Very curious about the key thing as well. Or is there a known way to defeat/bypass the transponder key security?

Someone must have "cased" the vehicle long before the theft.

 

What does "case" the vehicle mean? Can vehicles be hot wired anymore? I guess not if it requires the key chip. I have a viper alarm so it would be hard to steal my truck, anything possible though.

 

"Case" If a car thief is after a certain type of vehicle, he may follow you home where he can steal it at night when it is the easiest.

 

From Urban Dictionary:

cased = To examine or survey (a house, bank, etc.) in planning a crime

Ergo the thieves spotted the vehicle as worthy of taking, followed it home, determined the best way and time to steal it and executed that plan successfully.

Bastards.

Now I'm curious how they started the truck; did they have access to one of its keys?

 

I like to know about the key also. Sorry for your dilema.

 

I think I remember hearing that if you leave the keys in the truck and are parked outside - the insurance company is probably going to give you a hard time. If you leave them in the truck but are parked in a garage - you're fully covered.

 

I too am curious about how it was stolen, maybe we all have false hopes our trucks are safe!

 

Key was in the vehicle--not locked. The garage was locked.

The local police called me today at about 1 pm and said they found my vehicle parked on the edge of town in a row of cedar trees. Very little damage to the vehicle, a few small superficial scratches. Everything in the vehicle missing except registration and license plate. Also took the owner manuals and the keys. So I need to get a new platinum key and get it reprogrammed. Dealer said it will cost about 200.00 to get a platinum key and reprogram. Dealer said the thieves could still use their key to manually open the door but would not start vehicle. Any suggestions.

Tickled I got my truck back in such a short time.

 

change all the locks and ignition so its only 1 key

 

One option is to pull all the lock cylinders, including the ignition, and bring them to a local locksmith with all the keys. A good locksmith can make the old key useless. Phone one in your city and ask what they can do for you and costs.....

 

sounds like a joy ride gone bad.

 

Well, that gives me some relief as the key was readily available so that's how the thief(ves) stole it.

I'm sure now you've learned your lesson not to leave keys in vehicles, but it begs the question: Is it common practice where you live for most people to keep their keys in their vehicles, even it's in locked garages? If not, how did the thief(ves) know you kept your keys there? Could they know you personally in some way?

 

Buy a shotgun and camp out in the garage, don't shoot them. Corner them at gun point and call the cops, if you do need to shoot them, give them a shot in the leg.

A security camera that records to a hard drive is a less violent way.

Even if you rekey and put new locks in the vehicle that doesn't guarantee they won't be back. I know that's not very comforting. I've gone through this multiple times with thieves, it's almost like mental terrorism.

 

Poor advice. If you point a loaded gun at someone, you'd better be prepared to use it. Most people aren't. It's all big talk. Shooting in the leg just gets the person behind the gun a big lawyer bill with hospital bills you'll be paying on for the rest of your life.

 

Glad to hear you got your truck back so quick. God damn thieves...