What do people ya'll use to deter people from successfully opening your cab doors? My driver's side door has been forced open three times in the last month by what looks like a flat head screwdriver. I never leave anything in my truck for people to steal but there's visible damage to the outside of my lock and I don't want the next thief to break it permanently or get in as easy.

I know Toyota really screwed up in making only like 7 keys for these truck models but is there an aftermarket lock cylinder that I can swap them out for that's tougher? Anyone got any recs? I'm really new to modifying my truck so any info helps. Also would installing power locks make the cylinders harder to turn or are those mostly a convenience thing (instead of added security)?

 

Like you said don`t keep anything expensive in the truck and leave it unlocked.

power locks have the same mechanical linkage as manual locks just the added electrical switch

in my case cost of replacing the window was more expensive then the radio that was stolen that did not work since then my doors never get locked.

Other then putting a hasp and pad lock on the doors not much you can do.

If you have a large enough budget you could look to the high end security locks that are all signal controlled most likely cost more then I paid for my 4Runners.

i am glad I live in a place I can leave the keys in the vehicles

 

Jiggle key will open my 92 pickup no problem. I leave my doors unlocked, and only have a cheap radio. Personally, it's like pissing in the wind to try and keep a thief out of my truck cab. They will get in one way or the other. An alarm would probably be better.

 

I have a blinky light and a DIY alarm system connected to the factory door buzzer plungers on my '85. I also got new door and ignition lock cylinders from ebay, I think made in Thailand. They may be a little better than the old cylinders.

 

If your locks are badly worn new locks may help a bit. But as others have mentioned, those locks aren't the hardest to pick. Go watch YouTubes's Lockpickinglawyer and find his videos on wafer locks.
You can have new locks rekeyed back to the same code so you only have one key for the vehicle. I opted to buy a rekeying kit off ebay. You want kit# A-30-104.That kit includes new faceplates for the locks.
Even rekeying your old lock would be an improvement. The wafers are what wear the most, and that's what gets replaced in a rekeying, along with the small springs. I cleaned mine first in a ultrasonic cleaner. The amount of dirt, oil, and grime removed was startling.
Personally, I don't leave anything in the truck i value.

 

You don't need no stinkin' door.

FJ40 I saw at boatyard

 

That has happened a few times on my 94 ranger as well. I recently saw an older truck on the street that had tubular locks. I havenʻt looked into it, but I assume those are resistant to a flathead screwdriver. Not sure what its downsides are though.

 

Locks keeping honest people honest!

If the car thief has a order for your vehicle it is gone.

 

Yep, locks don't stop a real thief, however, removing temptation also stops a lot of would be thefts too (thief's of opportunity). Like a car sitting in a parking lot, locked windows up etc, it doesn't stand out for the most part. Same car running, windows down, no one around, someone might just go for a joy ride. Same logic with cash, stuffed away out of sight, not many people will be able to even know you have it, leave it on the table for all to see and it might grow legs and walk away. It's also a good test to see how true your friends are, costs you a $20 or $100 though and have to leave them in the room alone for a bit.

 

Do lock your doors when you go shopping, out to eat, and etc. especially if you have dents/damage on your truck.

Here is the scam that thieves do to scam your insurance company, and the insurance gladly pays them. They find an unlocked vehicle with body damage. They go in your dash, and take a picture of your insurance/registration card. Take a picture of the damage on your vehicle. Take a picture of your tag. Take a picture of you when you come back to your vehicle from shopping. Take a picture of damage done to their vehicle. Thieves then file a claim on your insurance for $1200, and then insurance company pays it gladly to stay out of court.

I had to drop Nationwide insurance for paying these phony claims twice. Even the insurance adjuster said that the dent on my vehicle was from years ago because of the rust. The adjuster said that it was a common scam.

 

I could see that being a problem in town where you don`t know your insurance agent .

Then any claim if it does not have a police report gets red flagged

Here that would be good laugh as the scammer is arrested

 

Depending upon what ever state you live in, the police will not come out to do a report in parking lot accidents unless there is an injury, or the damages exceed X amount of dollars. That's how thieves get away with it.

 

It all comes down to where you live quite correct !

Then none of my Paper work is ever in any of my vehicles

 

One of my friends had Solex locks on his truck. He used the ones that have a round key. https://www.solex.com.my/car-door-lock

 

Those actually look cool.

 

My guess is that if there wasn't anything of interest to the thief inside the car then they tried to get into it to steal the truck itself. I stopped recommending the clubs after I saw numerous recovered stolens that had them but were removed by cutting the steering wheel. My strategy has been to make it too hard and time-consuming to steal mine because I know they need to get in and drive off as soon as possible. Will it stop a determined thief? No, but I honestly haven't seen one that put that much effort into it.