Tailgate Thefts – A “Newer” Crime for the Books.

An interesting February 7th report from the National Insurance Bureau (NICB) released a first-time report that looked into tailgate thefts. As you might or might not know, tailgates are those things on the back of pickup trucks that go up and down so you can load stuff.

There were over 1,300 reported thefts from 45 states and the numbers have been increasing since 2009. The projected increase from 2011-2012 is 18 percent. The states with the most thefts in order are Texas, California, Arizona, Florida and Nevada.

Makes and Models include the ’08 Ford F250, ’10 Ford F150, ’07 Chevy Silverado. The oldest vehicle reported was an ’85 Ford F150. The newest vehicles identified included the 2012 Chevy, Dodge, Ford, GMC pickups. Let’s just say basically every pickup truck with a tailgate is vulnerable!

Tailgates can be stolen in less than 30 seconds. Replacement costs can reach $1000 or more, so preventing the theft makes more sense.

What does the NICB recommend for tailgate theft prevention tips?

1) If your pickup truck has integrated tailgate lock, use it. Apparently, the locks are relatively inexpensive, so you should buy one.

2) Park with your tailgate as close as you can to an object to prevent your tailgate from being opened. I actually find this one quite amusing. It’s hard to guess how many of you will be calling 911 to report damage to the back of your pickup.

3) Etch the truck’s VIN into the tailgate.

Good Luck.

Officer Larry Jacobs is the Crime Prevention Officer for the Sandy Springs Police Department. He can be reached at ljacobs@sandyspringsg.gov