Group of Tailgate Thieves Arrested in New Jersey
Tailgate theft is sweeping the nation, but hopefully this recent arrest sends a message.
In Jackson, New Jersey, three men were arrested and charged in connection with the theft of six truck tailgates. The thefts occurred during the last week of April, and targeted Ford F-Series pickup trucks parked in quiet, suburban New Jersey neighborhoods.
According to this local news story, the perpetrators committed the thefts on the nights of April 27th, April 29th, and May 1st, with the crimes typically reported the following morning. Police are still investigating, and are unsure if the thieves worked together or separately.
This is a symptom of a nationwide epidemic of tailgate thefts that target Ford F-Series trucks in particular. We’ve written about it before – just a week before this recent string of thefts, in fact. Due to their popularity – and the ease with which the tailgate is removed – Ford trucks are a particularly popular target for thieves.
Unlocked tailgates take less than 30 seconds to steal, and can be worth over a thousand dollars when resold. Alternatively, thieves looking for a quick hit can just scrap the tailgate for some pocket money. With the nationwide opiate epidemic growing stronger every day, petty thefts like these are becoming more and more common.
Simply put, truck tailgates stand at the unfortunate crossroads of Untraceable Lane, Easy to Steal Boulevard, and Worth Some Decent Coin Street. So what can you do to protect yourself? It’s easy: lock your tailgate! If your Ford truck doesn’t feature the automatic locking feature found in recent models, you can buy a reputable lock for around $20 bucks. It’s a simple tip, but easy enough to forget!
You’ll only have to forget once, and at the wrong time to feel the sting. While the thief who made off with part of your truck is probably happy to get a few bucks at the junkyard, it will cost you upwards of a thousand dollars to replace it.
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