Car security

[niketpatel71]

Just been reading over at piston heads and seen the post on here by a fellow member and the recent string of car burglaries has me worried. Now the CLS already has an immobilizer alarm etc but what other measures can we take to protect our beloved vehicles? I've seen good reviews for both off the following devices

Halfords | Stoplock Pro Steering Lock

Halfords | Disklok Steering Lock (Silver) Small

Any other recommendations or experiences with either off them? This article may be useful for alot of people on here

http://www.ovat.be/Artikels/Steering%20Locks%20test%20by%20AutoExpress.pdf

 

[Sp!ke]

Sadly, all these were all proved to be worthless years ago hence going to electonic security methods.

If I recall, most took under 20 seconds to remove - the best took less than two minutes.

 

[Benzmanc]

Stop lock pro can be defeated by a £1 hacksaw and the disclok won't fit due to the steering wheel spokes going to the back of the wheel.

Clifford Blackjax is the way to go, doesnt matter if they get the keys.

Clifford (United Kingdom) - Accessories

 

[RMS]

http://www.ovat.be/Artikels/Steering Locks test by AutoExpress.pdf

 

[RMS]

http://www.ovat.be/Artikels/Steering Locks test by AutoExpress.pdf

that seems the best

but it still takes less than 2 mins to break

 

[@MARK]

There is only one solution

Trunk Monkey

 

[GordonTarling]

As you may imagine, I've been doing some research into security since my S211 disappeared. Here's a few of my thoughts. If a Disklok device will fit your car, then it's probably worth having, as it will take the thieves an extra 2 minutes or so to make your car drivable. This may be enough to make them leave yours and try an easier one. As far as trackers go, there are many available out there, but it seems the only one really worth having is the genuine Tracker. All the rest use GSM to communicate, which is easily overcome by use of a cheap and readily available GSM jamming device. In any case, I'm not convinced that any sort of tracker is a huge asset to the car owner, though I'm sure insurance companies love them. You need to ask yourself if you'd really want your car back after being stolen, recovered and probably repaired. I know I wouldn't. The Clifford Blackjax device seems to be designed exclusively to bring a car to a halt after it's been driven away. I'm not sure just how well it would work as an anti-theft device - more info required here. CCTV, I'm told, is no real deterrent these days where hoodies and balaclavas are everyday wear for crooks. I've considered buying a wheel clamp of my own - it would certainly cramp any thieve's style, but is a right pain to put on and take off again, to say nothing of storing it when not being used.

At the end of the day, if they're determined to take your car, then little is going to stop these criminals. It's probably best that they take your car rather than anyone getting hurt - at the end of the day, no matter how much you love you car, it's only a machine which can be easily replaced.

 

[artyman]

Partof the problem is that we frequently hear of criminals with numerous previous convictions, it's about time that third strike you get locked up for good, some treadmill system to help power the national grid would help offset the cost of keeping them incarcerated. At present there seems to be little deterrent to crime.

 

[DITTRICH]

I would subcontract the entire prison service to the Russian Roads Authority.
Plenty of Roads in Siberia still to be upgraded - and a few railway lines to be finished.

 

[RMS]

As far as trackers go, there are many available out there, but it seems the only one really worth having is the genuine Tracker. All the rest use GSM to communicate, which is easily overcome by use of a cheap and readily available GSM jamming device. In any case, I'm not convinced that any sort of tracker is a huge asset to the car owner,

I too have extensively researched these- I think they are worth it if you want your car back. I agree- no point putting up a fight--its not worth getting hurt for the owner or their family

My boxster came with porsche vts which is cobra trak5- it has anti jam and because of the tag you keep on you, you are alerted immediately- tracker have a new one with VHF which is useful if your car is hidden in an underground garage/container- Im having this fitted to the boxster (vts is 1k+ a year whilst tracker and its cobra equivalent is a lot less- works out cheaper to buy a new device)

Wifes C Class has tracker monitor- car stolen 3am- noticed on waking at 8am, car found 840am

SO it worked well but needed us to report it as the keys were stolen with it.
I am having tracker monitor put on the silver arrow as it will stay garaged and used on weekends only- didnt seem worth the money for the others.

On a side note- a friend had his M3 stolen- they ripped out the tracker but he also had fleetmatics installed as he owns a garage - he tracked his own car and told police where it is

its not designed for security per se and isnt thatcham recognised but you can track the car on your phone/internet- and thats how he found his car and hence led the police to a unit with other stolen cars

 

[nullogik]

...he also had fleetmatics installed as he owns a garage - he tracked his own car and told police where it is

its not designed for security per se and isnt thatcham recognised but you can track the car on your phone/internet- and thats how he found his car and hence led the police to a unit with other stolen cars

For those on a budget and fancy a bit of DIY you get inexpensive trackers on EBay. Pop a sim-card in and you can track where you car has gone to. Some of them even allow you to cut power to the fuel pump remotely by text message!

Granted, it may not have the features of TRACKER, but you get what you pay for.

http://tinyurl.com/73jv6q2

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

If you have power seats, put them fully forward and remove fuse. Or hide a switch that cuts the power. In the old days I used to fit a cutout in the low power feed to the coil.

 

[GordonTarling]

I've looked at many of those Ebay trackers and am having trouble getting enough information to decide if they're worth the money or not. They all use a SIM card and I've not found a SIM card yet that won't expire if not used for a period. Also, the Ebay trackers send position reports at varying intervals, which costs you credit. However, I can't find out of you can turn off position reports when you don't need them and turn them back on when you do. If you can't stop the position reports totally, that could be a nice little earner for the service provider!

It appears that there is a way to connect some sort of gizmo to the OBD port to clone a key. Someone has suggested a secret switch be fitted in one or more of the OBD lines. It can remain at 'off' except when the car needs to be serviced. Might be worth doing.

 

[MattDC]

As Artyman said, the issue is more to do with the view that the CPS have with regards to vehicle theft.... The current system means that the offender will only get charged with a TWOC offence which has very minor punishments. If the CPS were to charge them with theft of the vehicles value then the punishment would be higher....

Thieves target vehicles as it makes sense when it comes to being caught, steal a £100,000 car you get charged for TWOC, Rob a Post office of £3000 and you go down for years!... the system is a joke....... TWOC is no deterrent for car theft and it is this that needs to be reviewed instead of the Police advising that you fit extra alarms\immobilisers, steering locks, driveway posts, wheel clamps and trackers......

It would help matters even more if the police spent time investigating car thefts rather than just providing a crime number and getting on with the important crimes of speeding and people on nights out swearing at police officers.........

 

[RMS]

It would help matters even more if the police spent time investigating car thefts rather than just providing a crime number and getting on with the important crimes of speeding and people on nights out swearing at police officers.........

I agree- I was annoyed when my car was tracked and the police in their marked car parked behind it waiting for it to be towed

obviously the thieves would check to see if its been tracked- if the crime is on a grand scale which it is, why not follow it once its been picked up again where it might lead to the ringleaders or where other stolen cars are kept

 

[MattDC]

I would subcontract the entire prison service to the Russian Roads Authority.
Plenty of Roads in Siberia still to be upgraded - and a few railway lines to be finished.

Get them to sort the UK roads first before they start on siberia! bring back the hard labour as a punishment!

 

[MattDC]

I agree- I was annoyed when my car was tracked and the police in their marked car parked behind it waiting for it to be towed

obviously the thieves would check to see if its been tracked- if the crime is on a grand scale which it is, why not follow it once its been picked up again where it might lead to the ringleaders or where other stolen cars are kept

Just another case of how inept the police actually are at investigating crime..... its a simple idea to set up observation on a vehicle such as yours and wait for the scrotes to return and then follow them......

 

[NW_Merc]

Maybe this sounds like a silly idea, but maybe invest in a couple of wheel clamps? Should slow down those that want to steal your pride and joy, even when they try and cut it, it should make some noise.

 

[Benzmanc]

Blackjax works all the time, if someone steals your car during the night then after 30secs it starts asking for the code, no code and the car shuts down with all sirens blazing.

 

[MattDC]

When I finally manage to buy my own place I'll be securing the drive with retractable posts, easier to use than wheel clamps when parked at home.....