Well I have this stupid habit of putting my keys on the counter when I go into shops etc. Not anymore.
I did it the other day and left the counter to go to my vehicle and didn't have my keys. I was in sight of the counter and turned around and this young guy was there. I walked back and asked him if he had seen my keys and he said 'No', with his eyes all over the place. Hmmm, alarm bells started ringing. I asked him to check his pockets in case he had accidentally picked them up and he patted his pockets and said sorry, no. There had also been a group of four ladies at the counter before him so I couldn't be absolutely sure it was him.
OK, I now have a big problem as my house keys were also on the key ring. Now whoever picked them up doesn't know me, or where I live, but I'm a big believer in Murphy's Law.
I'm in the process of fitting new deadlocks to my house but I will have to get a new set of keys for the Triton. I rang the Stealer who quoted me $552.00 for a new ignition lock and TWO door locks. The MN only has one on the driver's door so that didn't inspire much confidence. On top of that was a charge for fitting them and programming the new keys. I'm guessing the all-up total will be double the parts cost !!!
The young lady at the Stealers mentioned a locksmith who had done some work for her and I gave him a ring and he quoted me $375.00 to replace the ignition and door locks, reprogram and supply two keys. There is another slight problem in that I had a Mongoose MAP80 car alarm fitted when I bought the ute so I will have to contact them and try to find out just what they did and how their unit is tied in with the original immobilisation system. It is supposed to have two extra immobilisation functions.
Sorry for the bloody long post but I was hoping that someone else may have been through this and could point me in the right direction.