It used to be that one of the easiest pieces to remove from a pickup truck was the tailgate. However, with the advent of integrated struts, auto-locking mechanisms, backup cameras and electronic drop-and-lift capability (like on the all-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500), tailgates are becoming more of a complicated electrical system than a simple rear gate. While these advances make tailgates heavier and more expensive to replace (some costing upwards of $2500 or more) when dented or crushed in an accident, there's been an unexpected benefit: They are becoming more difficult to remove and steal.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau the number of tailgate thefts seems to be declining slightly, even though the average cost for the tailgates — especially for upper-trim-level models — is increasing.
