obviously a car locked in a garage with its own seperate garage alarm system, with motion and door sensors adds a great deal of security , especially if its located inside a fenced yard with dogs, or in a yard where the house is almost always occupied, but just as obviously your not always home and your not always parking the car at home.
steering wheel locks, kill switches, hidden fuel pump switches and wheel locks preventing the car from being easily driven or towed add a significant level of enhanced security, as do tracking systems like LO-JACK, and alarm systems that can,t be disabled by simply disconnecting the battery , or alarms that call your cell phone ,so you'll want to think thru whats correct for your application
Asa general idea a multi layered redundant approach will provide he best results and simple tricks that slow or disable the car like like switches, hidden fuel pump switches and just making getting access to the car both more difficult and time consuming or very noticeable and well lighted when you park the car tend to make it a bit less likely to be a target.
given time most alarms can be bypassed , but most thieves won,t want to get into a direct confrontation with the cars owner or try to trouble shoot a car that has an engine that dies constantly or one that's not easily rolled around or towed
read this thread also
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/garage-security.297/page-2#post-46390
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=297&p=362#p362
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=867&p=5975&hilit=+kill+switch#p5975
http://www.ravelco.com/product.html
Tips to Prevent Car Theft
* Take Your Keys. Nearly 20 percent of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them.
* Lock Your Car. Approximately 50 percent of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
* Never Hide a Second Set of Keys in Your Car. Extra keys can be easily found if a thief takes time to look.
* Park in Well-lighted Areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts occur at night.
* Park in Attended Lots. Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.
* If You Park in an Attended Lot, Leave Only the Ignition/Door Key. If your trunk and glove box use the same key as the door, have one of them changed. Don't give the attendant easy access to your glove box and trunk. Upon returning, check the tires, spare tire, and battery to be sure they are the same as those you had when you parked.
* Never Leave Your Car Running, Even if You'll Only be Gone For a Minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up.
* Completely Close Car Windows When Parking. Don't make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.
* Don't Leave Valuables in Plain View. Don't make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.
* Park With Your Wheels Turned Toward the Curb. Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also be turned to the side in driveways and parking lots.
* If Your Vehicle is Rear-Wheel Drive, Back into Your Driveway. Rear wheels
lock on four-wheel drive vehicles, making them difficult to tow. Front-wheel drive vehicles should be parked front end first.
* Always Use Your Emergency Brake When Parking. In addition to ensuring safety, using the emergency brake makes your car harder to tow.
* If You Have a Garage, Use It. If you have a garage, take the time to use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable.
* When parking in a Garage, Lock the Garage Door and Your Vehicle. By locking both the garage and vehicle doors, the chances of deterring a thief greatly improve.
* Don't leave the registration or Title in Your Car. A car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. File the title at your home or office, and carry registration in your purse or wallet.
* Disable Your Vehicle When Leaving it Unattended for an Extended Period. Remove the electronic ignition fuse, coil wire, rotor distributor, or otherwise disable your vehicle anytime thieves may have extended access to it.
* Replace T-Shaped Door Locks With Straight Locks. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies at window level that flare out in a knob or "T" shape. A thief can use various tools to gain access inside the vehicle, grab and pull the lock. Straight locks prevent this.
* Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers have been etched on car windows and major parts.
* Engrave Expensive Accessories. Engrave personal ID numbers on car stereos, cellular phones, etc., so the thief will have difficulty disposing of them.
Investing in Vehicle Protection
* Ignition Kill Switch. Splice an inexpensive toggle switch into your ignition wire. The trick is hiding the switch well. Keypads, pressure pads and more expensive "immobilizers" and "passkeys" can also be used.
* Fuel Kill Switch. The valve that halts the fuel supply is closed. Visible Steering Wheel Lock. Prevents the steering wheel from being turned.
* Floorboard Locks. Devices that disable the gas or break pedal.
* Gearshift Locks. Disables shifting of the transmission.
* Tire/Wheel Locks. Prevents the vehicle from moving.
* Hood Locks. Prevents the thief from gaining access to your security system and battery.
* Armored Collar Around Steering Column. Protects the column and ignition.
* Electronic Security Systems. Audio alarms sound loud warnings when doors/hood/trunk are opened. Optional sensors include glass breakage, motion, tampering and towing. Panic buttons and automatic engine disable features are also recommended.
* Vehicle Tracking This is done with a transmitter hidden in the car that allows police to track the vehicle.
top 10 Lists
See all Top 10 Lists
Top 10 Ways to Steal a Car (and how to defend against them)
By Caroline Pardilla, Production Editor
Email
Lists come out every year detailing the most stolen cars and, with that, what steps one can take to deter car thieves. Yet, a car is stolen in the United States every 24 seconds according to the Insurance Information Institute. Auto theft continues to thrive despite those lists and regardless of new anti-theft technology that emerges with every new model year.
What else can you do besides not drive the most stolen car in America and equip your car with anti-theft protection? We're going to give you the unique opportunity to look inside the mind of the car thief and learn how he steals cars. With the help of police auto theft experts and auto theft professionals, we've compiled this list of some of the ways thieves steal cars followed by suggestions of how to stop them from doing it to you.
We have no intention of providing new information to the wrong people and simply want to educate the good guys. We haven't disclosed anything that car thieves don't already know and we have left out specific details to avoid making this a "how-to." Knowing the insider tricks of auto thieves will motivate you to take the necessary precautions to defend your vehicle.
1. Bump against the car to check for a car alarm. Since it seems like everything from a loud Harley to a rumbling garbage truck can set off a car alarm, people have been conditioned to tune them out. Instead of a motion-sensitive car alarm, use one that has a pager that will notify you as soon as your alarm is activated.
2. Break the window or jimmy the lock to gain entry into a locked car. Don't tempt car thieves. Keep valuables out of plain sight. Take them with you or store them in the trunk. Also, if you have a stereo with a removable face plate, take it with you instead of tucking it away in the glovebox.
3. Cut the steering wheel itself if there's a steering wheel lock. Instead of locking just your steering wheel, "lock" your car's ability to go by using a starter disable switch and putting it in a place where only you can get to it.
4. Look for exposed wiring that can be cut or for the central unit of the car alarm to deactivate it. Instead of going to a big retail chain store, have your car alarm installed by a professional car alarm installer, preferably a reasonably shady one. Unlike retail chain employees, these experts know what it takes to make your car elusive to crooks.
5. Look for car alarm decals to figure out which method to use to eliminate the alarm. Never display stickers that advertise what sort of car alarm you have, or audio system for that matter. Consider using a hood lock cable so the thief can't get to your battery or car alarm mechanism.
6. Jump into an unattended running car while the owner is at the ATM, dropping off videos, etc. Never leave your keys in the ignition even for a quick errand. Car theft is a crime of opportunity, so don't make it easy for them to grab yours.
7. Look for the car's title, registration or anything with a home address on it. Keep your registration and insurance information with you and never leave personal information in your car.
8. Stake out sporting events, movie theaters and shopping center parking lots for the car of your choice since they offer the largest variety of cars in one area. Whenever possible, park in lots and garages that have security and/or parking lot attendants. If not, don't park in the farthest corner of the lot but rather near the entrance of these facilities to insure the most foot traffic (and the most potential witnesses). Also, opt for paying the extra couple of dollars for the monitored parking lot instead of using the free parking on the less-trafficked side streets.
9. Find the second set of keys the owner "hid" in the car. Don't leave spare keys in your car or in a magnetic box attached to the underside of your car. Thieves know where all the "hiding places" are.
10. Copy specific vehicle information and take it to the manufacturer to get a replacement key made. Instead of VIN etching the major parts of your vehicle, which doesn't turn most thieves off, drop your business card into the doors through the window slots to identify your car as yours.
Even though auto theft is a crime of opportunity, if a crook really wants your car, he'll do whatever it takes to get it regardless of steering wheel locks or car alarms. But with the above knowledge, you can slow him down, make your car inconvenient to him and, hopefully, discourage him from attempting to steal your vehicle. Layering your car with anti-theft protection, especially if it's at the top of the most stolen vehicles list, is a good start. But, as with anything that is of value to you, the most important protection you can give your car is to take a proactive approach to security when you leave it unattended.
http://www.edmunds.com/car-technology/e ... affiliates
a multi- layered approach to car security is the best route, simply things like, remembering to lock your car, and turn on an alarm helps, a hidden fuel pump cut off switch, key accessed ignition cutoff switch, and a steering wheel lock go a good way to prevent theft,systems like lo-jack to track it if it is stolen are a huge asset. simple steps like replacing the coil to distributor wire with a dummy replacement with the conductor removed, can cause a thief to abandon stealing the car.
investing in a decent set of locks if you store the car helps
parking in a locked garage with its own alarm obviously helps, and good lighting sure helps
linked info that may prove valuable
http://www.neverhotwired.com/vehiclekillswitch/
http://www.lojack.com/car/pages/car-sol ... sgodsCUSQA
http://www.parkingpenguin.com/product/MIH14.html
http://www.watchyourcar.org/content/?/protect/devices
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...current-flow-grounds-and-more.3504/#post-9220
http://www.defensedevices.com/terminator.html
http://www.auto-theft.info/prevention_tools.htm
http://www.epinions.com/content_2351734916
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=4395&p=11556#p11556
http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Automotiv ... B0002KKML0
steering wheel locks, kill switches, hidden fuel pump switches and wheel locks preventing the car from being easily driven or towed add a significant level of enhanced security, as do tracking systems like LO-JACK, and alarm systems that can,t be disabled by simply disconnecting the battery , or alarms that call your cell phone ,so you'll want to think thru whats correct for your application
Asa general idea a multi layered redundant approach will provide he best results and simple tricks that slow or disable the car like like switches, hidden fuel pump switches and just making getting access to the car both more difficult and time consuming or very noticeable and well lighted when you park the car tend to make it a bit less likely to be a target.
given time most alarms can be bypassed , but most thieves won,t want to get into a direct confrontation with the cars owner or try to trouble shoot a car that has an engine that dies constantly or one that's not easily rolled around or towed
read this thread also
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/garage-security.297/page-2#post-46390
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=297&p=362#p362
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=867&p=5975&hilit=+kill+switch#p5975
http://www.ravelco.com/product.html
Tips to Prevent Car Theft
* Take Your Keys. Nearly 20 percent of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them.
* Lock Your Car. Approximately 50 percent of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
* Never Hide a Second Set of Keys in Your Car. Extra keys can be easily found if a thief takes time to look.
* Park in Well-lighted Areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts occur at night.
* Park in Attended Lots. Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.
* If You Park in an Attended Lot, Leave Only the Ignition/Door Key. If your trunk and glove box use the same key as the door, have one of them changed. Don't give the attendant easy access to your glove box and trunk. Upon returning, check the tires, spare tire, and battery to be sure they are the same as those you had when you parked.
* Never Leave Your Car Running, Even if You'll Only be Gone For a Minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up.
* Completely Close Car Windows When Parking. Don't make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.
* Don't Leave Valuables in Plain View. Don't make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.
* Park With Your Wheels Turned Toward the Curb. Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also be turned to the side in driveways and parking lots.
* If Your Vehicle is Rear-Wheel Drive, Back into Your Driveway. Rear wheels
lock on four-wheel drive vehicles, making them difficult to tow. Front-wheel drive vehicles should be parked front end first.
* Always Use Your Emergency Brake When Parking. In addition to ensuring safety, using the emergency brake makes your car harder to tow.
* If You Have a Garage, Use It. If you have a garage, take the time to use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable.
* When parking in a Garage, Lock the Garage Door and Your Vehicle. By locking both the garage and vehicle doors, the chances of deterring a thief greatly improve.
* Don't leave the registration or Title in Your Car. A car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. File the title at your home or office, and carry registration in your purse or wallet.
* Disable Your Vehicle When Leaving it Unattended for an Extended Period. Remove the electronic ignition fuse, coil wire, rotor distributor, or otherwise disable your vehicle anytime thieves may have extended access to it.
* Replace T-Shaped Door Locks With Straight Locks. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies at window level that flare out in a knob or "T" shape. A thief can use various tools to gain access inside the vehicle, grab and pull the lock. Straight locks prevent this.
* Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers have been etched on car windows and major parts.
* Engrave Expensive Accessories. Engrave personal ID numbers on car stereos, cellular phones, etc., so the thief will have difficulty disposing of them.
Investing in Vehicle Protection
* Ignition Kill Switch. Splice an inexpensive toggle switch into your ignition wire. The trick is hiding the switch well. Keypads, pressure pads and more expensive "immobilizers" and "passkeys" can also be used.
* Fuel Kill Switch. The valve that halts the fuel supply is closed. Visible Steering Wheel Lock. Prevents the steering wheel from being turned.
* Floorboard Locks. Devices that disable the gas or break pedal.
* Gearshift Locks. Disables shifting of the transmission.
* Tire/Wheel Locks. Prevents the vehicle from moving.
* Hood Locks. Prevents the thief from gaining access to your security system and battery.
* Armored Collar Around Steering Column. Protects the column and ignition.
* Electronic Security Systems. Audio alarms sound loud warnings when doors/hood/trunk are opened. Optional sensors include glass breakage, motion, tampering and towing. Panic buttons and automatic engine disable features are also recommended.
* Vehicle Tracking This is done with a transmitter hidden in the car that allows police to track the vehicle.
top 10 Lists
See all Top 10 Lists
Top 10 Ways to Steal a Car (and how to defend against them)
By Caroline Pardilla, Production Editor
Lists come out every year detailing the most stolen cars and, with that, what steps one can take to deter car thieves. Yet, a car is stolen in the United States every 24 seconds according to the Insurance Information Institute. Auto theft continues to thrive despite those lists and regardless of new anti-theft technology that emerges with every new model year.
What else can you do besides not drive the most stolen car in America and equip your car with anti-theft protection? We're going to give you the unique opportunity to look inside the mind of the car thief and learn how he steals cars. With the help of police auto theft experts and auto theft professionals, we've compiled this list of some of the ways thieves steal cars followed by suggestions of how to stop them from doing it to you.
We have no intention of providing new information to the wrong people and simply want to educate the good guys. We haven't disclosed anything that car thieves don't already know and we have left out specific details to avoid making this a "how-to." Knowing the insider tricks of auto thieves will motivate you to take the necessary precautions to defend your vehicle.
1. Bump against the car to check for a car alarm. Since it seems like everything from a loud Harley to a rumbling garbage truck can set off a car alarm, people have been conditioned to tune them out. Instead of a motion-sensitive car alarm, use one that has a pager that will notify you as soon as your alarm is activated.
2. Break the window or jimmy the lock to gain entry into a locked car. Don't tempt car thieves. Keep valuables out of plain sight. Take them with you or store them in the trunk. Also, if you have a stereo with a removable face plate, take it with you instead of tucking it away in the glovebox.
3. Cut the steering wheel itself if there's a steering wheel lock. Instead of locking just your steering wheel, "lock" your car's ability to go by using a starter disable switch and putting it in a place where only you can get to it.
4. Look for exposed wiring that can be cut or for the central unit of the car alarm to deactivate it. Instead of going to a big retail chain store, have your car alarm installed by a professional car alarm installer, preferably a reasonably shady one. Unlike retail chain employees, these experts know what it takes to make your car elusive to crooks.
5. Look for car alarm decals to figure out which method to use to eliminate the alarm. Never display stickers that advertise what sort of car alarm you have, or audio system for that matter. Consider using a hood lock cable so the thief can't get to your battery or car alarm mechanism.
6. Jump into an unattended running car while the owner is at the ATM, dropping off videos, etc. Never leave your keys in the ignition even for a quick errand. Car theft is a crime of opportunity, so don't make it easy for them to grab yours.
7. Look for the car's title, registration or anything with a home address on it. Keep your registration and insurance information with you and never leave personal information in your car.
8. Stake out sporting events, movie theaters and shopping center parking lots for the car of your choice since they offer the largest variety of cars in one area. Whenever possible, park in lots and garages that have security and/or parking lot attendants. If not, don't park in the farthest corner of the lot but rather near the entrance of these facilities to insure the most foot traffic (and the most potential witnesses). Also, opt for paying the extra couple of dollars for the monitored parking lot instead of using the free parking on the less-trafficked side streets.
9. Find the second set of keys the owner "hid" in the car. Don't leave spare keys in your car or in a magnetic box attached to the underside of your car. Thieves know where all the "hiding places" are.
10. Copy specific vehicle information and take it to the manufacturer to get a replacement key made. Instead of VIN etching the major parts of your vehicle, which doesn't turn most thieves off, drop your business card into the doors through the window slots to identify your car as yours.
Even though auto theft is a crime of opportunity, if a crook really wants your car, he'll do whatever it takes to get it regardless of steering wheel locks or car alarms. But with the above knowledge, you can slow him down, make your car inconvenient to him and, hopefully, discourage him from attempting to steal your vehicle. Layering your car with anti-theft protection, especially if it's at the top of the most stolen vehicles list, is a good start. But, as with anything that is of value to you, the most important protection you can give your car is to take a proactive approach to security when you leave it unattended.
http://www.edmunds.com/car-technology/e ... affiliates
a multi- layered approach to car security is the best route, simply things like, remembering to lock your car, and turn on an alarm helps, a hidden fuel pump cut off switch, key accessed ignition cutoff switch, and a steering wheel lock go a good way to prevent theft,systems like lo-jack to track it if it is stolen are a huge asset. simple steps like replacing the coil to distributor wire with a dummy replacement with the conductor removed, can cause a thief to abandon stealing the car.
investing in a decent set of locks if you store the car helps
parking in a locked garage with its own alarm obviously helps, and good lighting sure helps
linked info that may prove valuable
http://www.neverhotwired.com/vehiclekillswitch/
http://www.lojack.com/car/pages/car-sol ... sgodsCUSQA
http://www.parkingpenguin.com/product/MIH14.html
http://www.watchyourcar.org/content/?/protect/devices
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...current-flow-grounds-and-more.3504/#post-9220
http://www.defensedevices.com/terminator.html
http://www.auto-theft.info/prevention_tools.htm
http://www.epinions.com/content_2351734916
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=4395&p=11556#p11556
http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Automotiv ... B0002KKML0
Last edited by a moderator:
