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Protect Your Truck Tailgate Against Theft!

January 4 2017

Protect Your Truck Tailgate Against Theft!  

 

Texas ranked number one in truck tailgate theft in 2015 in the U.S., according to the most recently updated statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston experience significantly more theft than rural areas, and have the highest rate of truck tailgate theft in the nation. Because not all thefts are reported, the actual number of stolen tailgates is most likely even greater than statistics indicate. Your transportation is critical to you, and your vehicle is one of your most valuable possessions. It’s important to protect your investment with comprehensive insurance!

 

Theft Impacts Insurance Costs

 

Up to one quarter of the cost of comprehensive insurance is due to replacement costs as a result of vehicle or parts theft. Truck tailgate theft also costs you personally, if you have to pay a $500 or $1,000 deductible to replace one. You can help reduce insurance costs by deterring theft.

 

Truck tailgates are frequently the first thing to be damaged as a result of everyday use or accidents.  They are an item that people want to replace for cosmetic or functional reasons, so they are in demand. They are also an expensive part that’s incredibly easy to steal, whether for resale on the parts market or the metal market.

Looking for auto insurance in Dallas? At Baja Auto Insurance, we are dedicated to providing our valued customers a variety of affordable insurance options.

 

Tailgate Theft is No Trouble for Thieves

Truck tailgates are designed for ease of removal to make loading and unloading things you transport easier. Unfortunately that also makes it easier for thieves, and they can steal a truck tailgate in an astonishing fifteen to twenty seconds.  Both older and newer popular model trucks are targeted. Replacing a tailgate on an older truck can cost $1,000, but a newer truck can cost $3,000, or even as much as $7,000. Newer trucks have specialized equipment such as back up cameras, LED lights, and electronic locking systems which are especially enticing to thieves because of the resale value. In addition, classified ads and online marketplaces such as Ebay and Craigslist have made it easy for thieves to resell parts.

 

Protecting Your Tailgate

 

  • Always lock your truck tailgate. If you have a newer truck with an electronic tailgate locking system use it!
  • Reduce your risk by parking your truck in a locked garage or facing a wall so there isn’t enough room to remove the tailgate. Parking in a well-litarea helps too.
  • Etching the VIN or a personal identification number into the tailgate is strongly recommended.
  • Be sure to purchase an aftermarket antitheft device such as a hingelock.  Costs are low, ranging between $15 and $100, so it’s a worth it to spend the money and protect your tailgate.

 

Looking for affordable auto insurance in Dallas? Whether you own a truck, car, or motorcycle, at Baja Auto Insurance we’re dedicated to helping you protect your investment and giving you value with the best auto insurance rates! Call us at 800-401-6870 to discuss your current policy or for a free quote!