anti-theft tactics

[misternash2]

what are some things you guys are doing to deter theives? i read about the guy that had his truck stolen and i had my truck broken into. fortunately for me they popped the lock instead of breaking the window, but still. anybody got any great strokes of genius on this subject?

[GmtGmt]

imobilizer a hidden switch a wire form fuel pump, ECM or Distributer
Car Alarm system that when the alarm is set off by breaking glass metal being hit or something with a masive loud speeker so the whole naborhood will wake up.

Line lock thats activated when the alarm goes off

[Cervantes]

I've seen/heard some good ideas, such as splicing off the ignition wire way back at the engine to a rocker switch hidden in the glovebox or under the seat or something... switch it to off and it kills the ignition all the way down the tree. Kinda hard to steal a truck when you can't get it going or hotwire it.

Or, you could lowjack it. They have kits now you can hook up to a pay-as-you-go cell phone that you basically just leave in the truck and plugged in all the time (and hidden). Doesn't stop it from being stolen, but you get the joy of leading the cops right to that little *@$^&'s front door. Not too expensive, all told, too.

To stop breakins, there's a product you can get, it's a clear film that's sticky one side, you put it on almost like tint, and it stops your windows from shattering when they're smashed. Do your sides and backs and nobody is getting in there without a loooooot of effort.

A friend of mine had trouble back in Saskatchewan with breakins on his truck, and he used to be into expensive stereos, so he rigged up a custom job, electric switches hooked up to an old remote car starter. When he triggered it, a motor would move a solid metal bar all the way from his box, through the middle of his doors. Kinda hard to open a door when there's a 3/4" steel rod through it and both sides of the frame. Only downside was he had a slow motor, said it took forever to move that bar 6 feet. He said it worked great until one day he accidentally set it off with the doors not closed right. Slow strong motor and 3/4inch steel bar, versus pretty flimsy door.... it didn't end well.

Short of taking the battery into the house with you every night, those'd be my suggestions. I'm looking for ideas myself, as I've had 2 cars stolen, and a few more breakins, over the 6 years I've been driving.
(yeah, I started late )

[cableguy0]

Most vehicles that are stolen now are stolen with a tow truck. driving cars away is a thing of the past aside from joy riders. The best thing to do is park it in a garage. alarms are pointless nobody pays attention to them. most people never hear them from inside there house. lojack is probably the best option so when it does get taken that theres a good chance of recovery. If somebody wants it bad enough... it will be gone.

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Quick disconnect on the steering wheel courtesy of GRANT WHEELS, and an alarm thats hooked up to my 156db train horns.

[wedgemon]

My 73 Blazer wont start unless the tilt wheel is down. No engineering or science here, just a 37 year old truck.

[xs-style]

Im not a smoker, so plans for me are to put a kill switch behind the cig lighter.

[harnalien]

I've removed fuses before.

[donut]

JMO, if someone wants it bad enough, it's gone. I've got a toggle switch hooked up to the HEI power wire, shut that down and there is no ignition.
Of course I'm in an area that I don't have to take the keys out of the ignition.

[3r!c84]

you guys are thinking to hard about this. nobody will touch your ride with one of theses

[bigdnew]

put a snake in it like the hummer in gone in sixty seconds.

[Stitch]

just get an alarm and a big gun...let the thief use the alarm and you use the gun...period...

[Edgel82c10]

I have 2 of these and have never had nothing stolen,males 250lbs and female is 180lbs.

[donut]

Upon reading a few more of these, I wonder if that old NRA sticker in the back window is a theft deterrent?

[sparkydog]

The good news about thieves is they aren't normally very smart or sophisticated (in spite of what we see in "Gone in 60 Seconds").

The bad news about anti-theft devices is thieves aren't very smart.

What I mean is that when your average crack smoking idiot thief tries to steal a car they "just do it" and try. They don't stop to think or notice fancy stuff like anti-theft stickers or lo-jack decals or flashing lights on your dash.

They will go ahead and break your window or pry open your door. You are going to be out that stuff no matter what. The most important thing is what happens next after they try the easy stuff. When the car stops being an easy rip off they usually give up. IMO the best thing you can do is make it real hard to hotwire and as hard as possible to tow it off. A battery cutout switch and a physical barrier (or pitbull) to prevent a tow truck from hooking up are going to solve 99% of your issues.

[fryer1979]

I love the anti-theft sticker.

I gave up on car alarms a while ago, there are just too many that all sound the same and no one really pays much attention to them. Kill switches are good for keeping the joy-riders at bay (and I've used them time and again), and that quick disconnect steering wheel is good too. When in public, park in well lit (preferably equiped with video surveilance), and commonly used lots. And at home if possible, use a garage and cover the windows so would-be crooks can't see inside. Keep personal belongings and aftermarket equipment out of plain sight when parked. And of course the obvious; roll your windows up and lock the doors, don't leave keys in the truck, and for the love of hell don't use hide-a-keys. I also have a couple big dogs that love to bark when things don't seem right to them. Nothing is really fool-proof though, and if someone really wants your rig they will get it.

[87chevy.com]

get a alarm with a pager, add motion/glass break sensor, tilt sensor, kill switch and stickers... i feel thats about as good as your going to get besides taking off a front and rear tire every night before you go to sleep.

just thought of this one... probally set you back a few thousand, but it sounds like it would work. like F1 cars... equip your ride with 4 air jacks and suspends your ride with a few inches off the ground. since the wheels wont be on the ground they cant use regular handtools to remove the lugs or locks so the wheels are safe. Probally can tow something like that... if you did start to tow it, it would probally be pretty loud. whatcha think... ultimate anti theift device or what?

[87chevy.com]

or invest a few bucks in the orgasma alarm by Donkey Labs...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Gfqnqym9I

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by 87chevy.com

get a alarm with a pager

Hey, at least you'll know your ride is being jacked...

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Originally Posted by bigdnew

put a snake in it like the hummer in gone in sixty seconds.

Hell ya man that would be awsome Yea I always lock my trucks and my garage up. I got a big rottie that sounds mean as all get out which helps as well. I also got a nice louie slugger bat laying in my bedroom as well rather use that then a gun unless it comes down too it

[Chevy623]

If they want your car bad enough, and have 30 mins or so, the club won't work.

when i was 16, my dad gave me his '95 Silverado. I took it home with me to my mother's house where i lived, and she put the club on it to stop me from leaving the house without holding her hand. After 3 days or so i had enough, and i took a hacksaw to it and had it in 2 pieces in about a half an hour. I had to buy her a new one, but lesson learned...i got to grow up without her up my butt all the time.

[Rogue_Sentinel]

this will work

[cableguy0]

Im gonna type this so take it as you will. The club is an absolute joke. Less than 10 seconds and a 3lb hammer and its off the steering wheel with no damage to the car. I dont care how many guns,dogs or bats you have. Chances are you sleep a lot heavier than you think you do. I cause dogs to bark and alarms to go off every night backing the tow truck into driveways. You can think or wish your going to stop someone all you want. Anyone that knows what they are doing in a tow truck will be driving out of your driveway in less than 30 seconds from the time they get to the house with your vehicle on the hook. Im often amazed at the amount of noise I can get away with making and never see a person or even a light come on. Not every situation is ideal and some talk longer than you want to be there but for the most part. People are waking up in the morning and dont know the car is gone until they walk outside. Not trying to P!ss in anyones cheerios just talking from a different point of view than most ever get to see.

[scottsdaleowner75]

I had a repo man try to take my car by mistake. My dead beat neighbor bought a 2007 scion tC identical to mine but decided he didn't have to pay for it after about 6 months. He even removed the plates and put dealer paper plates on it to make it look like it was a new car. I used to live in an apartment complex/condo and the parking spaces are often full. So i park under my car port and am awaken by the sound of a diesel idling close to my bedroom window. So its 2 am a shady looking guy with a small tire thumper in his hand and his tow truck is loading MY car onto his tow. I called 911 and put my fiance on the line and went outside with my usp and surefire. I asked the guy what he was doing and he said taking this car. I told him you have the wrong car and he laughed at me. it was at this point i told him the PD were in route and not to leave. We would all sort this out. Myself, him and the local authorities. He got in my face and threatened me so i took several steps back and told him to wait and stay away. He approached me again and i drew from my concealment rig and he stopped. I kept it low and ready and told him i was taking his attempts to confront me as an act of violence against me and i would do what i had to do to stop his threat. He now was listening. By this time the PD showed up and ordered me on the ground and him as well. After about a half hour of explaining and talking to supervisiors i was released and he was taking a ride downtown. I dont think he got arrested but he did have alot to answer for. Why he didnt just check the vin i still dont know. 2 days later my deadbeat neighbor moved out. I still have a loose front spoiler from where he slid his skids under. Point of the story is 1. dont think your vehicle is safe. if they want it they can get it. 2. call the police asap. whoever calls first wins 3. dont confront crooks, legitimates or otherwise. it can only be a headache even if you are in the right. 4. get good insurance so if it is stolen they will cover the ENTIRE cost of replacement.

[cableguy0]

What a jackass. First thing to be done is vin the vehicle. To not vin a car in an apt complex is completely ridiculous. He's one of the idiots that make us all look bad. Im gonna assume he was using a wheel lift truck which shows hes not terribly smart. Anybody with a clue wouldnt think about taking a car without a self loading truck. In/out and gone in a few seconds. No screwing around outside the truck. Just hook and go.