Thieves stole and set fire to a $65,000 pickup truck from Sullivan Motor Products last week.
“It’s scary,” says SMP manager John Sullivan. “There’s not many people in the world who can steal new trucks.”
The 2012 Chevorlet crew-cab pickup was delivered brand new to the SMP lot at about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 22.
At about 5:30 a.m Monday, the Houston RCMP got a call saying the truck was blazing at the end of North Nadina Avenue.
Staff Sgt. Sean Wadelius said it appears no damage was done to the truck before it was set on fire, nor were there any break-and-enters in the Houston area to explain why thieves might have stolen and burned the truck.
Wadelius said B.C. has had cases where thieves stole a vehicle and torched it just for fun.
In a case that may be unrelated, a 2000 Ford Ranger was found flipped on its side and burned in Vanderhoof on April 18.
With no obvious damage besides the fire and all its keys apparently safe at SMP, it seems thieves may have reprogrammed the truck’s security system.
That is what concerns Sullivan most.
The Silverado was outfitted with a passive immobilizer—an anti-theft system engineered to shut down a vehicle’s ignition and starter systems at any sign of tampering.
If the thieves are sophisticated enough to hack and reprogram that system, Sullivan said they could steal any vehicle they wanted.
Sullivan said that in 36 years, only three or four vehicles have been stolen from SMP, and none involved reprogramming.
“Usually, if somebody steals one it’s either for a joyride or they’re stealing it for parts,” he said. “This doesn’t make any sense. Why torch a car you just stole?”
Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call Houston RCMP at (250) 845-2204 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.