Man found an abandoned truck that turned out to be stolen in 1990 and helped recover it 34 years later
- Stolen truck abandoned and lay in place in the US for 34 years
- The crime occurred in 1990
- A content creator discovered it using a drone and Google Maps
Published on Apr 07, 2025 at 9:39 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Apr 04, 2025 at 3:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This stolen truck was abandoned and lay in place in the US wilderness for 34 years.
It was stolen from its owner in 1990.
Now, a content creator has discovered it using a drone.
In fact, he was able to recover it from the ravine and share details with the authorities. Talk about closure for a cold case.
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Stolen and abandoned truck discovered
Lying undiscovered in a ravine, it was stumbled upon by a California-based content creator, Desert Adventures, who is best known for searching for abandoned cars with Google maps and his drone.
Referring to himself as an ‘abandoned car explorer’, he’s said to have discovered more than 4,000 missing cars and other vehicles since he started his somewhat niche project in 2015.
To solve this case, it appears that he first used Google Maps before honing in on the specifics with his DJI camera drone.
Sadly, he didn’t share the specifics of what the car was, who owned it, or where it was discovered but we hope that the TikToker was finally able to bring some closure to the owner and victim of the crime.
How he locates the cars on Google Maps
Spotting abandoned cars using Google Maps isn’t as easy as you might think for the anonymous car enthusiast.
It’s not like finding a hidden car in an image.
The cars in his proverbial crosshairs are often located in hard-to-reach areas, which is a process that requires patience and skill.
Despite the challenge, he enjoys the thrill of the hunt and shares the entire process with his followers.
@desertadventures_ This truck was stolen in 1990 and recovered 34 years later #adventures #underwaterdrone #fyp #drone #exploring #abandonedcar #abandonedplaces #djidrone #missingpeople #coldcases ♬ Your Decision – Alice In Chains
He also works to uncover the story behind each car and how they came to be left there.
The mystery of it all keeps his followers intrigued, too.
In a similar discovery, an abandoned DeLorean was also found on Google Maps in West Virginia.
His hobby has become something of a meaningful mission over the years.
Whenever he locates vehicles with identifiable information, like a readable license plate, he reports them to the authorities, sometimes even helping to locate missing people.
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London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness, and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the senior content writer and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms, and coveted brands. When her OOO is on from writing about cars and heading up on-site SEO you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym, or exploring the city she loves.
