Thieves Have a New Target: Ford F-Series Taillights

Now’s the time to invest in a lockable bed cap and tonneau cover.

By: Anthony Alaniz

Feb 6, 2025 at 3:30pm ET

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Ford F-Series owners in Texas should consider investing in a lockable tonneau cover or bed cap. Thieves are targeting the trucks for their expensive taillights, and it’s been happening across the state for months. Police say they're working to catch the perpetrators, and they've already had some success. The Webster Police Department recently arrested three suspects accused of stealing $92,000 worth of taillights from 34 victims in the Harris County region.

The police believe the three targeted vehicles along the I-45 corridor from Galveston to Houston from September 2024 to January, according to Fox 26 Houston. Most of the trucks targeted were Ford F-350s, which start at $48,010 for 2024. As you can guess, it’s not cheap for owners to replace the stolen taillights. Victims of the Harris County theft ring told Fox 26 they had to pay from $4,500 to $6,500 for replacement units.

In an unrelated San Antonio case that occurred last month, the victim told News 4SA that it’d cost over $6,000 to replace the taillight from her F-350. The latest theft in the San Antonio area happened after city police arrested two people during a September traffic stop when they discovered the suspects had a dozen taillights in their vehicle, according to KENS5.

Taillights being so accessible from the outside of the vehicle make trucks prime targets for thieves, considering taillights from many manufacturers contain expensive LEDs and pricy sensors. Add the popularity of the Ford pickup to the equation, and you have a perfect mix to attract thieves.

Stay safe out there.