Someone stole the tailgate off my wifes Dodge Ram right in front of the house while we were sleeping. Went out the next day and discovered it was missing!

 

The key in the pic is called a spline tuner key. The are used if the lug nut opening on the wheel is to small for a standard size socket. NO they are not locking lugs and are easly purchased. They "McGuard and Gorilla" make locking spline tuner lugs. Not a universal key. A real key. Discount Tire can get them, but so can Tirerack or special order form Autozone.

 

The wheels were on the car in the driveway. In Sacramento Ca. The lugs do set deep into the wheels and I had one lock per wheel. Thanks for the pawn shop and tire shop info. I will also check ebay. if you catch a thief trying to steal, the law should allow you to break his hands!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hate to tell you guys but those locking lugs are worthless. They sell a set of special sockets that are for wheels shops,etc, that have counter clockwise splines that digs into the nut and takes it off just as easy as the other four. I have a set for going to the wrecking yard and getting parts,they work just as well on rounded off nuts and bolts.

 

tsaints states the truth on this one. Most shops also have these, so most thieves probably do too. A socket slightly oversized can be pounded on also to remove locks.

 

Yes there are KEYS out there that you can buy to get lugs off. They are sold at Sears etc. But you still have to break the lug off. It still is not easy. I have used the lock removal stuff where I worked at but you had to BEAT it on with a hammer. Lots of noise. Plus you would need a impact wrench to get it off. There is no perfect devise to keep you stuff and that sucks! Locks only keep honest people honest.

 

here in the detroit suburbs the kids surf the streets at night looking for car doors that are unlocked. these kids will just grab whatever thay can grab quickly, they got my wifes satellite radio reciever. My neighbor is a police captain, on a recent saturday night they arrested 22 kids, under 16 without any prior record, in a set up with a nice unlocked car with lots of electronics.
This is in a very nice area north of detroit, someplace you wouldn't expect that much crime.

 

Here I see a kid riding his bike down the street looking into each car as he passes look for stereos he wants to steal!

 

My best buddy was in a tire store one day and when he came out, his driver's door was open. He walked up and the thief was laying on the floor under the steering wheel trying to rip out his stereo. My buddy grabbed the A$$hole by both ankles and yanked him out of the car, banging the guys head off the bottom of the dash then the rocker panel and finally the concrete ground. That wasn't the end of it, he then picked him up by the scruff of his shirt, clocked him 3 times and left him laying in the parking lot. No cops were called and chalk one up for poetic justice...:twothumbs

 

Thanks Cokeybill. Wish I was the one doing the beating.