I was having a hard tonneau cover installed on my new 04 250 SD this afternoon and the issue of vehicle security came up in conversation. The owner of the shop where the installation was being done pointed out a flaw in the Super Duty door lock that made it easy to open with simple tools and little or no technical skill. It turns out that the door handle and lock trim plate has so much flex in it that you can actually pry it away from the doorshell by pulling on the handle. With a simple wedge and a thin flat bladed screwdriver you can reach the lock cylinder and open the door. Unfortunately he learned this the hard way when his truck was broken into in a public parking lot. The only tell tale damage will be a couple of nicks or scratches in the paint below and on the side of the trim plate.
I don't know if this has been a topic before but as a SD owner since 99 I was surprized not to have heard of it. I am going to check with my dealership about a fix but I doubt one exists. I have an alarm on my truck but I also never leave anything of significant value in the cab when it is unattended. The center console (with the Captain's chairs) is large enough for a number of differnt types lock boxes if one is so inclined or you can mount one under the seat. After 19 years in law enforcement I am still amazed at how quickly the crooks can find and exploit a weakness in a vehicle's security system. Just passing this on since forwarned is forarmed. If you are like me you worked hard to buy the best truck on the market and would like to keep your investment around for a while.

Stay safe
Bill

 

This isn't only a problem for us. My boss, who unfortunately owns a gmc, had his broken into just like that. Lost a very nice laptop computer.

 

I have heard of that also......A screw driver can pop the handles and the rear slider is just as bad. I purchased a top of the line alarm with kill switch for added protection. Because yes with a $30 to $40 thousand dollar truck has ZERO anti-theft devices....not even a chipped key.

 

87 - 93 mustangs are just as easy. Alarm gives us a sense of security, but if they want it, its gone!

 

you said it

 

Here is a solution to prying the door lock. It is called a "Jimmi Jammer"

Here is the link to their website:
www.jimmijammer.com

Hope this helps

 

 

Thats my favorite anti theft device

 

BR5114...this door handle break-in issue is not exclusive to the F-250. I had a 2000 F-150 Lariat SC 4X4. Bad guys got into it in a hotel parking lot in Houston 3 years ago. Just the way you describe. Slight dent in the sheet metal. Cleaned out the truck.

Then bought an '02 F-150 SC FX4. I'll be danged if they didn't get me in my own drive way. That time I had company though. Kids hit 30 vehicles in the sub divison that night. Got caught. Nothing like getting a phone call @ 7:00 Sunday morning from the Police Dept. telling you an officer in your driveway and you might want to step outside.

Now have The Beast. First thing I noticed was how easy the bad guys can get into it. At least now I have the super duper Ford security / alarm system.

 

I thought that was the Road Rage Aggression Adjustment Device ...

 

Yeah, these keep honest people honest, as my daddy said ...or was that locks? Does anyone know why Ford does not but even a basic anti theft system on a 45k truck? because it it a turuck?

 

I may be mistaken...but havent I seen hardshell tonneau's that actually lip over the tailgate, preventing it from flipping down ?


Mike-

 

By the way, this happened to me the first week I bought me truck but apparently they din't get in. Boy was I upset about the first dent in my new truck.

 

Happened to me in February (stole my pistol and my briefcase) and to my father-in-law this week (briefcase and laptop). Tuffy Security Products has some lockboxes that could be adapted to fit the bill ...

The problem with alarms is, chances are you literally could not get back to the truck before they were gone...

 

Houston - LaQuinta Motel 290 & 34th - is where they got me the first time. Cops took a report over the phone. Told me straight up that it would not be investigated. Just there to give me a case # so I could report it to insurance if I wanted to.