MISSING / STOLEN Toyota Hi-lux Surf 1992 / YJ3682

[RIA_Norman]

This is my beloved Surf. I have had this truck for 7 years and it's my pride and joy. I returned to Chch from QT Tues 12th of Feb to find my car had disappeared from the location i parked it.

It's a 1992 diesel, manual 2.4L. After doing some research i have found out that this model is fairly rare. I also had no idea that thieves have been targeting 4x4s for their parts.

It was foolishly left on Wed 6th of Feb on Memorial Ave Russley Road Corner where loads of airport commuters leave their cars bumper to bumper on this busy street. I have filed a police report, but am putting the word out via whatever means necessary, especially to those living in CHCH, to keep their eyes peeled for this vehicle. It has roof racks and a distinctive R.I.A on the side as shown in the picture below, a 'My Brothers' sticker on the back bumper, and a Saloman sticker on the back window . Any information to it's whereabouts would be hugely appreciate. #devastated.

Phone 022 0400 541
or email rirenorman@gmail.com

[the quadfather]

really sorry to hear about your loss mate. i foolishly thought chch had escaped this dark period of 4wd thefts. keep us posted....

[tallsam66]

Afraid not ...still lots being stolen ...one of our club members had his landcruiser stolen the other week.

[RIA_Norman]

I went into do some further investigating at the cop shop two days ago, and i was the second person that day who had complained of a stolen 4x4 from the airport. I'm trying to get in touch with the spokesperson from the cops that runs the anti-car theft division and ask them what the f#%k they are doing about it. This is obviously organised crime, not a bunch of hoons wanting to go joy riding. 4x4s are being targeted, so please be careful 4x4 owners. Get a steering lock if you don't already use one and an alarm. I had neither and am kicking myself very hard

[mumbls]

I went into do some further investigating

"1992 diesel, manual 2.4L. After doing some research i have found out that this model is fairly rare"

Common as mud, porbably chopped down engine/box/diff in container on way to asia/africa

[RIA_Norman]

Dude, I know they are common, but people are holding onto them.

There's one diesel manual for sale On trade under 6K in the whole of NZ, and not in a smaller engine, which has been highly economical, but admittedly kinda gutless, but whatever. It was a good truck.

[mike]

just updated the stolen vehicles page, over 1 hilux is going missing a week in christchurch. 11 since new years

[RIA_Norman]

Oh god that is shocking.

The sad and disappointing thing here is that thieves do not get the impact on victims. They are greedy, thoughtless bastards.

I wrote a blog about my experience if anyone cares to read. Considering you are all passionate about your 4x4's I know you will be feeling my pain.

Since I had no insurance, i'm doing a fundraiser - I have no other choice if I wish to get back on my feet and on the road in any kind of reasonable time frame.

http://rireinaction.wordpress.com/hiluxlove/

[mike]

Yeah its pretty crap that its still going on. This other thread http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 33&t=33908
highlights the fact it is a big issue and effecting quite a few people and hopefully the police will start making getting some traction in cleaning up chch's little problem.

Nice write up on your blog and good luck with the fundraiser. Once you get funds for another one I would highly reccomend the alarm but also a cheap gps tracker (<$150) from china as a minimum in chch. If they want it though, they will take it regardless and about the only way you will stop it going is by removing the wheels, freezing it in a block of ice and suspending it from a crane and welding the cranes cable brake to the on position

[mud_slinger]

sadly the police in chch wont do anything about it, they would rather be out revenue collecting. what ever funding they get it gets sunk into the newly formed "boy racer sqaud" to busy tailing boy racers and laying in bushes waiting for someone to do a skid instead of out and following leads. when my car got stolen they weren't interested to know about it, they didn't even find it until a member of the public rang them up to tell them there was a stripped out car. there were finger prints all over it but by the time the guy showed up to finger print a week had gone by and most the prints i could see in plain daylight were gone by then.

[Sadam_Husain]

they will take it regardless and about the only way you will stop it going is by removing the wheels, freezing it in a block of ice and suspending it from a crane and welding the cranes cable brake to the on position

the bastards steal the cranes too

[RIA_Norman]

Have started a new thread as I've just been talking with media and police and have some interesting new stats. Make sure you check out the thread and spread the news to keep your 4x4 safe.

[tallsam66]

Yep is all about revenue gathering.
Last week saw 5 cops in 4 cars randomly stopping people on Riccarton rd near railway line & week before were 4 cops in 2 cars stopping people near Tony's tyres.

[Twodiffs]

We have too many threads on this I reckon...there's heaps of good info in every thread and people can miss stuff if they don't read the lot .

For example when Combined met with a Det snr sargent from the volume crime unit he advised it's best to ring them directly on the Monday morning or asap. His explanation was that if the theft is reported to the usual hotline then it's recorded, filed and THEN handed to the volume unit to handle.

RIA_Norman...hope you get your truck back mate, a steering lock or CLUB is a deterrent but don't beat yourself up for not using it....they can hacksaw through the steering wheel and remove one in 30 seconds.

[RIA_Norman]

true, prob best to keep it in the one thread. Thanks for the support, and yes - Big lesson learned here.. I wish so badly I never left it alone ;-(

[oljamesyboy]

been pulled up twice in the last 2 weeks down waimak river for random plate checks etc and seen few cops driving around down there and not just around the motor cross area have seen right up past pylons

[LOLYF]

Yep is all about revenue gathering.
Last week saw 5 cops in 4 cars randomly stopping people on Riccarton rd near railway line & week before were 4 cops in 2 cars stopping people near Tony's tyres.

I think you'll find that is called "Police work"...crims don't just call in to the Police station randomly and hand themselves in you know

[oljamesyboy]

few years back our police looked at getting this sort of system but the public kicked up such a fuss about invasion of privacy did we ever end up with any?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... ZvXtJxBNWg

[Dirtydog]

few years back our police looked at getting this sort of system but the public kicked up such a fuss about invasion of privacy did we ever end up with any?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... ZvXtJxBNWg

now wouldnt that be handy....

[LOLYF]

few years back our police looked at getting this sort of system but the public kicked up such a fuss about invasion of privacy did we ever end up with any?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... ZvXtJxBNWg

Yes, they were using it on one of those police shows on tv last night.
They park a van with this technology on the side of the motorway and find all sorts of wanted cars and people.

As far as i can tell they aren't using it to catch people with expired WOF's more gang members and vehicles seen leaving the scene of a crime...who knows they may even catch a car thief or two

[meatc]

few years back our police looked at getting this sort of system but the public kicked up such a fuss about invasion of privacy did we ever end up with any?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... ZvXtJxBNWg

Yes, they were using it on one of those police shows on tv last night.
They park a van with this technology on the side of the motorway and find all sorts of wanted cars and people.

As far as i can tell they aren't using it to catch people with expired WOF's more gang members and vehicles seen leaving the scene of a crime...who knows they may even catch a car thief or two

They work great for the average dude thats been looked for and always drives the same car, or a car that been used regularly for crime. Problem is most car theives dont leave the plates on a stolen car, they swap them for something else. The computer cant tell what sort of car it is justs reads the plate, no alert no hit.

[RIA_Norman]

Hey everyone..

I'm doing a fundraiser and looking for a new hi-lux (if you hear of any for sale that are around the $6k mark in a month or so after i get the money together)

If you would like to come along please do in celebration of awesome trucks.

http://www.facebook.com/events/29419236 ... mall_reply

[elvis]

Hey mate I'm a chilli and capsicum grower in chch gutted to hear about your truck I see you are doing chilli tachos as a fundraiser if you need any fresh chillis let me no i have mild to blow your head of stupidly hot.can drop of in town if it helps cheers Troy