So while I was inside the gym today, somebody broke into my truck. They cracked the plastic handle assembly, and, stole my gun. I keep my gun in my center console when I go into the gym because I don't trust the locker rooms in the gym that much because of how many times I hear of people getting their stuff stolen out of them. Obviously, I find some hilarity in this because what I did to try and avoid it getting stolen, led to it being stolen.

I didn't have it registered, nor would I ever register any firearm I own. I do however, have all the information for the gun from when I bought it many years ago, as well as pictures. I reported it, they dusted my door all around for finger prints, as well as my tuner, which they didn't take but moved. They also didn't take my aeroforce either, thankfully. So hopefully they get a hit on the fingerprints, and the person tries to pawn it, so I can get it back, and press charges.

But I will need a new door handle. It still functions, but it's cracked. I would like something not cheap and fall apart. Probably have to do all of the so they will match and not have one good clean one. I'm picky like that. Any suggestions? Truck is in signature.

 

1A Auto... numerous others on eBay.... Not that hard to DIY, but have 6 pack for when you finish.... to calm your nerves...

 

I'm definitely not a fan of a lot of 1A auto's stuff. Some of it is good, but some of it has really been low quality for me in the past. I was wondering if anybody had some good aftermarket ones. Maybe light up ones or something different because I'm going to replace probably all 4 now.

 

 

I'm so sick of thieves...it's been really bad lately here in AZ. They watch you drive up and park and they know they have some time. Sometimes when I drive the Superduty to Home Depot I hang out by the door for a few to see if any low lifes approach the truck. Our neighborhood has been getting hit hard with burglaries and petty theft, neighbor caught a guy trying to make off with an extension ladder he hopped the backyard wall and just helped himself in broad daylight. Makes me want to catch them and beat the tar out of them. The cops don't even show up, they're too busy with the gangs. We're on our own.

 

I'd just order an OEM one personally.

As to the security thing, I have a lock box tethered with steel cable to the front seat frame and tuck it under the middle seat in my truck. Also, I drilled through the hinge portion of the rear seat and install a padlock on that so I can store rifles back there and make it pretty difficult to access by locking the seat from folding forward.

 

It's interesting you say that, because my gym is only about 5 minutes down the street from my house. And our area is currently experiencing exactly what you mentioned. Vechiles have been stolen, and broken into and a few garages. I live in North East Mesa, Red Mountain Ranch/Las Sendas area. Lots of people are starting to get security systems. I have a few guns at home at night when I go to bed, I have ready because one house caught some of the thieves, and he was flaunting a pistol in the security footage. My girlfriend is feeling kind of nervous as well, especially after what happened to my truck today. I'm about read to start sleeping in my truck and then surprise them.

 

As do I normally, but I have heard a lot of horror stories about stuff getting stolen in gym lockers rooms, locked or not. Nothing at my gym yet, but i have heard enough to make me nervous. I have a key fob for my truck from factory that I assumed has a factory alarm system. If that's true, it doesn't go off when somebody prys back the plastic on the door handle and breaks the lock cylinder.

 

Damn I like that idea. I may rig something up eventually. I was more concerned with the notion somebody could use my gun in a crime, ditch it, the cops find it, then I'm getting called because my fingerprints are on file from the military. I gave the serial number, date of purchase, pictures, everything I could think of to help avoid me being in trouble going forward. They dusted and lifted prints off 3 different parts of my door, and then off my tuner. I haven't touched my tuner in 2 months, and it was next to where I put my gun in my center console.

Obviously, I'm not going to leave any guns in my center console anymore. I guess part of this was me being careless thinking I would be ok to leave it in my center console whith my truck locked. Sucks I had to learn the hard way.

 

 

Well I don't really like to publically explain how/where/when I carry, as to not incriminate myself, but for years since I started working out, I have been using the center console and locking my trucks. There's some questionable people in gyms, and with the high amounts of theft going on inside them, I figured I was statistically safer by not bringing it in. Sounds almost illogical when you say that out loud (being less safe with it in the gym), but I was only looking at it from a theft point of view. And then, I get it stolen out of my truck anyways. I filed a report with the gym and they said somebody from their corporate office will be contacting me. So I will see how far nicely suggesting maybe some security cameras would be beneficial (it's a somewhat major chain, with gyms all over Phoenix and they have some in other states). So I'm surprised they had no cameras.

 

 

Yeah I thought the same thing until I started hearing about people breaking into lockers at gyms. I usually only see one or 2 people when I'm in there changing and then when I leave, and that's usually people going into or getting out of the shower.

I parked my truck pretty much at the opposite side of the parking lot from my gym, where the entrance to the parking lot is. My truck is the first thing you'd see. The cop was like whoever did it has some ***** because you know people were coming and going right by your truck from the gym and the CVS in the lot, and still didn't care.

 

I don't understand why people feel the need to carry guns everywhere. The world really isn't as bad as the TV wants everyone to think. Hopefully whatever dip**** got ahold of it doesn't use it for anything. You're in AZ so probably not the case, but in a lot of state, the liability of that firearm would still be on you, after it got stolen.

Not that you do, but I just thought about how I laugh when I see people with gun or gun related stickers on their vehicles ... WTF you are just asking to get broken into?