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So... I flew up to Salt Lake early yesterday morning for a meeting and returned this morning. Terminal A, down by the low gates, on top, level 5, and see my tailgate down and the bed cover flipped back two sections. Then I notice a brights orange sticker on my D/S window.

Come to find out, in about 24 hours, my trucks had been entered and ransacked. My backpack with certain items that you might want to have at various times was gone, a Eureka military shelter gone and the glove box, console and swing out box in the bed all gone through. Looks to have been a fast "smash and grab" without the smash. They also took a really old GPS that was on the floor behind the seats. No real loss there. I had tools in the backpack along with boots, clothing and a decent FAIK + med kit. The only thing I count as a loss was a pretty good sized sheath knife which was the first present that my son gave me that he bought with his own money.

I've posted a picture of the car vault that I had in the truck. Pretty mangled. Glad to say, I stopped carrying to the airport and leaving a piece in the truck for that reason... afraid of a break in.

I'm pretty religious about locking the doors and closing the back slider,so I'm not sure how they got in without breaking anything. I've been parking there 18 years and never had something like this. Not sure if its bad luck or an indication that crime is spreading everywhere.

Ouch, sorry to hear this, especially about your son's gift to you.

Just for grins, what make/brand is that vault. Was it pried open with something, can you tell?

Jeff B.,

I'm so sorry.

Hope your insurance will cover some of it.

You know, I don't recall, although I bought it at Cabela's in Fort Worth and it wasn't more than $50.00, probably more like $30.00. I'll get another one, but I'm going to step up to a heavier, more durable product. My intent with this one was simply to have someplace to secure my pistol if I needed to leave it in the truck for a short time. I knew it wouldn't do more than slow someone down. I think the person may have started prying with a screwdriver of something and then muscled it to the point they saw it was empty the latch stayed intact, however.

What did the airport parking folks have to say, if anything? "Oh well, sorry bout that?"

My truck was broken into last year in my driveway without leaving a single scratch on it.

I'm really sorry about the knife. I know it's a long shot but hope you get it back.

Jeff B. wrote:You know, I don't recall, although I bought it at Cabela's in Fort Worth and it wasn't more than $50.00, probably more like $30.00. I'll get another one, but I'm going to step up to a heavier, more durable product. My intent with this one was simply to have someplace to secure my pistol if I needed to leave it in the truck for a short time. I knew it wouldn't do more than slow someone down. I think the person may have started prying with a screwdriver of something and then muscled it to the point they saw it was empty the latch stayed intact, however.

I've got a feeling most of these little vaults are probably made by the same company. all of them look almost exactly the same other than branding and cost right around the same too.
I got one from academy i used for a bit before it just became too much pain to pull out from under the seat all the time and it would just slow someone down.

I believe there are some really sturdy looking ones available online, plus the console vault systems.

Jeff B. wrote:You know, I don't recall, although I bought it at Cabela's in Fort Worth and it wasn't more than $50.00, probably more like $30.00. I'll get another one, but I'm going to step up to a heavier, more durable product. My intent with this one was simply to have someplace to secure my pistol if I needed to leave it in the truck for a short time. I knew it wouldn't do more than slow someone down. I think the person may have started prying with a screwdriver of something and then muscled it to the point they saw it was empty the latch stayed intact, however.

Thanks for the info. You don't happen to know what gauge the steel (or is it tinfoil? ) is?

Jeff B. wrote:I'm pretty religious about locking the doors and closing the back slider,so I'm not sure how they got in without breaking anything.

Take a close look at your door locks. When they stole my stereo a few years ago, they just stuck a screwdriver in the lock cylinder and twisted it with a wrench or pliers. I had to go to the dealer to buy a new lock cylinder and have it fit to my existing key.

Apparently, some (most?) car alarms will not go off if you open the driver's door with a key. That was according to the cop that came out to take the report.

Thought there were security cameras in those garages?

Why not carry to Utah?

Sorry for your break in. Thieves suck!
100% agree about not leaving a gun in airport parking.

I have had my vehicles broken into at home and away. Not fun. I used to fly out of DFW regularly. I always made an attempt to park on the upper level near a cross walk facing the roadway. My thought was a BG may not choose my vehicle due to exposure to road and/or pedestrians. Seems if they took the time to rifle through the compartments you mentioned, located and pried open your lock box, they were on station for longer than a moment. A friend who works for AA had his vehicle broken into while parked in one of the employee lots (early 2000's). LEO making report back then advised that it was not unusual for smash and grabs to happen anywhere on property.

Sorry, that this happened to you. I looked at that lock box and metal appeared a bit weak. I went with another MFG, the metal was a bit thicker. I not going too say that someone could not get into, but it's a bit thicker.

Daddio-on-patio wrote:I always made an attempt to park on the upper level near a cross walk facing the roadway.

Careful with uncovered (top deck) parking during hail season.
WifeGBiv had her car nearly totaled when she parked on the top deck at DFW.
Hood and roof both had to be replaced. Both sides repaired. Amazingly, no glass breakage. Over $12,000 repair.
She said hers was the only car on the top deck with in-tact glass.

I was going to buy a auto "gun safe" but hesitant due to how flimsy they look. Now I'm even more hesitant to buy one.