Came home today from several days in Chicago for business. Walk out to the parking garage at Terminal D at DFW to drive home. When I travel I lock my keys in the truck and use the keypad to get in (always afraid I'll leave my keys somewhere while traveling). Today, got the sound you get when trying to unlock doors that are already unlocked. I'm 110% certain I locked them as I remember visually checking the door locks when leaving. Get in and realize that the VP9 that I keep in the truck is gone. Holster is still there, spare mag is still there, cash, sunglasses, hell the keys to the truck are all there, but the gun is gone. Turns out thieve shimmied a screw driver under the driver's side door handle to pop the lock (2005 F-150).

Mad at myself as I always lock the gun in the safe under the driver's seat, but this time I was running late and neglected to do it. Shame on me.

Made a report with the airport PD including serial #. Very little hope of recovery, says they've had a rash of similar incidents all apparently targeting firearms. Geez...

Sorry to hear.

Just curious, was the pistol showing?

Lemme guess no video or security.

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Originally posted by oddball:
Sorry to hear.

Just curious, was the pistol showing?

No no no, buried in the center console.

Do you have any identifying stickers on your truck, ie. NRA, IDPA, etc.?

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Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Lemme guess no video or security.

Luckily this is a fairly new parking garage and does have a lot of cameras. Cops aren’t too hopeful, but there may be a better than average chance of identifying someone. The two that took my report were younger guys and seemed genuinely interested in trying to do something about it.

quote:

Originally posted by sasquatch28:
Do you have any identifying stickers on your truck, ie. NRA, IDPA, etc.?

Nada. Was even joking about that with the cops. They said with the Ranchhand bumper and BFG All-Terrain tires it wouldn’t matter if I did. Said recently the thieves are targeting mostly trucks as they must figure more men have firearms in their vehicles than women and more men drive trucks than do women, so their odds of success are higher. Guess that means my next ride is a minivan...with rims.

Gotta be the rims!

Sorry to hear it man. That sucks.

I used to keep a revolver in my truck when I traveled a lot. The area around the airport and along my drive home isn’t very good. Certainly not a place you’d want to break down at night in.

I kept it hidden in the spare tire area and locked up 24/7. They’d have to have bolt cutters to get it out. But that way I’d never leave it unlocked.

I recommend buying a gun specifically for your truck if you plan on continuing to leave one in there and keeping it locked unless you need it. That way you won’t leave an unsecured firearm around for someone to easily grab.

quote:

Lemme guess no video or security.

And at best you get a photo of a average sized male with a hoodie pulled over his head.

The airport parking areas in the three NY/NJ areas have always been a target for car thieves. They know the owners won't be back for some time.

Most of the break-in's were random. +In and out in a minute hoping to get lucky.

Getting it into the NCIC Gun file as soon as possible in the best measure. At least if located they have the ability to track the owner down.

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Truck broken in to, pistol stolen

Shocker, they always leave the pistol behind!

Truck guns are far more effective when they are in your waistband as your EDC. Easier to use to defend yourself and easier to not have stolen.

On the rare occasions I've left a weapon in the car, I usually put it in the trunk under the spare tire.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

Truck guns are far more effective when they are in your waistband as your EDC.

Especially when going through airport security, as OP was doing!

Leaving a firearm unsecured in a vehicle is a bad idea. Not only because you lose it, but also because it will be used in a crime later on. I don't understand people leaving handguns or long guns in their vehicles unless they are secured in a strong box of some type. Even then, if they are leaving the vehicle unattended for several days it's a gamble.

We probably have 10+ guns taken a day like this in my city. That's an educated guess, it may be high or low, but it's not hyperbole. And it's 100% preventable.

Sorry to hear, I’m in the area and am a FFL/SOT. I’ll help you replace your VP9 for cost if it helps. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

Truck broken in to, pistol stolen

Shocker, they always leave the pistol behind!

The one time my car was broken into when I didn't have my a gun in a gun vault the thieves stole everything BUT my Model 66 2.5". It was in a zippered gun rug under the driver's seat. When I came out and found the car door ajar (it had been locked) the first thing I looked for was the S&W... the case was unzipped and the gun was sideways under the flap.
The police said they were aware of this crew (7 other cars and trucks were broken into that evening along that same street) and they were only after stuff and never stole firearms. They surmised these bastards didn't want the enhanced charges that they could face if caught.
I NEVER have left a gun in (carried) or locked in a vault since. This happened in 1980 in Seattle.

Sorry to hear it, that sucks. I've walked out to my car to see it gone through far too many times to even ever consider leaving a gun or any gun related items in it, ever. As a matter of fact, my center console, glove box and ashtray were all pulled out the day after Halloween with the passenger door left open as the mosts recent example, and a few months before that also.

I think some fucking shithead in the neighborhood has a Mazda master key as both my vehicle and the wife's keep getting hit without setting off the factory alarm.

quote:

Originally posted by SigM4:
The two that took my report were younger guys and seemed genuinely interested in trying to do something about it.

Those two are the likely culprits then. The guilty ones are always the most willing to help sabotage you.

quote:

Originally posted by Rawny:

quote:

Originally posted by SigM4:
The two that took my report were younger guys and seemed genuinely interested in trying to do something about it.

Those two are the likely culprits then. The guilty ones are always the most willing to help sabotage you.

So, are you accusing the cops of being the thieves? Not sure if serious.

quote:

Originally posted by rscalzo:

quote:

Lemme guess no video or security.

And at best you get a photo of a average sized male with a hoodie pulled over his head.

Hoodie always = criminal in my first thought.
I'll have my hand near my revolver if I see someone with their hood up.

Sorry about your firearm loss. I have a console safe for my truck gun but if I'm leaving my vehicle parked some where for any extended period of time, that firearm is taken out and left at home. A well placed crowbar will open any vehicle safe most rickytick! Would never, I mean NEVER leave a firearm in an unlocked compartment in my vehicle.