# It’s very easy to steal a Toyota rav4 **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [November 26, 2024, 10:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157 "2024-11-26T10:42:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clueless33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Clueless33](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Clueless33)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 10:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/1 "2024-11-26T10:42:28Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/a/fa153161ec3bf72546ef86f48446ccd45899c8e8.jpeg "Toyota RAV4 2019 - stolen in under 2 min - no key needed") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD_6F_Wt4HM) After watching the video above, I’m worried about my rav4. Is there any way I can prevent thieves from stealing it and I don’t have a garage ? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/2 "2024-11-26T14:36:48Z")
Your ins will cover it if stollen, any car just about can be stolen with the correct tools/equipment in a very short time frame… So don’t be a vehicle hypochondriac please… lol > [@Clueless33](#): > > Is there any way I can prevent thieves from stealing it and I don’t have a garage ? Sure, super glue your head light connectors all together… 🤣 This is a Toyota Lexus thing, maybe others also, how many do you hear about being stolen anyway… The internet is a great thing and a curse to others also… ---
**Author:** ![Clueless33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Clueless33](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Clueless33)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/3 "2024-11-26T19:48:57Z")
I was thinking of buying one of those steering wheels security locks but I’m learning that they’re not very effective against car theft. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/4 "2024-11-26T21:22:13Z")
> [@Clueless33](#): > > steering wheels security locks Use a bolt cutter the cut the steering wheel and then pull the security lock off. I think this can easily be done in less than 30 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/5 "2024-11-26T21:29:10Z")
I have an easier-to-steal '87 pickup - in fact it has been stolen. I take a necessary part out, count on the thieves not carrying one with them or having the time to diagnose the problem, go to Auto Zone… ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/6 "2024-11-26T21:30:48Z")
Isn’t the easiest way to steal a car to boot it and haul it away with tow truck? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/7 "2024-11-26T21:37:43Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > I take a necessary part out, Good idea. It reminds me of the escape scene in the movie “the sound of music”. In that case IIRC it was the distributor cap or ignition coil. Sort of disturbing a newer design is so easy to steal. ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/8 "2024-11-26T21:50:26Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > > [@RandomTroll](#): > > > > I take a necessary part out, > > Good idea. It reminds me of the escape scene in the movie “the sound of music”. In that case IIRC it was the distributor cap or ignition coil. > > Sort of disturbing a newer design is so easy to steal. right after I started driving, my dad made the rule that I had to do the dishes before bed or I didn’t get to drive to school. One night I didn’t do the dishes, and he went out before I got up and took my ignition coil wire off of my coil, and then he went to work. He figured I’d try to start the truck and give up, and then when I complained to him that my truck didn’t start, he’d give me the “Take care of your responsibilities” lecture." He didn’t count on me popping the hood and diagnosing the issue, fixing it, and driving to school. I figured it just fell off, didn’t realize I was being punished, lol I still got the deserved lecture later, but he was pretty proud that I had figured that out on my own. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/9 "2024-11-26T22:02:52Z")
I have been known to remove the rotor button… lol On Road Kill, Mike Finnegan had bought a Stingray IIRC and when they had to stay overnight in a Hotel, he would pull all the engine bay fuses at night… The only way you are going to slow a real vehicle thief down from stealing a vehicle is to hide a kill switch somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/10 "2024-11-26T22:16:21Z")
Thieves are also stealing IS300/350’s. They enter the car through the sunroof, connect a device to the data link connector to hack the certification ECU and start the engine. Some cars have been stolen more than once, how much will car insurance cost for a vehicle parked outside that is a high target for thieves? Hyundai/Kia owners have complained they could not buy car insurance. > [@jtsanders](#): > > Use a bolt cutter Considered to be a “burglary tool” if caught prowling in a parking lot with such a tool. > [@RandomTroll](#): > > Isn’t the easiest way to steal a car to boot it and haul it away with tow truck? I don’t think it is possible to hire a tow truck to heist a vehicle. Did you mean to steal a tow truck first, then steal the car? For a joy ride? ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/11 "2024-11-26T22:32:50Z")
The best things you can do is put outdoor motion sensing lights, a security camera, a kill switch and if you have an iPhone hide an apple air tag in the vehicle. If it does get stolen the camera might pick up their face’s. you can track the vehicle with the apple air tag to let the police know where it is. as far as the air tag goes, try to find an older one. they all have a little speaker in them that beeps I believe. and that can alert the thief’s and they will find it and toss it out. with the older ones there are you tube videos showing you how to open the air tag and disconnect the speaker. I have never tried it, so I am just going by what I have seen online. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/12 "2024-11-26T22:40:31Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > hire a tow truck to heist a vehicle During some episodes of the reality tv show “counting cars” I notice they’ll ask an owner if their classic parked on the street is for sale? Then hint that it could easily put on a flat bed some night. I presume this is done mostly for comedy sake, but also hints it might be a good time for the owner to sell. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/13 "2024-11-27T01:09:13Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > > [@jtsanders](#): > > > > Use a bolt cutter > > Considered to be a “burglary tool” if caught prowling in a parking lot with such a tool. Sure, but does the thief care, especially if he is under 17? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/14 "2024-11-27T03:23:45Z")
The point is that it is more likely to get caught before committing the crime when a thief is walking around with tools that are not commonly used on the street. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 3:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/15 "2024-11-27T03:42:47Z")
Co-worker uses a wheel lock and brake pedal lock on his 96 Crown Victoria when he does drive it, had it stolen once and only found it by sheer luck in the background of a post on a facebook group where people take photos at known dump sites for stolen cars. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/16 "2024-11-27T15:34:49Z")
Here’s a bolt cutter that folds down to 13.5” and can easily be stowed in a bag or tucked into a waist band with a baggy shirt. While it’s about $50 at Lowe’s they can always steal that too. Certainly some people carrying bolt cutters will be stopped and the tool confiscated, but some thieves are smart and they will outfit their soldiers with the right tool for the job. Steering wheel locks might cause car thieves to move to an easier car, but it really isn’t much of an impediment to an experienced thief. [https://www.lowes.com/pd/Maxilla-24-in-Bolt-Cutters/1000614515](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Maxilla-24-in-Bolt-Cutters/1000614515) ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/17 "2024-11-27T16:17:51Z")
> [@Clueless33](#): > > I was thinking of buying one of those steering wheels security locks but I’m learning that they’re not very effective against car theft. There are multiple videos on youtube on how to disable one of those. Here’ [one](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LEWi9Jwi3LQ) ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/18 "2024-11-27T16:33:40Z")
switching the coil wire from the center of the cap with any plug wire and it’s very unlikely anyone would notice that was the ‘no start’ problem ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/19 "2024-11-27T17:17:33Z")
Here is a thought, replace a few good fuses with blown fuses for the ignition and fuel injectors or whatever and really mess with a thief… ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157/20 "2024-11-27T18:08:06Z")
For clueless. Jack it up, remove wheels, lower onto cement block, do again until all four wheels have been removed. On a more serious note, you have two vehicles, rent a garage, keep the one not in use locked n the garage. Change out vehicles as needed. Plus, if you get a garage with electricity you can keep a battery maintainer plugged in. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/it-s-very-easy-to-steal-a-toyota-rav4/198157.md?page=2)