sandcruiser
....back in the saddle again....
the owner lives in La Honda, the truck was stolen from Palo Alto.... you almost certainly saw it before it was stolen, not after.
STOLEN! Palo Alto, CA Green 4BT80
- Thread starter gifu
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #42
Yes. The owner, Eric, lives in La Honda...drove it down to the hardware store he owns in Palo Alto, parked it there around 6PM (so the mechanic next door could recharge the AC). It was no longer there the next morning. Super bummer. I'm personally pretty pissed, cause I just spent about 40+ hours redesigning the cooling system. Everything on that truck is custom; FJ60 transfercase with hubs on front axle, dual tanks with Veggie oil heater system, ricer front headlights, flares are removed but we didn't yet cover up the holes, Hanna Sliders....
oh man, i miss that truck almost as much as Eric does.
oh man, i miss that truck almost as much as Eric does.
keepin my eyes open here - you never know.
Was there broken glass where it was stolen?
Was there broken glass where it was stolen?
A big thanks to Brian for getting this info out so fast. It is my truck, and I am still reeling from the loss of it. It was in Palo Alto to get a couple minor things done, and my lovely mechanic did not secure it, at all. So there was no broken glass, and nothing preventing them from starting it right up. How much do I regret not getting lo-jack now. I appreciate everyone keeping your eyes and ears out for it, you will probably hear it before you see it, although it definately sticks out in a crowd.
Totally bummed.
Eric
Totally bummed.
Eric
Am I off base here? Since it had a Diesel in it wouldn't the normal car thief be thrown off by that. I mean, all the expected wiring isn't there and since he obviously didn't have a wiring diagram how quickly would he get it started.
So maybe he had a tow truck or ramp truck. That's one damn prepared thief if that's the case.
Something seems a little off here.
Actually I would venture to say a decent amount of car thefts occur by people with tow trucks, or tow setups. My buddies mustang was stolen that way. It was stolen at night, and there would have been no way for someone to start it up without anyone hearing (loud exhaust , modded out 5.0.
Doesn't take much wiring know how to start the car with the keys, which the mechanic cleverly hid on the floor mat of the truck. Not sure whether yelling, suing, or beating the mechanic will bring the most relief in this difficult time. Probably a little of all 3. Insurance wants to wait 20 more days, but then my company will be going after him. Hopefully this means that it is just some joyriding punks that took it and not some professional car dismantlers.
My peepers in atlanta, ga are open...I've only seen one cruiser here with a snork...and none with an oil smasher.
I am with Landtank though...I have a hard enough time starting diesels when I have the keys. I would bet that someone had a flatbed. If the door was unlocked, they hopped in it and pushed the shift lock to get it into neutral...drug it up the ramp.
That would lead me to believe that someone in this dudes shop KNEW it was there, KNEW it was unsecure and (here is my Law and Order version) tipped off the guy that took it to settle a gambling bet or some such...
Man...I hate not being able to trust shops security these days!!!!
To the OP and his buddy, very sorry for your loss. That's one tough cruiser to replace and I would be seeking replacement and damages from the shops insurance company. Anything you have had to do outside the norm is a "Pain and suffering" in my book to include rental cars, friends driving you places, and the time spent trying to get it back. Be sure to have all the modifications costs, import costs, and the like ready.
I am with Landtank though...I have a hard enough time starting diesels when I have the keys. I would bet that someone had a flatbed. If the door was unlocked, they hopped in it and pushed the shift lock to get it into neutral...drug it up the ramp.
That would lead me to believe that someone in this dudes shop KNEW it was there, KNEW it was unsecure and (here is my Law and Order version) tipped off the guy that took it to settle a gambling bet or some such...
Man...I hate not being able to trust shops security these days!!!!
To the OP and his buddy, very sorry for your loss. That's one tough cruiser to replace and I would be seeking replacement and damages from the shops insurance company. Anything you have had to do outside the norm is a "Pain and suffering" in my book to include rental cars, friends driving you places, and the time spent trying to get it back. Be sure to have all the modifications costs, import costs, and the like ready.
Get some quotes from TLC, Proffits and Mudrak for conversions for insurance quotes or your gonna get burned for a simple, but Im usre you are thinking that already.
Skillet
Skillet
ALERT
I am almost positive this vehicle just drove past me 45 minutes ago south of Moss Landing on Highway 1 headed south.
I was headed north and flipped a bitch as quick as I could but there was a lot of traffic so I lost sight of him.
Hauled ass all the way back down to Marina and saw nothing. Went back up and cruised up and down through Castroville and still nothing.
There was a CHP parked back by Highway 1 so I alerted her to the whole situation.
Described the truck and it fits this one to a T.
She said she would get on the horn to let the officers in the vicinity know.
I could not see the plate but it fit this vehicle very, very closely and after driving up and down that highway a million times at that time of day, I have never seen it in the area before.
Pretty shady looking cat behind the wheel too.
Anyone south of Castroville in the Salinas / Monterey area needs to keep their eyes open.
I am almost positive this vehicle just drove past me 45 minutes ago south of Moss Landing on Highway 1 headed south.
I was headed north and flipped a bitch as quick as I could but there was a lot of traffic so I lost sight of him.
Hauled ass all the way back down to Marina and saw nothing. Went back up and cruised up and down through Castroville and still nothing.
There was a CHP parked back by Highway 1 so I alerted her to the whole situation.
Described the truck and it fits this one to a T.
She said she would get on the horn to let the officers in the vicinity know.
I could not see the plate but it fit this vehicle very, very closely and after driving up and down that highway a million times at that time of day, I have never seen it in the area before.
Pretty shady looking cat behind the wheel too.
Anyone south of Castroville in the Salinas / Monterey area needs to keep their eyes open.
On a toyota (or most vehicles) you don't need to know anything about the wiring to get it started.
In this case the keys left on the floorboard made it very easy.
Skillet
Skillet
Saw it, call 911 on your cell and report it to CHP dispatch even though you talked to the patrol officer, gotta wonder where it went from, Castrohell......South to Salinas or Monterey.
Sorry to hear about you truck. Hopefully someone will catch the SOB and bring it back in one piece. Good eyes Skillet! Whoever catches them, make sure you cut their sack off with a hot dull knife... I'll keep my eyes peeled in the Rocky Mountains.
Hey Skillet, did the shady character look like this guy in the picture? There was a murder over the weekend in downtown Palo Alto and this guy is the prime suspect and supposedly has family in Gilroy which is about 45 minutes or less from where you spotted him. Maybe using cruiser as getaway vehicle? You never know.
lx450landcruiser
Moderator
would be the dumbest choice for a getaway vehicle ever if that were the case.
then again dudes prolly not very smart to begin with so who knows
eyes peeled up north if it ever come up here
Skillet
Skillet
Hard to say. Face could very well be but I did not see the hair clear.
