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Last updated on Thursday, June 28, 2018
(INDIANAPOLIS) - A recent increase in vehicle thefts has prompted a warning from police, specifically for owners of Ford F-250 pickup trucks.
Zach Myers, of FOX59 News reports, a Tuesday Facebook post from IMPD points out that "several Ford F250 pickup trucks have been stolen recently," and offered tips on how to protect your property.
Tips include never leaving keys in the ignition or in the consul, never leaving tools or valuables in the vehicle, and always keeping the vehicle locked.
But Indianapolis Firefighter, Matt Bennett, says his F-250 was locked when it was stolen from his southeast side home on May 9. Thieves managed to break into the truck, start it and drive it off before leaving it abandoned in an empty lot in the 1300 block of Tibbs Avenue.
When Bennett's truck was found, he says there wasn't much left of it. The front end was cut off, motor and transmission and doors were gone. The only thing left was the seats.
Bennett's firefighting gear which was inside the truck was also stolen, including his boots, leather helmet, mask and other equipment.
The Indianapolis Fire Department says Bennett filed a police report and followed proper procedure. Some of the gear has been recovered, but Bennett's badge and ID are still missing. IFD says those items are marked with serial numbers, which are being closely tracked.
An undercover IMPD detective, says car and truck thieves have gotten very good at getting into locked pickup trucks and quickly driving off with them.
The thieves manipulate the locks on the trucks, then manipulate the column with a screwdriver and a hammer to start the vehicle. The theft can happen in less than 20 seconds.
The detective, who has personally recovered 67 stolen trucks since 2015, says he has seen an increase in such thefts in the last few months. Much of that could be driven by supply and demand. There is high black market demand for Ford F-250 and F-350 parts in places like Texas and Mexico. He believes an increase in that demand could be driving up theft cases in central Indiana.
The Ford F-250s and 350s have diesel engines in them and can sell for around $4,000 on the street. The thief makes around $300 to $400 for each truck they steal.
The detective also points out that Ford pickup trucks don't have OnStar tracking technology like Chevy trucks, making the Fords more difficult to locate after they are stolen. The detective recommends Ford owners purchase a GPS tracking device and place it hidden somewhere in the truck where it will not be noticed.
Information FOX59 News, http://fox59.com
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