Posted on 12/24/2018 9:33:40 AM PST by ETL
A keen-eyed vendor spotted the classic truck south of the border
A classic Chevrolet pickup truck stolen from a California parking lot has been found in Mexico, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
The truck’s owner, car collector Bob Brown, reported it stolen just before Christmas 2015. He said he had left the 1957 pickup unlocked when he went into a grocery store in Arroyo Grande, north of Los Angeles, for about 10 minutes. When he came out, the uninsured truck was gone.
“When I lost it, I just checked off [$20,000],” Brown said. “I put it on my income tax.”
The theft made the local news, as there were only two such trucks in the area at the time.
The person who allegedly stole the Chevy was found in San Diego after he posted a photo of the vehicle to Facebook, claiming it was a Christmas present. He denied taking it and was arrested on unrelated drug charges.
The truck was added to the NICB’s database of stolen vehicles, but Brown thought he would never see it again. About six months ago, a vendor working in the Tijuana area spotted it in a Mexican salvage yard.
“I am just so grateful to that crew down there for finding my truck, and they were just so nice,” Brown said.
Brown paid all the fees to have the vehicle returned to him, he added. NCIB Special Agent Roger Hogan said the truck was not in bad shape.
Brown said he plans to spend about $20,000 to restore the old Chevy and change its paint color from red to white.
He also plans to let his tax man know it’s back and, he added, he will buy insurance this time around.
Aww, they were so nice. Probably drove it around a couple years and sent him the bill for two years of "storage". Wonder who's car they're now driving around.
Such a cynic. And on Christmas, too!
“He said he had left the 1957 pickup unlocked when he went into a grocery store in Arroyo Grande, north of Los Angeles”
Genius.
Yes, the demonrats caused it.
My Father used one of those as the work Truck for his Gas Station. If we knew then what we know now.
They should have built those, beautiful.
Needs a wraparound rear window o finish off the look though.
"1957 chevrolet Chevy Cabover coe tow truck"
I worry about my 57 Bel Air getting stolen. This adds to my anxiety.
Chevy “ Apache”, one of the best tanks I ever owned.
No kidding - uninsured and unlocked. SMH
Not really, the thief obviously knew what he wanted. A slim jim would have unlocked the door in seconds or a brick thru the drivers side window would have worked just as well......If someone is going to steal your classic auto you want them to do as little damage to it as possible during the process and hope you eventually recover it.
Locks only keep honest people out.......
Leaving it unlocked and uninsured isn’t very wise.
I doubt the locks on that era stuff would stop a determined amateur or a pro enough to matter.
I had something that nice, at a minimum Lojack. It would beat nothing and if located fast enough, maybe a chance of return.
Car thieves should summarily executed.
Petty thieves, first offense a public horse whipping. Bring back stocks and pillories too.
A friend got his 68 Camaro back 3 years ago when it was discovered just prier to being shipped to the middle east, it was stolen in 82.
If he has all the skills required to do a restoration himself (body & paint, mechanical, elec, etc.) 20K might be enough for parts. Take it to a shop and the paint job alone will run 5-10K on the low side.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.