PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – The lock on a vehicle car door is supposed to keep thieves out, but many owners of the most popular selling vehicles in the country, are telling Local 10 the same story.
"My lock was popped twice," said Ford F-150 owner Garth Leclerc.
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Many Ford F-Series owners are turning to aftermarket auto accessory shops to have their driver-side keyhole sealed.
Ford F-Series trucks have just one key hole on the driver-side door.
"A service advisor at local Ford dealership told me, 'Don't bother replacing the lock. It's only going to happen again," said a Ford F-150 owner.
Thieves are able to pop the lock with a screwdriver and manipulate a lock rail that's exposed inside the key hole.
"It's way too easy," said F-250 owner Michael Arres.
Arres' truck has been broken into twice. Both times thieves popped the lock.
Ed Federkeil, who has owned California Custom Sport Trucks in Dania Beach for 22 years, said the first thing he did when he got his new F-250 was plug the key hole. Since he has a remote door opener and key pad on the door, he said he doesn't need it.
Mario Ayala spent $450 to have the lock replaced on his Ford F-150 after thieves busted the lock. Less than a month later, it happened again.
"I wish someone would have told me," he said.
The Ford F-Series is the best-selling truck in America.
"We see definitely more Ford models than any of the other vehicles that experience these simple through-the-keyhole break-ins," said Federkeil.
There are plenty of aftermarket products and adjustments that can be made. Ideal Automotive sells a device called a Jimmi Jammer . It's a metal plate that is placed behind the key tumbler so a thief can't get access to the lock rail.
Other owners put a rear-door handle that doesn't have a key hole on the front driver-side door.
Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood sent Local 10 the statement below regarding the issue:
"Ford vehicles, including F-Series trucks, offer the latest in antitheft technologies and features to help provide customers with peace of mind for the security of their vehicles and belongings. Since the 1990s, ford has offered a standard SecuriLock feature that helps prevent vehicles from being started without keys that have specially coded computer transponder chips. Ford continually monitors the performance of its vehicles and is confident locking mechanisms work properly in all of our vehicles. But, like any lock, thieves can overcome them."