Thieves stealing Hybrid Batteries in SF !!?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by 3prongpaul, Jan 28, 2015.

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  1. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    That would be satisfying but I'm sure the thief's family would then sue Toyota for millions of dollars....and probably win.
     
    #21 3prongpaul, Jan 28, 2015
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  2. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Title names the culprits - I guess it was the Steelers (or is it stealers?) Superbowl week yunno.

    Bet these are headed for a Gen2 with a dead batt...lesson to Toyoya...make the nextgen batts incompatible with prior Gen
    But believe I am safe...nobody wants my Gen 2 batt
     
    #22 wjtracy, Jan 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2015
  3. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Sorry. Hard to count post #11. It is from person that only ever had one post on here. He never came back to elaborate. So as far as I am concerned that would be unsubstantiated.

    As for the Sacramento one. No pictures or actual video footage ever showed up online.

    Carolyn's is the first one I have seen with actual footage of a car with a stolen pack.
     
    #23 ericbecky, Jan 28, 2015
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  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    It appears to be de-contented now. It did have content when I posted it last May.

    I'll have to track down the several other threads I mentioned last May:
     
    #24 fuzzy1, Jan 28, 2015
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    The Sacramento news story has video, but the video doesn't show the gaping hole in the back of the car.
     
    #25 HTMLSpinnr, Jan 28, 2015
  6. Yakoma

    Yakoma Active Member

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    Was reading through the YouTube comments from the video. Carolyn mentioned using a GPS locator attached to the battery to thwart theft. I wonder if there is a way to stealthily attach a Tile (TM) to the battery. That might supply a measure of relocatability not unlike LoJack.
     
    #26 Yakoma, Jan 28, 2015
  7. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    You could get some kind of GPS device (motorcycle locator that sends you a text when battery moves) and use the hybrid battery itself to power the device. Pull power from 1/2 the pack using a small 120V to 12V power supply so it wouldn't affect performance of the car, and would still work with the orange plug removed...I'd add a relay so the GPS wouldn't work if the car was READY, this way it would not interfere with the car but when car off you'd have battery tracking enabled. Man it would be fun to catch the buggers.
     
    #27 3prongpaul, Jan 28, 2015
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  8. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    I'm not going to get too worked up over it. When an entire Prius is stolen, is that more or less news worthy?
     
    #28 FL_Prius_Driver, Jan 28, 2015
  9. JonWaters

    JonWaters Junior Member

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    I really like the idea of replacing the factory bolts with locking bolts on the battery. Simple, cheap and effective. When can I get some on the Prius Chat store?
     
    #29 JonWaters, Jan 29, 2015
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  10. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    LOL!

    BTW, security nut is a good idea.
     
    #30 Former Member 68813, Jan 29, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2015
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  11. co_prius_3

    co_prius_3 Member

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    Shocking. Looks like a case of assault and battery. Revolting.
     
    #31 co_prius_3, Jan 30, 2015
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  12. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Calm down, you're getting too amped up about this.
     
    #32 fotomoto, Jan 30, 2015
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  13. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    How about to assign an unique MACID to the battery ECU, and register it to the ROM of the main power control ECU which only Toyota can update. If the battery ECU MACID does not match with power control ECU's registration, nothing happens.

    I doubt it will happen though, the problem is not big enough yet.
     
    #33 Jonny Zero, Jan 30, 2015
  14. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    ^^ And block do-it-yourself and independent battery repairs and replacements?

    This cure would be worse than the disease.
     
    #34 fuzzy1, Jan 30, 2015
  15. co_prius_3

    co_prius_3 Member

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    How much of this would typically be covered by comprehensive insurance?

    Edit: I just checked my policy (Progressive).

    My comprehensive coverage includes:

    malicious mischief and vandalism.
    theft or larceny.
    breakage of glass not caused by collision

    How much of that would cover damage due to theft of battery, only the insurance company can answer.
     
    #35 co_prius_3, Jan 31, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2015
  16. A617

    A617 Member

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    Wear a pair of electrical glove, and a rubber insulated wire cutter, no problem
     
    #36 A617, Jan 31, 2015
  17. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    For return on time/investment...sure beats tires and stereos.
     
    #37 frodoz737, Jan 31, 2015
  18. co_prius_3

    co_prius_3 Member

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    I'm currently hoping the perpetrator is caught shortly and gets charged with wire fraud.
     
    #38 co_prius_3, Jan 31, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2015
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  19. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

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    Tried getting into my car back in September using the b pillar as a pry point. Window cracked but tint held it together. Unfortunately another resident wasn't lucky and they boosted the battery.
     

    Attached Files:

    #39 sdtundra, Jan 31, 2015
  20. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

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    What was strange was both times rear side windows were used for access
     
    #40 sdtundra, Jan 31, 2015
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