My bad day

[Bugsinrugs]

I work in the Bay Area four days a week. Then hop into my Tacoma and drive 130 miles to my weekend retirement home in Nevada City, California. I have been way to naive as I leave my keys in my vehicles when here and never lock the doors. I got home around nine last night and ran into the house to catch the Warrior game. Around 10:30 the dog starts barking at the front door but me being me I ignored her. Well... some tweeker came down my driveway looking for something to steal and found my truck with the keys in it. I didn’t realize it until the morning when I went to check the mailbox. I filed a police report with the Hiway Patrol who have jurisdiction in this area. One hour later they found the truck at a known car thief/ meth head. I didn’t have a spare key so I had to have it towed. The worst thing is my keys being gone. My warehouse, my house, four trucks, office and two mailbox keys. Yes, it was a big bundle of keys. Having my Tacoma back is great but....I’m so screwed without my keys.I’m an idiot.

[crustychief]

Damn, sorry to hear about that. I used to leave my keys in the cars in MS but never here in Kalifornistan. I am glad you got your car back but make sure you change all your other locks!

[Eric Coffey]

Yeah, definitely change all the locks. I'd probably have the truck fumigated / deloused / disinfected before use as well (shudder).

[ckissick]

I had a car stolen once. It was during a Grateful Dead concert at UCLA. They found it stripped the next day in North Hollywood. It's a weird feeling going to where you know you parked the car and it's not there.

At least it was a great concert. The Warrior game sucked last night.

[JackDidley]

Bad deal, losing all those keys.At least you got the truck back. Hard to trust people these days. I do things different than most. Never leave the keys in but never lock the doors. My thought is, there is nothing in the car that I would not give away and I prefer no one break the window to find that out.

[DanielDudley]

Wake up call. I hope you have spares somewhere.

[javadog]

It would seem to me that, knowing who this car thief is, it would be a simple matter to persuade the car thief to remember where he left the keys. Persuasion comes in many forms.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by javadog

It would seem to me that, knowing who this car thief is, it would be a simple matter to persuade the car thief to remember where he left the keys. Persuasion comes in many forms.

That's a good point.

I have made a concerted effort to make spares for all my keys over the past year and get them all organized with appropriate fobs.

This includes some vintage motorcycles and cars.

BTW, Walmart now use a laser key cutter and if you have the right blank, it works pretty good. About $2 per key.

Sorry for the theft and PITA - hope things work out Bugs.

[id10t]

I was on an extended camping trip in the Ocala National Forrest. Parked truck, hiked a few miles in, set up a nice little camp. Figured 5 days in to go hop in the truck, drive to a local spring, do some swimming, maybe some fishing. Truck was stolen.

Found 3 weeks later just as I was walking out the door to collect the insurance check...

Turns out some mofos stole it, found some other campers, killed him, left her for dead tied to a tree. Or perhaps stole it afterwards, dunno, never got the full story.

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/23/us/killing-and-rape-in-a-florida-national-forest.html

[ckelly78z]

I hardly ever lock my car, or truck, unless at work, or at a store, but I always have the keys in my pocket, never leave them in the car these days...too many meth heads looking for their next hit

[Bugsinrugs]

This incident has ruined my outlook on where I am planning on retiring to.in the 27 years I have owned this place I’ve never locked the cars or house. Today will be spent getting and installing coded bolt locks on all the doors. I was on site when the sheriff arrested this scum bag. Seems he follows contractors carrying lumber to job sites then hits them in the cover of darkness looking for tools. I have a guy working on a new retaining wall and I’m sure that’s what prompted him to wander onto my property. I’m on 5 acres with a long driveway and sometimes people inadvertently drive down the driveway then realizing it’s private they turn around and leave. I might have to put in a security gate.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

This incident has ruined my outlook on where I am planning on retiring to.in the 27 years I have owned this place I’ve never locked the cars or house. Today will be spent getting and installing coded bolt locks on all the doors. I was on site when the sheriff arrested this scum bag. Seems he follows contractors carrying lumber to job sites then hits them in the cover of darkness looking for tools. I have a guy working on a new retaining wall and I’m sure that’s what prompted him to wander onto my property. I’m on 5 acres with a long driveway and sometimes people inadvertently drive down the driveway then realizing it’s private they turn around and leave. I might have to put in a security gate.

Your reaction is understandable but maybe start with locking things. One asshat bent on ruining his life has effectively borrowed your pickup and lost some keys and cost you some money. Don't let him ruin you or your outlook on life. People make mistakes. Even the tweeker likely understands that he screwed the pooch.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

This incident has ruined my outlook on where I am planning on retiring to.in the 27 years I have owned this place...

Hang in there. Nevada City is a really cool place. I haven't been there since I was a white rafting guide in the late 70's/early 80's.

Yikes!

[Erakad]

I too live in the middle of nowhere, but still make sure the doors are locked at night and the cars secured. That scene from "A Clockwork Orange" left a vivid impression.

[Gogar]

Sorry for your troubles! I agree your place isn’t to blame; you’re fine. You just can’t leave your keys in the car.

I had a neighbor who used to park in the street and leave his work bag with a laptop and an iPad on the passenger seat of his car. One night his bag got stolen and he was incredulous. You see what I mean.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Sorry for your troubles! I agree your place isn’t to blame; you’re fine. You just can’t leave your keys in the car.

I had a neighbor who used to park in the street and leave his work bag with a laptop and an iPad on the passenger seat of his car. One night his bag got stolen and he was incredulous. You see what I mean.

This.^^^

Sometimes, (but not always), you need to be asking for it a little to become a victim. I learned a long time ago the hard way and never leave valuables in car or leave it unlocked unless it's in my line of sight.

My family has a cabin in WI. that is pretty remote, long driveway in the woods. That is the last place I'd leave keys in the car, why do it? Is is that much hassle to grab them while getting out and sleep like a baby knowing the keys aren't in the car?

Sorry this happened to you but the more remote place you are, the less help you will have if things go sideways. You need to use common sense.

[pwd72s]

Poor puppy.

Barking...(somebody's there! somebody's there!)

Human: "Ahhh, shut up!"

[Bugsinrugs]

All the input from this thread is so right on. Thanks for cheering me up and yes, I was asking for it. I installed number coded bolt locks everywhere there wasn’t a bolt lock. My biggest concern now is my new Tundra. The bastich has one of my keys. I called the dealer and they can re key for $400 plus. I don’t know if it’s re key or reprogram. Guess I’ll find out.

[Bugsinrugs]

On a brighter note. My new retaining wall. Did some excavation so I can get a vehicle next to the garage. I am thinking of covering the area over and maybe put in a two post hoist. Wife doesn’t know yet.

[93nav]

I have relatives that live is a small town (less than 1000), about 20 years ago, somebody(s) went around and took all the keys out of all the cars they find.