RED FRS STOLEN - Santa Clara 7/24/18
 

UPDATE 2: They found it! But it's probably totaled. Part of an 'ongoing investigation' which probably means that someone took it to the sideshow up by Uvas and rammed it into some poor sot's Mustang or a tree. I'll post a pic when I get to see it, but it'll be pretty gnarly according to the cops.

UPDATE: Car has NOT been found yet, but the credit card I had in my car is showing fraudulent charges in San Jose, so please please please keep looking! This d-bag is still driving around locally!

Hey all, can you keep your eyes open for a near-stock 2013 Scion FRS in Firestorm Red with no mods other than the offset front plate mount from GReddy. It was stolen last night after 7PM from our complex's gated lot at 2201 The Alameda. License Plate 6ZBS995, any help is appreciated!

That sucks. Was there any camera's since it's gated? I'll keep an eye out for you. I haven't lived here long but it seems like car thefts in the bay area are pretty frequent.

Try to figure out some things that are different from yours than others. Tire size/brand, vin number, any scratches or dents, tinted windows, etc. I'm sure this community will keep an eye out as well. I don't use social media but try facebook, twitter, IG and craigslist. Call around the local tow yards and scrap dealers.

Thanks Teets. The car is super stock, but it does have the original rubber antenna (2013 model, so no shark fin) and it has a decal along the left rear quarter panel that's the Fujiwara tofu shop name. Here's a pic from Tahoe! https://i.imgur.com/APBGIV6.jpg

Are you on the norcal86 Facebook group? Make a post there and we’ll share it!

https://m.facebook.com/groups/350769571747531


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not yet part of the group, but just requested to join! Here's the public post I put if you want to share in the group for me!

https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.ma...07702337326152

And posted! Thanks for the help guys. I hope it was just taken for a joyride and all we have to do is fill up the tank and maybe fix the ignition.

Does anyone know if it's really easy to hotwire? Wondering if I should look into 3rd party security so this doesn't happen again. I know for a fact my wife wants another one if we can't recover it.

I left the dome light on when the car was left at a friends over the weekend, he's a tow truck driver and didn't want to break into it. 'Hotwiring' will rely on hacking the RFID recognition or replicating the key, not easy but not impossible. Go ahead and google 'hotwiring modern car'

Was there any broken glass?

If not I'd bet they towed it away and are stripping it for parts.

Dam, I thought the modern car cannot be hotwired.
Now I am concerned about my car =[
I have a push start button, can those thieves still hotwire?

That was my best guess as well

but our used parts aren't worth that much....

That's the point. Find a common car such as a prius, frs, brz, civic, etc and strip it. May only be worth pennies on the dollar but regardless it's still a profit.

I'm sure their mindset isn't to find a car with the highest profitability on stripped parts. A stock one at that. It's more than likely going to be a common car that they see every day that would be hard to track down.

No broken glass, nothing left behind. I thought my wife left it in her work's garage last night and took a lyft at first but thought to wake her up and ask her about it.

RED FRS STOLEN - Santa Clara 7/24/18
 

Did you check the local business in the area nearby for their security footage? Looks like you’re surrounded by lots of businesses. That may give you a lead.

I’d check the shell gas station and then the Bank of America. And all the business in between. A red car can’t go unnoticed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've got a request out to B of A, but Shell doesn't release their footage. I'm also on the other side of the Alameda from them and there's no outside-facing cameras at that pawn shop.

Check your flex pass for activity as well. Maybe he screwed up and went into the express lane or across a bridge

Other than checking cameras, asking tow yards/scrap yards, talking to police, and anything else that may be traceable I'm not too sure what else you could do. Just keep on the police after you filed a report and hopefully they come up with something.

Theres also a big auction house in Hayward I guess. May give them a call or a heads up. Not sure if carmax would be able to find out about a stolen car status. I'd give them a heads up as well if possible.

Good luck with everything.

You misinterpret what I said, if they have the ability to replicate/hack the RFID/FOB of your key without having your key, they could steal a lot more car for the same amount of work. But life isn't 'Gone in 60 Seconds' with Nicolas Cage.

Low buck part out, they can easily snag a few thousand bucks selling panels, seats, stereo, powertrain, suspension etc. for a day or two of work. Steal and part out a car or two a week probably banks more than I do, for a time.

Damn man I'm really sorry. Sounds like they either duplicated your key or used a tow truck.

Maybe it was impounded by mistake? have you checked local tow yards?

Yeah, did you check with your complex's management? At the very least get the info for whoever does the towing for them (I'm sure there are fire lanes and such inside where they can/will tow people for parking where not permitted). Then contact the towing company (even if the complex management doesn't believe they issued a tow call).

Already talked to the two local towing companies (including the one that the complex contracts out to) and no dice. Complex management has no idea and said they wouldn't tow from the covered spots given how hard it is to get a tow truck in there (thin garage, so hard to maneuver and low ceiling).

Thanks for the suggestions though!

Sorry to hear that I will keep a look out.

I just checked craigslst and saw this
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/pt...638916265.html

Banged up red door posted 4 hours ago

Red door with the VIN showing in one picture.

Sorry did OP post a VIN I missed?

I'd expect to see a flurry of FRS parts on FB marketplace. and the FRS FB groups.

No, I was just drawing OP's attention to the VIN so they could check it for themselves.

that ad was posted 17 days ago so i don't think it's OPs..

Yep it is almost "impossible" to do now even with all the scares of the internet talking about code readers and magic gimmicks that override the chip. People with the equipment to defeat chips are not looking for the quick couple of thousand buck turn over our cars would get them. Just not worth the risk.


Really odd that they would target one in a gated parking garage where there is a high probability of cameras. Usually the hook up and run guys hit ones on the street where there is less chance of being noticed.

UPDATE: Car has NOT been found yet, but the credit card I had in my car is showing fraudulent charges in San Jose, so please please please keep looking! This d-bag is still driving around locally!

I would inform the police so they can investigate camera footage and put a face on this guy/girl. I would leave the card open so you can track their whereabouts. I wouldn't leave your CC in the car anymore... They should reverse the charges as well. My girlfriend had her amex card stolen and they reversed around 2k worth of charges and issued her a new card within 24 hours.

any chance you took it in for service somewhere recently? maybe they cloned your key?

Do you have both original keys in your possession?

Have you checked with all of the businesses on the alameda for security cam footage? There should be at least one that would've caught something.

Also, I don't think this has been asked: was the car purchased new or used? And if used, how recently? Any chance a previous owner (if there is one) would have a duplicate key?

no way, if it's going for parts the parts are going to shady junkyards and body shops, plenty around who won't look twice at VIN tags and paint right over them 'cause they'll pocket an extra $100 vs. getting legit parts.

You live at an apartment complex in Los Angeles WITHOUT security cameras?

... move out

“Northern California” under Regional Forums.

He lives in San Jose.

I googled the address. I would check with that pawn shop next door, they probably have camera's font and rear. The fence does seem pretty low, so someone could have easily jumped it.

UPDATE: They found it! But it's probably totaled. Part of an 'ongoing investigation' which probably means that someone took it to the sideshow up by Uvas and rammed it into some poor sot's Mustang or a tree. I'll post a pic when I get to see it, but it'll be pretty gnarly according to the cops.

Talked to the pawn shop, apparently the cops already got the footage from them but the coverage doesn't extend over to our side, only the front lot and a little bit of the parking lot out back on their side.

Tell me about it on the lack of security cams. Apparently it'd cost a fortune to install any halfway-decent ones which is why they haven't done so yet. I'm wondering how many other cars need to get broken into or stolen for the scales to balance.

Thanks for all the help guys, it's shit like this and the response on here that makes me happy to be part of the community!

I'm glad they found it, sorry it's totaled :( hopefully they catch the POS who took it. Might be worth getting lowjack or something installed on your next car if your parking it in the same place just in case. I've been locking my garage in my apartment complex ever since your post, it should be a wake-up call for everyone in the Bay Area on these forms to make theft as difficult as possible.

Please give us an update if you ever hear the cops catching the thief.