Pickup Truck Tailgates Prone to Quick, Easy Theft

A random search of local police blotters shows such thefts are common. Many blotters have reports of tailgates taken off of brand-new trucks at dealerships. There are also reports of thieves caught trying to resell the stolen wares.

One advantage for the thieves is it doesn’t take long to steal a tailgate – just a few seconds or a few minutes if the tailgate is locked. Taking a tailgate doesn’t often require tools, either. The quick speeds make tailgate-napping an often elusive crime. We even found a story where thieves stole a tailgate while the driver was in his truck.

Tailgates can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to as much as $3,600 for those with backup cameras and other accessories, according to the Detroit News. The average tailgate costs $1,200 to replace. Typically, thieves try to sell their loot on websites like Craigslist for a few hundred dollars.

Tailgates join hubcaps as easy target for thieves (The Detroit News)