Alarms

[Des]

even if you park it on ya front yard, just get it away from the street.someone keyed mums camry and now its parked 3 meters away and it hasnt been touched.

Edited August 28, 2006 by too quick

[Sloth]

My car got broken into for the second time a couple of months ago.

 

First time: parked outside my girlfriends house, happened in the middle of the night (its a pretty quiet street and everyone is gone by about 10pm). The smashed the window then opened the door. Stole my stereo (they grabbed the whole console) went through my glovebox and stole an envelope that had brand new gold toyota badges that i'd got from my girlfriend for christmas.

Total:

Window: $45

JVC Head Unit: $300

Center console: priceless (came with the car and can't find another to fit, even got another from a ke55 and it didn't fit)

 

Second time: Parked in a parking garage in the city (i'm not usually in there), i was gone for no more than 2 and a half hours. This time the c*&$ used a screw driver on the locks, mangled the drivers lock (still works but its on a little bit of an angle). Went through the entire contents of my car and glove box. The only thing they stole was my tacho (an old Vovlo tacho that was taped to the ashtray with electrical tape). I wasn't too worried about the incident (as it was only a tacho), but realised a couple of days later that they had also tried to get into my boot. The boot lock now doesn't work and it loose.

Total:

Tacho: $20 (probably, got it free from someone)

Locks (getting into and replacing the lock): Been qouted $70 - $300 (ok two quotes of 70-80 and one of 300)

 

I think you also have to think about what people will think when they see your car and who will be after it. If you have an old, shit looking car they might try to break into/steal it cause it looks easy and they just wanna go for a joy ride. If you have something that looks nicer, sounds nice or has a reputation in the area they might try to get in there for stereo equiptment or to steal the car for parts or a quick buck.

 

Like other people have said, if someone really wants to break into your car or steal it you won't be able to stop them. But you probably can stop a lot of the idiots out there by just a flashing light or a loud alarm. My dad used to work in security and would also put stickers from the company around the windows to try and stop people.

 

I'm definately going to put an alarm system in (in the near future) and i'm thinking about installing a hidden switch for the fuel pump (so people won't be able to drive the car away).

 

On a funny side note, i once had someone (turned out to be one of my sisters boyfriends mates, but thats another story) try to steal my old rusted out KE35. The barrel of the lock was twisted, so you could get in with your fingernail. When they tried to steal it, the head gasket had blown and the car didn't run (it was just sitting on the street waiting to get towed). The person who tried to steal it rolled it a couple of meters and then the steering locked up and they bailed and called my sisters boyfriend. Sitting across the road from it though was my freshly painted KE55.

 

Sorry for the long post (i'm at uni procrastinating).

[Crostek]

Just finished put a new alarm in my car, only got it three days ago and all ready had two offers on the car or wheels.

Installed the alarm myself it is a Rhino multiple component unit separate siren and controller, Little bit of extra work few more wires to connect but it's cheap at $300.

It also has immobiliser built in, I will be adding ultra sonic detects to pick up windows getting broken and a interior siren at 110 dB so if there do get in it will hurt the f@#% out of there ears,

Had same set up on my old car with $3000 worth of DVD and Stereo in it and I only every had one door lock stuffed, they ran off after they hit the screw driver in and the alarm's shock sensor when off.