Instagram Helped This Guy Get His Stolen Mustang GT350 Wheels Back
What do you know? It IS possible for the internet to do something positive. We have the proof.
Once upon a time, there was a tale of a Mustang GT350, stolen wheels, tire sensors, and redemption. That time was last week, and it was quite the doozy.
April 9, 2016, 6:01 am: It began on John Ford Jr.’s Instagram account. He’s a Mustang owner who happens to be part of a the S550 Mustang club in Atlanta, and he posted the photo and caption below, showing that some jerk had ripped off one of his fellow club members by taking his GT350’s wheels and leaving the car on … rocks, despite the rotors also being on the ground. So not only were the wheels gone, but the side rockers were damaged, as well.
April 9, 2016, 8:36 am: @ShelbyGT350Mustang, a user with 3,500 followers, picks up on John’s post and reposts it to help expand the reach of the search party. A courtesy that ends up successful, as you’ll see on the full post.
@papo_mustang, who has only posted one singular time on Instagram, comes through in the clutch and comments on the plea post with a link to this devious and suspicious eBay listing:
John Ford Jr. literally said in his original post,”These people better sell these wheels out of state since we have 400 members in @atlantas550s now.” Of course, this is a thief who just ripped off GT350 wheels, so there’s obviously something not right. And ironically, the dumbass goes to the place where most auto enthusiasts would check first in this exact case to sell the tires. Either that, or he sold them to somebody else who posted them in Griffin, Georgia. Either way, it’s likely the seller knew these were stolen goods.
April 9, 2016, 1:01 pm: John Ford Jr. gives his audience a closer look at the further headache the rocks will cause this Mustang owner.
April 11, 2016, 11:26 am: Thanks to another post from John, we learn two things: the takedown is actually happening and in full motion, and @5oh_pyro was the first person to notice the eBay listing.
A photo posted by John Ford Jr (@jjfordjr) on
April 12, 2016, 9:34 am: John takes this opportunity in the spotlight to teach the automotive and Mustang community something about the special sensors in the GT350. If you a have Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), the sensors in these Mustangs actually scan to your specific vehicle.
April 12, 2016, 10:23 am: Basically, the sensors work as prints for you car, which is pretty incredible, and would absolutely give enough evidence to authorities to prove the wheels and tires belong to your specific vehicle. John was nice enough to further detail how to do this:
A photo posted by John Ford Jr (@jjfordjr) on
So, long story short, wheels were stolen, and the Instagram and Mustang communities helped the owner get them back. Although that part is great, the rockers and rotors were still damaged and require attention and money. Thank goodness the thief was an idiot who tried to sell them on eBay.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
Via [@JJFordJr]