Recommendations for anti-theft devices

[Wardez]

Hey guys, hope the new year's treating you well so far.

I bought a '95 240SX (S14) about 6 months ago and have had a great time with it. Great car and is currently my little project in getting it up to a more reliable standard. It was well taken care of, only one owner, 160k miles, SE version, completely and utterly stock to the bone, every single ounce, even the radio.

It's also still in the original paint, purple, with not a single dent.

So as you can imagine, it's quite a desirable little lady. And it gets a LOT of heads turning, especially in my neighborhood, which isn't the greatest.

Anyway, I wanted to hear your guys' opinions on how I can keep her mine. 240's are stolen all the time here in Vegas and I don't want to get caught out.

I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to this as well so anything you guys have I'd appreciate. All I can think about are things like lojack, the club, uhmm... and a custom alarm, although I know that won't do much.

 

[Punknoodle]

Is it parked outside? Most thefts occur out of opportunity, that is, someone walking past and deciding that it is an easy target.

Therefore, a club is actually a really good idea. Anything glaringly obvious to make it look like a pain to steal is going to be a reason for an opportunistic theft to give your car a wide berth. Sure, it's no 100% anti theft device, but it is an excellent deterrent.

A good alarm, with at least 2 immobilizers will also make it harder to steal, meaning most thieving scum will give up half way through, although it will be nothing more than a delay to a good thief. If you have nice wheels, you can fit an alarm with tilt sensors that will make it go off if the car is jacked for the wheels.

The best advice I can give you is to ensure that there are no valuables in clear sight, don't draw attention to yourself when close to home, loud stereo etc, try to park under lighting. I have a battery kill switch on the battery box in my boot and I remove that key if I HAVE to park it somewhere at night that isn't my garage. Wouldn't stop them but it would delay them. That, and I take the faceplate off my head unit and hide it in the jack compartment in the boot.

 

[Kent]

Lo-jack.
Report installation of a lojack and your insuance should go down.

Likewise, report an equipped vehicle stolen and it will be remotely shut down, tracked, and recovered if possible.

 

[RocZX]

Seeing that you live in America, this will be the best anti-theft device ......

 

[Kent]

Seeing that you live in America, this will be the best anti-theft device ......

That would be funny if true but the hoyty toyty types who cant drive manual arent exactly the types causing car security issues (unless you mean door dings).

 

[JrDarknes]

Seeing that you live in America, this will be the best anti-theft device ......

Made my day with this XD

 

[Wardez]

haha, yes it's a manual and while most of the general public indeed don't go for manuals anymore, the "enthusiasts" I'm scared about will definitely not be deterred by a little shifting.

But thanks for the suggestions. Yeah I park in in my driveway but it's still technically outside so it's not ideal.

I forgot about killswitches, how do those work usually?

 

[MatskiMonk]

haha, yes it's a manual and while most of the general public indeed don't go for manuals anymore, the "enthusiasts" I'm scared about will definitely not be deterred by a little shifting.

But thanks for the suggestions. Yeah I park in in my driveway but it's still technically outside so it's not ideal.

I forgot about killswitches, how do those work usually?

Not sure about proper aftermarket ones, but my friend fitted a very simple switch in to the wiring that went to his fuel pump on his Peugot. No switch = no fuel. I also looked at duplicating the transmission inhibitor in my 6 series, the device that stops the engine from starting when the gear lever is in the D position was (basically) just a microswitch under the lever, I was going to just wire up another one in series hidden somewhere... didn't get the chance to try this as the car was stolen before I could, wouldn't have helped anyway, they got it away on a trailer!

 

[Wardez]

Yeah part of the reason I wanted to also be prepared was because I've been hearing a lot of horror stories more than usual lately on FB and such. There was this story, sounds a bit like yours:
http://motormavens.com/2012/12/stolen-walker-wilkersons-formula-drift-car/

After the report went viral (spread by his buddies all over the internet) they were able to track it down:
http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/blog...kerson-stolen-formula-drift-cartrailer-found/

Those bastards have a lot of gall. Sorry to hear of your troubles.

That fuel pump switch sounds awesome, where did he have to switch it on from?

Oh and for some reason I can just now recall back in my teenage years going around to car shows seeing these guys walking around with their detachable steeringwheels in hand haha xD. I mean, I guess it would deter the unprepared car jackers but all they would need is an aftermarket wheel themselves, unless it had a special hub or something.

 

[MatskiMonk]

That fuel pump switch sounds awesome, where did he have to switch it on from?

From memory he got a switch for an optional extra that wasn't fitted to the car.. it was something like an aircon switch, I can't recall exactly.

In fact, thinking about it, he may have also used a relay since I'm sure he said it worked by not allowing power to get to the fuel pump at all, and that's probably not cabling that's easy to wire through the centre console.

Either way, simple principle, just splice a switch into some important wiring, and hide it*

*This might be a lot riskier on new cars, this was on cars that would now be 20 years old.

 

[ShobThaBob]

Park it in a garage.

 

[Wardez]

Well I have work as well, and although casino parking garages are relatively safe there's still risk. No garage to park it in though at the house. Garage was turned into another room.

 

[Punknoodle]

Know what this thread needs? Pictures. We wanna see this immaculate car you speak of

 

[mazdaman]

Anything from viper also the boots for your tires and the shifter lock.

 

[Wardez]

Thanks, I'll look into it.

I keep looking around for stories of situations where an anti-theft device has actually prevented or helped recovered a stolen.car but there seem to be so little. I wonder how many dudes here have had brushes with it.

and about pictures, yeah I'm gonna put up a thread here soon 👍

 

[Katiegan]

Tracking systems could be good. I have no idea on price, just from what I've seen and such. Nothing is visible, there's no flashing lights or stickers. If your car is stolen or moved without the keys a control centre calls you for authorisation of this move, and if you didn't move the car yourself they'll contact the police and they can track the car. Signals are sent from the car to the control centre frequently and the centre is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

There's another tracking system involving a remote or a key tag, which you have to have on you to get in the car. If your car has been stolen without this, the control centre will call you and ask to confirm the theft of the car. This is a good way to find out exatcly when the car is stolen, instead of waking up 8 hours later to go to work and then to find your car isn't there, by which time could be out of the country and on a container ship.

These are things in the UK, so I'm not sure if you have them in the US. All the info is from Source Sounds.