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Anyone have their Prius stolen?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Chippingawayatlife, Jan 20, 2017.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there's no crime in virginia.:)
     
  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    You mean the Washington DC suburbs?
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not in the last 8 years. next 4...
     
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  4. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    They are all misbehaving in DC streets now, apparently.
     
  5. SnT08Prius

    SnT08Prius Active Member

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    Thats an Aussie Holden HSV Maloo ute and worth a heap of cash in parts.
     
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  6. Chippingawayatlife

    Chippingawayatlife Active Member

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    I thought I'd list out what I found so far. (Am I allowed to post external links?)

    Nov 2012: NICB posted a report in 2012 showing the projected Prius theft rate of 2012 Prius was much lower than the actual theft rate of 2008-2011 models. The full report also says that for the same year range, other cars theft rate is 1 in 78 while the Prius was 1 in 606. It makes me wonder if this was true only because it was a new car and the theft community hasn't yet found a way to steal it yet. Then shortly after, a bunch of online articles went online with flashy headlines like "Worried about theft? Buy a Prius".
    Theft History of the Toyota Prius | nicb.org


    May 2015: Stolen Gen 3 batteries mainly in San Francisco. Video shows owner saying about $9000 replacement cost. Also mentioned are tamper proof bolt replacements. I don't know if this is applicable for gen 4's under the seat.
    Toyota Prius batteries being targeted by car thieves | Ars Technica

    May 2015: 2 more Gen 3 batteries taken with an owner stating insurance company AAA says there were currently 3 other similar cases. $10000 repair.
    Daring Thieves Targeting the Toyota Prius For Its Hybrid Battery [Video]

    June 2016: 2007 Prius had catalytic converter stolen in Los Angeles county
    LA County catalytic converter thefts spiking, thieves moving away from enforcement crackdown

    Aug? 2016: Gen 2 taxi was stolen in Los Angeles county


    Sept 2016: Johnny Vargas? Stole what looks like a gen 3 Prius
    Reckless Driving Rampage in Stolen Prius Ends With Crash Into Tree | NBC Southern California

    Sept 2016: Another 2008 Prius catalytic converter gone in LA county.
    Catalytic converter thefts are still smoking hot - LA Times

    Dec 2016: NICB tests "mystery device" that can unlock cars by stealing key fob signal. No mention of Prius in this article
    NICB Reveals Mystery Device That Opens and Starts Vehicles | nicb.org

    I recently received a post of a chinese TVB video exploiting smart keys by taking their signal without any buttons pressed. I'm unable to find a link to the video unfortunately, but I'll keep trying.
     
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  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    In California and New York you can't buy an aftermarket Catalytic Converter. Toyota's $1500 price will drive demand up alright. In the rest of the US, a new CC with a new exhaust pipe for the front half of the car is $350, (once you buy the gaskets and resonator) so the risk of stealing one is too high.
    2004-2009 Toyota Prius Catalytic Converter - Walker 16337 - - PartsGeek.com

    I am amused that I thought of WHY steal a Prius while others thought of HOW to steal a Prius. Different topics, really.
     
    #27 JimboPalmer, Jan 20, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2017
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  8. grape808

    grape808 Active Member

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    According to this report, 26 Pri were stolen in Hawaii between 2000-2012 and 1,062 were stolen in California.

    I think our car breakins are mostly smash and grabs though, and I'm sure Pri have no immunity there.
     
  9. Techars

    Techars Junior Member

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    Drug deals. No, seriously. I had a neighbor who had their car stolen so the thieves could deal drugs from it and not worry about asset forfeiture.
     
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  10. Chippingawayatlife

    Chippingawayatlife Active Member

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    Great... And I'm in the capitol of car theft here in San Francisco. I had the factory enable the alarm with the blue led, I have a 4 pronged club, and I never push the button on the fob so the signal is never sent out. Still, I'm afraid that someone can steal the passive entry signal...
     
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  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    As of noon today (Friday), there will be no more crime in the United States. We have the new President's word (campaign promise) on that.
     
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  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    He needs to get out more around DC then.
     
  13. au_prius

    au_prius Australian Prius Driver

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    I did read Japanese media reports of increasing number of thefts of hybrid vehicle traction batteries. Bear in mind that there are far more hybrids on the road in Japan (the various Prius models have been on the Japanese best seller list for years) and presumably there is a greater demand for stolen batteries!
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i spent 6 years there, shuttling my kids back and forth. i figured it was all fixed by now.;)
     
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  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    You haven't checked today's (or yesterday's) news, then. Have you? :eek:
     
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    today is not 2 days ago.:)
     
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  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    You quoted my post from this morning referring to the new president needing to tour DC.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    senior moment, sorry.:oops:
     
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  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I can relate... :(
     
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  20. Priifan

    Priifan Member

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    Anyone have statistics on how Prii fare in California car theft stats? Our 2012 Three will be living in San Jose in about ten days. I read the Wired article at Radio Attack Lets Hackers Steal 24 Different Car Models | WIRED about how thieves are stealing cars with remote fob replacements that can be built quite easily. This is scary for sure! Had no idea it is so easy to replicate the fob from a long distance, and drive the car away with no physical damage. Thank god the public doesn't know much about driving a Prius and is not in love with them like we are. Theft of the battery also catches my attention. Our cul de sac is full of Prii, and no one has replaced or lost a battery...yet. Our best hope is that other folks dislike our cars, so there are few buyers for stolen ones and parts. Does anyone know if the battery has a car's VIN on it or some other ID feature so it can be traced? And does Toyota have a database of the number of each stolen battery?
     
    #40 Priifan, Jan 21, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2017
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