How often are Priuses stolen?

Interesting thread. Lojack is a waste. First of all, the cost of it is unlikely to be recouped in insurance discounts (someone correct me if I am wrong here). Second, the Prius cannot be driven away without the key -- period. A very smart thief would have to do something along the line of bring an extra engine computer and have to swap it in order start the car and drive away, and anyone who has taken apart the dashboard knows that this is not complex, but it is not easy and fast. That makes this car an unlikely target So, Priuses are vandalized and stripped without moving them so a lokack would be useless.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ May 1 2007, 09:16 PM) [snapback]433647[/snapback]</div>

Thank you -- and thank goodness!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ May 2 2007, 06:35 PM) [snapback]434335[/snapback]</div>

I find the whole thing a little dubious myself, mainly from the text he posted in another thread below:
http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=433489
Our car is under a carport off of National Bl [which is really busy street]. But the carport shields people from seeing what's going on. We have LoJack which doesn't help at all in this situation. We're thinking that we should back into our spot from now on because everything that was ripped out was in the front.

It sounds like he doesn't know that the Prius batteries (both 12v and hybrid) are actually in the back of the car. (Unless I've got it wrong and the 12v in 2005s is in the front, in which case, my apologies to the OP.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveG @ Aug 24 2006, 10:22 PM) [snapback]309149[/snapback]</div>

Maybe someone wanting MORE batteries ... like a do-it-yourself'er making up a PHEV for their self.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ctse @ May 1 2007, 04:24 PM) [snapback]433452[/snapback]</div>

Sorry about your loss, will your insurance company give you the $ back for the entire vehicle? If you don't mind me asking where did this happen, like suburbs or city?

 

Holy cow, that bursts my little security bubble. I can't believe they stripped it down like that. The other scary thing is that it would've taken some time to remove all those items... this wasn't a 30 second break-in and steal the radio job... these guys took apart the car with tools and expertise. Makes me think of a pit crew in a NASCAR race, where 8 guys rush up to the car, dismantle it in under 10 seconds and disappear

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Soylent @ May 3 2007, 08:29 AM) [snapback]434751[/snapback]</div>

that is exactly how it happens too. locking lug nuts is a waste of money because a gang of car thieves, (usually a group 2-6 kids age 14-20) can strip a car in under 10 minutes. these guys do their homework and usually know exactly what to take and how to take it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 24 2006, 11:13 AM) [snapback]308756[/snapback]</div>

Nice!

I guess that would explain why hondas are so easy to steal, they have the good looks but lack the hi-techness of the toyotas....

Hondas are just like the rest of the automakers when compaired to Toyota...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MegansPrius @ May 3 2007, 07:10 AM) [snapback]434690[/snapback]</div>

I would like to see some pictures myself. This is rare (first time I heard of one) for the Prius and I would like to see what they did.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MegansPrius @ May 3 2007, 07:10 AM) [snapback]434690[/snapback]</div>

In my 05, the auxiliary battery is in the back behind the rear wheel well on the passenger side.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bob64 @ May 2 2007, 05:30 PM) [snapback]434374[/snapback]</div>

It would appear that you do not own a Prius, so you may not be aware of where the HV battery is located and the precautions that are necessary to remove it without getting electrocuted. The procedure is considerably more involved than removing a radiator or air bags. Besides, just about all cars have radiators and air bags, so the chances of a car stripper knowing how to remove those items are much better than the chances that he'd know how to take out the HV battery.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ctse @ May 1 2007, 02:39 PM) [snapback]433504[/snapback]</div>

Sorry to hear about your Prius. So you live in an apartment or condo building and park your Prius in a secure garage, not the street? What part of LA?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(uclabruins @ May 3 2007, 04:28 PM) [snapback]435091[/snapback]</div>

He wrote the following on another thread:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ctse @ May 1 2007, 02:18 PM) [snapback]433489[/snapback]</div>

Not too far from UCLA.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ctse @ May 1 2007, 03:24 PM) [snapback]433452[/snapback]</div>

Is it me or does this sound quite ridiculous? I think someone's playing a joke on us... Show pictures of the theft and we'll believe you. Buuuuuuuuulllshiiiet!

Let's play a little investigative game: Spot the Fraud. There is 1 thing in his post which CLEARLY proves this post is a hoax. Can you spot it?

If no one can guess, I'll reveal it in a few days.

 

I have to laugh about this.

When we first bought our Prius in May, the first thing my mom asked was "aren't you worried about it getting stolen?" I asked why she thought it would get stolen. She said "well, if it gets such good gas mileage..."

See, I never really thought that car theives would be roaming the parking lots, considering which car to steal - "well, this one gets 50 mpg! We could do a LOT of joyriding in that, and it wouldn't cost much to refill the tank when we run out of gas!"

All along, I thought they looked for either the easiest car to break into, or the one with the best parts resale value, or the coolest car to joyride in. Never once did I think MPG would be a consideration.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusTouring07 @ Jul 26 2007, 02:26 AM) [snapback]485313[/snapback]</div>

Package 3 does not have a Nav system. How did they steal someting he does not have?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Jul 26 2007, 12:31 PM) [snapback]485547[/snapback]</div>

YOU GOT IT! Nice job!! The entire post sounds ridiculous, but that one took the cake.

Next time do your research before you post a hoax like that...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusTouring07 @ Jul 26 2007, 01:22 PM) [snapback]485578[/snapback]</div>

Maybe he just meant the MFD screen.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jul 26 2007, 02:26 PM) [snapback]485609[/snapback]</div>

No he didn't. He's a liar. Not just a liar, but a damn liar. You'd never say "navigation" if you don't have it. They stole his A/C? What, the ducts? The compressor? Maybe just the A/C On and Off Button?
They were staking out his house for two days? For what? They went through all this trouble and HUGE RISK of being exposed doing this in someone's driveway on a busy street. Stealing his tires, sure, but all this nonsense he's talking about... I don't think so. For the time it took them to do all this, they could have stolen his neighbor's regular car, taken it to the chop-shop and gotten a lot more out of it with minimal risk.
Crooks aren't dumb. Especialy professionals, as those must have been pulling such an incredible job.
There are also other inconsistency in his posts.
Just a hoax to scare people.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Sep 1 2006, 07:21 AM) [snapback]312708[/snapback]</div>

They were actually after the snazzy trim rings. Not being Priuscaht mambers, they didn't know they just snap off....