Bloody Thieves

[belfry]

I live in Central London and I've had my wheel centres nicked again

The defiant side of me wants to araldite/superglue the next ones in place, but will I just end up with damaged alloys as they try to get them off?

Anyone got a better anti theft solution? I don't like the look of my alloys without centres.

[sticks090460]

Proximity sensor added to the alarm?
http://www.caralarmsglasgow.co.uk/page_12256212673...

[supersport]

I suspect that other than putting a clamp on each wheel you are stuck with it happening regularly, much like the cup mirrors on 993s which also have a habit of going missing.

[Stevej33]

belfry said:

Anyone got a better anti theft solution? I don't like the look of my alloys without centres.

Hot glue stick! Used them on mine. No damage to wheels either.

[Pat Cash]

But wouldn't it be more satisfying to electrify them somehow....?

[RiccardoG]

belfry said:

I live in Central London and I've had my wheel centres nicked again

The defiant side of me wants to araldite/superglue the next ones in place, but will I just end up with damaged alloys as they try to get them off?

Anyone got a better anti theft solution? I don't like the look of my alloys without centres.

Whereabouts in London are you (just so I know where not to park) and what car is this? I wasn't aware that they're stealing the centre caps now, though I did see a black 997 the other day without them on now that I think of it.

[Pat Cash]

Pat Cash said:

But wouldn't it be more satisfying to electrify them somehow....?

Now I come to think about it, you'd need to also fit some sort of motion activated video recording system to get the full benefit...

[belfry]

RiccardoG said:

Whereabouts in London are you (just so I know where not to park) and what car is this? I wasn't aware that they're stealing the centre caps now, though I did see a black 997 the other day without them on now that I think of it.

Just off Sloane Street SW1 in a black 997.

I've seen some metal centres without the removal hole which might make then harder to steal? Or the might just make more of a mess of the wheel as they prise them off.

The idea of using hot glue to secure them in place might work, although this just lead to further damage when they come to steal them.

[doneitnow]

A hand grenade behind each one sounds bloody good idea to me, thieving B-------.

[AyBee]

I assume the originals have Porsche badges on them which is why the s like them - is it possible to get plain ones to make them less desirable? Not great but could possibly be a solution?

[sleep envy]

Don't replace them with the crested ones. Not the suggestion you want to hear but it makes them less desirable.

[MogulBoy]

I would second the standard black crested OEM caps as a possible solution instead of the apparently more deisreable coloured crested ones.

P.S. Has anyone got a source for plain (i.e. crest-free) centre caps that fit nicely? A mate who was obsessive about de-badging his car got some from FVD that fitted well and looked fine but they were flat rather than concave in profile as per the originals.

Rather OCD I would admit but I was thinking that a quick application of bodyfiller to fill-in the crest on an old set of standard OEM crested centre caps followed by a quick paint/laquer in the right wheel silver would result in the the ultimate stealthy look.

Filling in the two little holes with Araldite (or filler) might make them harder to remove but you don't really want the scrotes scratching the adjacent wheels. Hot glue does not sound too bad but I would assume that you do need to remove these caps when you are having new tyres fitted so don't use too much!

[MiseryStreak]

US company and expensive, but you can have your nice crested centre caps and keep them!

http://www.boothedesign.com/centercaps.html

[majordad]

I had a set of colour crested one whipped form my Cayenne as did some other owners while parked overnight in the Porsche Exclusive car park at the Old Timer Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in 2009

[supersport]

MiseryStreak said:

US company and expensive, but you can have your nice crested centre caps and keep them!

http://www.boothedesign.com/centercaps.html

Only problem with them is that they won't point to the tyre valve

[Steffan]

I have had this problem every time I have owned Porches. All the badges get nicked. Body badges can be alarmed and that does slow the thefts down.

I have not found an answer.

The hot glue might work. Obviously the downside would be damage by the scumbags who want the emblems and could not give a f--k.

I regret to say you may be better not putting them back on till sale time and using a less desirable emblem daily.

I dislike the acceptance of defeat my suggestion implies, but I cannot think of an effective deterrent against the pond life there is about cities.

I hope you find a solution.

If you do patent it at once! Could be a money spinner.

[SonnyM]

Simple - have the Registration number engraved into each centre cap deep and large enough so it is visible and cannot be sanded out.

Very surprised you are getting this round SW7 / SW3... Sorry to hear it.

[RiccardoG]

belfry said:

Just off Sloane Street SW1 in a black 997.

I've seen some metal centres without the removal hole which might make then harder to steal? Or the might just make more of a mess of the wheel as they prise them off.

The idea of using hot glue to secure them in place might work, although this just lead to further damage when they come to steal them.

You weren't around Primrose Hill recently by any chance? If so then it may well have been your car, otherwise its getting quite common!

[turk1]

Just buy some on ebay for £15 a set, And they might stop nicking them.

When you think about it porsche sell them for about £150 a set and they are so easy to steal and sell on for good money, But the ebay ones are not worth stealing and dont look to bad.

[Maersk]

Just buy a shotgun and stay up one night..........



More than they deserve.