paint job
- Beige interior vinyl seats
- Doesn't have period correct emblems. I went with FJ40 emblems on the side.
- large crack in windshield (driver side)

Thank you everyone!

 

[jaymar]

Stolen Land Cruiser? Here's What To Do...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[vankho]

Thank you @jaymar !! Awesome resource

 

[vipergrhd]

@vankho Any updates at all? Sorry you have to suffer like this, hope it's found soon.

 

[vankho]

@vipergrhd no updates hope someone calls it in. But definitely wondering if it’s time for an 80-series project lol

 

[cstav86]

Did you have the sound device taken out of the air tag? Do we think these guys located it with an RF scanner or just their phone? How well was it hidden?

 

[vankho]

@cstav86 I can only speculate, but in all honesty it wasn't hidden well enough. I recently was cleaning out the interior and just threw the AirTag into the ashtray. Easy enough to find if they were rummaging through the vehicle.

 

[vankho]

A few weeks ago, I reached out to the community about my 1989 Toyota LandCruiser being stolen in Northeast Los Angeles. Today, I'm so happy and relieved to report that it's been recovered.

It was found in El Sereno by parking enforcement who then informed LAPD. It was up the hill in some brush. I actually drove relatively close to it, in the early days of the search. The car is in decent shape at first inspection. Battery, wheels, registration and some other items are missing, but all-in-all, most of the car is intact and in good condition. It was already low on gas so there was a gas canister in the car. I guess they tried to top off. Also found broken parts off a Lime scooter. I will inspect more thoroughly tomorrow but in general considering myself very lucky right now. I was able to get a tow setup and it's now sitting in a secure location pending repairs and important security upgrades.

Thank you for helping share, bring awareness, provide support, and advice during these past few weeks!

 

[jaymar]

Good to see. Strange to take the registration. Is your home address on it?

 

[cstav86]

Any insight to what their end goal was? Think they were working on chopping it up or they got what they needed and that was it?

 

[vankho]

@cstav86 No idea. It seems like it's been sitting for a while with windows and hood open. There were a lot of dead leaves inside the car and engine compartment. Probably got what they needed and left it. They did leave a gallon or so of gas behind.

 

[vipergrhd]

Glad to see it's back. Hope you get her back on the road soon and install a kill switch and maybe a tracker in case it happens again. @vankho