Car security Tips

adrian jaye · 02:19 AM

Picture this you wake up in the morning, The sun is shining. You think I'm going to get the top down and drive into work to pi55 off the boss.

You finish having breakfast, lock up go to the garage and you worst nighmare has just happened.

"where the hell is she !"

Now most of us have spent a lot of time and money on our rides, modifiying, car stereo, waxing and polishing. If your like me you spent a year looking to buy it, and blood sweat and a isht load of tears gone into saving for your kick ass ride.

Now some toe rag has taken it, probably thrashing the hell out of it, then burning it or breaking for parts. Other than a divorce, loss of a familly pet or moving house, that must be the most devastating things that can happen.

So, I'll try and give a few pointers to help.
Bear in mind I used to know people who took cars for kicks so had a little bit of an insight.

1> 100% fool proof.

NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING will make your car 100% fool proof, what you want to do is make your car a bit less desirable than another car

2> Time.

A thief does not want to spend more than 30seconds getting into a car, make it longer and he may well give up

3> Parking.

Parking in well lit roads, controlled car parks, even parking next to a more desireable or expensive car can help

4> Alarms.

Dont even bother fitting one, get it done properly. Get one which is the Thatcham Catagory 1, on the 44's your are best to leave the factory immobilser alone and get the alarm to interface with that. Dont ask me why I aint going to tell you !

5> Mechanical steps

Mechanical locks, hidden switched all help

6> Car jacking

Consider having a anti-jack alarm, so people who try and take your car with a gun or knife aimed at you can, but will cut out safely and leave them stranded and running for the hills

7> SWITCH IT ON

any theft devices only work when there on, close windows, remove keys (especially when in a petrol station) I wont even tell you about the 996 owner who lost his car at a petrol station cos his keys were in the car as he was paying for it and his insurance was then invalid !

8> Loose lips sink ships

Dont talk about your security, dont advertise weakness's.
Dont post or reply on the net or e-mail unless your 100% certain the information will not be used by a criminal.

9> Stickers.
Dont advertise what alarm/immoby you have put either another makes sticker or a generic one on instead. Also sticking "KENWOOD" "PIONEERS" "THMPING BASS" tells a thief you got something worth stealing

10> New window sir ?
Keep things outta sight, take the stereo face plate with you, put the bag in the boot, TAKE YOUR PC WITH YOU, sometimes, coming back to a car full of glass is very saddening.

11> People are watching you.
They are, people see who come into car parks, look for PC bags, try and avoid, taking or putting bags into or outta a car. Dont ask me how I know, 2 PC's knicked outta a company car in broad daylight, with me and my mate 100yds away !

12> CAR KEYS
How many of us keep our Pawsh keys on a rack by the door ?
well DONT, burglers are now getting wise and will break into your house to get your keys. (you wont find my pawsh keys if you break into mine)

13> Selling your car.
Again a good opertunity for theft, get a drivers licences adn some from of ID, never relinquish the keys to your car, and be aware of two burly blokes turning up or a 16 yo kid with a back to front base ball cap, whoes going to buy your $20k cab.

If you can make your car harder to steal chances are it wont.
BTW none of the above will ever stop a determined thief !

I'm sure theres more, feel free to add your own.

Adrian Jaye
TiPEC (The Independant Porsche Enthusuasts Club)
Thames Valley Region
Regional Officer

"Hoping never to know the feeling of finding 16 not parked in my garage"

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

Yeah, I recently had my 88 Honda prelude si stolen. There was nothing visually different compared to any other honda of the vintage except it was very clean (has been in the family since new, garaged and dealer maintained). I could not have imagined it getting stolen in a thousand years.
Ahmet

adrian jaye · 11-17-2003, 02:27 AM

Exactly,
it totally guts you, you'll probably find some low-life has told the thief the best way to steal it.

Oh yeah

Supply and demand

Dont buy parts without knowing where they came from,
other than you going to jail for buying stolen property
(dont matter if you plead ignorance)
if there is no demand for cheap parts there wont be any supply

we all buy our parts from pelican now dont we

all together "yes we do"

Manute · 11-17-2003, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by adrian jaye

8> Loose lips sink ships

Dont talk about your security, dont advertise weakness's.
Dont post or reply on the net or e-mail unless your 100% certain the information will not be used by a criminal.

Agree with all...I get scared when i read the "i stole a p.in 30 seconds..." I suppose all thieves know a lot more than ours,but do´nt think posting all that info is good.

Maybe it´s a good idea to make a list of the 944 weak points,and how to avoid them.

Dark Skies · 04:04 AM

I'd agree with most of the above except posting alternatve manufacturers alarm stickers. The reason being that a guy who has extensive knowledge of various alarm systems is going to say: "A Keystone 500? Yeah, I've done one of them before - come to Papa, *****."

Then he's going to break your window or pop your hood, discover your TOAD system and then run off having damaged your car.

Better to just have a sticker saying the car is alarmed (even if it's not).

As for sticking stuff in the boot. Works for most cars but the Porsche's stupid rollerblind thing screams "I have something to hide - break in and find out what." Mine broke recently and I've decided not to put it back for this very reason. I don't keep anything in the back now.

For American viewers - Thatcham is a UK research centre financed by UK insurance companies to test vehicle safety and insurance products. Its approval on commercial products can often reduce your insurance premiums if you employ them. I doubt if it's relevant to the US although I'm sure you have an equivalent body.

The best policy is to leave nothing that might appear to contain something worth stealing. Even an empty plastic shopping bag might earn you an explorative smashed window. I've recently taken to leaving my glovebox open so's people can see there's bugger all worth having.

By the way, I'd say that regarding the fitment of alarms ... if you can do it yourself then do so. If not then get a Porsche dealership to do it. The reason being that there are a cartload of dodgy security fitters out there who will slip the info on your pride and joy to thieves the moment it leaves the workshop.

adrian jaye · 11-17-2003, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dark Skies
Better to just have a sticker saying the car is alarmed (even if it's not).

better, true, I have a "joe blogss alarm fitted" a totally generic sticker, used to have fitted by "xyz alarms" of course the point being, dont put any identifying marks as to what your alarm is

As for sticking stuff in the boot. Works for most cars but the Porsche's stupid rollerblind thing screams "I have something to hide - break in and find out what." Mine broke recently and I've decided not to put it back for this very reason. I don't keep anything in the back now.

out of sight, out of mind

The best policy is to leave nothing that might appear to contain something worth stealing. Even an empty plastic shopping bag might earn you an explorative smashed window. I've recently taken to leaving my glovebox open so's people can see there's bugger all worth having.

yep good idea, specially wiv the glovebox open.

By the way, I'd say that regarding the fitment of alarms ... if you can do it yourself then do so. If not then get a Porsche dealership to do it. The reason being that there are a cartload of dodgy security fitters out there who will slip the info on your pride and joy to thieves the moment it leaves the workshop.

Yeah that is true, thats why its important to go on recommendation, but most people DONT know how to fit an alarm properly, surprising how tricky it can be to do it properly. Donht forget all thoes sleepless nights with false Alarms.

Oh and most insurance companies WONT give you any discount unless you have a certificate of fitting

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

I have kept my stock stereo and speakers, nothing is in the vehicle including the hatch area. If I have somethingI want to hide I place it in the compartments behind the rear wheel wells. My work place is in a hood so i park my car next to people who have $$$$$ in their stereos and speaker and CDs they leave on thier seats. The thieves go for his stuff every time. 3 times now. When will he learn.

Manute · 11-17-2003, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dark Skies

As for sticking stuff in the boot. Works for most cars but the Porsche's stupid rollerblind thing screams "I have something to hide - break in and find out what." Mine broke recently and I've decided not to put it back for this very reason. I don't keep anything in the back now.

hahaha nice point! I usually carry nothing there,but i keep thinking:what should i do?put it so it´s more aesthetical,or leave it open to show is nothing on it,but showing my dirty carpet?
Realyy doen´t seems like a Porsche solution that roller thing.

And how about the glovebox key?Is there any thief that will avoid braking your car only because you may (usually not) have closed with key your glovebox?If it was a real secure key....

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Take your steering wheel off.

Dark Skies · 11-17-2003, 08:13 AM

I've often wondered about getting one of those Denver boot things. I could park anywhere then and clampers would think I'd already been done and leave me alone.

adrian jaye · 11-17-2003, 08:20 AM

a few years ago, when the old Sierra Cosworths was the thiefs car of choice.

This guy, wnated to make sure his car didnt get stolen, so he
1> fit an alarm
2> an immobilser
3> chained the steering wheel
4> gear to handbrake lock
5> padlocked the car to a concrete post
6> Wheel clamp
7> and anti ram pipe

it was stolen a few days later, with all the junk left in his drive, and he heard NOTHING,

somtimes kidz see these things as a challange

AaronM · 11-17-2003, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCal Driver
Take your steering wheel off.

You know, that's not a bad idea... On these cars it wouldn't take much longer than fitting "The Club".

Aaron

tab tanner · 11-17-2003, 05:42 PM

I don't think alarms do much, My 87/944 was at Wal Mart parked far away from the rest of the cars. And some A--hole parked beside me and opened up his door and hit my car, It dented the side in real good, knocking a chunk of paint off and setting the alarm off. Plus this was all recorded on video by the security cameras. The guy just drove off. I can't do anything about it but get it fixed, I guess were I'm going with this is locks are made to keep honest people honest. If someone want's your car there isn't alot you can do to stop them,If they can't steal it they'l destroy it trying. I wish I had the answers, I think the ideas you guys have sound great, but once again we all hope that it dosn't happen to us