STOLEN 5/28: Class B Sportsmobile - San Francisco

[gcvt]

San Francisco. Last seen late on 5/28.

If you see it on the road or on Craig's List, please let me know.

License plate: 5GOZ104

VIN: 1FDHS24L5VHB12424

1997 E250 extended Sportsmobile. White with blue horizontal stripes. High fiberglass top.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5...D720/ry%3D480/

[stanw909]

Bummer. Will keep eyes peeled.

[wincrasher]

I'm sure you've thought of this, but have you checked with the city to see if it was towed? Sometimes that happens.

[booster]

You can do a nationwide Craigslist search by description and/or VIN, which would probably be a good and easy place to start.

[avanti]

A Google search for the VIN and/or the description would't hurt, either.
Good luck.

[gcvt]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

I'm sure you've thought of this, but have you checked with the city to see if it was towed? Sometimes that happens.

I wish. Nah, it was parked in front of our house on a non street cleaning day with current tags. Someone broke in and tried to steal it a few weeks ago. Looks like they came back and pulled it off Thursday night.

[van]

SF is crime-infested, despite it's postcard image. Driver beware.

[gcvt]

Originally Posted by van

SF is crime-infested, despite it's postcard image. Driver beware.

Car thefts are up like 50% here recently. This is my second stolen vehicle in less than a year. They stole my pickup truck last Labor Day

[Boxster1971]

Unfortunately these older vehicles without the advanced ignition security features make easy targets for thiefs who usually just need them for a short ride.


- - Mike
2013 Airstream Interstate from 2012 Sprinter 3500 tall & long

[mlts22]

I'm reminded of Austin in the late 1980s where my old car was broken into multiple times (I'm sure there were plenty of people who wanted it for a one-way trip to Mexico), and the only reason it stayed put was because I put a starter relay kill switch in place (wired so that the car would crank, but die the second the key was let go... this kept a thief guessing as opposed to making it appear like there was an overt kill mechanism in place.)

I can't find the seller, but there was a place that sells an engine starter relay that would enable/disable itself with a remote control. The relay could also be the fuel pump as well. It isn't 100%, but a fuel pump cutoff likely would be a lot more embarrassing for the thief when the vehicle stalls in traffic and they have to make a run for it before people train their smartphones their way and start hitting the 10 pictures/second button.

[Bruceper]

Ground the coil via a toggle switch, car isn't going anywhere.

I've seen steering wheels on the ground with clubs attached to them. If a thief is determined they will steal your vehicle. BTW you can steer afterwards with a pair of vice grips.

[gcvt]

Originally Posted by mlts22

I'm reminded of Austin in the late 1980s where my old car was broken into multiple times (I'm sure there were plenty of people who wanted it for a one-way trip to Mexico), and the only reason it stayed put was because I put a starter relay kill switch in place (wired so that the car would crank, but die the second the key was let go... this kept a thief guessing as opposed to making it appear like there was an overt kill mechanism in place.)

I can't find the seller, but there was a place that sells an engine starter relay that would enable/disable itself with a remote control. The relay could also be the fuel pump as well. It isn't 100%, but a fuel pump cutoff likely would be a lot more embarrassing for the thief when the vehicle stalls in traffic and they have to make a run for it before people train their smartphones their way and start hitting the 10 pictures/second button.

I definitely need something like that for whatever I end up with next. Been looking at the Ravelco, but the price is pretty harsh.