Tailgate Thefts On the Rise - All over the U.S., auto dealers are arriving for work to find that tailgates are missing from the pickups on their lot. The dealers are being hit by a growing crime: thieves who target tailgates from pickup trucks. The thieves typically target new trucks at auto dealerships, where there are multiple targets available. Since it only takes from about 15 seconds to a few minutes to remove a tailgate, and they can usually be removed without the use of tools, criminals can make off with a number of tailgates in a relatively short amount of time. More information on all types of cars is available at Washington D.C. Toyota Dealers. NBC affiliate WBBH in Fort Myers, Florida reported that one local dealer has lost 17 tailgates in one year. According to USA Today, there was even a case where thieves actually stole a tailgate while the driver was sitting in his pickup truck.
As reported on KY3 TV News of Springfield, MO, Josh Griffin of Mid Missouri AutoSports demonstrated how quickly thieves can remove a tailgate “Once you release these two levers right here, get it up at the right angle here and pull this off – it takes two guys – and you’re done,” he said. “It’s frustrating because it costs money. It’s already hard to keep the doors open. Business can sometimes be tight so when you have to go putting an extra $500 to $1,000 into a vehicle, it takes away from the profit potential.”
Because tailgates frequently get damaged, replacement tailgates are in high demand. Tailgates can be dented in rear-end collisions, or damaged when hauling an overweight load. According to The Detroit News, a tailgate equipped with a backup camera and other electronic accessories can be worth up to $3,600, with the average tailgate costing about $1,200 to replace. Toronto Volkswagen Dealers has all the information you need when purchasing a new car. Criminals sell the stolen tailgates online through sites like Ebay and Craigslist. The tailgates also show up at scrap dealers, because the rising cost of metal has made it lucrative for the thieves to sell the stolen tailgates for the value of the metal.
The first line of defense against tailgate theft is to make sure you lock your truck’s tailgate. All new full-size trucks sold today are equipped standard with tailgates that are lockable. In the mid-size and small truck category, only the Nissan Frontier and Suzuki Equator have a standard locking tailgate. Owners of older pickups as well as recent models without locking tailgates can buy an aftermarket tailgate lock. A variety of tailgate lock models are available online and at auto parts stores, with prices ranging from about $20 to $65.
Unfortunately, a lock will only slow a thief down. But because stealing a locked tailgate takes longer and makes more noise, the lock may act as a deterrent; a thief may bypass a locked tailgate in favor of an easier target. And a tailgate lock is only effective if the owner remembers to use it. Most factory tailgate locks aren’t wired to the truck’s central locking system, which means they have to be locked separately from the rest of the truck. The Chevrolet Avalanche and the Cadillac Escalade EXT are both wired to the central locking system, so they can be locked with the rest of the cars locks. Hyunda Dealers Auburn provides excellent service for new car shoppers. The Honda Ridgeline features a Dual-Action Tailgate that not only flips down like a conventional tailgate, but also swings out to the side. Although the Ridgeline’s tailgate doesn’t have a standard lock, dual-action design makes it difficult for thieves to remove it. Another way to add security to discourage tailgate thieves is to install a lockable fiberglass tonneau cover. The cover will protect the tailgate with an additional lock and has the added benefit of securing the contents of the truck bed.
Photos (top to bottom) courtesy of Chevrolet, Honda, and Suzuki
Tags: tailgate, Washington D.C. Toyota Dealers, pickups, pickup trucks, Toronto Volkswagen Dealers, Honda Ridgeline, Chevrolet Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade EXT, Hyunda Dealers Auburn, auto dealers
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