Security Options

[jamlee]

Hi everyone,

New to the forum and recently bought a Chimaera 450, however went to go for a run tonight and looks like someone has tried to get in through the velcro flaps on the hood (ripping up the seem on both sides). They've tried to reach in to open the door but fortunately they had no idea where the door handle was!

I'm hoping that they were just after the stereo (that has now been removed) but I'm a little paranoid about them coming back. Just seeing what people opinions are on steering locks etc or decent alarms?

The area I live in is fairly quiet and was parked right outside my house but think I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Thanks for the advice in advance.

Cheers

[phillpot]

It's not the doors they're trying to open by lifting the flaps, best not say anymore on here in public.

[QBee]

Jamlee, Chimaera owners are a little careful about matters like this, and we only answer questions about security off forum.
Please complete your profile so that you can be emailed, and put photos of the car on your profile.
Better still, ask the dealer or previous owner what was going on.

We are a friendly lot, but without info sadly you could be anyone, including the intended thief!!

[jamlee]

The above is what I was talking about, on both sides obviously looking for the inner handle must of been on Wed night.

That's fine but all I was looking for was people's opinions on:

1 whether it's even worth getting a steering lock and if so is there any particular one that is the best?

2 If there was anything else that was better?

Updated profile so pm me if that's easier.

Cheers

[Danblez]

I presume you have an immobiliser fitted at the very least but no alarm??

[s p a c e m a n]

I use a disk lock on the steering wheel, stops opportunity theft as you have to come properly prepared to break one of those. I also remove the ecu if I'm leaving it for a few days, even if they do figure out why it won't start the chances of them having one in their pocket is slim.

[QBee]

Thanks for updating etc. I am sure you can see why we are careful. The Chimaera forum is the friendliest on PH and you will find loads of help on all subjects.

Welcome!

I cannot add to the above comments - visible security is your friend. And removing at least the face plate off the stereo. As already said, if you are leaving the car for any length of time, remove the ECU. A working alarm might draw attention, but who bothers with responding to car alarms?

That damage is annoying. A friend of mine had his rear window panel trashed by someone trying to steal his stereo while the car was parked on his own drive. Car wasn't even locked, but the thief couldn't find the door handles!!

[V8 GRF]

If they were after the radio then a steering lock wouldn't have been a deterrent.

The standard alarm has ultrasonics in teh cockpit and it works well in my car even with the top left off so anyone sticking their hands in there and not setting it off suggests one of a few things, either it wasn't set at all, the cockpit sensor isn't working or the siren is U/S.

The latter is a likely culprit as they can get ruined by water ingress in the location TVR put them.

[jamlee]

Thanks for the replies, yes has immobiliser, supposedly has an alarm (need to check it actually works properly), I've been out and bought a steering lock so hopefully if the person comes back for a second attempt they will be put off. Just checking in case there was something better that would give me peace of mind, had visions of waking up this morning and it was gone!

Thanks again.

[frenchie TVR]

My Chimaera is parked in a locked garage with a locked gate to the drive accessing to the garages and I have an working alarm / immobiliser and I also have a “Battery Brain”: http://www.batterybrain.co.uk/ to de-activate the battery (as the car is not being used as much as I would like to use it)

Battery Brain is pretty good a a security devise in my view: no power = no starting the engine, meaning that the car is safe.

Frenchie