Below is a warning we have just received from one of our specialized 4×4 insurance underwriters. If you own a Toyota Hilux or Fortuner, we suggest you take careful and serious note of this.
“We have experienced a significant increase in the number of stolen and hijacked Toyota Fortuner and Hilux vehicles. We have established that criminals have developed a simple means of disarming the vehicle as they know where the siren is installed and are able to disconnect the siren without setting off the alarm.
Our recommendation is a visit to the nearest Toyota dealer to discuss perhaps having the alarm moved, which will significantly reduce the risk.”
“What must I do?”
Besides the advice above, here is what we suggest you do to ensure your 4×4 insurance remains valid, and your claims get paid without any hassles:
- First and foremost: Make sure you know what the security requirement is on your policy. Is a factory fitted immobiliser acceptable, or should you have a tracking system installed?
- If your vehicle is supposed to have a tracking system installed, ensure that you comply with the requirement immediately.
- Remember, not all vehicle tracking systems are created equal. Your insurer may have a list of approved tracking systems. Make sure you have the correct system installed.
- Test your tracking system regularly. Many of the newer systems have a self-test facility, but I wouldn’t rely on that alone. Make sure that the tracking system is communicating with the call centre by calling your service provider and asking them to ensure that they can find your vehicle’s signal.
If you need a tracking system, speak to us first. We can arrange the fitment of all leading tracking systems for you.
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MY Hilux was stolen and recoverd in November 2009 and again attempted theft at North Gate Builders Warehouse in June 2010, these idots know exactly where the alarm system is besides i have a tracker too. Guys and Babes please watch your car. The guys that tampered with my car i saw them busy they Drove off in a Vw Polo DSG007GP Red in colour, i had not much joy with the Police. Beware of the car guards i believe that they have a hand in these theft or attempted thefts- I parked my Hilux with many guards around when the guys were in my car there was no guard to be seen. Do not trust the security personnel at any parking complex. i am frustrated at the car guards and the police. Builders warehouse in Northriding Gauteng has no cameras so i think that we need to shop where there is some security.
Add other gadgets to your Fortuner and Hilux to buy yourself more time – i am working on something of anti theft device. Lets talk of our bad experiences, damages since the first theft and recover to the second is now R 220000. This is unacceptable.
Lets be vigilant, guys watch out for your wives and women girlfriends do not allow them to drive your Hilux or Fortuner- there is a big risk of theft and hijack be careful of your kids too. Be vigilant. i can identify the both guys the cops have not responded to me till now with any identikit
Sorry i forgot to mention that they detach the ignition wire and connect a plastic ignition which has the same wire combination it is like a duplicate ignition. my Hilux did not start for them to take away because the coding is the challenge they have. the theft first time they seemed to have towed the Van, i recovered it in Kathlehong.
Toyota SA needs to modify or have a key less entry on these vehicles, the door locks are cheap, that seems to be opened with a flat screwdriver, i cannot take it any more. i have been inconvenienced two times. they are not poor they are a big syndicate and nothing else. the cops need to get their a** in gear to deal with this.
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Not only are these sought after vehicles, they share a few components with the Hi-Ace taxis that constantly need parts. Ford, Isuzu or Mitsubishi for me.
Just had my new (2months old) Fortuner 3.0 diesel auto stolen out of our company basement with CCTV and security gaurds..
We could see the thieves exit on camera. I had a Matrix tracking device installed and alerted them immediatley when I found out the car was gone. No luck – no signal. I also moved the alarm which is the hooter to a place it cannot be tampered with.
The cops say there is a big demand for these vechiles. Be carefull!!!
That’s bad luck Tertius. I hope your insurance settles the claim quickly so you can replace the Fortuner. If you need any advice feel free to email me: info@4×4-insurance.co.za.
Another Fortuner problem is the theft of the spare wheel – they bend up the tail gate then lower the wheel and it is gone. Rim replacement R4,500, plus tyre and plus another R15,000 of pannel beating, re-spray and replacement of tailgate and bumper. You have to pay your excess then the insurance co bumps up the premium.
Main problem is a no effective way to lock the spare in situ – my Colt has a huge pad-lock type arrangement and it is very secure. I suppose that the Colt’s mags costing R4000 for the set also has something to do with it?
guys this is not on i had a call from my insurance alerting me to this fact and that i have to install a upgrade what what in 30 days!for me tommorow morning iam going to sell the blettie fortuner
Pat, before you sell, why not check out other insurance options? Not all insurers insist on top of the range tracking systems. Click on the Get Covered page of this site to complete your details and compare quotes
http://www.4×4-insurance.co.za/get-covered/
It seems that Toyota have come up with a solution which prevents the computer box from beeing tampered with, the cost is R400.00 and you get a clearance certificate for insurance purposes.( all this according to Outsurance who have given me 30days to comply or no cover) The sting in the tail is that Toyota have no stock of the bracket and will only have in 21 days, its getting interesting!!!!!
The Toyota bracket kit costs R95 and can be self-fitted. One bracket goes over the hooter and the other over the ECU behind the glovebox.
I am from EyesOn Vehicle Tracking.We have a device that will keep your Toyota safe. It will never be stolen in the conventional way. We put our money where our mouth is. R15000 will be paid if your vehicle is stolen with our system and is not recovered. We have a 100% recovery rate on our clients assets. Call us on 0861 393 766 for more info. We call our product Firewall.
Anton Koen
Had a brand new company fortuner stolen last week with all these security features fitted. It seems the criminals are one step ahead still.
Oh boy, not good news Pierre.
we had a fortuner stolen from our office basement yesterday and another was attempted to be stolen today
@Kpax It seems the thieves haven’t stopped trying – despite all the extra security people are installing.
I honestly believe that a Tracking System which has an Early Warning / Early Alert feature is now a necessity on all Fortuners and Hiluxes.
If you need honest, independent advice on a vehicle tracking system go to http://www.Tracking-Systems.co.za
My Fortuner was stolen last week. The Insurance approved Toyota security kit was installed and didn’t stop them from taking the car. Less than 10 minutes and the car was gone. Luckily not high jacked. Be careful!!!!
This is absolute bull@#@@. What is Toyota doing to help us in this matter? Surely their clever engineers can come up with another plan to deactivate the solenoid on the starter or the electric fuel pump by some hidden devise or solenoid.
Come on Toyota!!!
My 2009 4×4 Fortuner was stolen in April 2011 outside a residential house in Helderkruin. NETSTAR “Early Warning” system was BYPASSED without Altec receiving a single indication of tampering. The thieves know the tracking systems and I wouldnt trust any one of the companies! However, we are forced to have a tracking device fitted, pay the monthly service charge and them have them shrug their shoulders when the car is not recovered. In Louis words, bull$#i%! The only recourse is to have a phone application where u enter a code and it asks “Are you sure you want to detonate the 5kg of C4″ and you type in “Yes”.
My 2009 Hilux was fitted with the prescibed brackets. On Sunday aftrenoon, 29/5/2011, my vehicle was stolen while visiting friends in Johannesburg. The wire to the siren was sheared off, with the bracket in place. Netstar retrieved my vehicle within 40 minutes of me reporting it stolen. Thank you Netstar for a great service. Now for the repairs and the rest of all the shelp.
Glad to hear your Hilux was recovered Anthony! We do a lot of business with Netstar, and the service is usually very good.
Good luck with the repairs etc… not fun, but at least you still have your Hilux.
My 2007 Hilux D-4d D/Cab was stolen on Sat afternoon 04/06/2011 from in front of friend’s house. It was fitted with the new bracket and Matrix MX3. Matrix took 5 minutes to alert us that the vehicle was moving. The alarm had not sounded. My wife rushed outside to look and found the vehicle gone and local security company people on the scene …. Tracking device was found 15 minutes later ( without vehicle attached ). Netstar lost a previous vehicle. Tracking systems are a false sense of security. Finding out after the fact that Hilux/Fortuner are being targeted is too late. Toyota should have sent out notification. I absolutely loved the Hilux but have to change to another brand now.
Paul, Sorry to hear that. It seems to me that the insurers are the only ones notifying clients of the risk – and obviously, they would – they also don’t want to lose all those Fortuners & Hiluxes, it’s costing them a fortune in claims payouts!
It just seems to me that the thieves are always one step ahead. Very frustrating actually.
Drove my hubbie’s Fortuner to Heathway today with Matrix 3 tracking system and the Toyota mod. Hubbie in Cape Town but Matrix called to ask if vehicle is okay. I went to check and it was gone. Called Matrix immediately (2 minutes after the call from Hubbie as I had to walk through the shops to the car) and nothing had been done. They received a panic and a tamper and a couple of other alerts, 4 in all. Surely when they saw this they should have cut the fuel immediately? Why fart around phoning you and wasting time. I had also Geolocked this car!
Just posted comment above. These tracking systems seem stupid to me in hindsight now. Imagine I had gone downstairs to a basement that was quiet to check on the car to find the criminals either busy cutting wires, etc. or about to drive out with it. I may not be here to tell the story as these guys are armed and they will fire. Last week cops chased a car to Northcliff Primary and there was a shoot out in the school so they don’t care where they are. Matrix received 4 alerts, one a panic as they pressed the panic button, the other a Geolock violation and 2 other tamper alerts. Surely, when you see all this coming through you simply just cut the petrol supply. You would not accidently forget the Geolock code, press the panic button and then open your bonnet and tamper with the battery so it was pretty obvious to them something was wrong. They should not phone you first to check, it puts your safety at risk. @ Richard I like your idea of a 5kg C4
http://www.stopshop.co.za/378-buy-portable-gps-mobile-phone-jammer-10-meter-range-sscvdlm-gj168-.html
Look at this and you will see that tracking devices is useless.
@Kobus, I’m afraid that I cannot agree with you there. Tracking systems have proved to be very useful in stolen vehicle recovery. That is why insurers insist on them being installed in high risk vehicles.
Blocking the GPS and GSM signal will not disable all systems. In fact, some systems can even detect a GSM jammer and immediately notify the control centre.
Hi , I am in Pietermaritzburg and had my 2007 Toyota D/C 4X4 taken from inside my house. Alarm, immobilser, tracker and an electris gate. Tracker was removed 30 minutes later and found on the side of the road.
What must we now do and if I replace it , what tracker type system is the best and is there a possibility to install a switch toi the fuel pump to manually switch on and off.
Also, Where are these Toyotas going and why can they not be stopped at borders?
Thanks
Apparently there have been 26 Hiluxes and fortuners stolen in the last 3 weeks in and around Pietermaritzburg!!!
@Ross: I wish we knew where they were going! I suspect they are making their way across borders with false papers?
It would be difficult for us to say which tracking system is “best”. You can always fill in your details here and get independent advice before you decide on your next tracking system.
My husbands Toyota Hi lux was stolen at TShwane Events Centre on 22/07/2011, etc. It’s really a huge loss. I feel so sorry for him. You know, a man and his bakkie…!
Havent heard anything yet. Wish for any info on this matter. I started browsing on the internet. I was so shocked to learn how serious this problem is. Wish it could be found somewhere in some or other way.
Hi all
My 2009 Fortuner 4×4 was stolen within minutes outside my residence in Kensington a few weeks back in broad daylight! No one heard anything or saw anything. The tracking company alerted me to a battery tamper signal, but by that time, the vehicle was long gone already. It had all the brackets and fancies on yet it could be taken in minutes! How is this possible and what is Toyota SA doing about it? I had the C-Track Secure Plus top of the range system yet it was useless in recovering the vehicle or even pre-warning me. Do I get my premiums back for a system that doesnt actually do much except tell you when your vehicles’ gone?