Rat Bast@srd$ stole my 01's wheels last night!
 

Sorry but the following post is long: I was awakened at 4:30 this morning by my neighbor who happens to be a Texas state trooper. As she, yes the trooper is a she, was pulling out of her parking space she noticed my red '01 L sitting on blocks, minus its wheels. I immediately phone the police and they dispatched an officer fairly quickly.

Together, we looked my truck over. Tthe rat bast@rd thieves didn't seem to have tried entering the truck, they just wanted my wheels and tires, in fact, they even left behind the spare. As the morning sun began rising, we could see how well the these losers had positioned my L on cinder blocks, directly beneath the trucks jacking points. So, there doesn't seem to be any damage to the suspension or lower body. They probably left the truck on blocks to keep the noise level down. In the light, we could see there were a few finger prints around one of the wheel wells. I had detailed my truck recently and, fortunately, I always try to Armorall the wheel wells, so that's why some prints were visible. Whether or not the police can get unsmudged prints remains to be seen though.

These losers might have left behind some other evidence - a cassette tape that was lying in the vacant parking space next to the passenger side of my truck. I know the tape wasn't there last night when I parked my truck because I walked around to the passenger side to remove some packages. According to the officer, it's not unusual for some sort of evidence, like cigarette butts, match sticks, fast candy wrappers, etc, to be left behind by retards like these because they obviously are rushed to get their job done and get careless. The problem is these kind of things are easily overlooked in a parking lot. Not today.

I just ordered a new set of '01 wheels for my barefoot L at $310 each plus a $40 each rush because these wheels are on national backorder until April 23! The tires, at $302.95 each, also are a special order item. Holy crap Batman, can you say "Rare." My stolen wheels are going to stand out like a sore thumb to the autotheft guys. My father-in-law is a volunteer chaplain with the police department, so this case is getting a lot of attention. I've got rental insurance, so, at least, I'll have transportation. Realistically, I don't expect the police to recover the wheels but it does make me feel better these wheels will be hard to fence in the Houston-area. That's why I purchased my new wheels before the insurance adjuster had a chance to cut a check because, in the remote chance that the police actually recovered my original wheels, I wouldn't want them back.

The ironic part of this story is I had planned to install wheel locks this weekend since I been out of town during most of the two weeks that I've owned the L. An alarm system was slated to go in next week too. Oh well.

What I've learned from this is wheel locks and a basic alarm with siren and shock sensor should be something all Lightning owners should seriously consider. These are reasonable theft precautions, but like everyone says, if a thief wants your vehicle, they're going to get it.

Dave

Bummer! Check with Tireman, he should be able to get the tires cheaper than that. I know you probably want to keep the truck original but I would order chrome 00 wheels for those kind of bucks https://www.f150online.com/f150board/smile.gif

------------------
GalaxyEng
2000 RED #2926
13.5@101
BedRug
Haig custom mats
PSP Filter

http://www.oemfordparts.com/partslist.asp?CategoryID=49

They don't have the 2001 wheel listed, but I paid US$900 for 4, 2 weeks ago, 1 week delivery.

[This message has been edited by BlackLight (edited 04-06-2001).]

Dave,
Sorry to hear about your wheels and tires. Instead of letting the dealership rob you, order F1s from TireRack for about $220 each. But do order a set of wheel locks for your truck this time...

If the tyres are the same as mine get them from the Tyrerack $200 + posatage got mine in less than a week.

Tony
99L black

------------------
Tony
99L black
hard bed cover

Thanks for your input guys, I just had to vent a little. I'm fully insured for this, however I went ahead and purchased the wheels to avoid the extremely remote chance the police recover my wheels. In that situation, the insurance company would try to make me take back the stolen wheels, bad mojo and all - no thanks. Since, I've already purchased the wheels, if the original set is located, they belong to someone else, not me (I've confirmed this with my insurance rep).

Like I said earlier, an alarm and wheel locks are mostly for my peace-of-mind - last night was the first night the truck wasn't parked in my company's guarded parking garage. If they want it bad enough, they're gonna get it. I learned first-hand wheel locks aren't really much of a preventative measure, they just slow these jerks down a few seconds. It's no secret, for instance, Ford dealers have a universal set of McGard wheel lock keys for owners who've misplace their keys or an industrious person can tow the vehicle somewhere and drill out the wheel studs or, even simpler, just use a hammer to sacrifice 4 sockets by driving them over each of the wheel locks - instant, disposible wheel lock key. It sucks.

sorry to hear the bad news. it looks like these lightnings are getting a reputation for their bad ass looks, sick performance and rarity. i see theft as always being a problem with lightnings. GL getting the wheels back.

The '01 wheels are on backorder. There are 19 wheels currently in route to the Ford distribution center (dont know where that is)... 4 are spoken for (2 by me)... that leaves 15 available. That $40 rush thing you did means that as soon as they arrive at the center, they will be overnight Fed Ex'd to the dealer at which you placed the order. You should have the wheels by mid/late next week.

Damn, sorry to hear the news. My 01 sits with NO alarm/wheel locks as I speak. Thank god for insurance, and speaking of, just got the rate increase for mine. Went from a 99 Lightning to a 2001 Lightning with the same coverage and the total increase for 6 months was $50.00. Gota love that AIG. Good luck with your alarm install.

------------------
2001 Silver Bolt
Adopted 3/24/01
Red Line Water Wetter Wet Okole's Bedrug JL Ram Air

Hey, that's encouraging news about the wheel shipment DreaminAboutL. When the dealer checked this morning, they told me to expect delivery around April 23! This now means I only need to spend a few days in a crappy rental.

He's no longer a pal of mine but try this guy, his name is Drew and he had a bunch of F1s for sale @ 175.00...CrownVicIntrCptr@aol.com
Sorry about the truck. I know it sucks.
CA

[This message has been edited by WhiteLightninSVTGirl (edited 04-06-2001).]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. My 2001 arrived on Monday and it has 300 miles on it. I am selling the wheels and tires as a complete set for 1500.00 . They are brand new and even have the "grease pencil" markings on them. Please let me know if you are interseted. Thanks-Neil Minor

nminor@peoplepc.com

Really sorry to hear the news man, major bummer. I got 500 deduct, soooo. Anyway, if you're spending 300 each for stock wheels, why not go the extra 55 each and get the chrome 20" wheels? Unless you dont like them or the 220 difference is significant right now. Then there is the rubber, not much under 300 a tire that people are recommending, at least a few weeks ago. So 1200 + 800 = 2000 to replace and should be covered yes? 1400 + 1200 = 2600. Pluse S&H mount ect... Did the insurance give you a number or vice versa???
Ok, 2600 -500, 2k doesnt sound unreasonable for HiPo specialty limited production whells and tires does it?

Just a thought, good luck man.

------------------
Silver '00 Lightning.
#3962/4966 6/16/00
PSP filter kit.
JL 300/4 amp, JL-XR's, VR's and 10WO, Crossfire 75.2 amp.
Ligted Logos.
Xenon bulbs X 4.
Clear corners, Altezza tails on order.

We got our Lightnings about the same time. I was wondering if you've seen any evident HP increase since the addition of you JL kit. I'm thinking about getting one and was curious.

Dude , what a bummer .
check out ultrawheel.com they have some chrome 18" lighning wheels.