BajaNomad

My Baja Truck Was Stolen 9-17-2023

bajadogs - 9-19-2023 at 03:25 PM

I know this is bending the rules a bit with being Baja related but I am exhausting all avenues.

My trusty 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport 4X4 was stolen from my house in Carlsbad CA early Sunday morning. It’s a pretty unique truck with a fiberglass shell and solar panels mounted in a safari roof rack, freezer, lithium battery. Lic. plate # in photos. I’ve had it a long time and basically raised my daughter in the back seat on dozens of Baja trips her whole life.

I know a lot of “nomads” are very brand-loyal but I can tell you this beautiful beast has been very good to me. I am asking you all to keep an eye out for it.

The little girl in the photos is now in her 3rd year of med school and she is quite upset that someone drove away with “Trucky”.

IMG_6459.jpg - 54kB IMG_6219.jpg - 62kB IMG_7580.jpg - 128kB IMG_7660.jpg - 121kB IMG_7831.jpg - 130kB

Kirby-in-Trucky.jpg - 105kB trucky.jpg - 37kB

[Edited on 9-19-2023 by bajadogs]

[Edited on 9-20-2023 by bajadogs]

SFandH - 9-19-2023 at 04:00 PM

What a drag. Unique truck. I'll keep an eye out for it. The thieves may take off the shell. "Sport" on the hood, "Dodge 4x4" on the tailgate.

[Edited on 9-19-2023 by SFandH]

David K - 9-19-2023 at 04:59 PM

I am 20 miles east and north from you, will watch for it!

boe4fun - 9-19-2023 at 06:49 PM

What a tragedy. I feel so bad for you and hope that somehow you’re able to retrieve your “trucky.” It might be strange to say, and I realize that trucks may be considered ONLY physical items and are not that important in the cosmic scheme of things, but the love I have for my Jimmy transcends all that as I’m sure from reading your post you feel the same way. Best of luck on retrieving your beast.

bajadogs - 9-19-2023 at 09:55 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
What a drag. Unique truck. I'll keep an eye out for it. The thieves may take off the shell. "Sport" on the hood, "Dodge 4x4" on the tailgate.

[Edited on 9-19-2023 by SFandH]


Thanks SF. I am prepared to lose it all, but not without a fight.
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
I am 20 miles east and north from you, will watch for it!


I appreciate that David. My friends have always said they know it's me from miles away in that truck.
Quote: Originally posted by boe4fun  
What a tragedy. I feel so bad for you and hope that somehow you’re able to retrieve your “trucky.” It might be strange to say, and I realize that trucks may be considered ONLY physical items and are not that important in the cosmic scheme of things, but the love I have for my Jimmy transcends all that as I’m sure from reading your post you feel the same way. Best of luck on retrieving your beast.


Boe! Thanks so much for the thoughts. We met many moons ago over man sized beers at Shari's place. It was a great evening. I was on a moto at the time. You had a van full of prosthetic limbs. I liked you instantly. photo stolen from Shari


Boe bajadogs.jpg - 170kB

advrider - 9-19-2023 at 10:00 PM

Suck's, as a car guy I get it. I'll be in Baja in November, could end up down that way. Hoping for the best, maybe a tweaker living in it down the street.

bajadogs - 9-19-2023 at 10:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Suck's, as a car guy I get it. I'll be in Baja in November, could end up down that way. Hoping for the best, maybe a tweaker living in it down the street.


Thanks advrider, doorbell cameras show it was people who knew what they were doing and what they wanted. Fancy SUV and quick work to start it and follow it out of my neighborhood. I would honestly be surprised if it went Mexico, but what do i know? Thievery is not my expertise.

Tioloco - 9-19-2023 at 10:23 PM

Nice truck, hope you get it back in good shape

thebajarunner - 9-20-2023 at 07:27 AM

Losing your faithful Baja rig is like losing your dog.
Lost both of mine last year
Rocky passed away rather peacefully and
I gave my 1998 F-150 to my son who is starting a group home in Guadalupe.
That old "Silver Bullet" had made 23 annual treks far down the Baja
When I drop by the home for boys it still pains me to see that great faithful old rig sitting there
And of course they always hand me the keys, but it just ain't the same as having it tucked away in my garage.
Sorry partner, I feel your pain.

pappy - 9-20-2023 at 07:48 AM

That sucks. I know the feeling. A year ago on 9/11/2022 I went out to get the morning paper. My 2001 Silverado 1500 4x4 I had since new, gone! Many Baja trips in it without any issues. V8 with all manual trans, windows. Didn’t think anybody would want a manual. Turns out the early 2000-2003 silverados are the top stolen vehicle.could be the ram trucks are gaining popularity in the stolen segment.

I hope you get yours back in the same shape you last saw her in...

BajaBlanca - 9-20-2023 at 06:00 PM

Having a car/truck stolen is the pits. I also hope you get her back in one piece. I had my car stolen once. the shock is real.

bajadogs - 10-2-2023 at 12:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Suck's, as a car guy I get it. I'll be in Baja in November, could end up down that way. Hoping for the best, maybe a tweaker living in it down the street.


Well, you were right adv. My truck was detected heading south of the border about an hour after it was stolen. So it's a total loss short of a miracle. AirTags are going in everything now. Have a great trip.

Don Pisto - 10-2-2023 at 04:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajadogs  
Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Suck's, as a car guy I get it. I'll be in Baja in November, could end up down that way. Hoping for the best, maybe a tweaker living in it down the street.


Well, you were right adv. My truck was detected heading south of the border about an hour after it was stolen. So it's a total loss short of a miracle. AirTags are going in everything now. Have a great trip.


first thing that goes in my vehicles is a fuel pump kill switch....but that blows lets hope you get lucky!

advrider - 10-3-2023 at 11:17 AM

Man, that sucks. An air tag is a good idea, I might do the same. I'll keep an eye out for a freshly spray painted Dodge while I'm there.

Hook - 10-3-2023 at 06:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajadogs  
Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Suck's, as a car guy I get it. I'll be in Baja in November, could end up down that way. Hoping for the best, maybe a tweaker living in it down the street.


Well, you were right adv. My truck was detected heading south of the border about an hour after it was stolen. So it's a total loss short of a miracle. AirTags are going in everything now. Have a great trip.


Very sorry for your loss. Several gringos have had trucks stolen in our area of Mexico. It's always trucks. How was this "detection" accomplished?

Even if you get AirTags, who is going to help you recover a vehicle in Mexico?

The police? :lol:

advrider - 10-3-2023 at 07:45 PM

Lencho, that's a good question and point. Not sure what could be done, pay a cop to help? What could you do?

Lee - 10-3-2023 at 08:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Hook  
Quote: Originally posted by bajadogs  
Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Suck's, as a car guy I get it. I'll be in Baja in November, could end up down that way. Hoping for the best, maybe a tweaker living in it down the street.


Well, you were right adv. My truck was detected heading south of the border about an hour after it was stolen. So it's a total loss short of a miracle. AirTags are going in everything now. Have a great trip.


Very sorry for your loss. Several gringos have had trucks stolen in our area of Mexico. It's always trucks. How was this "detection" accomplished?

Even if you get AirTags, who is going to help you recover a vehicle in Mexico?

The police? :lol:


Who’s going to help? Couple buddies.

bajadogs - 10-4-2023 at 07:49 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Hook  
How was this "detection" accomplished?


License plate readers at the border

JZ - 10-4-2023 at 08:18 AM

Crime is just being tolerated more in California. Sad state of affairs.

PaulW - 10-4-2023 at 09:12 AM

Interest tidbit
Colorado for longer than I can remember has used tags stamped with raised letters. Those tags cannot be read clearly by the recognition cameras.
The result is new tags that are smooth and use reflective film
What is means is we all have to have the new tags supposedly when we renew our registration.

Hook - 10-4-2023 at 09:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajadogs  
Quote: Originally posted by Hook  
How was this "detection" accomplished?


License plate readers at the border


And CPB will tell you this if you ask?

bajadogs - 10-5-2023 at 01:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Hook  
Quote: Originally posted by bajadogs  
Quote: Originally posted by Hook  
How was this "detection" accomplished?


License plate readers at the border


And CPB will tell you this if you ask?


I'm not sure. My local police dept., the detective assigned to the case, said it was not detected at the border and the case will be closed. I have sources in other police departments who were able to check and confirmed that it was detected crossing south shortly after being stolen. I assume they don't talk to each other and/or don't care. It is infuriating to me. I have emailed the local detective to double check, she has not responded in the last few days.