String of Tailgate Robberies Hits Florida

Thieves are targeting high-tech tailgates with backup cameras.

Tech-savvy thieves in Martin County, Florida, have apparently set their sights on backup cameras mounted inside tailgates. Several Ford F-250 owners have discovered their tailgates stolen at night from their driveways by bold criminals looking to cash in on the backup camera technology. In the last month there have been at least five reported cases.

“I’m not surprised at all, given how much money you can make off one of these,” Todd Bender, a service writer at Angel’s Auto Care Center in West Palm Beach, told CBS 12. The tailgate is fairly easy to remove and can fetch around $1,000 on sites like Craigslist.

Police recommend owners lock up their tailgate, or consider adding an additional tailgate lock. Better safe than sorry as a new tailgate with backup camera can easily run up to $3,700.

James Dodson recently had his tailgate stolen from his 2003 Ford F-250. He told CBS 12, “You don’t really think about your tailgate. It’s just, it’s an afterthought until somebody comes along and steals it.”

Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now — FREE!

S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.