Have we got complacent with car security?
Discussion
Off the back of the RS3 interior thread, it's got me thinking. I can't recently remember a week/month that hasn't gone by without a story of a car being stolen, or broken into etc. When the pictures/details are revealed it nearly always transpires the car has standard factory security.
When I was a car owner in the 90's and early 00's, it was pretty much a given that you'd go out and buy a Clifford/Toad/Laserline etc, if you wanted any chance of keeping your Car/Radio/Possessions. Along with a Disclok/StopLok for that added peace of mind. These alarms are still around today, but sales have drop immensely, instead we rely on Factory Fitted security. I remember stopping using any form of added security back in 2002, but these stories have sparked me into action to start using it again some 10 years later.
Granted, criminals have become more sophisticated & organised, but then again so have the riches of their crime, yet basic things such as interior/movement sensors are still stuck in the dark ages.
So, it does raise a couple of questions in my mind:
Ultimately, why did we as car owners in the 00's become complacent and put our trust in car companies who continually supply inferior products?
If we once again adopted the approach that was taken in the 90's, would we see a drop in car crime?
I don't really know the answer to the above questions, but I thought it was a good topic to muse over...
When I was a car owner in the 90's and early 00's, it was pretty much a given that you'd go out and buy a Clifford/Toad/Laserline etc, if you wanted any chance of keeping your Car/Radio/Possessions. Along with a Disclok/StopLok for that added peace of mind. These alarms are still around today, but sales have drop immensely, instead we rely on Factory Fitted security. I remember stopping using any form of added security back in 2002, but these stories have sparked me into action to start using it again some 10 years later.
Granted, criminals have become more sophisticated & organised, but then again so have the riches of their crime, yet basic things such as interior/movement sensors are still stuck in the dark ages.
So, it does raise a couple of questions in my mind:
Ultimately, why did we as car owners in the 00's become complacent and put our trust in car companies who continually supply inferior products?
If we once again adopted the approach that was taken in the 90's, would we see a drop in car crime?
I don't really know the answer to the above questions, but I thought it was a good topic to muse over...
In the past cars didn't come with immobilisers built in.
Nowadays they do. So in theory the car can't be started without the key.
When working correctly this offers the same level of protection as the after market immobilisers did, so we don't need them.
Also, car electronics have become much more complex and bespoke per manufacturer, whereas in the past they were much simpler and similar. This means that not all aftermarket alarms would work with all modern cars, and I've heard of several car/alarm combos which result in fault codes etc. They're also more expensive to install, due to this complexity.
Finally, it's another fob on your key and another inconvenience in getting in your car.
So people view them as less of a benefit, more expensive and more hassle; now we're in an age where "car can't be driven off without the key". This is actually in evidence, from the trend of car thieves no longer attacking the car, but rather attacking the house or person who has the keys to the car.
It won't have escaped your notice that there's been a flaw in this, so far as BMW (and maybe others) is concerned; whereby it's been reported that new keyfobs can be coded to the car by a thief and the car driven away. Mechanical security and an aftermarket alarm would provide additional security in these circumstances and we may find people turning to those options if this spate of thefts continues.
Nowadays they do. So in theory the car can't be started without the key.
When working correctly this offers the same level of protection as the after market immobilisers did, so we don't need them.
Also, car electronics have become much more complex and bespoke per manufacturer, whereas in the past they were much simpler and similar. This means that not all aftermarket alarms would work with all modern cars, and I've heard of several car/alarm combos which result in fault codes etc. They're also more expensive to install, due to this complexity.
Finally, it's another fob on your key and another inconvenience in getting in your car.
So people view them as less of a benefit, more expensive and more hassle; now we're in an age where "car can't be driven off without the key". This is actually in evidence, from the trend of car thieves no longer attacking the car, but rather attacking the house or person who has the keys to the car.
It won't have escaped your notice that there's been a flaw in this, so far as BMW (and maybe others) is concerned; whereby it's been reported that new keyfobs can be coded to the car by a thief and the car driven away. Mechanical security and an aftermarket alarm would provide additional security in these circumstances and we may find people turning to those options if this spate of thefts continues.
I don't think the levels of car crime have dropped signifcantly since the early 90s reports of youths joy riding in cars. Most cars these days have infotainment things fitted which isn't really as swappable as a rdio cassette/cd player so the odd snatch and grab of a stero has probably fallen. I am very surprised by the Audi having its interior stolen though. One would have hoped the alarm would have gone off. However with technology the way it is there will always be some way of hooking your laptop/smart phone into the car and by passing all but the most encrypted security. The internet has also provided those with that kind of dispotion a huge resource of tools and information on how to by pass car security. In short, it doesn't matter what additional security you add someone will always find away to bypass it and make off in your P & J. Your only option is to get a tracker and make sure its installed well enough so that they don't find it. That way you may be able to get your car back quickly.
Why bother with an alarm? They either break in to your house, smash your face in and leave with your car full of your TV and hifi equipment. Or they put your window in while you're sat at traffic lights, smash your face in, drag you out of the car and drive off leaving you in a bloody heap on the road.
"According to the British Crime Survey, in 2009/10 approximately 117,000 vehicles were stolen. This is a reduction of around 20% on 2008/09"
from the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service website.
Top ten stolen vehicles in Q1 2011
1) Ford Transit
2) Vauxhall Astra
3) Ford Fiesta
4) Volkswagen Golf
5) Vauxhall Corsa
6) BMW 3 Series
7) Ford Focus
8) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
9) Ford Mondeo
10) Honda Civic
from the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service website.
Top ten stolen vehicles in Q1 2011
1) Ford Transit
2) Vauxhall Astra
3) Ford Fiesta
4) Volkswagen Golf
5) Vauxhall Corsa
6) BMW 3 Series
7) Ford Focus
8) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
9) Ford Mondeo
10) Honda Civic
Edited by dictys on Tuesday 31st July 14:11
Sexual Chocolate said:
LotusOmega375D said:
Just whip the rotor-arm out when you park up.
I used to do this exact thing years ago however they broke into a similliar car to get the rotor arm. Thieves can be persistant.
LotusOmega375D said:
Sexual Chocolate said:
LotusOmega375D said:
Just whip the rotor-arm out when you park up.
I used to do this exact thing years ago however they broke into a similliar car to get the rotor arm. Thieves can be persistant.It did amuse me though. When I realised mine had gone I was gutted and somewhat bemused as I had the rotor arm in my hand but then I saw our neighbour looking at her broken window then trying to start it. It then dawned on me that they broke into hers to get mine.
I did the right thing and gave her my rotor arm.
Edited by Sexual Chocolate on Tuesday 31st July 14:22
Edited by Sexual Chocolate on Tuesday 31st July 14:23
LotusOmega375D said:
Sexual Chocolate said:
LotusOmega375D said:
Just whip the rotor-arm out when you park up.
I used to do this exact thing years ago however they broke into a similliar car to get the rotor arm. Thieves can be persistant.Sexual Chocolate said:
LotusOmega375D said:
Just whip the rotor-arm out when you park up.
I used to do this exact thing years ago however they broke into a similliar car to get the rotor arm. Thieves can be persistant. I just wish they put that same drive into bettering themselves.Perd Hapley said:
There was an interesting tip in a recent Practical Classics - leave the rotor arm in, but swap the coil-distributor main lead for a dummy one with the wire pulled out. I like that one.
That sort of thing will stop a joyrider (as will the standard fit alarm/immobilisers on nearly all cars in the last 15 years or so) but the serious b
ds just lift the cars up with a hi-ab and drive off (common with defenders & w124 mercs). kmpowell said:
If we once again adopted the approach that was taken in the 90's, would we see a drop in car crime?
Well, I quite often leave my car unlocked on my drive (by mistake, I am busy with the dogs or whatever) and have no problems with it - but I live in a very low crime area.However, I would suggest that publicly flogging people who break into cars would see a drop in car crime, or if not an increase in public satisfaction.
I used to pull the fuses for the fuel pump and a few other things whenever I parked my impreza in leeds or bradford 
As for aftermarket alarms, if you know what you're doing they're easy to bypass. Most have the alarm under the bonnet, and the main power gets drawn from wires spliced into the power in the steering column. So just smash the window, pop the bonnet, cut the wire to the alarm speaker. Its now silent, so prize off the steering column, rip the wires for the alarm system out, smash the steering lock and drive off.
As for aftermarket alarms, if you know what you're doing they're easy to bypass. Most have the alarm under the bonnet, and the main power gets drawn from wires spliced into the power in the steering column. So just smash the window, pop the bonnet, cut the wire to the alarm speaker. Its now silent, so prize off the steering column, rip the wires for the alarm system out, smash the steering lock and drive off.
Sexual Chocolate said:
I don't think the levels of car crime have dropped signifcantly since the early 90s reports of youths joy riding in cars. Most cars these days have infotainment things fitted which isn't really as swappable as a rdio cassette/cd player so the odd snatch and grab of a stero has probably fallen. I am very surprised by the Audi having its interior stolen though. One would have hoped the alarm would have gone off. However with technology the way it is there will always be some way of hooking your laptop/smart phone into the car and by passing all but the most encrypted security. The internet has also provided those with that kind of dispotion a huge resource of tools and information on how to by pass car security. In short, it doesn't matter what additional security you add someone will always find away to bypass it and make off in your P & J. Your only option is to get a tracker and make sure its installed well enough so that they don't find it. That way you may be able to get your car back quickly.
Car crime has dropped massively in recent times.There was a big problem with Sat-Navs being stolen around 5 years ago when they were "high value" and nowadays things like phones being left on display is an issue.
But, for the most part:
Cars are impossible to drive away without the key (except BMWs)
Cars no longer have swappable high value kit in them (like head units)
There are bigger profits elsewhere.
So that leaves the seriously organised and well equipped thieves, those willing to use violence/ force entry to steal a car, or else the desperate opportunist taking advantage of something left on offer.
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