Author |
Message |
Jamos Samba Member

Joined: July 08, 2005 Posts: 766 Location: Lake Tahoe, CA
|
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 11:51 am Post subject: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA RECOVERED! |
|
|
UPDATE on 7/9 - the van has been found by Oakland PD.
Thanks for your support Samba. _________________ '86 Wolfy Westy Weekender
2020 Audi Q5
Last edited by Jamos on Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:08 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Run8Stud Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2022 Posts: 103 Location: San Diego, CA
|
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 12:17 pm Post subject: Re: Stolen Van: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
That's the 2nd white van stolen from Oakland in about a week. On the next forum page is another.
Note to self: keep my white van far from Oakland...
Sorry to hear about this happening. _________________ John G. - 1987 Westy GW 2.2 5-Speed |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
syncrodoka Samba Member

Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12289 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
|
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Shit man, sorry to hear. Will keep,an eye out. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
zerotofifty Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003 Posts: 3732
|
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 2:40 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Good luck in a quick recovery.
Where was the van stolen from, time of day? _________________ Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
EverettB  Administrator

Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 71478 Location: Phoenix 602
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Saturn Samba Member

Joined: April 06, 2019 Posts: 246 Location: San Francisco
|
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Having gone through this with one of my 1970s Volvos here in San Francisco made a post about my experience on the Vanagon forum:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9795986#9795986
1) Check to see if has gotten any parking tickets in Oakland or SF.
2) Check Fastrak for any bridge crossings or tolls.
3) Posted it up on Social Media (Instragram, FB etc) for addition awareness.
Additionally, I would suggest adding some more information such as:
- Neighborhood it was parked at
- Street, driveway or garage parking?
When you get it back (being optimistic), repost on what you find in terms of was the ignition/wiring ripped out, was the ignition switch intact, etc. so others have an data on how these are getting stolen in the first place and for some defense against the same happening to other vans.
Know several friends who have had vehicles stolen from Oakland. One of the recent ones did have an Airtag installed and it was being tracked through that. That is until they discovered the thief had found the hidden Airtag and attached it to a random rental car. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ledogboy Samba Member

Joined: September 19, 2005 Posts: 599 Location: Scappoose, OR / Oakland, CA
|
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
I would probably do some searching around International and High streets. I had a work truck stolen earlier this year, as did a friend of mine, and both ended up stripped down there. Construction trucks and Vanagon’s might not have the same thief’s interest, but I still think it would be worth a look. OPD has zero interest in stolen property, so assume you have to do the heavy lifting. Fingers crossed for you and your van, and so sorry you are dealing with this. _________________ 1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
cmayna Samba Member

Joined: August 18, 2014 Posts: 1173 Location: SF Bay area, CA
|
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 7:52 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Interesting note that there is no exterior westy fridge vent. Is there a stove? Is there any active tracking devices ? Sure hope it is found soon. _________________ '90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1894
|
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
cmayna wrote: |
Interesting note that there is no exterior westy fridge vent. Is there a stove? Is there any active tracking devices ? Sure hope it is found soon. |
It's a '86 Basic Camper, commonly called a "Weekender". It came with a chest type Dometic fridge that ran on 110 AC or 12 volts DC. No Stove, but still has the
Westfalia Poptop. 'Came with an Aux battery under the drivers seat to run the fridge (for about 7 hours). Much lighter weight than a full Westfalia Camper.
Good luck getting it back. I have the same model. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
cmayna Samba Member

Joined: August 18, 2014 Posts: 1173 Location: SF Bay area, CA
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 7:40 am Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
ahhhh, now I see the weekender badge on the pillar. Hope it is found soon. Better keep my white Westy away from Oakland. _________________ '90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
zerotofifty Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003 Posts: 3732
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 9:29 am Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Drive around the homeless junkie bum camps, it might be there, but arm yourself, and bring some big dudes as protection. If you see your van, call the cops for back up as the junkies can be irrational and attack if you try to reclaim your property. _________________ Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 8243 Location: Westfalia, Earth
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 10:18 am Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Or one can become educated about how people become homeless — like some right here on Samba — count your good fortunes, and use the same humanity for the poor poster whose van was just stolen.
Very sorry to hear this. Terrible. We sincerely hope you get your van back. _________________ 1984 Westfailure/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." — Colin Chapman |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
cmayna Samba Member

Joined: August 18, 2014 Posts: 1173 Location: SF Bay area, CA
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 11:26 am Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Wish I could get a couple thugs to go with me over to Oakland to snoop around. Would love to find a couple missing Samba rigs. _________________ '90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
elizer Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016 Posts: 1501 Location: Northern Virginia
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Ask on reddit in the Oakland section for good places to look in the area and some details about your van. _________________ 91 syncro westy fas tdi |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jamos Samba Member

Joined: July 08, 2005 Posts: 766 Location: Lake Tahoe, CA
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Thanks everyone for you replies.
I've owned this rig since 2008 and have invested so much in it over the years, time, energy, love, and $$$.
We moved back to the Bay Area from Tahoe about a year ago and live up in the Oakland hills.
Our neighborhood is very cute and tight knit, and our suspicion is that someone planted an airtag or tracker on the van when we were out with it the day before.
I had been thinking of adding a kill switch and/or tracker since we moved back here, but did not and now I'm kicking myself.
I drove around some of the homeless camp areas yesterday, and while I did see another white westy (!!!), it was not mine or the other one posted as stolen here.
If you're around the Bay Area, please keep an eye out.
This whole thing is really sad, and now I get to deal with my insurance company, which will be it's whole own ordeal. _________________ '86 Wolfy Westy Weekender
2020 Audi Q5 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Shonandb  Samba Member

Joined: January 12, 2019 Posts: 2024 Location: Vancouver, BC
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Jamos wrote: |
Thanks everyone for you replies.
I've owned this rig since 2008 and have invested so much in it over the years, time, energy, love, and $$$.
We moved back to the Bay Area from Tahoe about a year ago and live up in the Oakland hills.
Our neighborhood is very cute and tight knit, and our suspicion is that someone planted an airtag or tracker on the van when we were out with it the day before.
I had been thinking of adding a kill switch and/or tracker since we moved back here, but did not and now I'm kicking myself.
I drove around some of the homeless camp areas yesterday, and while I did see another white westy (!!!), it was not mine or the other one posted as stolen here.
If you're around the Bay Area, please keep an eye out.
This whole thing is really sad, and now I get to deal with my insurance company, which will be it's whole own ordeal. |
Sorry to hear about this. As I wrote on the other stolen van thread, It almost sounds to be a bit more planned/organized/sophisticated than addicts to me as yours was the first of two White Vanagon Campers to be stolen in the same area in the same month. _________________ *******************************
76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
zerotofifty Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003 Posts: 3732
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 1:44 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
E1 wrote: |
Or one can become educated about how people become homeless — like some right here on Samba — count your good fortunes, and use the same humanity for the poor poster whose van was just stolen.
Very sorry to hear this. Terrible. We sincerely hope you get your van back. |
Use drugs, become a criminal, and bingo, you to can be a junkie homeless bum. There is your education.
Now of course some are homeless do to some misfortune of no fault of their own, Good honest folks just down on the luck, but those wont be the ones living in a stolen Vanagon.
I have dealt with both the good homeless and the junkie bum homeless, two completely different situations. Plenty of education here. _________________ Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
zerotofifty Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003 Posts: 3732
|
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Jamos wrote: |
Thanks everyone for you replies.
I've owned this rig since 2008 and have invested so much in it over the years, time, energy, love, and $$$.
We moved back to the Bay Area from Tahoe about a year ago and live up in the Oakland hills.
Our neighborhood is very cute and tight knit, and our suspicion is that someone planted an airtag or tracker on the van when we were out with it the day before.
I had been thinking of adding a kill switch and/or tracker since we moved back here, but did not and now I'm kicking myself.
I drove around some of the homeless camp areas yesterday, and while I did see another white westy (!!!), it was not mine or the other one posted as stolen here.
If you're around the Bay Area, please keep an eye out.
This whole thing is really sad, and now I get to deal with my insurance company, which will be it's whole own ordeal. |
so where was it stolen from? what time, day , night?
Good luck in its safe return. _________________ Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jamos Samba Member

Joined: July 08, 2005 Posts: 766 Location: Lake Tahoe, CA
|
Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
Just an update - the van has been recovered!
Still waiting to see what kind of condition is really is in. Thanks for all your good thoughts. _________________ '86 Wolfy Westy Weekender
2020 Audi Q5 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 8243 Location: Westfalia, Earth
|
Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: STOLEN: 1986 Westfalia - White - Oakland, CA |
|
|
SWEET, CONGRATS!!!  _________________ 1984 Westfailure/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." — Colin Chapman |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|