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The Ford F-150 is now being targeted by thieves for its taillights.

While researching the 2024 Ford F-150, I encountered a troubling report. In his TikTok video, Christopher Pearce (@thechristopherpearce) states that thieves are targeting Ford F-150 pickups for their taillights. He notes that Texas is a hotspot, but the issue is spreading nationwide. Here’s what Ford F-150 owners should know.

He says, 

"There's bad news for Ford F-150 owners. Your truck is becoming a big target for thieves because of a part for your truck that we had no idea was worth so much money."

He says that since September, thieves in the Houston, Texas, area have stolen over $92,000 worth of tail lights from Ford F-150 trucks. 

"These tail lights, I guess, are packed with expensive LED technology and backup sensors worth a lot of money," Christopher says.

To Replace the Tail lights is Expensive

The report says a replacement set for the taillights can cost between $2,500 and $6,000.

Here is the Worst Part

He says, "Locking your truck won't do anything about it. Thieves can pop a panel in the truck's tailgate, pull over to release the tailgate, unscrew your two tail lights in a couple of seconds, and be gone before you even come back out of the 7-11."

"It's gotten so bad that companies are now selling special mechanisms to lock in your tail lights so they can't be easily stolen. So, if you drive a Ford F-150 pickup, I definitely recommend you pick one of these up."

"Ford truck owners are dealing with this everywhere, but the one silver lining is it doesn't damage the truck too much, besides the missing lights and expense of replacing them."

"For example, the Porsche Taycan owners, on the other hand, are dealing with thieves cutting off part of the fender to get to the front lights to steal them, so that's much worse."  

A Theft Ring in Houston Targets Pricy F-150 Taillights

A report from Fox 26 Houston says a theft ring in Houston, TX, is targeting the Ford F-150. Three men were arrested: Sergio Sanfilippo, Jimmy Miller, and Jallel Faison, who were charged with one count of organized criminal activity. 

Webster, TX, police are investigating $92,000 worth of taillights stolen from 34 trucks. That's about $2,700 per set of taillights.  

The report says the thieves target the F-150, F-250, and F-350 pickup trucks.

Chief Pete Bacon says, "These are high-end LED taillights that have sensors in them so that when you put the truck in reverse, it shows an image of the rear view of the truck. These taillights have high-tech seniors, and that's why they are so valuable."

Chief Pete Bacon says the F-Series taillights can range from $5,000 up to $7500.  

Here is Another Personal F-150 Taillight Theft Story

Reddit user dgeniesse says,

"I came out and started backing up, but the backup camera didn't work. I went around and saw my tailgate was down. And someone had stolen my taillights Saturday night. On Monday at noon, I went to the local Ford to buy new lights." 

"I was the sixth guy so far that came in to replace his taillights. When I walked out with new lights, I saw two other trucks without taillights in the parking lot. Expensive for one and all."

dgeniesse says, "My truck was locked. It has a hard tonneau top, which they must have a tool for, allowing them access to the bed."

"From the open bed, they unscrewed a panel on the tailgate to pull a cord and drop the tailgate for taillight access. These guys came prepared. Note this was in a hotel parking lot that is patrolled."

"It costs $2800 for the pair to replace OEM from Ford. That's not counting the module for blind spot detection, which is on back order, he concludes."

Another Reddit user says,

Grand_Introduction36 says, "I work at Flint assembly (Chevy GMC HD trucks). The transport company that transports trucks to the rail yards has been removing the taillights from the new trucks before they get loaded on the rails. Chicago and Baltimore, I guess, are the biggest hot spots for stolen parts when they are in the rail yards." 

"The rail yards in Flint and Detroit, MI, have hired extra security to protect the big three from thefts. I heard the Ford lightning taillights are roughly $1900 for one. See, Toyota doesn't have that problem because all the new Tundras are parked due to the engines failing, so the demand goes down."

Final Thoughts and Questions For Ford F-150, F-250, and F-350 Owners

Given the high value of these taillights, it's likely that other thieves will target Ford F-Series trucks across the country. It's important to be aware of this risk and take necessary precautions. Remember, other trucks also have similar high-tech sensors in their taillights. 

Has Your Ford Truck Been Targeted?

Has your Ford F-150, F-250, or F-350 pickup been targeted, and have its taillights been stolen? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Ford F-150 report titled; My Ford F-150 Has Lost So Much Value, $20K In Negative Equity Since Ford Decided to Tank the Brand Due to Reliability and Cutting Corners

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Reddit user dgeniesse