How to prevent my 4Runner TRD Sport 2023 from stealing?!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum. Just wanted to get advise... Our Highlander 2022 XLE was stolen from our driveway 9 months after purchase... As for a new Highlander we have to wait about 1 year, we bought used 4Runner TRD Sport 2023...
Now, we are scared that it also can be stolen... I read a lot of articles and not sure what is the best protection... One article tells that something is useful, another that the same thing is useless .
So far, we cleaned up our garage (that was used as a gym) and planing to park new 4Runner there...I also ordered Faraday pouches on Amazon for keys (also may put it into microwave),

$30 (Update) CPVAN Indoor Motion Sensor Alarm with Siren, Remote Control Wireless Infrared DIY PIR Motion Detector Burglar Alarm System, 125dB Adjustable, Battery Operated, for Home/Shed/Garage/Van etc.

CPVAN Motion Sensor Alarm and

$30 KAYCENTOP Car Steering Wheel Lock, Seat Belt Lock, Anti-Theft Device, Max 17" Length, Small and Light-Weight, Multi-Functional, Fit Most Vehicle, SUV, Golf Cart Security (Yellow)

KAYCENTOP Steering Wheel Lock.
I've read about "kill switch" can prevent theft, but also read that it can cause damage to car' electronic and car warranty will void...
Any suggestions?

 

Welcome Onboard. How was the 2022 Highlander XLE stolen. Its more more high tech than the 4Runner, I believe.

A very strong double claws steering wheel lock is the first deterrent to consider

I like TRD Sports

 

Thank you!
Highlander just parked on my driveway, I went for throw garbage at 1am and it was there, I went for smore 2:15 am and it was stolen! As per my neighbour camera , it was stolen 2.03am. They arrive 1.53am , their car was waiting on the road. 2.03am both cars left.
I called police right away, called them again 10 min late as Apple app showed exact address where my car is, but police didn't bother to do anything and just called me 7 hours later and gave offence # over the phone!

 

We needed car right away ( our 2nd one Sienna 2006 is practically dead and I'm on waiting list for RAV4 and it can take 6 months or more), so we had 2 choices for used 4Runner TRD sport 2023 8,000km or another 2022 Highlander 18,000 km... After test drive we decided to buy 4Runner (even though it was 10K more). Same time we signed for 2023 Highlander XLE, paid deposit $1K and maybe in 1 year or more it should arrive. If we like 4Runner (and the most important - if it won't be stolen) we will leave it with us and cancel 2023 Highlander purchase OR (depends on trade in offer) will switch it to Highlander

 

The 4Runner is a a solid vehicle. A lot depends on your needs. I don't drive it daily. So it suits me. Will keep its value longer. Less repairs. Keep the TRD Sports . Appealing to both young and old.

Its seems your vehicle was targeted. They have the right tools for the job and got away within minutes (without towing).

I would switch to another dealership for future purchases.

 

You can turn off the continuous transmit function of the factory fob to disable the proximity locking of the doors as an extra precaution. This will make the remote only function when you press and actual button.
To enable press the lock button and at the same time press unlock twice. The led will flash several times as confirmation. Proximity based unlocking will cease when activated. To cancel just unlock via remote. Just happened to find this in the owners manual when bored one day.
Getting it in the garage will be a huge deterrent also.

 

This was the only dealership where we were able to buy new Highlander without waiting for months... We contacted maybe 10 of them....
Do you think that dealership can sell your info to thieves?! Maybe.... I recall that same day I've seen suspicious Middle Eastern guy with hoodie who was walking on our (no exit) street and looking from side to side... I though right away that he checking out houses...

 

Yeap, I've read about it! Will do! The problem that I;ve read that now thieves mostly use canbus to access the vehicle...
Another problem when we'll need to leave car on GO parking ...

 

https://www.toyotanation.com/thread...i-theft-system-tools-to-be-installed.1728364/

 

Putting it in a garage is the best prevention, but "just get a garage" isn't always possible.

A kill switch on the fuel pump will prevent a can bus attack because the vehicle is physically prevented from starting.

If you have one of those new fangled keyless entry push button start, putting the key in an RFID blocking pouches is a good idea. Even if the key is inside your house you should keep it in the bag because you don't know what improvements in key spoofing occur until someone uses it against you.

4runners still have a physical key, but that'll end soon I'm sure. There are gadgets like the flipper zero that can unlock older remote entry systems that don't use a rolling code, IDK if any 4runners are vulnerable to that. All I know is that my 4runner never had a remote unlock, so it's safe from all of these advances in theft.

If you get a 2wd 4runner the thieves might return it.

 

If you have an iPhone, buy and attach an Apple Air Tag inside the engine compartment or underneath. Easiest and most affordable tracking device you can find.

 

The Sprint Booster has a setting that disables the gas pedal. Floor it and the 4R will just idle. Punch in your 3 digit code to enable/disable. Cost is about $300. The main feature is you can adjust the throttle response.

 

A couple big mean dogs. Where do you live?

 

One or 2 kill switches, you can do it … lots of good YouTube vids. As mentioned above, a pedal throttle controller with Bluetooth disabling the gas pedal. Just sucks when you forget and out it into gear, just rolls down driveway, lol. I have 2 motion detectors in the car, and one on the car since it’s parked in the driveway. Any motion inside vehicle then get messages on my phone/watch, outside lights come on, Alexa makes an announcement. Security camera always on, as well as identifies license plates.

I’m working on trying to do an geofence deactivation for a high pitch device in the car. Essentially if I have my phone on me and open the car it won’t go off. This stuff is new to me. Also working on having red / blue lights flash if my phone isn’t in the car if it’s in motion or disconnected from my home wifi and moving, as it’s illegal here due to mimicking police. I guess I can put a time delay on it so the driver won’t know it’s flashing.

 

Also for the love of god don't use an airtags, it's such a misunderstood product. They aren't meant to be used in that fashion, their product page literally says it's designed to prevent unwanted tracking. If you put it in the car the air tag will send alerts to the thieves phones notifying of their presence, and airtags will play tones to give away their location. People have used them in this way, but they aren't the best choice.

If you've ever been in the car with someone who has one, you'll know that you'll get a notification when it detects it's following you. If you want a tracker use something like a Tile, I don't think they have the same safety features.

 

I thought AirTags notify based on returning to the closest iPhone’s home and not during the journey? So if someone plants one on my vehicle, as I get closer to what I’ve noted as my home address in my phone I get a notification of potentially being tracked.

 

Meadowvale , Mississauga .... I just have a couple of big, mean Sibirean cats

 

We had iPhone app that shows location of last parking spot... But it didn't help, as police didn't care and I was kinda scared to drive alone there

 

Move out of Los Angeles/Chicago.

 

Yeah, if your Iphone detects that an air tag separated from it's owner is following you it will notify you and allow you to play a chime . After 3 days any separated air tag will play a chime any time it's moved. A lot is dependent on external factors like does the thief have an Iphone (Andriods wont update the location), and are there Iphones with bluetooth enabled to update location. And it's possible Apple could change these anti-tracking methods in the future.

There is a mod to remove the speaker, so it wont play a sound after 3 days or chime when they ask it to. But that doesn't stop them from getting a notification on their phone telling them they have an airtag following them. So the best you can hope for is they use an Iphone with bluetooth enabled, and don't tear up your 4runner as they look for it.

It's better than nothing, but it's easily defeated. A dedicated tracker will be better at tracking and it wont alert the thieves.

 

I would have followed from a safe distance and notified the Cops there was a suspected armed robbery in progress.

- not too far from the truth, those guys would definitely be armed as well.

 

Can't you just put the transfer case in neutral? Wouldn't that prevent transmission from engaging? If so, a good percentage of thieves might be deterred. I know this worked in my Jeep. Haven't tried it in the 4Runner yet. Anyone know if this would work?

 

The first thing cop told me while on the phone .... "DO NOT GO THERE BY YOUSELF"! At the end they will charge me LOL

 

Detectives are smart, sometimes they let the small time thieves get way, so they can track the stolen vehicles - to catch the masterminds.

Vice Squads are on it.

 

I've tested this exact thing with the placement of my Air Tag and not only can you not find it, but you also can't hear the chime since it's so muffled. Sure a thief could go looking for it, but if they're alerted that the vehicle is tagged, it's easier and less risk to simply ditch it versus continue traveling in it. Thieves are typically about ease and discretion.

 

Sometimes it's better if nobody finds it....I've heard some people are getting cars back damaged and they many months cannot be repaired because..... there are no parts!

 

Hear me out: manual swap it. The 2005-2015 Tacoma that used the same engine had a manual transmission. It already has a transmission made just for it, and that would be sick and likely perplex any thieves

 

This. If mine gets stolen I don't want it back. I have insurance.

 

Ah yes, after 3 days but not the first 24 hrs. I’d notice mine gone in the first 8 hrs if not less than 30 mins.

 

I’d like to get mine back before there is any major damage. Problem with insurance route for a new vehicle is being without a new vehicle for months. Local to where I am, most vehicles are driven to a port 6 yrs away and shipped overseas.