Recovering Stolen FJ60 and what I learned (1 Viewer)

[LB LandCruiser]

Glad you got your truck back. It sucks to have your stuff ripped off.

First, crooks surf the net, too. Everything written in here, a crook can read, and learn. So all the tricks we write up about, they read about. It's not just LandCruisers. It 's Tahoes, Escalades, Porches; everything. Second, seems like your car was stolen for transportation. Someone needed to get from point A to point B and had a shaved key, jiggle key, or a small pair of craft scissors. The same thing happens with Camrys and Accords from the 80's and 90's. The bottom line is, you got your car back. It wasn't shipped out of the country, or stripped.

Someone already posted "if they want it, they'll get it." That's absolutely true. There's no device that prevents a flatbed tow truck from scooping up your truck. And I don't think it's uncommon to see a tow truck with a car on the back and the alarm going off. Cops may just think the car was just recovered and is on it's way to the tow yard.

I believe, LoJack with the early warning system is the best option out there for getting your car/truck back. But the crooks may already know what the device looks like and where to look for it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Bsquared]

The kill switch works well, when i had my 93 toyota truck, i had a kill switch that you had to flip the high beams on before it would start.

The same truck got broken into in colorado springs, they stole the amp but couldn't get the truck!

 

[cody c]

Glad you got it back, here's an idea for you that I have in my 80.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/407556-codys-slow-white-80-re-build.html

I keep my 80 in the garage, but i think your thread has motivated me to start using this switch again.

 

[Callahan Offroad]

i still find this story to be all kinds of crazyness. my condolances. the best security system is to have a truck that doesn't run! but seriously who steals an old land cruiser? especially in a nicer neighborhood? Besides a fuel or ignition cut off you could just remove the battery, or even the negative grounding cable, costs nothing and would take maybe 30 seconds. can't steal what you cant start.

 

[gfoz]

a couple years ago I had my 62 stolen in Bend, OR. Nothing was damaged, missing or broken except all the valve stems were missing. Whoever did it locked the car when then were done (three blocks from where they stole it from downtown). First thing the cop asked me when he found it was "is there someone in this town that doesn't like you?"

That episode got me so pissed off that I started on my never ending quest to make my LC theft proof.

First is keyless entry that operates a starter kill switch, disables the computer ground, and when I get around to it a relay that breaks the fuel pump ground. All systems are disabled a few seconds after the key is turned off. So even if I leave the key in the ignition the car is essentially dead until the system is disarmed with the remote or by using the very well disguised valet switch. The control unit is tucked away so I doubt anyone would even be able to tell I had it installed.

None of the above would stop someone from breaking in and stealing the stereo, so I'm in the planning stage of installing solenoids in the doors that would prevent opening them. Basically only entry (or exit for that matter) would be via a broken window.

Next up is a GPS tracker. Hopefully soon if I can fit it in the budget. So even if it is loaded on a trailer at least I can track it.

 

[Flank]

My 80 came with a kill switch electronic key that plugs in under the dash (right under where the locker switch would be if I had one.) total ignition kill. I use it whenever I park at the airport, which is plenty. the key looks like a little circuit board that plugs into a receptacle.

 

[Mikesta]

Intersting thread. Here is my interesting response:

I bought my 62 from somebody that had it recently recovered. As the story goes, the truck got stolen, after 2-3 weeks of not hearing anything on it he bought an 80 series, a week later gets this one back. The tires and rims had been stolen so the insurance company replaced them (good for me), nothing else was wrong w/ the truck except for the stereo and speakers gone, which he replaced w/ cheap crap.

The truck was broke into using a warn out key, I then asked my cop brother-in-law about that and he said he has a key ring in his desk at work full of warn out mostly asian vehicle keys and probably had a few that he could use on my truck now.

The P/O installed a fuel pump cut off switch that is activated by a button (that you can bump w/ your knee inadvertaly while driving) and it is disabled by a magnetic switch inside the center console, know the point and wave a magnate by and it disables.

I was only given one key for the truck, which I lost one day, I tried 5 old worn out keys and a pocket knife to start it and nothing worked, I took the door lock out of the passenger door in less than a minute, had it rekeyed for about 10 bucks and got 4 duplicates.

Ironically the only thing apparently wrong w/ the truck when I bought it was the rear drive lights didn't work and the fuse kept blowing. I spent 8 hours one day looking for the short, fixed several bad grounds and never found the problem. 2 days later I installed a better stereo deck, taped off a couple wires that I couldn't identify from behind the stereo and all was well. I then read a week later that the illimination wire on the stereo is tied to the rear drive lights, I put in a new fuse and everything works fine.

A week later my transmission went out now and it doesn't move anyway.

You have a 1 in 12 chance of unlocking a 60 with a 60/62 key. I also was able to use a Key from a 24' moving truck on one of my 60's. And Vice Versa.

 

[Rusty84]

I have to laugh at the thought of a drive-by shooting from an FJ60!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"There, I think I hit him! Now step on it, and let's get outta here!"

[Long pause]

"C'mon man, CAN'T YOU MAKE THIS THING GO FASTER!!"

[sirens in background]

"Yeesh! Next time, I PICK THE CAR, OKAY!!"

What a great mental image. And because of the near mythical inability to accelerate any spectators would have a good bit of time to commit the vehicle and occupants descriptions to memory. But here is all the witnesses would have to say....

"Yes Officer, I got a real good look at them. But you don't need a description, just follow the fluid drips on the road and it will lead you right to the perps."

 

[jaymar]

Find other security threads here:

Vehicle Security: Master Thread (Index Thread)

Looking to create a one-stop link page for security threads--starting with the bunch below (in no particular order; maybe I'll organize them later). Find a good security thread? Post it up and I'll add it to the list. IF YOUR CRUISER WAS JUST STOLEN, GO HERE...

forum.ih8mud.com