Stolen! Key fob cloning theft method used to steal 2025 4Runner 6th gen

[juan mesa]

Hello everyone I’m the original owner of the Toyota 4Runner platinum that got stolen in Kitchener Ontario it’s been exactly 4 months and the sad thing about all this is that I still don’t have my truck back because they are still waiting for parts, the last update I got is that maybe at the end of January
Regarding the inmmobilizer everyone I talked to they suggested that the (Ghost) is one of the best in the market, you can use the sequence bottoms to start your truck or pay an extra $100 and get a little fob that you keep on your packet, you still need your original key fob to start your truck but don’t need to push the sequence bottoms, $1499 Canadians without the little fob and $1599 with the little fob.

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[juan mesa]

Hello everyone I’m the original owner of the Toyota 4Runner platinum that got stolen in Kitchener Ontario it’s been exactly 4 months and the sad thing about all this is that I still don’t have my truck back because they are still waiting for parts, the last update I got is that maybe at the end of January
Regarding the inmmobilizer everyone I talked to they suggested that the (Ghost) is one of the best in the market, you can use the sequence bottoms to start your truck or pay an extra $100 and get a little fob that you keep on your packet, you still need your original key fob to start your truck but don’t need to push the sequence bottoms, $1499 Canadians without the little fob and $1599 with the little fob.

There is my truck sitting on a lot

 

[juan mesa]

Yes sir

 

[BRunner]

Late to this thread but sorry to see this happened to you OP. I know somewhat how you feel as I had a Gladiator Mojave stolen just before Xmas 2024. I was at a hotel in Ottawa for an appointment in the morning. I had just purchased the extended warranty to 160000km the day before it was stolen because I really liked the vehicle and had great memories of living out of it in Yukon that same summer.

Here now because I have a 2026 4Runner coming in next month.

Brutal that this shit is still happening so often. Hope your ride is fixed up soon. Pathetic that no parts are available. I wonder if there is any legal time limit on a situation like yours?

I have friends who had their Highlander stolen from their driveway, they were in the living room 10 feet away, car was found not far away about 45 mins later. There was an epic foot chase apparently but 1/2 dozen police offers couldn't get the thief. Maybe a former athlete lol, the thief could run and jump fences very well!

As for the immobilizers, if you get one it becomes a major pain in the butt to get service, drop your ride off at a dealership and let the crapshow begin when they can't start it etc.

 

[TrdProGirl84]

This is exactly why i installed an aftermarket immobilizer. Ain't no-one getting my 4runner unless they put it on a flatbed.

Sorry about ur loss

And I think we all know at the end of the day if someone wants something bad enough they’ll do what it takes to steal it.

 

[horbit]

Late to this thread but sorry to see this happened to you OP. I know somewhat how you feel as I had a Gladiator Mojave stolen just before Xmas 2024. I was at a hotel in Ottawa for an appointment in the morning. I had just purchased the extended warranty to 160000km the day before it was stolen because I really liked the vehicle and had great memories of living out of it in Yukon that same summer.

Here now because I have a 2026 4Runner coming in next month.

Brutal that this shit is still happening so often. Hope your ride is fixed up soon. Pathetic that no parts are available. I wonder if there is any legal time limit on a situation like yours?

I have friends who had their Highlander stolen from their driveway, they were in the living room 10 feet away, car was found not far away about 45 mins later. There was an epic foot chase apparently but 1/2 dozen police offers couldn't get the thief. Maybe a former athlete lol, the thief could run and jump fences very well!

As for the immobilizers, if you get one it becomes a major pain in the butt to get service, drop your ride off at a dealership and let the crapshow begin when they can't start it etc.

Its super simple to put my immobilizer into service mode or transport mode.

 

[juan mesa]

And I think we all know at the end of the day if someone wants something bad enough they’ll do what it takes to steal it.

You’re totally right!

 

[6thGen1419]

Sad news, I picked up my 4Runner (platinum) last Thursday and this morning at 3:05am our 4Runner was stolen using key fob cloning.

Updated with video:

Had a chat with ChatGPT AI about this. Based on my description of your video, AI thinks this was not a FOB clone, but what it calls

Vehicle‑dependent theft (no fob involved)

• The car’s systems are manipulated directly
• The car is put into a state where it accepts starting
• A new authorization may be introduced, or checks bypassed

If this happens:

• The owner’s fob is irrelevant
• The theft takes minutes, not seconds
• Physical interaction with the car usually occurs
• The thief drives off without ever needing a fob

 

[juan mesa]

Had a chat with ChatGPT AI about this. Based on my description of your video, AI thinks this was not a FOB clone, but what it calls

Vehicle‑dependent theft (no fob involved)

• The car’s systems are manipulated directly
• The car is put into a state where it accepts starting
• A new authorization may be introduced, or checks bypassed

If this happens:

• The owner’s fob is irrelevant
• The theft takes minutes, not seconds
• Physical interaction with the car usually occurs
• The thief drives off without ever needing a fob

Thank you for the information.

 

[Desert_6Gen]

Have you though about putting GPS in it? There is always issues with immobilizers down the road with electrical issues. At least with a GPS you'll know where your vehicle is at all times and you can customize notifications if it's on at pre set hours of the day, speed notifications, you name if you can set notifications. Don't you have a garage you can use? I would never own a house without a garage. Care are mainly stolen straight from peoples driveways or the street. A garage will keep it safer than as security system can.

 

[juan mesa]

Have you though about putting GPS in it? There is always issues with immobilizers down the road with electrical issues. At least with a GPS you'll know where your vehicle is at all times and you can customize notifications if it's on at pre set hours of the day, speed notifications, you name if you can set notifications. Don't you have a garage you can use? I would never own a house without a garage. Care are mainly stolen straight from peoples driveways or the street. A garage will keep it safer than as security system can.

I had the Toyota app where I can track the car however by the time the police got there the car wasn’t there, we believe that at that location that’s where they cut all the electrical because I couldn’t track the truck anymore, we also purchased a tracking device called KYCS this device is monitored by a company, we called them as soon as we found out that the truck was stolen, it had passed only (25 minutes) the company new where the truck was heading but couldn’t let the police know for safety reasons, however once the truck was parked 100 kilometres away that’s when they let the police know where the truck was ( 3 hours later)
About the parking, my previous car was a 2018 Toyota Highlander nothing ever happened so I used my single garage just to put junk, also police told us that this must have been an inside job from someone at the dealership or the ministry of transportation where they registered the truck????
My garage is now clean and waiting for the truck.

 

[kobyneal]

Simply not true re: inside job. Had my LC stolen and the police said all makes and models have been taken by organized crime. Many of which had no common threads.

 

[6thGen1419]

I had the Toyota app where I can track the car however by the time the police got there the car wasn’t there, we believe that at that location that’s where they cut all the electrical because I couldn’t track the truck anymore, we also purchased a tracking device called KYCS this device is monitored by a company, we called them as soon as we found out that the truck was stolen, it had passed only (25 minutes) the company new where the truck was heading but couldn’t let the police know for safety reasons, however once the truck was parked 100 kilometres away that’s when they let the police know where the truck was ( 3 hours later)
About the parking, my previous car was a 2018 Toyota Highlander nothing ever happened so I used my single garage just to put junk, also police told us that this must have been an inside job from someone at the dealership or the ministry of transportation where they registered the truck????
My garage is now clean and waiting for the truck.

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