My Tercel Stolen

[TURTCEL]

I am very happy to hear that you got your Terc back. I lived in Cali for a while and my wife's family lives in Chico so we visit quite often. Her parents have had vehicles stolen or vandalized in the small nice community park that they live in. Unfortunately, no place is safe from thieves.

Kill switch is a great idea.

Peace

[danzo]

Once the government gets involved, forget anything you thought was fair, rational, or making sense.

Amen to that!
There is talk about "nationalizing"peoples 401k's
And now social security is an entitlement you bet your a** were entitled it's our money!

Agree turbo, which is why I'm trying to figure out which country I will take my money to and retire in circa twenty years from now, maybe sooner. Any suggestions?

As far as law "enforcement" - they really are in the business of managing crime, not fighting it like they purport. The best cops are homicide detectives, they work very hard and for the most part convict properly, but even their job requirements facilitate unfairness. They are paid to pin murders on people, not necessarily solve them. Countless lives have been destroyed by false convictions. The system was even publicly ridiculed in the early '70's (probably earlier) in movies like the Dirty Harry series. Still, we have not fixed the problem.

[Chirpbark]

I had a jeep stolen on Good Friday & recovered on Easter in 2011 lol. Been using a steering wheel club wherever I park now! Hear they're quite effective anti-theft devices.

[keith]

The best anti-theft device you can get today is a manual transmission, most jackers and thieves can't drive them.

Check Craig's List for the next week or two, I'll bet you will find someone selling camera equipment exactly like yours, maybe even the same serial numbers. If you see an ad, the cops will not help you unless you can go there and positively identify the equipment first. By law, they can't help until there is probable cause.

Best way is to set up a meet to look at the merch, then tell them you have to go to the bank, or pawn some other stuff you have, to get the money, call the cops and then set up the meet to complete the transaction.

Arch, shut up, you're giving them ideas. The last thing we need is a politician with an idea.

[dlb]

The best anti-theft device you can get today is a manual transmission, most jackers and thieves can't drive them.

inactive forum member barto came up with an excellent theft deterrent mod for his terc. he moved the clutch safety switch from behind the clutch pedal to the lower steering trim panel. that way the car won't start unless someone knows to push that button in at the same time. the mod can also be useful in situations where the car stops running due to fuel or ignition issues since you can use the starter to move the car short distances, like off a road or the last few feet to a gas station. of course that won't work if the battery is dead though.

[Social]

Glad you got it back..Here they steal cars and burn them to remove there fingerprints.I fitted a alarm to mine a few weeks ago.

[rocco611]

good to hear your car is back. I live in the central valley as well. Since AB109 took affect there is really no consequences for auto theft or burglary.non violent offenders are usually released the same day. Its a good idea to secure your home as well, don't leave your car keys and credit cards in the house, they will drive off in your cars, or come back and get the one your driving if they have the keys. jewelry and important papers should be in a safe deposit box, encrypt your computer store your files in the cloud or offsite. thieves know most all the hiding places and can trash your house in a matter of a few minutes and find what they are looking for if its hidden. It takes the police usually a minimum of fifteen minutes to respond if you have an alarm, gives them plenty of time. they would prefer not to get caught but , don't much care if they do. If you see suspicious vehicle in the neighborhood, you can call police dispatch and give them the license number, they are always happy to come arrest thieves casing the neighborhood in stolen vehicles.

[splatterdog]

A kill switch is much better. Steering wheel locks are a joke- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cYXigh6Jug

[john]

Hi Everybody,
It really is good to have my Tercel back home. People told me I would get it back, but as Social mentioned, they burn cars around here also. I did put a kill switch in mine when I got it back. I tapped into the starter solenoid wire and installed a toggle switch. It was quick and easy and I think better than goofing around with the ignition wires because that is where they look to hot wire a car. I also installed an alarm.

I still have not figured out how they got into and drove my car. There was no exterior damage and the steering wheel still locks. The back hatch was unlocked when I recovered the car. I am careful to lock all doors and hatch. I heard somewhere recently that there are "master" Toyota keys in circulation. Is it possible to turn the steering wheel far enough without a key to be driveable, yet unbroken? My kid once locked himself out of a Mazda Six. The locksmith opened the door within about 45 seconds using a tiny pump up air bladder in the door, followed by a hook inserted down the window.

I found a popsicle stick and wrapper on the passenger floor and suspect that it was an amateur thief who new that old cars are easier to steal than new ones. I was greatly relieved to find my unopened mail still on the floor of the car... I was heading to the post office after my photo assignment. One of the pieces contained a check... I was considering changing bank accounts, etc., but decided to closely monitor financial stuff instead. As Rocco said, now they know where I live, etc. I was really freaked out and did not sleep well for a couple days. Was so relieved to see that paperwork seemed to be untouched. The lost camera equipment was insured and I got some cool tools for father's day.

[dlb]

The back hatch was unlocked when I recovered the car. I am careful to lock all doors and hatch. I heard somewhere recently that there are "master" Toyota keys in circulation. Is it possible to turn the steering wheel far enough without a key to be driveable, yet unbroken?

for some reason, many tercel keys work in multiple other tercels. i once locked my keys in my terc so i had my buddy drive his terc out to me so we could use his key to unlock my car. i've had several friends experience the same thing with their old tercs. i imagine this applies to other toyotas of similar vintage but i haven't tested it.

[Petros]

yes, likely a worn and sloppy key. As the locks get worn often keys that are just close enough can be made to work with a little jiggling. I have owned a number of Tercel4wd, and often I would use the same keys on several of them (even thought they are not quite the same).

The last Tercel I recovered from Dallas gave us only one key (always risky to have just one key with you on a long road trip), but discovered the key for my daily driver back home worked perfectly well, that gave me one and my wife one key each to keep on our persons during the trip.

Just for grins, next time you see a vintage Tercel somewhere, try your key in it to see if it works. my experience is that perhaps a third or more are "close enough" to work.

[Chirpbark]

I keep a key in my wallet as well just because I am forgetful

[drege]

The best anti-theft device you can get today is a manual transmission, most jackers and thieves can't drive them.

the mod can also be useful in situations where the car stops running due to fuel or ignition issues since you can use the starter to move the car short distances, like off a road or the last few feet to a gas station. of course that won't work if the battery is dead though.

I used this method on one of my vehicles years ago that I had to remove from someones posesion that basicaly stole it, they refused to give me the keys and I determined to show them I didn't need a key just hotwired it, couldn't isolate the ACC wire so rode the starter a mile down the road to a well lit area (chevy 350 3spd auto - had a brand new starter in it) was alot like stealing a car for real, jumped some wires, some others, then BANG, the starter engaged, I knew I'd only have about 30 seconds before his dogs barking would alert him to unusual activity in the yard.
We're still friends, we just had a disagreement, but he knows keeping a key from me is useless now ^_^