Security for my car?

[007craft]

Hi. Im wondering what I can get security wise for my car? I basically want my car to be steal proof (well i know thats not possible but you get it). I want to be able to go out drinking, and leave my car there overnight, and return the next day without having to worry about some1 stealing it.

Like is a regular alarm system good enough? I really have no idea whats out there? This is 2009, dont they have like some GPS tracking that links with your cell phone and tells you where your stolen car is for the police or something, or is that still a james bond type thing?

[blakjak]

http://www.datacom.com/mobilus.php?lang=en

I had this on my old SUV (insurance required and paid for it). Looks like what you're asking about.

PS - Never had to use it, thankfully :)

[z24driver1986]

Can I ask what kind of car is it??? If its something like lets say an Escalade (high demand vehicle) someone will steal it no more what... there are professional thieves who find ways. Unless there is a Rottweiler in the back or something like that... I've heard of ppl even putting a little switch somewhere inside the dash to disable the fuel pump, a thief will not know what to do.

[Whitedart]

Can I ask what kind of car is it??? If its something like lets say an Escalade (high demand vehicle) someone will steal it no more what... there are professional thieves who find ways. Unless there is a Rottweiler in the back or something like that...

A hard core thief would just shoot the dog, so that won't work.



I've heard of ppl even putting a little switch somewhere inside the dash to disable the fuel pump, a thief will not know what to do.

Neither will this if they use a tow truck.

[Vladimir]

comprehensive insurance

[mystery]

Car alarms don't do much.

I believe the best anti-theft protection is an engine immobilizer, which cuts off the fuel supply if a key with the correct chip isn't inserted in the ignition.

Even with this, if they really want your car, nothing will stop them from towing it away.

[Jucius Maximus]

I want to be able to go out drinking, and leave my car there overnight, and return the next day without having to worry about some1 stealing it.

Buy a $1000 beater on those days. It's probably cheaper than the purchase and installation of a super-duper alarm system. Won't cost much to get comprehensive insurance and you won't care if it gets stolen.

Also, taking a cab or transit to/from the bar would have significant cost savings...

[007craft]

Buy a $1000 beater on those days. It's probably cheaper than the purchase and installation of a super-duper alarm system. Won't cost much to get comprehensive insurance and you won't care if it gets stolen.

Also, taking a cab or transit to/from the bar would have significant cost savings...

I thought of that, but I have nowhere to park that extra car. My driveway is full as is.

Cabs are too much money. $40+ one way is not fun at all. Wouldnt mind transit, if it actually ran in the am or more frequently, but it does not. Getting places by transit is fine in the city, but when you live in the suburbs, its a nightmare.

Oh I have a 2009 civic, not a fancy escalade or anything, but still dont want it being stolen.

[blakjak]

Cant seem to find any sort of price for mobicom. Im not impressed with companies who make you contact them for pricing info. Besides I dont need a monitoring service, just and actual gps device, that I can locate myself. I mean my car is stolen, its stolen. Once I know its stolen, ill tell the police where it is. Dont know why I need to pay a monthly fee for some company to do that for me?



For me, it was the insurance company that paid for the hardware and installation. I paid $113 per year for the service. Supposedly, as soon as you report it stolen, they shut down the car and send the cops to get it. Also, if your car moves more that 50 or 100 meters without the key in it (on a tow truck), the system alerts them and they send the cops. They track the car by GPS and cell towers.

Like I said, I never had to use it, but it sounded good. And I had no choice but to install it if I wanted the car insured.

[Jucius Maximus]

I thought of that, but I have nowhere to park that extra car. My driveway is full as is.

Cabs are too much money. $40+ one way is not fun at all. Wouldnt mind transit, if it actually ran in the am or more frequently, but it does not. Getting places by transit is fine in the city, but when you live in the suburbs, its a nightmare.

Well if you're leaving your car there overnight, how are you getting home?

I wouldn't leave a 2009 civic all night in some unprotected parking lot, especially in an area where other drunk drivers will be around "parking by feel" and such.

[z24driver1986]

Civic is still a very well known car to be stolen... I just use my factory alarm if someone wants to steal it go ahead I got insurance.

You can be safe one way but I see alot of drunk drivers on the road at night coming from the bar, the chances of someone hitting your car or even drunk ppl walking by and hitting it is greater than it getting stolen and no alarm can prevent that. Get yourself some really good insurance and your good to go.

[007craft]

Well if you're leaving your car there overnight, how are you getting home?


I walk home. Nothing like a 3+ hour drunken walk home at 2:am lol. Then I can just ride my bike back the next day, throw it in the back seat, and drive home.

I usualy park at the very end and far from others in lots, so hopefully nobody would be down there damaging my car. I guess ill just stick with insurance and hope I dont get shafted if it is stolen/damaged. :(

[jm1]

Organized crime isn't going to steal your Civic and ship it overseas, and if they were interested in parts, organized crime will find a way to take your car (eg. flatbed truck). I think you only need to worry about joyriders, who are usually defeated by engine immobilizers. Does your '09 Civic come with a factory alarm and immobilizer? If not, get one put in. Even nowadays, the most stolen cars are old ones because they didn't have immobilizers:

http://www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/Top_Ten_Stolen_Cars/2008.asp

Sure, they're Civics, but they're eight year old Civics.

Somewhere in BC they have bait cars and a website with videos. It's alarming how easy they start up a car and drive off with only what looks to be a screwdriver, but these are cars without immobilizers.

You have to worry more about people breaking into your car for whatever you've left there, so never leave anything in plain sight and if you need to store something in the trunk, do it BEFORE you reach your destination since thieves could just be watching a parking lot to look for someone parking, then storing their work laptop in the trunk before going for after-work drinks. If you drive up to your parking space and just get out and walk away and set the alarm and your interior has nothing in it, you've reduced the chances of a break-in greatly and the thieves will just ignore your car and head towards the other car with the GPS or sat. radio suction cup'ed to the windshield. I have a friend who's car was broken into for a couple of old CDs and whatever pocket change was in the centre console, all in plain view.

[007craft]

I have NO security on my car right now. I was gonna get a compustar remote starter w security. But that does not have an immobalizer, at least I dont think so.

And dont worry about stuff in my car. I keep nothing in there, and never plan to, other then maybe $5 hidden inside the arm rest out of sight.

[downloader]

your car already has the honda immobilizer system

[reidlos]

go buy a steering wheel lock and i doubt anyone would bother to break the lock and then start the car when they can just go find another one without it

[zivan56]

If they want to steal it, they will. There is NOTHING you can do if they are determined and well equipped. For example, in Eastern Europe, they have special trucks that get an X5 into it in less than a 1-2 mins...the trucks have built in GPS/Cell blockers and are almost soundproof. I'm sure here its even easier with the prevalence of tow trucks, which would just make it look like it is being towed for a parking violation.

[vaportech]

The steering wheel locks are visual deterrents as well as they lock the steering wheel from turning from a certain point to a certain point and they are bait if your driving on a road with one on.

But a dedicated thief will pick that lock.

If your really looking for a nice security system.

Go for boomerang, lojack. Things like that. Im surprised no one has mentioned this as of yet. One of the best systems for tracking/preventing your vehicle from getting stolen.

[Sepiraph]

What about GPS devices? Not talking about monthly fee one but can't one just put in some active GPS tracking device on the car and leave the tracker at home?

[boyoflondon]

This is what I use ... the best system you can get!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gju1AWFfsmg&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OFqXv-BhaE