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| My red 88 GT was stolen today (Page 3/15) |
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reinhart
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NOV 18, 04:08 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:
Mine needed a new steering column. they broke the lock and hot wired it. at least they didn't break the door glass, they pushed it down...
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How do you push the door glass down on a Fiero? Is it only on a non-power window motor car?
Slightly off topic but perhaps others can avoid theft if we know how this is done possibly can figure out a way to prevent the door glass from being pushed down.
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reinhart
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NOV 18, 04:22 PM
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Surprised this hasn't turned up yet. Was fairly certain it was a joy-ride steal not a sophisticated thief that knew anything about Fieros.
Three scenarios:
1) Stolen for a joy ride: My first thought yet hasn't turned up yet.
2) Stolen to try to resell whole:
Typically thieves steal high production modern cars to part out or even sell whole. Seems like it would be super difficult to sell one of these whole (3500 left on the road probably). It would require replacing the metal VIN with a salvaged or wrecked one and removing all body panel VIN tags and also is risky hoping the car is not recognized. This would obviously plummet the resale value as would show as a salvaged car and need to be recertified by DMV to reguster and the new buyer would be buying a salvaged title with no VIN body tags, etc.
3) Stolen to part out:
Thieves typically want a quick turn around and on to the next car. Is is likely he's got the car in a garage somewhere and removing parts to sell on ebay? Could be wrong but I doubt it. If that was his intention why not buy a Fiero parts car for $400 like the ones that end up in the junkyard and avoid being caught? Also why not just steal a high production car so there would be less ability to determine it was a parted out stolen car? Surely the parts on a modern car are far more valuable for the same effort.
4) Fiero enthusiast that plans to drive it around?
Seems like it would never work if he's from the area. Did a thief really travel states over to get a Fiero to then take back home and drive around? Surely if he lived in the area it was stolen he knows he can't be driving it around town so it'd be stuck in his garage.
Very strange scenario and hoping it is found in good condition soon.
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Kitskaboodle
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NOV 18, 04:28 PM
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On both my Fiero’s you can push the windows but only down about 1-2 inches. I assume this is play in the window regulator and/or power window motors? Maybe just enough to get a coat hanger in there and feel around.
One easy theft deterrent discussed here on occasion is wiring in a hidden switch inline with the fuel pump relay.
Kit
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Rsvl-Rider
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NOV 18, 08:51 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by reinhart:
Surprised this hasn't turned up yet. Was fairly certain it was a joy-ride steal not a sophisticated thief that knew anything about Fieros.
Three scenarios:
1) Stolen for a joy ride: My first thought yet hasn't turned up yet.
2) Stolen to try to resell whole:
Typically thieves steal high production modern cars to part out or even sell whole. Seems like it would be super difficult to sell one of these whole (3500 left on the road probably). It would require replacing the metal VIN with a salvaged or wrecked one and removing all body panel VIN tags and also is risky hoping the car is not recognized. This would obviously plummet the resale value as would show as a salvaged car and need to be recertified by DMV to reguster and the new buyer would be buying a salvaged title with no VIN body tags, etc.
3) Stolen to part out:
Thieves typically want a quick turn around and on to the next car. Is is likely he's got the car in a garage somewhere and removing parts to sell on ebay? Could be wrong but I doubt it. If that was his intention why not buy a Fiero parts car for $400 like the ones that end up in the junkyard and avoid being caught? Also why not just steal a high production car so there would be less ability to determine it was a parted out stolen car? Surely the parts on a modern car are far more valuable for the same effort.
4) Fiero enthusiast that plans to drive it around?
Seems like it would never work if he's from the area. Did a thief really travel states over to get a Fiero to then take back home and drive around? Surely if he lived in the area it was stolen he knows he can't be driving it around town so it'd be stuck in his garage.
Very strange scenario and hoping it is found in good condition soon. |
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These have been my thoughts exactly.
Not much new to report. I am still waiting to see the video surveillance tape of the parking lot. The video is not actually on site. This company has all surveillance data from all its stores nationwide fed to a central location. The local store has to make a request which then has to be approved. I was hoping to see it today but no luck. Maybe tomorrow.
A young woman came into my shop today. She saw my sign on the street and my 87 GT is parked directly in front so she came in to talk to me. She lives just a couple of blocks away and she reports that on Monday night around 6pm she and her boyfriend ( a Pontiac GTO guy) heard a car roar down their street which was unusual enough that they both commented on it. (The car does have an exhaust growl to it) That street is the easiest way out of the parking lot without getting on any of the busy streets around (and to evade any street light cameras).
This is not an actual sighting but it backs up my theory about how they exited without being seen by street cams and it would have been just after dark to cover the break-in. I had already driven that street hoping to see something, anything, but of course no luck. I believe the car is in a garage somewhere in that neighborhood less than a couple of miles away.
First principles. "You covet what you see" So they are probably local. The car had not been parked there for many months prior. Then on Monday, the second day I drove it to work ( I came into work for a few hours on Sunday with the car ) it disappeared. (I've been driving my white 87 GT. Very stock and very vanilla. The 88 that was stolen was much more desirable to a joy rider or a thief).[This message has been edited by Rsvl-Rider (edited 11-18-2021).]
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skywurz
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NOV 18, 09:08 PM
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I was thinking maybe take a cruise through the parking lot of the local highschool during class times. Someone liked it took it and has yet to park it somewhere that would get it pucked up. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ my fingers are crossed it will turn up. Im keeping my eye out.
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Rsvl-Rider
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NOV 18, 09:29 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by skywurz:
I was thinking maybe take a cruise through the parking lot of the local highschool during class times. Someone liked it took it and has yet to park it somewhere that would get it pucked up. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ my fingers are crossed it will turn up. Im keeping my eye out. |
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Good idea. Might try that.
I've been cruising the parking lots in some of the low rent apartments in the area looking for anything with a car cover on it.
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hyperv6
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NOV 18, 10:26 PM
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One other option is the car was stolen to be shipped overseas. Coastal states are prime to have cars shipped overseas.
But it is hard to say who or what as it takes a very non rational mind to do something like this.
We had a truck stolen years ago. They found it 5 years later. It left a base GMC Sierra Grande and came back a fully loaded Silverado.
The guy changed the doors , interior and front clip. Only the cab shell, chassis and engine were original. We bought it back. He stole cars and parted them out but kept the truck to tow a boat. We even got the plow back like new.
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Rsvl-Rider
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NOV 18, 11:06 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by hyperv6:
One other option is the car was stolen to be shipped overseas. Coastal states are prime to have cars shipped overseas.
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Yes, I considered that but the Fiero is hardly worth the cost and effort. It's possible but I think this is mostly for the high value cars.
Unfortunately Mexico is a possibility.
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cvxjet
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NOV 19, 12:18 AM
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Maybe it was a dum-bass who watched "Fast & Furious 9" and thought they were getting a flying car...
Most people I meet in the bay area think that "All Fieros catch fire and are the worst automobile ever made!!!" But then I had THREE different people admire my Fiero when I drove to the P&P in Modesto (Which is in the Central Valley like Sacramento)
A) The Fiero is not worth that much nor very collectable (Thank you Car & Drivel)
B) The parts on it are not in that much demand nor worth much....
C) They are not good for a "Drive-by" or as a getaway car....
D) Considering all of this, I am amazed that the crook could even find the.....STEERING wheel!
Disclaimer notation; I know the Fiero is a good car and collectable.......But I am not the thief!
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skywurz
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NOV 19, 01:01 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by cvxjet:
Maybe it was a dum-bass who watched "Fast & Furious 9" and thought they were getting a flying car...
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Just last month i was getting gas in my notchy and some dude was yelling at me "is that a gt!!???" And im like no my GT is at home. Then dude tries to mansplane to me that its worth 40k and super hot to lambo kit car people right now. 
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