Anti-Theft - What Helps?

[jyl]

What anti-theft measures do board members recommend?

I am interested in anything from parts etching to aftermarket alarms to hidden kill switches to "Lojack" type tracking devices. I'm particularly looking for (1) a design for a simple hidden kill switch, and (2) feedback on how well the Lojack system works in the SF Bay Area.

How often do older 911s get stolen? It's not a "top ten" stolen car (I know that's reserved for Camrys, Accords, and the like) but does the model get much attention from joyriders, "steal-on-commission" types, or chop shops?

This thread was inspired (frightened?) by the recent thread about a stolen SC - glad it was recovered.

[Gspin]

Put a good alarm in with a ignition kill switch along with a Lojack. The bottom line is if all else fails Lojack will likely get your car back for you.

[HawgRyder]

Remember...the only good thief is a dead thief.
Make 'em good as fast as you can.
Also....any time you are offered a great "deal" on parts...get the licence number and report it to the police.
Maybe if we stop being customers..the theft will go down.
Bob

[billwagnon]

Here's the best theft deterrent I've seen -

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/attachment.php?postid=456246

[Joeaksa]

Best theft devise is a hungry doberman sitting in the right seat, followed by a 12 gauge pump shotgun/.45 auto. Use Hawgriders principal on life and you will assist all of us!

Next in the list is to keep the car in a garage! When its out and parked in a lot, put a kill switch in it and a lock on the steering wheel. You did not list your cars age, but the later DME cars are very easy to do with a kill switch turning off power to the fuel injection relay under the drivers seat.

In the end, if they want the car, they will get it with a tow truck and it will be gone in 30 seconds. If your car is very special (turbo, expensive wheels and such) then do not park it in grocery store or office lots and drive a beater during the week if you want to be 99% safe.

The LoJack system works well everywhere in the US, but the weak link is if the police have the time to track the car down immediately after the alarm is triggered. If the police have the manpower to do this, many cars are found within the first hour (very important) but the longer they have the car, the less chance you have of getting it back in one piece.

Understand that now the perps are stealing the cars, sitting them in a parking lot and watching them for a few hours. If the car has a LoJack then it usually will be found, if not then they take it to the chop shop or garage and have their way with it depending on if its to be made into spare parts or if it was a special order job.

Joe (who lives in Phoenix, the city with one of the highest theft rates in the US)

[rstoll]

I like the quick release steering wheel myself. Imagine, your next outing to your favorite restaurant. Check you hat, coat and steering wheel at the door.

[AirCooledExcellence]

Check this link out:

Car Alarm

Looks quite effective!!

Cheers,

Tim.
____________
1983 SC Targa

[john walker's workshop]

when i'm concerned, i remove something that will keep the car from starting, like the distributor rotor, or fuel pump relay. another trick is to swap the coil wire and one of the outer spark plug wires on the distributor cap. a one cylinder engine won't even move the car. i did that as a joke to a mechanic who worked next to me at the dealer. he thought he was pretty hot, but he spent an hour looking for the problem, then i swapped it back when he went for parts. cruel.

[Joeaksa]

Robert,

For years when riding a bike I locked it up where ever I stopped. Then flipped the quick release on the front wheel and took it with me to class, resturant or where ever... never got a bike stolen, but then it would be difficult to do on a car!

That said, if they really want the car, they will use a tow truck and steering wheel or not, they will get it.

Joe

I take my steering wheel out just like they do in Formula 1.

How will you steel a car without steering wheel?

I also have an immobiliser.

[pwd72s]

I've used John's remove the rotor trick for years. But I also believe that a moving car isn't stolen, and cars in locked & alarmed garages aren't stolen. Since I drive my car for pleasure use only, you seldom see it without somebody in or near it...so far, so good. I've thought of kill switches, other alarms...but I hate the idea of drilling any holes in the car.

[Jack Olsen]

But I also believe that a moving car isn't stolen,

Unfortunately, not true in cities like New York and L.A., where carjacking is still popular.

Aside from a locked garage, my thinking has always been three main lines of defense:

1) DME-based kill switch (stops the joyriders)
2) Motion-sensitive alarm that alerts a pager (lets you know when it's happening)
3) Lo-jack (gets it back)

[widebody911]

I've found that having exposed welds, each body panel a different color, and a monstrous wing, will deter most, if not all, thieves.

Case in point: I met a girl for coffee a couple of weeks ago. We arrived at the same time, and in the rush of "hi's" I forgot and left the keys in the ignition with the top down. I was gone for about 4 hours, nobody touched it.

QED

[pwd72s]

Jack, by "moving", I meant no stops...kind of hard for a carjacker to walk up to you at 70 MPH...he might drive up at that speed. But even then, it would be difficult to pull off. Uh, does California have a "concealed carry" law? Oregon does. It's basic premise is that if you have zero criminal record, pass an NRA and state certified course, you are qualified to carry a concealed firearm. The license to "carry concealed", if you wish to have one, is pretty much guaranteed. Since Oregon passed this law years ago? Violent personal crime, including carjacking, has dropped...a lot. Have any of those with a concealed carry permit abused the privilege? Nope. But, I will admit, there are now a few "good" (read dead) bad guys up here. One of them? A "former" carjacker. Funny how the carjacking rate dropped, after the liberal press tried to crucify the guy who defended himself. The D.A. disagreed, refused to prosecute. This event happened up on the Santiam pass, about 35 miles from where I live. NOT in the big city of Portland, which is where I would have expected it to first happen. Electronic prevention means are all well and good. But if somebody is willing to kill me in order to have my car? Then I think he should be willing to consider that he may receive a simlilar response...

[RazorRacer]

There's another thread in the 911 forum about this. It made a good point that pro's don't have a market for older 911s. So older 911s are mostly stolen for joy rides. A "Club" or "Dr. Hook" is enough to prevent that kind of theft.

[john70t]

Another good one is the "pedal-jack". The pedals are hardened steel and not changable (unlike the steering wheel) and a good deterant if the thief can't push the clutch lever down.
They could start it in first gear and make it down the block, but in combination with a fuel cutoff switch, a paging alarm, a good public location and the Clint Eastwood "friendly-reminder" you'll have a good start.

I don't know if they sell those full wheel-locks the DMV uses for private use but it would be nice. The scariest thing I worry about is yuppies in a hurry parking next to me.

I personally like the grounded metal steering wheel/isolated metal radio button feature that is hooked up to an extra coil That'll get um'.