Anti theft - ramble - discussion / suggestions?

[flyct]

Google it for the procedure. Multiple videos with instructions. Essentially you open it up and remove the speaker. Not hard to do.
Note that doing so is not just to make it hard for someone to find your AirTag, the beeping can be really annoying. For example, I have one in my laptop bag. Every time I move the bag, the damn beeper goes off...

To add another point. Removing the speaker will not eliminate the message that someone gets that an AirTag is following them. Hide the AirTag very well so when some thief is notified that they are being followed by an AirTag they can't find the AirTag.

" Owners of iPhones running iOS 14.5 or newer should receive a push alert whenever an unknown AirTag is nearby for an extended period of time and away from its owner."

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[Kansan]

For Kansan. Have you heard of the stolen taillight problem around KC? Just bot mine from Blue Springs Ford and didn't hear of it until a trip to San Antonio and was informed by the hotel valet parking attendant because they took ford pickups to a downtown building for secured storage and it would take an extra half hour if I needed it. I googled it down there and found it was a big problem down there. When I mentioned to people around here in central KS they have never heard of it.

I've been reading about the Faraday bags. I see a problem with needed or making a faraday box by the front door and something for the wife's purse. We get some sketchy people going door to door selling and offering sketchy services that I could see someone stealing codes. Around here everybody has a pickup parked in the driveway or

As far as I know, taillight theft hasn’t been a big issue in KC area. That hasn’t keep me from trying to prevent my lights from being stolen. I believe the thief would have to get the tailgate open to steal the taillights. I have a handicapped tag and try to always back my truck to the sign so that the tailgate can’t be opened.

 

[Kansan]

When I see some of these answers I wonder about the areas that some people choose to love. I cannot imagine worrying about putting my truck in valet mode all the time, or making 4 keys so a tech cannot make one.

Once we had our minivan change stolen while at a dealership. Since I knew exactly how much change was in it, dealership handed me money AND a dinner. Then they set a trap for the valet and fired him.

In our neighborhood some years back, cars were getting "broken into". Morons didn't lock them, left purses, laptops, etc. in plain view. That's not "broken into". Arrests were made.

Neighbor always left garage door open and house unlocked. Sheriff pulled in driveway one day, and walked into house via unlocked door. Neighbor stopped doing that...

Yes, thefts happen. No, the F-150 is NOT the most stolen pickup truck, but if itaa was it would be because it is also the top seller...

https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/new-report-shows-full-size-trucks-have-highest-theft-rate

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/1...-the-most-stolen-vehicles-in-the-u-s-in-2025/

Way to kill the vibe dude. I live in probably one of the safest cities in the USA but I still lock my doors and take measures to compensate for Ford’s vulnerabilities. No one is taking my shit if I can help it.

 

[bc1]

OK. I don't want to end up at a Chiefs, Royals, or KU game and end up missing something although the way the Chiefs are playing I probably won't be buying any game tickets this year. We travel enough I don't need to wake up at a motel to a surprise theft. I have a handicapped placard but usually end up in a diagonal lot. Not sure I want to spend the bux for 2 more keys but will see.

I had a roommate from Chicago (the mafia part) in the Army over 50 years ago. He never admitted to doing it himself but he always said the guys stealing tires didn't take the time to remove lug nuts, they just made a quick turn to the right and twisted off the lugs. No blocks, they could pick up the bumper long enough to jerk the wheel off. He was a big, strong guy so who knows. I've tighten up lots of lug nuts but never thought I was about to twist any off. I remember one night of drinking 50 some years ago when we had a flat tire and no jack so four of us held the car up on a dark highway while this slow drunk kid changed the tire with us cussing him the whole time.

I bot a new John Deere tractor with cab 3 years ago. Our farm is on a state highway with lots of traffic and people stopping with trouble and we aren't always there. Also those Deere's just have a universal key so about anyone could stop, load it on a trailer, and it would be in Texas by dawn and across the border before the end of the day. I don't have an apple phone but my daughter does. If the airtags are only good for a year then I better buy some more. We tested it out but I never heard any beeps from it but they wouldn't either where I had it hidden figuring it was on a trailer. Guess I better have her test it to see if it still shows up or not.

My daughter lives in Marysville, Washington while my SIL is in the Navy. She had her car broke into last year and hers and her sister in law's purses and computer were stolen. The SIL had an air tag and traced everything to an apartment complex. The problem was that Seattle and Marysville police don't respond to car breakins so all they could do is file a report online and did so with the air tag info. When they got a call a few days later they still mentioned the apartment location but no investigation was ever done even though the air tag was still giving a location reading. But that the way it is out there.

I brought up the issue about the hammer and chisel cause around the farm there is always something that needs to hammered and chiseled after it has rusted on forever. I have read some of the anti-theft stuff about replacing the screws, etc. but when I looked at the gap between the light and the tail gate, there is room to slide a chisel in there. I guess when thieves start carrying cutting torches with them then they can take what they want.

 

[chriserx]

If the airtags are only good for a year then I better buy some more.

The button battery in the airtag is only good for about a year of use

 

[Kansan]

OK. I don't want to end up at a Chiefs, Royals, or KU game and end up missing something although the way the Chiefs are playing I probably won't be buying any game tickets this year. We travel enough I don't need to wake up at a motel to a surprise theft. I have a handicapped placard but usually end up in a diagonal lot. Not sure I want to spend the bux for 2 more keys but will see.

Key fobs aren’t too expense if you don’t go to the dealer. I programmed this one to my 24 Flash and got the added benefit of remote start/climate from the key fob.

 

[WXman]

I live in Kentucky. Our state law requires insurance companies to provide zero deductible windshield replacements for anyone who has a comprehensive policy. HOWEVER, I learned the hard way that this does not mean you get free windshields. It only means the insurance company will find another way to get their money.

My other F-150 is a 2005 Lariat. Absolutely zero sensors or radar units of any kind in the windshield. It’s simply a remove, replace, glue the mirror back on kind of deal. A little over a year ago I had the windshield replaced in it. Insurance company didn’t say a word about it…just told me to pick a glass company. I paid zero out of pocket. Thought everything was done. Then a year later when my policy renewal comes due I notice that my premium has gone up 15%. I ask why and all my agent can tell me is “rate revision”. So I press Progressive a little harder to get specifics. The report they sent me showed that I has a “glass claim” of over $1,000.

I’ve always thought that insurance companies are the most vile, unethetical, ruthless companies in the country. They rape people wherever they can and they get away with it because laws require us to have it. And you guys with deep pockets and the attitude that “I have insurance so I don’t care what happens” are causing rates to be higher for all of us.

 

[Texdan]

I live in Kentucky. Our state law requires insurance companies to provide zero deductible windshield replacements for anyone who has a comprehensive policy. HOWEVER, I learned the hard way that this does not mean you get free windshields. It only means the insurance company will find another way to get their money.

My other F-150 is a 2005 Lariat. Absolutely zero sensors or radar units of any kind in the windshield. It’s simply a remove, replace, glue the mirror back on kind of deal. A little over a year ago I had the windshield replaced in it. Insurance company didn’t say a word about it…just told me to pick a glass company. I paid zero out of pocket. Thought everything was done. Then a year later when my policy renewal comes due I notice that my premium has gone up 15%. I ask why and all my agent can tell me is “rate revision”. So I press Progressive a little harder to get specifics. The report they sent me showed that I has a “glass claim” of over $1,000.

I’ve always thought that insurance companies are the most vile, unethetical, ruthless companies in the country. They rape people wherever they can and they get away with it because laws require us to have it. And you guys with deep pockets and the attitude that “I have insurance so I don’t care what happens” are causing rates to be higher for all of us.

Speaking to the choir on INS COS... we unfortunately have a lot of "flying gravel" periodically, so I've had 5 cracked windshields in the past 2 years; I had a policy adder 2 yrs ago as mentioned for zero deductible, so had 3 replaced while I had it, but current insurer does not offer, so we're back to "out of pocket" - in the past windshields were $185-225, so out of pocket was not a big deal: with my F150's windhshields (with all the electronics built in) are $600-1000, so out of pocket hurts a bit more. That said our auto insurance is not cheap - we're at $3000/ year for 3 vehicles, one which I drive only 1500 miles a year. Thinking about becoming an insurance agent...

 

[WXman]

Thinking about becoming an insurance agent...

Yeah, now I know why all the insurance agents around here drive new vehicles and build new houses all the time.

A guy could pay in $150k in insurance premiums over the course of his lifetime, and then file a $10k claim 50 years later and they'd still jack his premium up. It shouldn't even be legal.

Good luck with the windshields. It's a real bear on these new trucks with sensors and modules everywhere.

 

[RickLightning]

Speaking to the choir on INS COS... we unfortunately have a lot of "flying gravel" periodically, so I've had 5 cracked windshields in the past 2 years; I had a policy adder 2 yrs ago as mentioned for zero deductible, so had 3 replaced while I had it, but current insurer does not offer, so we're back to "out of pocket" - in the past windshields were $185-225, so out of pocket was not a big deal: with my F150's windhshields (with all the electronics built in) are $600-1000, so out of pocket hurts a bit more. That said our auto insurance is not cheap - we're at $3000/ year for 3 vehicles, one which I drive only 1500 miles a year. Thinking about becoming an insurance agent...

You will find that the Lightning windshield is even more, closer to $1,500 or higher.

As to insurance costs, Texas is not the peak in the nation... We are currently running close to $4,000 a year for TWO vehicles, and both are listed as 7,500 miles or less.

 

[K6CCC]

If the airtags are only good for a year then I better buy some more.

The AirTags last a long time, but the little battery is officially good for a year. However I have a log file of the battery life and they are more like two years. Replacing the battery takes about 30 seconds. Note that the original AirTags did NOT have a replaceable battery, but Apple changed that quite a few years ago.
My down side with them is that you can only see the location from an Apple Phone - unlike an Apple phone that can be located from a website. When I retired recently, I happily gave back my work forced on me #$%^& iPhone so I can no longer see them. I do have the locations shared with a good friend so if I really need it, I can call him and he can see where my devices are.

 

[bc1]

Key fobs aren’t too expense if you don’t go to the dealer. I programmed this one to my 24 Flash and got the added benefit of remote start/climate from the key fob.

I found it on Amazon. Apparently they are the 433 mhz ones that go with a little older f250 and there is a review that says it works for the lightning. Saw a cheaper option but I'm not going to test it out.

2 questions:

1. Does the frunk opening button get replaced with remote start and if so can it be reprogrammed to the frunk, if you know?

2. I looked at the programming procedure in the manual I printed off and can you do 3rd and 4th remotes in the same procedure or do you wait and start over to do the 4th one?

Also wondering for theft and faraday purposes, what is the typical range of these fobs?

 

[chriserx]

Also wondering for theft and faraday purposes, what is the typical range of these fobs?

Approximately 100 feet, 120 if you hold it up to your head
No hard data on that, just my experience.

 

[Texdan]

You will find that the Lightning windshield is even more, closer to $1,500 or higher.

As to insurance costs, Texas is not the peak in the nation... We are currently running close to $4,000 a year for TWO vehicles, and both are listed as 7,500 miles or less.

I had a quote for Lightning WS of $1400 OEM or $1000 (aftermarket- just doesn’t have the FORD OVAL!) but I found much better and my total cost -including calibration and CC fee was $561.
I went aftermarket because no telling when the next rock will cost me another WS.

Insurance overall is a drain: between auto, homeowners, ranch, commercial prop &umbrellas we're DRAINED over $20,000 a year.
For people who never make claims -knock on wood -
I'd love all the ins $$$ I've spent over the last 40 years vs no claims... outrageous amount.

 

[K6CCC]

Insurance overall is a drain:

That is mostly true for me. The only I have "made money" on was medical - but three surgeries in the last five years that were each around a $125K each helps with that one...

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