Ford F-250 Thefts in Indianapolis Have Local Truck Owners on Edge
Police are warning residents to secure their rides from would-be thieves looking to cash in on stolen diesel engines.
Law enforcement in Indianapolis, Indiana have seen a rise in thefts of Ford F-250 trucks. The thieves appear to be targeting F-250’s because of their diesel engines, and their demand on the black market. In response to the increased thefts, Police have issued warnings to F-250 owners, telling them to make sure their trucks are locked and secured at all times.
According to Fox 59, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) have issued warnings and offered safety tips to news outlets and social media. Law enforcement encourages F-250 owners to be safe and vigilant; never leave keys in the ignition or in the console, never leave valuables in the vehicle, and always remember to lock up your vehicle.
The trucks recovered by police aren’t pretty. Firefighter Matt Bennett had his truck stolen in May, what was recovered was little more than rubble. “It looked like it fell off a cliff,” Bennett said. “The front end was cut off of it, motor, transmission was gone, doors were gone. The only thing left in it were the seats.”
An undercover IMPD detective, who asked to remain anonymous, says that car and truck thieves are very adept at breaking into locked vehicles and making a quick getaway.
“These people manipulate the locks on these trucks, then they manipulate the column with a screw driver and a hammer,” the detective said. “I’ve had people tell me they can do it in 20 seconds.”
The detective has seen a notable increase in these thefts over the last few months, citing a high black market demand for Ford F-250 and F-350 parts across the country.
“These Ford F-250s and F-350s have diesel engines in them,” he said. “And on the street, you can sell a diesel engine for about $4,000.”
In addition to keeping your truck locked, and ideally in a garage, the detective stresses how helpful a tracking or GPS system can be.
“Put a GPS on it,” he says. “Have the GPS hidden somewhere where it’s not in a normal location where a GPS would be.”
Good advice to follow, let’s keep ourselves and our rides safe.
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