Poll: Car Anti-Theft solutions

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Cripes I've heard of thieves sueing home owners because their dog bit them while trying to break in...! and some "B-***-turds" win!

I guess we should insure heavily and call 911 as our rights are diminished less than the criminals!

Mark

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What about the dumb*** thief that broke in, got himself locked in these peoples garage for like a week....had to live off dog food and a couple cans of pop. He sued THEM,because the design of the house,the door and the garage door,wouldn't let him escape Musta been one of them real SMART thieves.......

 

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If you pull the actual COIL wire off, the distributer can't get voltage to fire any of the spark plugs.

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my bad...i read it like the wire from the coil to the dizzy.

 

Heres another idea...

Throw some coils of chain on the underside of the car, welded to each side of the frame. Just a couple links, even with the ujoints coming off the ******... drop a piece of steel in between those ujoints an lock it to the chain... (holes in the rod of steel...)

Instant stall for a manual...

idea 2... Use a line lock, set it up so all 4 can be locked at one time, but have 2 different solenoids one for the front, one for the back. Have a power disconnect on the dash, leaves the solenoids in the extended position... the roll away will make a lil more noise then normal!

One more... Weld a metal strip inside the door to stop the "slimjim" from being able to reach the lock rod... or dont use a lock rod, have the latch down on the inside across from the door lock.

or... equip the car with power windows, weld a bung into the doors close to the back of the seats, have a screw in loop to attach a piece of steel cable all the way across between both doors. Gotta break the window to beat that lock...

One other that i've pondered, mount a steal pin in the rear fenderwell that slides into the drivers/p*** door, locks into place... Then have a chop job tahts impossible to climb through the window!

 

I wonder if it is possible to get a "boot" in some kind of police auction? That would be the best, for when you go away on long trips and the car is unattended. Snap the boot around the front wheel and they'll have a hell of a time trying to get it on the trailer and nobody's going to drive off with it, except Homer Simpson!

 

ya...

Could always put a roll bar in it, get a big honking rotiserie and flip it upside down on a padded surface...

 

Bttt.

 

I am a fan of the BIG ***ED DOG idea. Also the double barrel and the cut off switches.

Unfortunately locks mainly just keep honest people honest.

Convincing your state that like horse theft in the old days it should be a hanging offense would be a start, but not likely to work, too many liberals.

 

Sears has a remote battery shut off and I'd include a couple of hidden toggle switches as well...!

My 34 Coupe had a padalock hasp on the floor so that I could lock the shifter in reverse...!

Other than that..., I'd insure heavily..., because if someone really wants your car..., they'll get it...!

 

Ive had one truck stolen and one attempt at another. Both had kill switches but the one that was stolen got lazy and didnt use the switch, learned my lesson. Second one used the kill switch all the time and payed off cause they tried and tried to start it but gave up. The only problem with a kill switch is that thief will usually destroy something to try and start it before he realizes he cant, like the steering column. It would be nice to have something that would chase them off before they start destroying ****.

I have just spliced into the clutch safety switch with a hidden toggle on late model cars, it works and its too small and dark to get under the clutch pedal and try and rewire the switch if they do find the source.

I too have heard of people soldering razor blades, etc under the dash but damn I dont want them bleeding all over my car! Probably get sued anyway!

 

run a kill switch to the neg side of coil to interupt the signal. make it looks as factory as possible so they might miss it. you can hotwire it and it still won't start. i was also thinking to put a few anchors into the driveway and some hefty chain.

 

I like the anti-theft paint job - charcoal grille black

Another: drive an AMC product...

Or,
Drive this:

 

garage at home, pull coil wire and a car cover while on the road. (just added door locks a few months ago

 

Wow... Posted this over a year ago! Now its back. Does have some pretty good info though.

 

kaboom ....

 

I just pulled out the coil wire when I parked the 39...I didn't have any way to lock the hood sides, so that was my solution.

 

As someone said, "Well all the thieves are probably making notes!"

The subject of "Anti-Theft solutions" has been around the block a number of times.

What follows is a piece I wrote about a couple of years ago.

The subject of "theft prevention devices" became a hot subject with a lot of discussion on devices or methods of slowing down someone trying to steal your "ride". The subject became the basis of my article. In, "Is your street rod worth stealing?"

The reference to "rollbacks" and "Lojack's" resulted in an e-mail from one of the members. I had mentioned that rollbacks (platform trucks where the deck rolls back and drops to the ground and equiped with a winch) were hard to beat, and received the following;

Skip Readio wrote:

“To help put this all into perspective, a few years ago my friend Bobby Wright got a call to remove a late model car from the walkway in front of the local ***berland Farms convenience store. Seems someone couldn't be bothered putting a nickel into the parking meter out on the street so they parked in the only available spot in front of the door at the ***berland Farms and went off to do whatever they needed to do.

We (Bobby and I) took his rollback over to the store and proceeded to drag it up onto the bed. No open-the-windows or try and unlock the car. Just put the hook on it and drag it up.

The front wheels were turned to the right but the floor jack under the engine made short work of that issue.

The alarm was blaring, people were going about their business and nobody called the cops.

This all happened in broad daylight, mid morning, in downtown Maynard, M***., home of Digital Equipment Corporation. This car was, most likely, an employee's car we were "stealing". NOBODY bothered us. We took it to the "impound" yard behind Bobby's service station and locked it up.

How safe is your car? It isn't. As far as I know, Lojack is the only proven device for getting your car back.

It won't prevent it from being stolen and, if the thief has a signal strength meter, it won't even help you get the car back 'cause they'll tear the car apart to find what's set off the needle in their meter and destroy the Lojack box.

There are also some sections of Boston (suburbs) where the cops won't go to retrieve a car with a broadcasting Lojack without substantial backup.

Bottom line is, your car isn't the slightest bit immune to being stolen and even a Lojack isn't totally foolproof.

.... But it's your best bet. Unfortunately, it only works in a few states.”

Regards,

Skip Readio

For those not familiar with Lojack systems, they are an electronic signaling device that remains silent but gives off a radio signal indicating its location when set off by the local police department or security company that you have the service with. The company that sells Lojack systems likes to point out that their recovery rate is very good. They show in one ad a vehicle that had been stolen 15 min. earlier was stopped by the police. The guy that had stolen the car had no idea how the police found him.


A story about Lojack devices was sent to me that I have not been able to verify. But it was too good to p*** up!

A large city on the west coast had Lojack service available. The police had been trying to break up a “high end” (expensive) car theft ring. Finally a theft was reported of a very expensive sports car that was equipped with a Lojack device. The police organized all their back up, and set off the transmitter of the Lojack. By triangulation they determined that the signal was coming from an old warehouse. The police rushed into the warehouse and discovered the stolen device.

The Lojack system was sitting on an old packing crate transmitting its heart out. The rest of the warehouse was empty!

The thieves apparently had discovered the Lojack in the car; removed it carefully, hooked it to a battery, and moved their operation to another location, probably having a good laugh all the way!

Even though ALL of the ideas presented here might slow down a thief and make them give up trying to steal your car; it will always depend on how bad they want it. (or what's inside)

 

They used to use those at a friend of mine's high school(for parking in the wrong place). Just take the wheel off and use a spare. We sell them at my work, $139.99 dunno if they're police grade(doubt it).

 

Just put a toggle switch under the dash for the ignition. Then weld 100 razor blades all over the under dash area. Finish up by installing red carpet!!!

 

I use a broken dynaflow on the -53, try to drive away with that!

 

I'll probably install a kill switch. Probably fuel pump or just ignition.

But on the hightech solution. I helped my girlfriend buy a car last night. 2001 golf. We had them install this really cool option.

An alarm by a company called KARR. But it also had a service called car guardian. With their system you can hook the alarm up to a cell phone or home phone. Your alarm goes off..it tells you. It moves...it tells you. You can then call the company or go onto the internet. Pull up their site. Type in your info and see EXACTLY where your car is. You can then call the cops and inform them or push the magic ****on. Kills the car. Not while their driving or anything like that but once they stop...it won't go anywhere again. Freakin sweet. I damn near had them install it on my WRX.

Better than Lojack. It's also national. Entire US and Canada is covered. Plus it has a replacement guarantee. Cars gone...you get whatever the value of your car was plus whatever it takes to get you the exact same car up to 3 years NEWER.

So for some of you guys that run modern motors or want to run a full on alarm it's a great investment. When my cadi is a bit farther along I'm gonna give it some serious thought.

For now...I"m just gonna install the switch.

 

When I wrote the article about the Lojack, KARR was just starting up operations.

It sounds even better than the original promos. From what I understand, the KARR system uses some pretty high tech stuff.

Like the replacement guarantee part. Will they will cover a Hot Rod??

 

lojack rips. But from the sounds of it this KARR stuff is unreal.

My girlfriend has all the paperwork. I'd be happy to call them and ask next time I see here.

But I would have to guess that if you got an appraisal. A real one. Took some photos...they'd have to pay you the value. The problem with old cars is that some paper pusher can go to www.kbb.com and see what your car is worth and write you a check for that much. So they have to go off what the value would be stock and original not new or fixed up with possibly thousands of dollars in parts on it. But if you have an appraisal..I know most insurance companies that cover old cars have to honor it.

Be interesting to find out. I'll see what I can figure out and get back to you.

VW is now preinstalled KARR systems in their new cars and certified used cars. It works in conjunction with their stock alarm key fobs and what not. You just have to pay them to turn it on.

 

When I get round to wiring my Morris I shall put a 'start' sticker on the horn ****on, and a 'horn' sticker on the start ****on. Both will be on the dash.

And I'll wire a starter byp*** switch into the brake light switch. If the brake pedal is not pressed the starter won't kick in. Also for safety as I have no neutral lockout on the ******.

And if some ***hole still manages to start it after that, then they are welcome to it

 

i got this idea the other day: Take one of those micro cameras and hide it in the dash facing the driver, and another one somewhere else, facing forward. Rig them to a motion detector so that they turn on when a door is opened, someone sits down, or a tow truck hooks up to the front. Have the cameras set up like a web cam so that they send the images to a REMOTE location. Now you have a picture of the thief and/or a picture of the tow truck and it's licence plate! Then, you could rig up a recording (like Viper or whatever) that says in English, then Spanish, "You are not authorized to be doing that. I have taken your picture and that picture is stored digitally at my work computer. Leave now and avoid jail time" Or something like that

what do you think?

 

mines like that but itll go about a block then turn off. i forgot to tell the allignment guy about it when he test drove it. he ened up walking back to get me.

 

shaved door handles and no inside handles and latches are behind the seat all my stereo stuff is hidden. beside who wants a 55 f100 thats flat black with green steelies?

 

Check out the an***heft device at www.trunkmonkey.com:D

 

you mean http://www.trunkmonkeyad.com/4qt.htm ? that ****s great though... like how he grabs his crotch after he throws the body off the bridge.

 

On my T i put a big lock thru the front rotor( Harley trick),I switch the coil wire at the cap with another one & i set a motion alarm.I do this everytime i park the car, even if it s only for a minute to run into a store, where i can see it!!!
jimV

 

Nothing is going to really stop a car thief (can you handle the truth)....... if you have a car they want ....... no kill switch, alarm, goofy column devise, flashing light, or fake camera will stop a TOW TRUCK. some tow trucks( the ones used for Repo have a quick-snag feature ... the driver just backs up to your car and BAM! your S.O.L. .......

If you drive your car to the store, the movies, or your friends house its vulnerable.
If you worried about it out on your driveway at night. use a car cover and, I had an idea that might work. a sort of chain or hook thats cemented into the driveway. or a bar that swings out and closed that can be locked like the car-lots use

Nothing will STOP thieves...... but making it tough will send them down the road