Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

[lmartun]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

Well, Leon got the photos back of his damaged car. The repair cost will be very high because all of the parts are brand new. Leon says that everyone should be sure to keep up the insurance on these cars because of the cost of parts.
(See attached photos.)
He says he will be re-keying the auto because the original key was never found.
According to the state trooper he spoke with in Iowa, the build numbers were so low on the T-Birds that it is too risky for thieves to chop the cars for parts (as they might be able to do for a Toyota or Honda).
The biggest lesson learned is: If you lose your keys or misplace them, lock up the car in a garage until you find the keys or until you take the car to a dealer to have it re-keyed.
It has been a learning experience for all, and Leon hopes that what everyone has shared will prevent this from happening to another member.

Good advice! The photos are brutal, I would be devastated.
Lm

[Sweet T]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

Do we know what they hit?

[00mustng]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

....Just wondering how it was stolen? Were the keys in it?......

[Hannah3]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

With early warning you get a sensor that you put on your key chain.

I highly recommned Lo-Jack WITH early warning to all TBird owners.


lm

Very cool. About how much does this cost?

[FritsB]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

From the images it looks like the car has quite some damage afterall. Hope they can get it all fixed to knew. I would be so upset if that happened to me.

[Skozzy]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

From the images it looks like the car has quite some damage afterall. Hope they can get it all fixed to knew. I would be so upset if that happened to me.

Frits I would plant my boot square in someone's arse if the did this to mine! Well maybe shoot them too!

[Bill Brown]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

Skozzy; I like your approach. You have my vote for the Secretary of T-Bird Defense. Only one question,Have you paid all your taxes before I put your nomination before congress?

[Skozzy]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

Skozzy; I like your approach. You have my vote for the Secretary of T-Bird Defense. Only one question,Have you paid all your taxes before I put your nomination before congress?

Paid in full sir! NO turbo tax for me!

[1of200]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

I know Leon.
I just heard about all of this yesterday from a mutual friend.
The friend said Leon reported that "Zooomy is fixable".
That's better than "gone".

[Skozzy]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

I know Leon.
I just heard about all of this yesterday from a mutual friend.
The friend said Leon reported that "Zooomy is fixable".
That's better than "gone".

New member from my town!(kind of) Welcome!

[1of200]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

New member from my town!(kind of) Welcome!

Just next door to that lawless Tbird stealing town of Windsor Heights.

(kidding u know...I'm scared to go 26mph there)

[Skozzy]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

Just next door to that lawless Tbird stealing town of Windsor Heights.

(kidding u know...I'm scared to go 26mph there)

Don't blame you at all! When I first moved to Windsor Heights I got a ticket for 27 in a 25 and I knew the cop!

[VABird05]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

Tragic photos!!!

[PBocciardi]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

Well, it turns out that the repair cost for Zooomy is $6,800. Apparently a 2002 Thunderbird with 50,000 miles on it has a salvage value of $18,000, so the insurance company didn’t total it. The shop says the car should be back to normal in 7-10 days.
How Zoomy was found, and the aftermath, turns out to be a very interesting story. A young woman from Des Moines named Lindsay had her car parked on the street on Saturday and heard a huge noise, then discovered that her car had been hit. She didn’t see the culprit, though, so on Sunday she cruised the neighborhood and found Zooomy parked (and damaged) about 12 blocks away from her area. She put two and two together and called the police, then, and Leon thinks she may have saved his car from being taken again.
Unfortunately, Lindsay had only liability coverage on her ’91 Chevy Lumina, and Leon’s insurance does not cover any damage to another person’s vehicle caused by a thief who didn’t have permission to drive Leon’s car. So, guess what? Leon – whom I don’t know well but who I have come to believe over the years is possibly the most generous person on the planet – is going to find a replacement vehicle for her because he is so grateful to her for finding his ‘Bird. “It is not fair that she should have to lose a vehicle because of someone’s stupidity,” Leon says. That’s the kind of guy he is.
We get a lot of bad news in this country every day, but a story about a person like Leon should do our hearts good.
The only reason I am posting for Leon is that, although he was an early TBN member, he says he can’t quite remember his logon and password and figure out how to get back online with this site. I sent him some instructions yesterday and hope he can figure it out and be reacquainted with all the good people here.

[Chriscrete]

Re: Stolen Thunderbird -- Des Moines, Iowa

That goes to show you that Thunderbird people are good people. Thank you Leon for showing your generosity as a T-Bird owner.
Dennis & Judy