Car protection- meaning theft prevention...

B

BK1

New member
This is not a detailing question but since a lot of people have nice cars it may help prevent a car from being stolen.



Not sure if anyone else saw this but a couple of weeks ago ABC Primetime or some show like that did a story where a car thief copies down the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) through the front windshield and then gets a key cut. Most places did require proof of ownership of the vehicle but some others did it anyway because the reporter looked like an honest person and it really wasn't her car. She was also able to get keys on-line.



I know that if a thief really wants your car, he's going to get it anyway but why make it simple.



My question is: would it be illegal to put a black piece of felt on the dash to effectively cover the vin while its parked somewhere like at work or the mall?
 
I think there was a thread about this a little while back, if my memory serves me right you can tape over it but you cannot remove it from the vehicle.
 
WOW, that's spooky. Hadn't thought of that one but it sure would be easy to carry out.



There's no reason why you couldn't cover your VIN with something easily removed. Sounds like a very decent idea.
 
I don't know about other cars but, My Mustang and my last car a Contour this scheme would not work even if the dealer did make a key. Ford uses a system called PATS. The keys contain a chip that is necessary to start the car. There is no hotwiring a car with PATS, the computer simply won't work without a properly programmed key. It is slightly different with older models but, I have to have 2 properly programmed keys in order to program a new key. If you don't have 2 keys you have to take the car in and the codes have to be erased from the computer and 2 new keys made. So basically unless the thief gets my VIN and 2 keys he isn't going to get my car. The best they can do is get a key to open the door or the trunk. I don't usually leave anything in the car worth stealing so that really isn't a biggie for me. I worry more about the much more common thief who is just going to bash your window in to get what he wants.
 
rjstaaf said:
I don't know about other cars but, My Mustang and my last car a Contour this scheme would not work even if the dealer did make a key. Ford uses a system called PATS. The keys contain a chip that is necessary to start the car. There is no hotwiring a car with PATS, the computer simply won't work without a properly programmed key. It is slightly different with older models but, I have to have 2 properly programmed keys in order to program a new key. If I lose a key I have to take the car in and the codes have to be erased from the computer and 2 new keys made. So basically unless the thief gets my VIN and 2 keys he isn't going to get my car. The best they can do is get a key to open the door or the trunk. I don't usually leave anything in the car worth stealing so that really isn't a biggie for me.
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Sounds like a conventionaly car immobilizer to me.. Most cars have this feature these days.
 
I had my VIN covered and my Integra was still stolen (probably hot-wired).



Kill switches are pretty effective if you can install one.
 
I have a code for my car (besides the vin) that dealer told me never to lose because I'd need it for a replacement. Problem is that I'm not sure if the code was for the radio or the car....doh ! Guess I better check :o
 
car stereo is important to me....so i stuck razor blades in my dashboard in strategic places if a thief tries to steal my radio...SLICE
 
luke667 said:
car stereo is important to me....so i stuck razor blades in my dashboard in strategic places if a thief tries to steal my radio...SLICE
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Just don't get in a front-on collision.. all those razor blades will come at you with alot of force :scared
 
The Club is a total joke and is no deterent.



You break in, take a small sharp saw and cut the steering wheel, pull it and the club drops out. It takes a thief roughly 10 seconds to do that and another one minute to hot wire.



I use the lock that grips on to your break peddle. I use it on my 96 Civic DX grocery getter. No problems leaving it anywhere (but then again, who wants a stripped, zero options, no power anything Civic!)
 
The club will do just fine in most scenarios.. Think about the many people that have no means of security in their car... Undoubtedly if a car thief had a choice of stealing a car with no security (like most cars out there) and a car with a club, he would go with the car with no security features..



BMW, Audi, MB, Lexus and the like often come with top-of-the-line security features right on the get-go. These will work fine in most cases, just remember to keep your keys in a safe place, as the immobilzer is often the cars best defense.



Spilchy said:
The Club is a total joke and is no deterent.



You break in, take a small sharp saw and cut the steering wheel, pull it and the club drops out. It takes a thief roughly 10 seconds to do that and another one minute to hot wire.



I use the lock that grips on to your break peddle. I use it on my 96 Civic DX grocery getter. No problems leaving it anywhere (but then again, who wants a stripped, zero options, no power anything Civic!)
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They may get a key, but my alarm has a battery back-up and I also have a starter disable that is automatic. My car isn't theft proof, but I am sure someone looking to steal your VIN and get a key also checks to see if you have an alarm and if so, will move on to the next car like yours that doesn't have an alarm.
 
I have to agree with some of the others, the Club is a total joke. I have seen thieves in NY and NJ easily cut the steering wheel with a hack saw, steal the car, and leave the Club in the parking space.



A custom ignition kill switch, or fuel pump kill switch is the way to go. You can make a custom kit for under $100 that will deter most thieves as they dont know where to look. Unless they flatbed your car away, which happens often in NYC, they probably wont get it.



For guys with older cars that dont have air-bags you can use the Grant removable steering wheel system. You can get a nice upgraded steering wheel Sparco/Momo/Grant that you take with you when you park your car. It definitely becomes a conversation piece when you are strolling through the mall with a steering wheel in your hand.
 
drrac2 said:


A custom ignition kill switch, or fuel pump kill switch is the way to go.
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Hidden kill switch is what I have always been told as well.



Also, it never hurts to implement more than one security method.
 
pico said:
Hidden kill switch is what I have always been told as well.



Also, it never hurts to implement more than one security method.
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That is what I like about my alarm system. Battery back-up, starter kill and lots of noise. Hopefully it is enough for them to move on...but more likely, the hail dents will discourage them first. Nothing like some North Texas Acne on the top of your car to make it less desirable to thieves! :lol
 
The immobilizer systems do serve to stop the joy riding kids but the more advanced get around it by carrying around a spare ECU with a key that is chipped to it... doesn't take long to unplug the old one and connect a new one if you know what you're doing. If they really want your car then they'll use a tow truck :D



Alarms only really serve to stop the same joy riding kids. My Integra was stolen from my driveway with a Clifford alam on it (both fuel and starter kills also). The alarm was properly installed and enabled at the time. There is a group operating around here taking Integras and they just know their stuff. There was no club on the car as I stopped using them once I helped a friend break his after he lost the key... took us about 5 minutes and we didn't know what we were doing.



That being said, it is still useful to make your car the biggest PITA to steal so that they move onto the next car. That should definitely help unless your car is specifically targeted for its modifications or factory parts.
 
Some cars have fuel pump relays situated under the seats (Fords), an interrupt can be intstalled for under $50 in these circumstances. Best of all its totally custom.



My biggest fear with stock high end alarms, is once the thief familiarizes himself with the system he knows exactly where to strike. I would spend less on a stock system, and devote the extra money for labor to install some custom additions.



I saw a guy who had an ignition kill installed under a panel on his dash. The only way to activate/deactivate was to pass an industrial magnet over the panel. NICE!!!!
 
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