Ford turns to stepped-up tech and cooperation with police to thwart F-150 pickup thieves

Ford Motor Co. has stepped up technology in its popular F-150 pickup to combat ever-evolving techniques car thieves have at their disposal. It is the latest cat-and-mouse move that the automaker hopes will help customers avoid the costly and frustrating process that occurs when vehicles are swiped. It includes a feature that won’t allow the pickups to start even if key fobs are present. Owners can use Ford’s “Start Inhibit” to disable their F-150’s engine from a smartphone. The pickup was in the top 10 of most stolen models over the first half of 2025. Ford Secure General Manager Christian Moran says there are a lot of F-150s on the road, and thieves like pickups.