A peak inside the mind of a vintage car thief...

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Duggie

Duggie

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I stopped at a 3rd generation, vintage car repair shop in Santa Rosa CA to have my new clutch looked at while on a 2000 mile road trip. These guys had cars in their lot like I haven't seen in years!
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The owner was talking with me about the layers of security I was using to try and keep our '64 Dart vert safe while cruising the coast. He said what the dirt bags are doing after loading someone's vintage pride and joy on a trailer is going to the wrecking yard with a drill. They pop the door VIN tag, and the fender tag if it's there and file a lost title on the VIN. Then they attach the new VIN to the stolen car and have themselves something for nothing.

Last time I heard anything like this, people were stealing cars and stripping out the seats, doors, etc. The insurance company would total it and sell the hulk at auction. The thieves would by the hulk, reinstall the original parts, and have something for nothing.

I think my next layer of security will be a 12 gauge shotgun shell mounted under the driver's seat. :icon_fU:
 
Duggie said:
I stopped at a 3rd generation, vintage car repair shop in Santa Rosa CA to have my new clutch looked at while on a 2000 mile road trip. These guys had cars in their lot like I haven't seen in years!
View attachment 1715615325

The owner was talking with me about the layers of security I was using to try and keep our '64 Dart vert safe while cruising the coast. He said what the dirt bags are doing after loading someone's vintage pride and joy on a trailer is going to the wrecking yard with a drill. They pop the door VIN tag, and the fender tag if it's there and file a lost title on the VIN. Then they attach the new VIN to the stolen car and have themselves something for nothing.

Last time I heard anything like this, people were stealing cars and stripping out the seats, doors, etc. The insurance company would total it and sell the hulk at auction. The thieves would by the hulk, reinstall the original parts, and have something for nothing.

I think my next layer of security will be a 12 gauge shotgun shell mounted under the driver's seat. :icon_fU:
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Messy, but effective
 
Honestly, every time you take your car out you take a chance. Most times a small chance but for some a big chance. My car is never out of sight, I rarely drive it and you need security devices like a hidden fuel cut off or ignition killer device in place. Anything to slow down thief’s. All you can do is Insure it as high as you can afford it and enjoy it when you can. With the dollars value dropping every day due to “Covid- inflation” these cars are worth more than ever. People are desperate and you need to protect against the 1% of people out there. Also what happened watch what you say when strangers when they start asking questions. Down play the value, down play the amount you have in the car. And never let them know where you park it. Tell them another town or road. Never tell them where you live. Give the address as a local PD. “I come from Smallville.” Make **** up. It’s better to sound off then looking for your ride days after. If you know what I mean.
 
Syleng1 said:
Honestly, every time you take your car out you take a chance. Most times a small chance but for some a big chance. My car is never out of sight, I rarely drive it and you need security devices like a hidden fuel cut off or ignition killer device in place. Anything to slow down thief’s. All you can do is Insure it as high as you can afford it and enjoy it when you can. With the dollars value dropping every day due to “Covid- inflation” these cars are worth more than ever. People are desperate and you need to protect against the 1% of people out there. Also what happened watch what you say when strangers when they start asking questions. Down play the value, down play the amount you have in the car. And never let them know where you park it. Tell them another town or road. Never tell them where you live. Give the address as a local PD. “I come from Smallville.” Make **** up. It’s better to sound off then looking for your ride days after. If you know what I mean.
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I don't believe that it's the desperate folks stealing our cars. It's the professionals who go to car shows, get your tag number, find out where you live, wait for the opportunity, already know the value and how to dispose of it, but yep, loose lips can get your car stolen.
 
I had cars stolen in the 70's Got one back in mid 2000's. A mopar guy in north east Pa. claimed he had the car in storage for years and came here to claim it. Little did he know I still had the title. After meeting him I remembered him from the 70's he was a young teen that hung out where the car was stolen. He is a well know mopar man from Jim Thorpe Pa. I heard he was just found to have a Hemi Cuda that was stolen. Being involved with law enforcement he just gets slaps on the hand. Good place to look if your missing something. "A" dd "J" unk LOL
 
Oldmanmopar said:
I had cars stolen in the 70's Got one back in mid 2000's. A mopar guy in north east Pa. claimed he had the car in storage for years and came here to claim it. Little did he know I still had the title. After meeting him I remembered him from the 70's he was a young teen that hung out where the car was stolen. He is a well know mopar man from Jim Thorpe Pa. I heard he was just found to have a Hemi Cuda that was stolen. Being involved with law enforcement he just gets slaps on the hand. Good place to look if your missing something. "A" dd "J" unk LOL
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My motto "no bad deed should go unpunished". One way or another it gets accomplished.
 
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