Wheel Boots theft deterrent for your rod...

We've all seen the "Stolen" alerts here, and we see them on other sites too.

And no doubt lots of us worry about it with our rods.

Someone over on Yellow Bullet posted this link, for wheel boots and "claw"-style wheel locks. We've all seen them--they're the big hunks of steel that clamp in front and behind a wheel while it's on the car, so someone can't drive off.
In college, I routinely got them on my car for unpaid parking tickets.

I'm in no way affiliated with these, with the company or with the sellers... just thought it was a good idea, a damn sight cheaper than I thought they'd be.

I'll be honest: I'm starting to spend more time worrying about my '61 Suburban when I go on road trips or to bigger events where I'm going to leave it in the parking lot. I drove my son's Dakota to the Charlotte AutoFair for this reason.

Here's a link:
http://www.buy.com/prod/denver-claw-wheel-boot-tire-lock/227146712.html?listingId=194975671

$90 for the claw-style, $120 for the wheel cover style.

I'll be getting one.

-Brad
(if someone can grab the pic and post it, that'd be cool... I don't have the technology.
well, I probably DO have the technology, but I don't have the knowledge.
And I don't have the desire to get the knowledge, so there you go.)

 

There is a 240Z at the local Burger King that wears the boot. Just got to remeber to takeit off, before going for a drive.

 

Never thought of one as a theft deterrent. Pretty cool. These always make me think of this:

 

Pretty cool idea, just hope that the thieves aren't clever...

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?3880087/page1

 

Ive been preaching these things for awhile. Theyr'e cheap, easy to carry and hopefully enough deturrent the thiefs will move on to the next ride.

 

With a tow truck, a thief could lift the end with the boot and drive off. You gonna put a boot on all four wheels?

The boot would stop the casual car thief, but I don't think the people stealing vintage cars or race cars are the casual thief. They are most likely professionals dealing in specialized cars.

I never go to a place where I wasn't able to see my car. The worlds just got too many bad apples. It sucks, but that's the way it is.

 

This wheel boot is the better of the two. Makes it more difficult to remove the wheel and put the spare on. More difficult to remove the lug nuts.

 

That's gonna look BITCHIN' at a show and shine. Maybe it could painted flat black and pinstriped. Or, prop one of those crying kid dolls in front of it.

 

Agreed, but the idea is to present enough deturrents that they won't wanna waste time and will move on to the next car thats perhaps an easier target. Insurance is a must, but things like this aint gonna hurt either.

 

Most cars go missing behind a tow truck, nobody pays any attention to tow trucks, cause they're always hauling something, half the time the alarm is blaring and people laugh. Recognise how your car will go missing and do the most basic things, park where you can see it, park where the night man at the motel can see it, give him twenty bucks to watch it, it'll be there in the morning.
Interrupt the starter wire with a toggle switch, it won't even crank, provided you remember to flick the switch. It'll give you enough time to run to the car, grab the s.o.b. and wail on his ass.

 

I've seen Hotrods chained to light/telephone poles at hotels and it appears to be excessive but whatever it takes to deter the thieves.

 

At the Super Chevy show here in Atlanta a couple years ago, several enthusiast vehicles were stolen out of the parking area. Two were recovered: one ran out of gas on the freeway and was abandoned, another had an owner-installed fuel cut-off and it made it from the race track to the freeway on-ramp on the fuel in the bowls.

How many guys have posted here that their cars were stolen?
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the majority of them weren't stolen by professional crews, or with a tow-truck or roll-back.

And by the way, if it's on the front wheel and pulled into a parking space, a tow truck probably isn't going to lift the rear tires and drive away with it, dragging a front boot.

-Brad

 

Pull the coil wire, replace it with a vacume hose with boots on each end. A thief isnt going to take the time to diagose why it turns over but wont fire.

 

And by the way, if it's on the front wheel and pulled into a parking space, a tow truck probably isn't going to lift the rear tires and drive away with it, dragging a front boot.

-Brad[/QUOTE]

Yah hed pull it out then hook to the front.

If a professional wants your car there gunna take it. The gas shut off is one of the better ones for the rookies. It gets them thinking they got it then it stops in a high profile area.

there is an old story from when lo jacks came out. The cops followed it right to the long beach docks where the unit pointed out into the water at a cargo ship. These high dollar rare cars that go missing. they arnt getting parted out or the parts would show up. Somewhere someone with a lot of cash is building a collection.

 

I've been sayin' this for a while, they're going to South America, Mid East or the Far East. Nothin' is showing up here for parts or re-packaged cars.

You'd figure that the big insurance houses would be making more noise about it.

Bob

 

I have "magnum" front rotors on my T & I put a big horseshoe shaped lock thru the "spokes" of the rotor to lock my front wheel.But if a thief uses a flatbed they just skid it right up the ramp.But its still a deterrent for the average parking lot thief! I also swith the dist.end of the coil wire with a plug wire.
Jim

 

If I lived somewhere that I had to constantly watch my car, personally, I'd move. That just doesn't sound like any fun to me.

 

Is not California # 1 for car thefts ?

 

Since there are about 30 million cars here, I'm certain it very well could be. Car theft is of absolutely no concern around my neighborhood.

 

Well I can see that being a real problem if you drink or eat barbs religiously. Maybe that is a good thing though.

 

Thanks for that Brad, Much cheaper than the McGuard version@ $299.00!
As has been beaten to death here..."Locks keep honest people(and ametures) honest". If they REALLY want your car they will get it, but these things and the fuel cutoff etc will make the ametures and maybe the pros look for an easier target.

 

Unfortunately these theives are able to get through just about anything. They know where to look for wires for alarms etc. The more you can do to disable the trailer and truck the better. There are alot of little things that you can do that will deter them. Most of them want to do the hitch and run.

 

Thats the going theory. I also heard that all those f350s and crew cab chevys and the like that get stolen are going to big ranches here in america and mexico. Thats why people almost always get the trailer back. But the truck never sees the road again.

 

I've thought about a switched line lock. As soon as you turn the key the brakes are locked until you flip the switch. That and a fuel cutoff would drive small theives nuts!
A roll back on the other hand......well mabey not.
28

 

Most guys that work on rebuilders will tell you that the hardest car to load is the one that has one front wheel frozen. What about drilling a front rotor and applying a good quality lock through it? Sam

 

It's a great idea, but certainly not a new one! Check this Model T/A era wheel lock:

 

With all these cars being stolen we really should as a community start a Thread that focuses on helping members deter possible car thieves. Call it "Tricks and Trade Secrets Of Keeping Our Rides Safe". I am sure we would get a ton of great ideas and if each of us uses 1-3 good deteriants hopefully our car will be where we left it.

We know that if they want it really bad they will get it. But if we put enough road blocks in their way they will move on. So the boot lock is a really good idea. But some of the ideas that you are presenting hear need to be detailed for the good of our community, hobby and lifestyle in a thread of its own.
J

 

I bought a U shaped Bell bicycle lock for about $15 bucks. Crank the wheels all the way left or right, then find someplace to lock the steering arm to the wishbone. Probably works best on axle/fenderless cars. Ain't perfect, but better than nothing.

 

QD steering wheel adaptors work great. They might get it on a flatbed, but they ain't driving it away and you only look a little weird carrying a steering wheel into the restaurant.

 

I think most older cars that are stolen are towed away. . . so all of the kill switches in the world aren't going to help you.

I'd also imagine you could tow a car pretty easy with a boot on it.

I think the best thing to do it make sure your car is fully insured, and don't worry about it.

Sure it'll suck if it's stolen, but what's the fun in having a car if you're just stressed out anytime you bring it anywhere.