Jeeps Stolen at Record Levels -- (Older ones more)
11-10-2008, 07:29 AM
#1
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Jeeps Stolen at Record Levels -- (Older ones more)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The Albuquerque Police Department had a warning for Jeep drivers Tuesday.
Officers said thefts of one particular type of vehicle are on the rise in the Duke City and in some cases, they're being stolen right out of the victim's driveway.
Jennifer Fitzpatrick said she found that out the hard way that of all the vehicles on the road, there's one type thieves in Albuquerque really have an eye on.
"I sat down here to put on my sneakers, to go for my run around this neighborhood and I noticed my Jeep was gone," Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick's Jeep was stolen right out of her driveway last weekend, and she was far from alone.
"Slowly over the last couple of months we've seen a trend where Jeep Wrangler vehicles and the Jeep Rubicon are becoming kind of a hot vehicle to steal," said Sgt. Lou Heckroth with the Albuquerque Police Department.
Police said Jeeps are swiped at a rate of about one every other day. They said of the Jeeps stolen in October so far, only one has been found.
Police said they think most are headed south of the border.
"It's a compact 4x4 vehicle where they can go off road. They can avoid the checkpoints, get over water easily and then they can use it up in the high terrain in Mexico," Heckroth said.
Police said mainly Jeeps from model years 2000 to 2004 -- new enough to still run well, but too old for some of the more modern anti-theft technology -- are being stolen.
"APD is watching out for Jeeps on the streets of Albuquerque and further south," Heckroth said. "I'm contacting the El Paso Police Department, and I give them hot lists of our stolen vehicles so that they can set up bridge check points."
Police said they urge all Jeep owners to keep an eye on their vehicle and Fitzpatrick preached the same advice.
"It doesn't matter what neighborhood you live in because I've lived in three different ones in the last four years and in each place something's gotten stolen," Fitzpatrick said.
Police said the best thing drivers can do to protect themselves is to purchase and use an anti-theft device like a club or park in their garage.
They also want to warn all drivers. They said now that the weather is cooling off, drivers should never leave your car running unattended with the keys in the ignition.
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My Comment:
Rather nasty news, but again, our JK's have better technology to prevent theft. I cleaned out my garage, and now my Jeep has a nice heated garage to sleep in.
For you outside parkers: Try putting a Kryptonite Motorcycle Lock through the frame and rear wheels. It just makes the Jeep a bad target for theft.
- Dave in Flagstaff
Officers said thefts of one particular type of vehicle are on the rise in the Duke City and in some cases, they're being stolen right out of the victim's driveway.
Jennifer Fitzpatrick said she found that out the hard way that of all the vehicles on the road, there's one type thieves in Albuquerque really have an eye on.
"I sat down here to put on my sneakers, to go for my run around this neighborhood and I noticed my Jeep was gone," Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick's Jeep was stolen right out of her driveway last weekend, and she was far from alone.
"Slowly over the last couple of months we've seen a trend where Jeep Wrangler vehicles and the Jeep Rubicon are becoming kind of a hot vehicle to steal," said Sgt. Lou Heckroth with the Albuquerque Police Department.
Police said Jeeps are swiped at a rate of about one every other day. They said of the Jeeps stolen in October so far, only one has been found.
Police said they think most are headed south of the border.
"It's a compact 4x4 vehicle where they can go off road. They can avoid the checkpoints, get over water easily and then they can use it up in the high terrain in Mexico," Heckroth said.
Police said mainly Jeeps from model years 2000 to 2004 -- new enough to still run well, but too old for some of the more modern anti-theft technology -- are being stolen.
"APD is watching out for Jeeps on the streets of Albuquerque and further south," Heckroth said. "I'm contacting the El Paso Police Department, and I give them hot lists of our stolen vehicles so that they can set up bridge check points."
Police said they urge all Jeep owners to keep an eye on their vehicle and Fitzpatrick preached the same advice.
"It doesn't matter what neighborhood you live in because I've lived in three different ones in the last four years and in each place something's gotten stolen," Fitzpatrick said.
Police said the best thing drivers can do to protect themselves is to purchase and use an anti-theft device like a club or park in their garage.
They also want to warn all drivers. They said now that the weather is cooling off, drivers should never leave your car running unattended with the keys in the ignition.
**************************
My Comment:
Rather nasty news, but again, our JK's have better technology to prevent theft. I cleaned out my garage, and now my Jeep has a nice heated garage to sleep in.
For you outside parkers: Try putting a Kryptonite Motorcycle Lock through the frame and rear wheels. It just makes the Jeep a bad target for theft.
- Dave in Flagstaff
11-10-2008, 08:02 AM
#2
JK Junkie
I would have thought that the Rubicon TJ would be hard to steal since they had the chip in the key. 
I am not a theif though so I wouldn't really know to be quite honest.
I am not a theif though so I wouldn't really know to be quite honest.
11-10-2008, 08:47 AM
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Certainly something to keep in mind as I have friends with TJ's in that range. If it's happening in Albq, you can bet that they are a target in Tucson, Phoenix & San Diego as well.
11-10-2008, 10:13 AM
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11-10-2008, 10:14 AM
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11-10-2008, 11:12 AM
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Been going on for awhile, I know awhile back some SoCal guys were taking off the Rubicon stickers on their TJs. The owner for another Jeep site I'm a longtime member of had his built YJ swiped right from the front of his house a year or so ago.
