ComQuest

The number of tailgate thefts across the country is growing. It just shows that thieves will take anything they can.

You wouldn’t think about tailgates being stolen, but they are.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, some people are taking tailgating to a new level.

“They are being stolen,” said Roger Morris, of the National Insurance Crime Bureau based in Des Plaines, Ill. “It makes no sense, but (a tailgate) is the big ticket item that is currently being stolen off of trucks.”
According to the report, the number of incidents of tailgate thefts across the U.S. is growing.
“The rate of tailgate theft claims has been increasing since 2009, with an 18-percent increase projected from 2011 to 2012,” Morris said.

Juluis Bivens, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and his wife had stopped at a Florence restaurant for lunch last year after shopping. He couldn’t see his Ford F-150 truck from the restaurant window.
“The first thing I noticed when we came out was something didn’t look right,” Bivens said. “I looked at the truck, realized the tailgate was gone. I was in shock to see the tailgate gone.
“At first I thought I had lost it, but then I realized someone had stole it.”
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau report, tailgates from a Ford F-150 are the most popular among thieves.

The tailgates in this picture were recovered in a theft ring.

jlogicalor

Interesting. I would never have thought that the tailgate would be targeted.

Azuri

When I bought my truck my sales guy told me like 3 times ALWAYS keep your tailgate locked. It's even more expensive if you have to replace one that has the back up camera.

It takes them about 30 seconds to remove them.

ComQuest

Yeah and it is ashame too. Imagine coming out to your truck and your tailgate is stolen. I keep mine locked.

LionAround

Been locking my for years for this exact reason. Someone I worked with had one stolen out of the parking lot in broad daylight. I figure those cameras are going to make them even bigger targets.

Roughneck12

I double locked mine with Masterlock thingies. Not necessary but I did it anyway.

Franchi Motorsports

iTrader: (9)

Heard about this and reason I keep my locked pretty much all the time now. Never would have occured to me before to lock it.

Hunttman01

I welcome them to take mine. They won't get anything for it...

terraformer

Yup, I read about this issue on the forum awhile back.

Now, I always lock my gate, and also use the MasterLock tailgate lock to boot. I'd imagine thieves are more interested in gates with the stripper pole, but maybe not.

Azuri

It's kind of puzzling why there is such a demand for tailgates in the first place.