Thieves are targeting Ford F150 taillights and gates. An East Side couple had to wait months for a fix until KENS 5 got involved.
SAN ANTONIO — Lenny Scallion, 70, has always been a Ford truck man. He said he bought his first truck at 19 and continued to be a Ford customer for 50 years. In October of 2024, he bought a new F-150 for the family to drive after his existing truck broke down.
“I saved my money and invested in this new Ford that I thought would last us until I pass,” Scallion said.
He hasn’t been able to drive that Ford since July. Thieves ripped out his taillights right in his own driveway.
“I couldn’t believe it. Just right here at home,” the 70-year-old said. “I don’t know, I’m just so upset.”
The couple said they had the vehicle towed to Northside Ford in August, but soon found the repair would be delayed.
It turns out, thieves have been targeting Ford taillights with increased frequency this year.
The newer lights now have sensors and other technology inside which makes them more expensive and more attractive to criminals.
Of course, if the thieves had only unclipped Scallion’s lights during the theft then the repair would be relatively simple. Instead they cut the wires. Ava Scallion said she spoke to the dealership multiple times but was told they would need to wait for a replacement “wiring harness.”
“I kept calling. They said parts should be in around October 23rd and ‘we will call you when they come in,’” Ava Scallion said.
Then November rolled around and the family still didn’t know when the truck would be fixed. The family said the dealership said it might not be until December 23rd. They called KENS 5.
“I called channel 5 because I’m so upset. I don’t know what to do next,” Lenny Scallion said.
KENS 5 started contacting Ford’s corporate office two weeks ago and then drove to Northside Ford last week. There was initially some confusion about what was happening with the truck, but Parts Director Paul Gipple started making calls to find out what the status was.
Gipple was then able to confirm that the truck was now already fixed. He said Ford’s Field Service Engineering Office was able to find a part that would work. KENS also found out the repair ticket was closed just two days after KENS 5 started contacting Ford.
Lenny and Ava Scallion got a call from the dealership, after KENS 5 left the location, which confirmed the truck was repaired.
Ford’s corporate office also responded to KENS 5. Ford said in a statement:
“The Ford F-150 has a standard power tailgate lock that locks the tailgate when the doors are locked. We encourage customers to park their vehicles in well-lit and secure areas; however, any determined thief can steal items from a vehicle.”
KENS 5 also asked Ford corporate if dealerships were backed up on repairs because of these taillight thefts and asked why the wire harnesses might be hard for dealerships to get. Ford corporate did not address those questions.
Lenny Scallion is still concerned about the lights being stolen again. Still, he’s glad the truck was fixed after KENS 5 got involved.
“It had been three months and no vehicle but you made a call, or went down and did what you did, and within five days they call us saying the vehicle is ready,” Scallion said.
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