HUBCAP Theft help!

Jonas · 11-02-2005, 10:19 PM

I have these nice 7" and 8" 5-lug wheels on my 914 which use the old-style hubcaps that have spring clips to hold them in.

They keep getting stolen. Once from my work, another time from my house.

I'm tired of re-buying them, and they're sure to disappear eventually from the catalogs.

Does anybody have any good suggestions for securing them?

I don't know if its kids taking them or VW owners, or crackheads, but I would really like to lock them somehow.

M. Hendrix · 11-02-2005, 10:45 PM

This won't help, but it's better than the others... you should see what happend to my 911... pry bar..

Something to think about..

M

Jonas · 11-02-2005, 11:01 PM

They're not made out of gold for chrissakes! I can't imagine that somebody other than a bug owner, or some kid would want to go through the trouble of prying off some Porsche hubcaps. I mean, if you need a fast buck to by some crack, I think its easier to steal a pack of Gillette razor blades from the grocery store and sell them.

At least if they were "secure" to some degree, it would keep the slightly interested kid or passer-by from just reaching down and pulling one off with his bare hands, and seeing how cool it is and take all four of them.

But, yes, I wouldn't want somebody to destroy my wheels to get them either. But, should I not lock my car? If they want to get in, they'd have to break a window, etc... more damage... Where do you draw the line? I would like to draw the line at being able to pull it off with your hands.

J

M. Hendrix · 11-02-2005, 11:10 PM

I fully understand that.

There used to be a system to secure them, I had seen ads, but I can't remember what it was called..

Best bet: 911 forum.. definately.

M

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

The later model caps...not the three prong ones can be modified with a locking ring. They are installed with the wheel off the car and use three-four allen headed screws that tighten into the inside diameter of the cap's hole in the wheel....

Been awhile since I've seen them....I THINK Performance Products had them.

You can try posting on the 911 site....."I" use a strong silicon bead and it seems to work. Also the "new" racer trendy look is removing them all completely.

Jonas · 11-03-2005, 01:13 PM

I definitely have the new trendy racer look right now, and I don't like it! =)

Yes, mine are the three-prong style. I suppose a thick strong silicon ring might keep the bare-handed theft from happening.

Any better ideas anyone? I'll also post this in the 911 forum!

Thanks!

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

You can try and drill and tap the prongs and then use pointed end set screws.....

itsa914 · 11-04-2005, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikez
You can try and drill and tap the prongs and then use pointed end set screws.....

I agree, a friend did this with his 911. He doesn't have the car anymore but I can see if he has some pictures if you want.

bd1308 · 11-04-2005, 07:48 PM

just cover the ground around your car with fly paper.

that'll solve it.

zumwoll · 11-04-2005, 11:10 PM

Two thoughts. In my Cali hotrodding days, guys were ripping off 8 tracks and the the gauge cluster the screwed to the underside lip of the metal dash. Since thieves did not want to take the time to unscrew the sheet metal screws, tehy just reached down and ripped out the guages. The cure was to insert the razor blades that were mentioned above betweent the gauages and the dash. I understand that the guages were often covered in blood and some flesh but a side benefit is that if you lived in a small town you had a pretty good idea who the culprit was.

Speedo959 · 11-05-2005, 06:30 AM

I wouldn't want some HIV infected crackhead bleeding all over my interior.

zumwoll · 11-05-2005, 05:41 PM

Speedo:
How true. Every era has its truths. I had a really good speaker in the glove box of one of my cars which kept dissappearing. I did the razor trick and I willl be damned that one of my roomates reported to another roomie that he was moving out. My buddy mentioned that his right hand was heavily bandaged. Tsk, Tsk. These days of course I would be in jail for assualt with a deadly weapon. : - (

Speedo959 · 11-06-2005, 09:48 AM

A long gone co-worker told me a story of how he once vandalized a Scirocco of an enemy. Problem was that when he went to slice the tires, the guy filled it with cut up razor blades just for this occasion!

Cut his hand up so bad he had to go to the emergency room.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Right..........bet he lost the hand and then got a transplant and it was from a convicted killer and it choked other people without his input....%^B