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Thieves stealing Hybrid Batteries in SF !!?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by 3prongpaul, Jan 28, 2015.

  1. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    Carolyn posted this: crazy stuff; I guess older Prius are driving up demand for replacement batteries....


     
    Dylan Doxey and cwerdna like this.
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    no worries of electrical shock by cutting wires like that?
     
  3. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Unbelievable. I heard rumors about this. But this is the first verified one I've seen.

    This will be expensive to replaced since it will need
    A new body harness
    A new HV harness
    The owner will not have a core to turn in when purchasing a replacement battery pack. I've seen core fees as much as $1,250.

    Wow.
     
  4. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    When car is off i.e. NOT READY no power is leaving the Hybrid Battery enclosure. You can cut away with metal tools and nothing will happen.
     
  5. Yakoma

    Yakoma Active Member

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    That's the opposite of Luscious
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    simply amazing! I would guess no more than 2 minutes with power tools......this might be the thing of the future as more batteries fail and demand increases
     
  7. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    Someone should make up window stickers that say;
    "Warning, Hybrid battery has been secured with multiple anti-theft measures. Do not attempt to remove"
     
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    sad thing is nobody would think anything is wrong, like the car owner getting something out of his trunk. unless there is a broken window, someone working out of the trunk area won't really cause suspicion

    if this keeps up, look forward to higher insurance premiums on the hybrid cars.
     
    #8 JC91006, Jan 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2015
  9. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    "if this keeps up, look forward to higher insurance premiums on the hybrid cars."

    Wonder how insurance will handle?...

    There was a post here last Feb or March where a Prius had lost it's battery in this exact fashion. Location was either just outside of SF or Sacramento, don't recall exactly. Car was parked at a bike trail or nature trail trail head or something of the like. Wouldn't be surprised if it was the same thief/thieves.

    The world we live in.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i remember that. i don't think it has become commonplace.
     
  11. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    i remember when platinum was more expensive than now, thieves would cut cat converters from under the cars. i also heard about thefts of airbags. crazy. you would think it would be easier to steal the whole car and strip it in some private location?
     
  12. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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  13. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Does the battery case have the VIN etched into it?
     
  14. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    Ironically Prius batteries DO NOT have the VIN on them, even though they are the first thing of value that gets sold when a Prius is parted out at a junkyard, and no way of knowing if the battery is from that car....I've been burned buying junkyard batteries... somehow between the bodyshop/insurance auction and junkyard low mileage batteries get swapped with tired old ones and the junkyard sells them assuming they were in the car when it got wrecked. Buyer beware!

    Toyota DOES put a tamper proof VIN plate on the engine and transaxle, but not as much demand for those items yet and much harder to remove an engine while the car is in a parking lot etc.
     
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  15. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    I would assume it would come under Comprehensive coverage, since it is not associated with a Collision. Then you have your deductible to pay.
     
  16. Yakoma

    Yakoma Active Member

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    Hmmm...I wonder if people are starting to scam the insurance companies by having their cars broken into and the failing battery "stolen"?

    $500 deductible vs. $2500 battery...nah....people wouldn't do that, would they?
     
    #16 Yakoma, Jan 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2015
  17. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Shh....let's not promote that reality too much.

    I want every auto thief in the world thinking trying to remove The Hybrid battery is a high voltage/high risk situation.
     
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  18. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I don't think that etching the VIN into the battery pack would deter thieves in the least.
    Just a guess, but you can't see the battery pack when it's installed and this is a targeted theft from somebody looking for a specific battery - meaning they don't care if it has a VIN, political sticker, or a radiological warning placard on the battery pack.

    I'm also not thinking that this will drive up insurance rates on hybrids. They're not stolen nearly as often as other cars (car thieves prefer flashier cars) so this will offset additional risks.
    Battery theft is still a boutique crime. The only reason we're talking about it (for now) is that it's a rarity.

    As far as the electrical hazard, I'm sure that somebody will injure themselves eventually but anybody with the mechanical aptitude to remove a battery pack would be bright enough to know how to cut the wires to minimize any arc-welding. It's not rocket science.

    The real problem will be when the repair costs ($7000 quoted in the video) would be enough to make the insurance company total the vehicle.


    Interesting problem if you live in a high crime area I guess.
     
  19. defrankond

    defrankond Member

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    Why did he have to cut the hv harness and body harness? Those all disconnect from the battery. It pisses me off that these ignorant people growing up in society steal from people who work hard for what they own. Toyota should leave the voltage live so they get fried when doing this!
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thieves just aren't as polite as they used to be.:cool: