STOLEN 1997 FZJ80 Stolen (Houston)

[FZJ EightE]

Location

United States

Greetings Cruiser Community! (Not sure the best place to post)

I've been reading this site quietly from the sidelines for some time and recently found the Land Cruiser I had been searching for. Thanks upfront for the knowledge and entertainment.

Unfortunately this weekend my 1997 FZJ80 was stolen sometime this weekend from an office parking garage (near Briar Forrest and Beltway 8). I currently work out of the country and my brother was kind enough to use it as an alternate vehicle. Building security shows it leaving the building on Saturday at 9am. Just hoping that maybe one of you guys see some as**ole enjoying it with a broken window, please call the police. Texas Plate #HLT6873.

 

[HAAANK]

Damn. Sorry to hear.

 

[retrofive]

I hope for a quick un harmed recovery.

 

[BILT4ME]

How does someone steal one of these unless they have a key?

With all the normal problems the frickin factory alarm causes for it to not run, how can someone break in, hot wire it, and make it go? Is it the same thing as jamming the screwdriver in the ignition like they did on the Chevy trucks?

Sorry to hear this! good luck on getting it back. Being in a port city, it may not take long for it to disappear permanently.

 

[midfat]

Create an Instagram account. Follow ALL of the 80-Series Land Cruiser and Toyota 4x4 accounts you can find. Post a pic of your Land Cruiser and tag every one of the accounts in your post. Not hashtags. Tag them in the picture. Also find an app that will allow you to write "STOLEN" on top of the pic. This ain't that big of a community, and we're all pretty well connected. Social media is a secret weapon for finding cowardly ass hats!

 

[Payara Offroad]

How long ago you purchased that LC? I saw it not long ago 4 sale in Craigslist in the last month....

 

[midfat]

Seriously, finding a clean, two-tone, Collectors Edition 80-Series should be about as difficult as finding a purple giraffe in a grassy field. When this things comes up for sale, EVERYBODY will see it. I think this was an insanely poor choice for the thieves.

 

[Sambosuda]

Damn this sucks.

I copied the link and I'll post it on our local clubs FB.

I'm also in Houston.

 

[savirc]

In Houston, will keep an eye out. Is there something out of the ordinary on this truck that would make it stand out from the crowd? I know you listed the plates but something that can't easily be removed.

 

[terrx]

How does someone steal one of these unless they have a key?

With all the normal problems the frickin factory alarm causes for it to not run, how can someone break in, hot wire it, and make it go? Is it the same thing as jamming the screwdriver in the ignition like they did on the Chevy trucks?

I'm wondering about that too.

 

[jfz80]

Man that stinks.

Post up in the tx clubhouses

TX- Lone Star Land Cruisers

There are several but this one seems most active. The houston club seemed local but not of standard mud format. Maybe some texans can point you in the tight direction.

 

[Sambosuda]

TX- Bayou City Land Cruisers

 

[klinetime574]

I'll keep an eye out. I live in Webster and commute to Beltway 8 and I-45 daily.

 

[mmw68]

I'll be in Houston for a few days, I'll keep my eyes open!

 

[LS1FJ40]

I hope you get it back. This is crap. Freaking a$$holes!

There is a special place in hell for someone that steals a Land Cruiser.

 

[Kernal]

Get word to the state police including the border patrol/customs; it could be on it's way across the border.

 

[txlonghorn]

I would guess it is on its way to Mexico. I used to work near that intersection and never imagined something like that could happen in that neighborhood in the office garage. I'll keep an eye out. Hope it turns up.

 

[LINUS]

The upside is a broken window means a amatuer stole it. It'll probably surface with a punched column, but that's better than being flawless in a cargo container going to Nigeria or S Africa, etc.

Have more pics or at least description, grey or tan interior, miles, any personal mods you did, etc? (Looks like extra tint, yeah?)

Was yours especially desireable in the miles, condition, lockers - whatever?

I've noticed since enthusiast forums have become the norm, the communities are alot smaller than thieves understand - esp lower production # vehicles like these so the more info you can post about yours the better.

You might post the last 3-4 of your VIN too - that might help if anyone sees a 2 tone like yours (looks like a nice one BTW, sorry for you) & it's just riding around town wearing some other plates. They aren't the common white or green, so you have that on your side.

 

[FZJ EightE]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I have a lot of the same questions as you guys do. I haven't really had a chance to spend much time with the rig as I just bought it in June (in San Antonio) and have been working out of the country for the last two years. The project was really going to get started when I get back in March. All I have really done is clean it up a bit, new tires, shocks, brakes. The Yakima roof rack is currently over the factory roof rack. Not much else to identify it by other than the dent on the front DS quarter panel and dent by the PS tail light shown in the photos here.

Last 6 digits of the VIN#: 186459
Mileage ~151,000
Tan interior, wood grain removal in process.

 

[duggy]

Will definitely keep an eye out in Houston.