2020 Gladiator Rubicon STOLEN in Dallas

[NavyAustin]

So, my happy 2020 Gladiator Rubicon was stolen in Dallas Tuesday night/Wednesday a.m. Broken glass at the hotel where it was parked. Initial report to Dallas PD via 911 per their protocol. Contacted Sirius - I had a music subscription but not security. I activated a security subscription and they could ping once they had a police report. Dallas PD called me less than 2 hours later to take a full report via video (Teams), they said that if they got a ping/location, they would roll a uniformed unit to the location to investigate. Gave police report # to Sirius. 30 minutes later, got a report that they were able to ping and provided the location to Dallas PD (they don't tell the vehicle owner so they don't endanger themselves recovering a vehicle from potentially armed thieves. No news since Wednesday noon.

I will assume it's not going to be recovered. I am fortunate to have another car to drive, but man, I loved this thing. Put a smile on my face every time I drove it. I actually had thought to myself, "No matter what other vehicles I get, this is one I see always keeping. It's useful and makes me happy" (you get these thoughts at 57).

My question for the board: what is your experience with total loss claims and valuations?

I have comprehensive through USAA. I have the sticker and my sales receipts from Dec 2020. Dealer installed 2" MOPAR lift and MOPAR performance wheels and NITTO Trail Grappler 35s. I installed the Ace Engineering step rails, the Rugged Ridge trifold, the stubby antenna, and not seen here, an AMP research bed step. Receipts for everything. I know that it is difficult to get your money back on upgrades when you sell or trade, but it seems to me that if I got a 2020 Rubicon with my options, I'd still have to pay full retail today for the lift/wheels, steps, bed cover, etc.

I've dabbled on KBB and Edmunds. If I get a low offer, any suggested recourse?

I don't have any hope for personal property. I had a variety of tools under the seat and in the back, putting me in that twilight zone - if there was, say, $1500 worth of miscellaneous straps, tools, hitch, jumper cables, axe, shovel, etc. - car insurance covers $250, homeowners insurance covers the rest, but that's another deductible (~$1000?) and a claim on claim history, so I can see getting my homeowner's policy rate raised by $150/month for the $250 net claim. I'll document it, but don't really see it doing anything but showing well above the $250 so I at least get $250.

I won't get an official declaration of loss until January 30, but I'm trying to think ahead. Any help is appreciated.

EDIT: Also, purchased a MOPAR extended warranty - since it's transferrable, I am assuming there is some pro-rated refund process for stolen/totaled vehicles. Any experience here welcome as well.

Right now, go out and hug your Gladiator - you never know when it will be the last time you see it!

(it was at a Fairfield, but not THIS Fairfield. Mine was stolen at the Fairfield Inn at 2100 N Cockrell Hill Rd, Dallas, TX 75212)

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[StanH]

Stinking scumbags, probably some illegals . Did they break in your room and get the keyfob too?

 

[NavyAustin]

I still have two souvenier keyfobs and some Jeep t-shirts, sweatshirts, and caps.

Hey, I just realized that they KIDNAPPED MY DUCKS!

 

[Jesnamy01]

This sucks. Sorry for your loss. I read each and every one of these stories. You don’t have to accept first offer from insurance.

 

[Hootbro]

That sucks to hear. Probably either at the Port of Houston on a shipping container or in Mexico with a future life as a Cartel vehicle. It was Ford F-250's back when I lived in Texas.

As to the extended warranty and remain prorated value, usual you would deal with the dealership that sold it to you. Their finance guy can process that and get you refunded within 2-3 weeks if not earlier.

 

[willys 41]

In the San Francisco bay area we have a big problem with car thefts
I just heard last night that my dads care giver car was stolen in front of his house
I am terrified that my jeep will get stolen
I have 5 layers to stop or at least discourage them to move to the next

5 lines of defense
Tazer with hood latch alarm turned on
Tazer pin no. required to drive (Goes into ABS 4 wheel lock)
Relocated horns and wiring (Horns wires can not be cut to disable horn alarm)
Snorkel runs over fuse box (Snorkel must be removed to access fuse box)
Most important. RAVELCO

https://www.ravelco.com/

RAVELCO was installed at my house and took about 2.5 hours
I assisted in the installation and had to remove 3 components to access the install
With all my accessory and all wiring in matching wire looms the thief's would have a hard time determining what is what and if they did find it which wires to jump with out blowing fuses
They may tow it away put they wont drive it away in 3 minutes
If they do look in side my jeep they will see an empty gun holster. They better thinks twice before they proceed
I also have faraday bags and boxes

 

[Stan H]

How can one of these jeeps be started and driven off without the keyfob? Are they that easily hacked?

 

[Mad Mac]

Back in the good old days, a person was hung for stealing a horse.
Now if they find him, they are released back on the street
before the arresting cop ends his shift.

 

[willys 41]

SUPER EASY TO STEAL
GONE IN 60 SECONDS

 

[Hootbro]

Found this searching around. Amazes me the depths these fuckers are going to. Be sure to turn the volume on the video for commentary.

 

[StanH]

So why would these car manufacturers release a Keyfob detection device that can do all that? ? I guess Faraday bag is gonna be on order very soon.

 

[Mad Mac]

Every security measure has a countermeasure.
Thieves cannot be stopped, they can only be slowed down.
That is why harsher penalties are needed,
like the death penalty.

It wasn't that horses were valuable.
It was that they were easy to steal.
Stealing a horse was a contemptible act
by a person not worthy of living.

Hackers who spread computer viruses
should have public executions.

I feel much better, now.

 

[NavyAustin]

So, tomorrow is the day my insurance company writes my Gladiator off as a total loss.

I've had friends say things like "So are you going to get another?" Too soon...

What would I like? I'd like to have had my Jeep where I parked it three weeks ago and to have kept it forever.

I've had a cool car. I've had 4x4s. I've had a cool 4x4 truck. This was my first Jeep, and man, was it cool.

This Jeep Gladiator REDEFINED cool for me.

It was fun on the beach. It was fun going to a black-tie event. Jeep Adventure Academy was a blast! It was fun everywhere. Going to the store? Going on a road trip? Let's go!

Faults? Zero. Because the Gladiator is not trying to be all things to all people - a good lesson to remind myself. Oh, it's loud on the highway? A quiet ride is not the point. It is what it is and that's that.

Everywhere I went, it made people smile and chat. The Jeep Wave community is awesome - as is this board.

Yet for as cool as it was, it was incredibly useful. I've towed trailers to move a kid's apartment to graduate school, to carry gear for work, and to haul trees I've cleared. In the bed, I've hauled brush, furniture, lumber, flooring, topsoil, appliances, and junk for the dump. The Gladiator is a great truck - and that trifold top made a great trunk. After the Jeep, every other truck seems hopelessly generic.

As vehicles go, it's as subtle as a train wreck.

As my friend said when I saw the first one in real life and announced I was getting one, it looks like a 10-year-old boy drew it - and proudly shouted JEEPTRUCK!

It looked like it came in a Hot Wheels box.

And it looked happy - like a goofy golden retriever puppy that wanted to play.

It made me smile - driving, washing, and adding things to it. Not a lot - but the things that made it mine. The perfect cure for a bad day. And a cheat code to make ordinary days awesome.

I hope there is another in my future. This one will always have a piece of my heart.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

Im not one for poetry, but that ode brought a tear to my eye. Sorry for your loss

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