Theft Concerns

[skipdup]

My new 1979 930 does not have an alarm system.

I've never been a fan of aftermarket alarm systems, though I haven't looked at them in a while. They always seemed cheap somewhat obnoxious to me. But, being that I now have my favorite car ever, theft is a concern.

I'd enjoy hearing peoples thoughts/ideas on what they do for theft prevention. Are alarms the way to go? Is one manufacturer better than another? Any other theft prevention devices I should consider?

Also, are our cars high targets for thieves?

Edit: I would know if my car had an alarm, right?

Thanks,
Skip

[singpilot]

A keyed switch in the back end of your driver's door would be the clue for the factory alarm. Just above the catch mechanism. The wiring diagram will show the alarm module location for your year.

[real550A]

When I am away from my Carrera, so is the steering wheel. There have been a few threads about this recently, if you search.
Great theft deterrent with some other nice incidental features IMO.

[RANDY P]

Maybe not so much theft, but vandals.

Dilligent parking habits, full coverage insurance and an alarm that's set pretty conservatively so it's not a nuisance when it's rocked or tugged accidentally. Stick with a well known brand and a specialty shop. If they're gonna damage it they will. Plain and simple. Good alarm makes it much harder to steal though.

Going against the grain, a good basic install isn't going to make a mess of your car electrically...

[84porsche]

Most theives go for something they can steal quick and get some money for. Most Porsches don't have classy rims or expensive stereos which are about the only things worth anything. If you don't have either of these, then don't worry. I have an alarm and the only time I turn it on is when the Targa top is off because that is the most expensive part of my car.

[gsxrken]

My fuel pump relays are pulled whenever I know the car won't be used. The way I use the toy-car, I'm rarely out of it, and when it's home it's garaged. It sounds nuts but I try to keep the existence of the car a very low profile thing. I figure with almost no one knowing it exists at my house, that is the best theft protection.

[masraum]

Fortunately Chevys and Hondas are much more likely to be victims than '79 930's. The market for parts of the others is much greater, and they are less conspicuous.

Not to say that a '79 930 can't/won't be stolen, just that your average thief would have to work a little harder to figure it out than a car that they've done 50 times.

[Victor]

Agree. Our cars used to get stolen up untill about 10-20 years ago.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by RANDY P
Going against the grain, a good basic install isn't going to make a mess of your car electrically...

Are you sure about that? I've only had to deal with a few but they seem to be installed by hacks. Lots of Scotch connectors and unnecessary holes cut. Can you tell I hate alarms?
-Chris

[RANDY P]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
Are you sure about that? I've only had to deal with a few but they seem to be installed by hacks. Lots of Scotch connectors and unnecessary holes cut. Can you tell I hate alarms?
-Chris

Get this -

As an example - believe it or not, it's possible to install an alarm in a 911 that does the basics such as triggers when it's hit or the doors are opened and flashes the parking lights without cutting any vehicle wiring in half -

One wire tapped to the keyswitch to tell the alarm the car is running -

One wire tapped into the doorpin to tell the alarm the door has been opened

The rest of the wiring is controlled off the alarm box which is wired directly to the battery, and nothing else.

Parking lights require two taps (left and right side lighting)

No other circuts are physically cut and the whole system was installed with 4 wires tee tapped into.

You get problems when you start adding the automatic roll up and roll down, automatic sunroof opening, ignition and fuel pump disable which most shops won't do since it can cause an accident if it acts up when it's not supposed to.

Follow the K.I.S.S principle and your car will remain intact and the alarm will never give you issues. All the lazy accsy's are what give you headaches down the road. Being in the mobile electronics biz for 10 years I never had any of that crap installed since I've seen what can happen!

The key word here is "basic"

rjp

[Victor]

Another thought, my car has a factory alarm. Interferes with nothing and works just swell.

Can these be sourced and retrofitted to earlier cars?

[dickster]

hi

my car was stolen about 18 mnths ago - luckily it was recovered a month later.

but following that i had a high end alarm system fitted. its a bespoke system as fitted to ferrari's, rolls royce, etc in my area.

i had them fit central locking as well which is nice - cost around US$1,500 - but well worth it imho.

[RickM]

I have a hidden cut-off switch. I'd like to update it to a card activated cut-off.

[Tommy B]

my coolest cut-off system was on my old golf. to start the car you had to do the following (in order)

turn key to on
press the right mirror adjust button up
press the cruise control set button on the stalk
turn the key to ignition

this was both an ignition and fuel pump cutoff. pretty trick and i had it done for 150 bucks. no weird buttons, perfecty factory look.

[Tommy B]

rick, for my senior project in school, i was looking into bio-metric ID for the doors and ignition. fingerprint scan would be cool.

[reed930]

I usually cringe when I see a car that has an aftermarket alarm system. They're typically installed with the same care as your typical Best Buy stereo installation. I worry more about careless drivers opening their doors into my car than theives now that these cars are around twenty years old. The average car thief is stealing Hondas and Toyotas or xenon headlights off of Nissans. The guy that wants your 930 isn't your typical thief and probably would be able to get past most commercial alarms.

[MAS]

The number one problem you will have will be vandalism. My car was vandalized on the first day I bought it. I'd had it out all evening, and parked it outside my apartment at 2:00 am. At appoximately 2:20am it was vandalized (to the tune of over $1,300).

-MAS

[tobluforu]

Get a sticker stating you have an alarm. Get a blinking led light, and get the pedal jack. You can buy all the fancy alarms, but if they want it, they will get it.
The only way to a car with a pedal jack is 1). Tow it or 2). use a battery operated saw and saw through it. That would wake the dead and may not work.

[Grady Clay]

Have it undesirable to steal or vandalize. A locked car cover works great. A flashing red LED on the dash and a quiet “chirp” every 10 seconds or so is a good deterrent. In the days of tape, we had cassettes with a tangle of wires hanging out – looked as if the player had just been ripped out.

Never leave anything inside the car, an empty cardboard box is an invitation to break in. Never, ever leave your cell charging where it is visible. If you find you have to leave your 911 in a particularly worrisome place, buy a newspaper, crumple it up and throw it around inside the car. Crooks may be dumb but they don’t go after trash.

When you park, crank the steering to full lock before you pull the key. I like the idea of the removable steering wheel.

Yes, an alarm is appropriate. However, how many times have you seen a 911 on a flatbed tow truck with the alarm blaring away and all the lights flashing?

I have always advocated a simple hidden switch that disables the fuel pump. Nothing complex, just simple off-on.

The best recovery technique is the system that calls a central office and reports the car’s GPS location. Should have an independent battery.

I have even seen a 911 with a chain through a wheel, the A-arm, and around a lamp post.

Best,
Grady

[singpilot]

Line of sight access.

30.06.


First round simply goes close by. The sonic shock wave works better than the alarm which only I seem to hear.

Usually no need (so far) for a second round. Have never had one stolen.