Bumper Theft Or Impact?

[RockJSquirrel]

Upon returning to my truck (07 Avalanche), I noticed the right side top corner of the bumper was pulled out about an inch and was out all the way past the headlight. Also the tow hook cover was out of its snap-in clips. The hole for the attaching screw (for inner fender panel to bumper, above the 2 push-in clips) was torn, probably when the bumper was pulled/pushed out. Also the bumper lower center piece appeared to be pushed out on the lower right side. I cannot find any exterior scratches or marks indicating a hit or use of tools to pry the bumper out. I removed the screw and pushed the bumper back into place, reinstalled the screw and the 2 rosebud push-in clips. I loosened the screw underneath the center right of the valance and pushed the valance back and tightened the screw. I looked underneath the truck for quite awhile but cannot find any evidence of something hitting hard enough to push the bumper out. I also did not hit anything in the road (at least nothing noticeable). Also there are no marks on the inner fender panel. There is no evidence of someone grabbing the bumper between the inner fender panel and the bumper and yanking it out but this seems likely as to what happened. Why someone would do this is beyond me. They could have just as easily scratched the truck if they wanted to damage it. Is it possible to steal a bumper like this? I'm open to any explanation and whether this has happened to anyone else. 

[redrabbit]

It almost seems like someone caught the rear of the bumber (where it meets the front fender) with the front of theres and pulled it...Almost like they were turning away from your truck....i dont know, that probably would of left marks.

[RockJSquirrel]

I just washed and waxed the truck and there were No Marks at all. 

It is possible to pull back the front outer edge of the inner fender panel where it meets the bumper as it is only held on by 2 push clips in the middle. Then you could grab the bumper and yank it hard enough to pull it out easily tearing the flange where the top screw it attached.

 

 

But why in the world would anyone want to do this? Can you rip off the front bumper that easily? 

 

If they were trying to damage the truck, lot more they could have done. 

[jro909]

the most common thing stolen off vehicles is the cat...it has rare metals in it that pull in nice change at the metal processing places....somebody probably hit you