In light of the stolen COPO thread, I thought it might be appropriate to have a discussion on securing our vehicles.
I am not sure if this should be discussed in open (might actually help thieves defeat some systems) or rather by PM.
At any rate, if anyone is thinking of arming their vehicle I have a number of ideas on how to do it. It varies depending on the vehicle (manual trans vs. automatic, electronic ignition vs. points, fuel injection vs. carb, etc).
If consensus is that we should post our ideas on here, maybe without being too specific, let's go for it. I feel this is pretty important, important enough that I have been doing my own vehicles for years.
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
The big problem I see in London is side glass being smashed in order to get GPS units. People are crazy for leaving them out in the open. I saw at Canadian Tire an alarm for such a break in. It plugs into the cigar lighter and detects changes in interior pressure to set off an alarm located underhood. It's all wireless. Some cars (like my Buick) have a cigar lighter plug in an inconspicuous location where such an alarm could be plugged in.
In light of the stolen COPO thread, I thought it might be appropriate to have a discussion on securing our vehicles.
I am not sure if this should be discussed in open (might actually help thieves defeat some systems) or rather by PM.
At any rate, if anyone is thinking of arming their vehicle I have a number of ideas on how to do it. It varies depending on the vehicle (manual trans vs. automatic, electronic ignition vs. points, fuel injection vs. carb, etc).
If consensus is that we should post our ideas on here, maybe without being too specific, let's go for it. I feel this is pretty important, important enough that I have been doing my own vehicles for years.
I think this is a good idea Carl but I think the info should be made available through PM or email only to members. You never know who could be reading a public forum and what they may be able to find by using the right search forum.
__________________
Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
Come on Hillar, when was the last time you had anything stolen from your place? We don't even lock the doors to the house, I lock them when I make my rounds just before bed time.
I had my Park Ave ransacked a month or so ago and I live in a town of less than 10000 people. It can happen anywhere. Apparently the previous owners of our house had their van stolen from their driveway..
Come on Hillar, when was the last time you had anything stolen from your place? We don't even lock the doors to the house, I lock them when I make my rounds just before bed time.
A couple of years ago I came out one morning to find the interior of my Subaru turned inside out. It was probably kids looking for loose change and CD's but fourtunately they didn't find mine which I keep in a secret stash.
Last year what can only be called professional theives came down our street one night and broke into every car that had anything of value visible from the outside. My neighbour across the street lost his GPS and a bunch of CD's.
We're not in Kansas any more Ray.
__________________
Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
Just be careful you don't make a man trap, or you will be charged. My buddy's mustang kept getting F%$#@d with, so he rigged up an electrical currant through the car, installed a 1 amp fuse to keep the individual from getting electrocuted, but still one hell of a wallop, got the little bastard though. Cops showed up 20 minutes later. Didn't realize it was illegal to protect his property in such a mannor, big fine..
For those of you looking for the ultimate solution check this out. http://www.stickdeath.com/2003auto.html (PG Warning not for small children)
I remember my funniest story. It was in the 80s and I had the transmission rebuilt in my Beaumont. That Sunday the wife and I went out to take a ride and when I put the transmission in gear nothing happened. Assuming something had gone wrong with the rebuild I phoned the transmission shop the next day and arranged a tow. When the shop got the car they phoned me after they stopped laughing. Someone has stolen my drive shaft.
I see that Toronto stats so far are 3208 vehicles stolen to date. Not to bad for a city that size but still cars were stolen. Winnipeg has improved since 2004 with the add of the immobilizer program. We went from 8718 vehicles stolen around 24 a day to 6 a day to date in 2009. As much as we complain about this program it must be working.
I know I will be putting a keyed battery kill switch in my ride when its complete. Put one in my buddies ride, kills all power to the vehicle.
I have an ignition kill switch and battery disconnect which is in the trunk... this thread might be useful to also include how people secure their garages when they are away, the cars are probably more vulnerable in the garage than on the street!... i do recommend that people put their garage door opener on a switched duplex so that you can kill the power when you are away, lock through the track, keep blinds on the windows (even bars if you feel you need them)... lots of fun thinking of this stuff!
I purposely left the garage door without an outside handle. There is no garage opener and the track gets a lock to prevent the rollers from going up. My man door has no window (in fact my garage is all steel and has no windows.
The lock you have in your track, it is a factory piece, or something you made yourself? That is a great idea, and I wouldn't mind doing something like that here.
Thanks John
__________________
John
1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 2005 Pontiac Grand Am 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
The lock you have in your track, it is a factory piece, or something you made yourself? That is a great idea, and I wouldn't mind doing something like that here.
Thanks John
Most garage door companies can supply these. The slider goes through a hole you cut in the track and a padlock goes on the end. A simpler, and maybe more secure, method is to drill a hole in the track just above where a roller sits when closed and insert a large padlock.
Nothing stops a thief, but all these things help to slow them down. Disable the vehicle (ignition/fuel cutoffs, wheel locks, etc.); secure the building (track locks, alarms, another vehicle parked in front of door, etc.).
What is really needed is a new "Man's Castle" law which, when announced, gives fair warning to thieves. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. SITE IS BOOBY-TRAPPED!
That sure would beat the old sign......guard dog on duty!!!! Hehehe.... I like the idea of the big padlock, and since this topic came up, when I get to the wiring on my car (which is in a million pieces right now) I am going to put in a shut-off switch somewhere.
Thanks for the ideas.....John
__________________
John
1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 2005 Pontiac Grand Am 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
The track for my garage door has holes in several locations. A standard lock (or even a long bolt with a nut on the end) will fit through it. I usually have it in a location that will allow me to crack open the door about an inch for airflow when I use the exhaust fan.
The lock you have in your track, it is a factory piece, or something you made yourself? That is a great idea, and I wouldn't mind doing something like that here.
Thanks John
Most garage door companies can supply these. The slider goes through a hole you cut in the track and a padlock goes on the end. A simpler, and maybe more secure, method is to drill a hole in the track just above where a roller sits when closed and insert a large padlock.
I was able to get one of those at the local RONA. Very cheap, easy to install.
It's nice to read people talking about installing kill switches. Make sure you carry through on that plan if you are considering it. Don't be shy to hide two switches in totally unrelated areas, maybe even disabling two completely different circuits i.e. ignition, fuel, cranking.
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
The track for my garage door has holes in several locations. A standard lock (or even a long bolt with a nut on the end) will fit through it.
Todd,
The problem with a bolt and nut, rather than a lock, is that if they get through a man-door or window, they'll quickly remove the nut and bolt from inside. You want a heavy-duty lock that slows they down from getting the overhead door open.
One on each track on either side of the overhead door oughtta drive them bonkers.
Make sure to place a lock key inside the house where your wife knows where it is in case of fire. If the fire dep't has to deal with the lock, the added delay may cost the car.
P.S. I'm talking HEAVY-DUTY lock here. Hide all bolt/chain cutters and hacksaws out of sight.
