Tracker systems and general anti-theft advice
Discussion
I bought my Porsche 993 C4 Coupe at the end of March, and some time over the past few weeks some scumbag has tried to gain entry to the car. I noticed when washing it after a few weeks of very limited use. The paint on the driver's door shows signs of some sort of lever being used to access the lock mechanism, chipping away the paint on the door' sedge near the door handle and inside the door. They also had a go at the front bonnet on the right hand side as you look at the car from the front. I'm a bit gutted, but it's all repairable and at least they didn't get the car! I assume they were disturbed.
I've now installed cameras at home to keep a watch out. I'd like to install a tracker system. Any recommendations? I'm particularly keen to find a tracker that is monitored and which has a low power draw.
I'm also curious about how other owners of older cars (ie easier to break into) park their cars, and any habits they have adopted for - or ideas about - theft prevention in daily use. I'm now feeling a little paranoid, and am thinking I will never again park the Porker at an airport car park for a few days (my daily driver was in for servicing), nor use underground car parks in London unless they are tended by car park staff.
What are your ideas about do's and don'ts? Do you have any insights into car thieves and their practices that might help? (perhaps there are some Pistonheads in blue reading this) And do you use any devices like steering wheel locks? Many thanks.
I've now installed cameras at home to keep a watch out. I'd like to install a tracker system. Any recommendations? I'm particularly keen to find a tracker that is monitored and which has a low power draw.
I'm also curious about how other owners of older cars (ie easier to break into) park their cars, and any habits they have adopted for - or ideas about - theft prevention in daily use. I'm now feeling a little paranoid, and am thinking I will never again park the Porker at an airport car park for a few days (my daily driver was in for servicing), nor use underground car parks in London unless they are tended by car park staff.
What are your ideas about do's and don'ts? Do you have any insights into car thieves and their practices that might help? (perhaps there are some Pistonheads in blue reading this) And do you use any devices like steering wheel locks? Many thanks.
I have a sophisticated tracker fitted that requires more than the keys to be in the car for it to be started. Not sure about the power draw but have forgotten the 'pill' once or twice when popping out and within 2 mins my mobile has rung and the tracking people have asked my my password, date of birth, postcode of my house and car reg.
Very impressed.
Very impressed.
The fact that they failed to gain entry and only left a couple of scratches means that they were just random chancers, probably kids. The sad fact is that if someone with a clue wants your car then they will take it, what you have to do is make it more hassle than it's worth and make them look elsewhere, in doing this you also make it impossible for the random chancers to take it.
If you leave it on your driveway all week and use it as a second car, then a wheel clamp or security post in the ground are no brainers. I drive mine in nose first and leave it on full lock so that it will drive into the wall if someone tries to drag it out backwards (that's how the caravan club does it around here, spec lift the rear of the cars up with a transit and just drive off with them) and I also use a disklock. It takes 10 minutes to break off a disklock and steering lock and involves swinging about a bit, so puts off the chancers. I also take the ECU out of my car every night, so now they need to get through the alarm, immobiliser, remove the disklock, break the steering lock and have an ECU to drive my car away. If they want it that bad then they know something that I don't.
The only thing that you can't really protect against is HIABs, short of chaining the car to the floor. You can make it more difficult for them by making it so that they have to move the car to be able to get it without making loads of noise. Park the car under something so that they can't lift it, make it so that the HIAB will be on full reach with the engine being the furthest point, so that they need the legs out and the engine running for ages. Have one side tight up against a wall/bush so that they struggle to grab it.
It's just a case of getting into a routine when you park the car, I've been doing this stuff for years (living in London and having owned fast Fords for most of it) that I don't even think about it anymore.
If you leave it on your driveway all week and use it as a second car, then a wheel clamp or security post in the ground are no brainers. I drive mine in nose first and leave it on full lock so that it will drive into the wall if someone tries to drag it out backwards (that's how the caravan club does it around here, spec lift the rear of the cars up with a transit and just drive off with them) and I also use a disklock. It takes 10 minutes to break off a disklock and steering lock and involves swinging about a bit, so puts off the chancers. I also take the ECU out of my car every night, so now they need to get through the alarm, immobiliser, remove the disklock, break the steering lock and have an ECU to drive my car away. If they want it that bad then they know something that I don't.
The only thing that you can't really protect against is HIABs, short of chaining the car to the floor. You can make it more difficult for them by making it so that they have to move the car to be able to get it without making loads of noise. Park the car under something so that they can't lift it, make it so that the HIAB will be on full reach with the engine being the furthest point, so that they need the legs out and the engine running for ages. Have one side tight up against a wall/bush so that they struggle to grab it.
It's just a case of getting into a routine when you park the car, I've been doing this stuff for years (living in London and having owned fast Fords for most of it) that I don't even think about it anymore.
I had a client whose cosworth sustained three attempted break in's on following nights, he found that a wireless baby monitor helped. The microphone went in the car and the monitor next to his bed, when anyone tried to break in it would wake him up.
Look for one with a rechargeable battery
Look for one with a rechargeable battery
Edited by dacouch on Monday 26th May 10:12
belleair302 said:
I have a sophisticated tracker fitted that requires more than the keys to be in the car for it to be started. Not sure about the power draw but have forgotten the 'pill' once or twice when popping out and within 2 mins my mobile has rung and the tracking people have asked my my password, date of birth, postcode of my house and car reg.
Very impressed.
What model do you use? I'd like to investigate...Very impressed.
Thanks
s p a c e m a n said:
The fact that they failed to gain entry and only left a couple of scratches means that they were just random chancers, probably kids. The sad fact is that if someone with a clue wants your car then they will take it, what you have to do is make it more hassle than it's worth and make them look elsewhere, in doing this you also make it impossible for the random chancers to take it.
If you leave it on your driveway all week and use it as a second car, then a wheel clamp or security post in the ground are no brainers. I drive mine in nose first and leave it on full lock so that it will drive into the wall if someone tries to drag it out backwards (that's how the caravan club does it around here, spec lift the rear of the cars up with a transit and just drive off with them) and I also use a disklock. It takes 10 minutes to break off a disklock and steering lock and involves swinging about a bit, so puts off the chancers. I also take the ECU out of my car every night, so now they need to get through the alarm, immobiliser, remove the disklock, break the steering lock and have an ECU to drive my car away. If they want it that bad then they know something that I don't.
The only thing that you can't really protect against is HIABs, short of chaining the car to the floor. You can make it more difficult for them by making it so that they have to move the car to be able to get it without making loads of noise. Park the car under something so that they can't lift it, make it so that the HIAB will be on full reach with the engine being the furthest point, so that they need the legs out and the engine running for ages. Have one side tight up against a wall/bush so that they struggle to grab it.
It's just a case of getting into a routine when you park the car, I've been doing this stuff for years (living in London and having owned fast Fords for most of it) that I don't even think about it anymore.
Thanks for the detailed answer, some great ideas here that I will seriously think about.If you leave it on your driveway all week and use it as a second car, then a wheel clamp or security post in the ground are no brainers. I drive mine in nose first and leave it on full lock so that it will drive into the wall if someone tries to drag it out backwards (that's how the caravan club does it around here, spec lift the rear of the cars up with a transit and just drive off with them) and I also use a disklock. It takes 10 minutes to break off a disklock and steering lock and involves swinging about a bit, so puts off the chancers. I also take the ECU out of my car every night, so now they need to get through the alarm, immobiliser, remove the disklock, break the steering lock and have an ECU to drive my car away. If they want it that bad then they know something that I don't.
The only thing that you can't really protect against is HIABs, short of chaining the car to the floor. You can make it more difficult for them by making it so that they have to move the car to be able to get it without making loads of noise. Park the car under something so that they can't lift it, make it so that the HIAB will be on full reach with the engine being the furthest point, so that they need the legs out and the engine running for ages. Have one side tight up against a wall/bush so that they struggle to grab it.
It's just a case of getting into a routine when you park the car, I've been doing this stuff for years (living in London and having owned fast Fords for most of it) that I don't even think about it anymore.
I agree a professional thief would have taken the car, unless disturbed. So I am keen to deter the casual thief as the damage is a pain to sort and costly to repair, so prevention measures make sense.
dacouch said:
I had a client whose cosworth sustained three attempted break in's on following nights, he found that a wireless baby monitor helped. The microphone went in the car and the monitor next to his bed, when anyone tried to break in it would wake him up.
Look for one with a rechargeable battery
The simple ideas are often the best... Only issue is I live in a windy location, so I might find it picks up too much background noise, but it's worth a try.Look for one with a rechargeable battery
Edited by dacouch on Monday 26th May 10:12
The cobra tracker i have fitted does have a 'height' sensor - so when the car was put on the back of trailer to be recovered back to a garage, the Tracker company rang me to say that your car has moved without the ignition on and appears to be on a trailer.
You can even 'ringfence' your car, a feature i use often now i know how.
So i can park it at an airport car park, enable a zone, and tell them how long the car should be in that zone for before moving again.
I Pay around 180 a year, but it is also mandatory for my car insurance wise due to insurance group rating.
Best idea a garage, mine even has a Police Wheel clamp not cheap and other bits.
I also found a Tracker, does not make your insurance cheaper either. A Disklok would be a good idea, if in the street etc. As trying to take it off in public people would notice that.
If they were Pro's it would have gone on the first time.
I would not have bought my 911 without a garage to put it in.
I also found a Tracker, does not make your insurance cheaper either. A Disklok would be a good idea, if in the street etc. As trying to take it off in public people would notice that.
If they were Pro's it would have gone on the first time.
I would not have bought my 911 without a garage to put it in.
Edited by SEE YA on Monday 26th May 13:15
Designed & built this on the driveway
1 soda-stream bottle (plastic is thicker)
3 infrared movement sensors + remote activation
Duct tape.
3 100db receivers (in the house)
Optional extra: baseball bat by front door.
place it upright in the center cup-holder overnight (the sensors don't penetrate glass) as soon
as anything enters the car all hell breaks loose in the house.
on the plus side, it cant be turned off with the cars key or cloned key (like the alarm can)
once it's active, it's active.
(edit: check for moths before arming system
)
1 soda-stream bottle (plastic is thicker)
3 infrared movement sensors + remote activation
Duct tape.
3 100db receivers (in the house)
Optional extra: baseball bat by front door.
place it upright in the center cup-holder overnight (the sensors don't penetrate glass) as soon
as anything enters the car all hell breaks loose in the house.
on the plus side, it cant be turned off with the cars key or cloned key (like the alarm can)
once it's active, it's active.
(edit: check for moths before arming system
)
toerag said:
Designed & built this on the driveway
1 soda-stream bottle (plastic is thicker)
3 infrared movement sensors + remote activation
Duct tape.
3 100db receivers (in the house)
Optional extra: baseball bat by front door.
place it upright in the center cup-holder overnight (the sensors don't penetrate glass) as soon
as anything enters the car all hell breaks loose in the house.
on the plus side, it cant be turned off with the cars key or cloned key (like the alarm can)
once it's active, it's active.
(edit: check for moths before arming system )
I require a Blue Peter style how to 1 soda-stream bottle (plastic is thicker)
3 infrared movement sensors + remote activation
Duct tape.
3 100db receivers (in the house)
Optional extra: baseball bat by front door.
place it upright in the center cup-holder overnight (the sensors don't penetrate glass) as soon
as anything enters the car all hell breaks loose in the house.
on the plus side, it cant be turned off with the cars key or cloned key (like the alarm can)
once it's active, it's active.
(edit: check for moths before arming system
)
sly fox said:
The cobra tracker i have fitted does have a 'height' sensor - so when the car was put on the back of trailer to be recovered back to a garage, the Tracker company rang me to say that your car has moved without the ignition on and appears to be on a trailer.
You can even 'ringfence' your car, a feature i use often now i know how.
So i can park it at an airport car park, enable a zone, and tell them how long the car should be in that zone for before moving again.
I Pay around 180 a year, but it is also mandatory for my car insurance wise due to insurance group rating.
Thanks, will check out the cobra tracker. I've been on the Tracker site too, looking at the Horizon and Exho products, as well as the Trackstar 5. Did you consider these? What made you buy the cobra? Thanks.You can even 'ringfence' your car, a feature i use often now i know how.
So i can park it at an airport car park, enable a zone, and tell them how long the car should be in that zone for before moving again.
I Pay around 180 a year, but it is also mandatory for my car insurance wise due to insurance group rating.
SEE YA said:
Best idea a garage, mine even has a Police Wheel clamp not cheap and other bits.
I also found a Tracker, does not make your insurance cheaper either. A Disklok would be a good idea, if in the street etc. As trying to take it off in public people would notice that.
If they were Pro's it would have gone on the first time.
I would not have bought my 911 without a garage to put it in.
Yes I have a garage, and would also not have bought this car without one. As mentioned I think the damage was done in London or at the airport.I also found a Tracker, does not make your insurance cheaper either. A Disklok would be a good idea, if in the street etc. As trying to take it off in public people would notice that.
If they were Pro's it would have gone on the first time.
I would not have bought my 911 without a garage to put it in.
Edited by SEE YA on Monday 26th May 13:15
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