Theft deterrent

crazygeryy

A few cars have been robbed in the area, mainly older ones.
What is the best way to turn a car off and prevent it from being started?as in can i unplug something in the engine, a fuse?, a plug etc
What would be the best deterrent.
Its a 99 Toyota avensis.

colm_mcm

Your car has an immobiliser anyway. If they're gonna rob it they'll steal the keys first.

There are those that will say the Toyota badge will be a deterrent anyway, so I'll get that out of the way now.

If you want a visible deterrent, a diskloc would put a lot of would-be thieves off. Again, if they rob the key out of your house its useless!

Atlantic Dawn

You car has an immobilizer, nothing for you to worry about once you don't have your key in view from outside your house. I've seen cases of people with steering locks, posts in the driveway and then they hang the keys inside the door.

antodeco

A chain and a lock around the steering wheel and the base of the seat. A quick robbery is what they want. They will look in your window and then move on.

crazygeryy

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

You car has an immobilizer, nothing for you to worry about once you don't have your key in view from outside your house. I've seen cases of people with steering locks, posts in the driveway and then they hang the keys inside the door.

Yea thanks for that. I thought as much but i wasnt sure.
And I'm going to invest in the disc lock, it might be only a 99 car but i dont want it stolen.

Atlantic Dawn

crazygeryy wrote: »

Yea thanks for that. I thought as much but i wasnt sure.
And I'm going to invest in the disc lock, it might be only a 99 car but i dont want it stolen.

I'd save the cash, you will find everything robbed was either pre immobilizer days (pre 1996/1997) or was a Japanese import or the keys were stolen.

Pops_20

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I'd save the cash, you will find everything robbed was either pre immobilizer days (pre 1996/1997) or was a Japanese import or the keys were stolen.

How can you tell if your car has an immobiliser or not?

I'm in a similar situation with my car (Japanese import), and I don't want this to happen.

Disconnect the battery maybe?

bazz26

crazygeryy wrote: »

A few cars have been robbed in the area, mainly older ones.
What is the best way to turn a car off and prevent it from being started?as in can i unplug something in the engine, a fuse?, a plug etc
What would be the best deterrent.
Its a 99 Toyota avensis.

That should do it.



Sorry OP, could not resist. Seriously, best thing imo to do is keep the keys out of sight in the house. Ie don't leave them on the table in the hall close to the letter box.

colm_mcm

Pops_20 wrote: »

How can you tell if your car has an immobiliser or not?

I'm in a similar situation with my car (Japanese import), and I don't want this to happen.

Disconnect the battery maybe?

You'd usually know by the key. Most japanese imports don't have factory immobilisers. Car thieves know this.

Pops_20

colm_mcm wrote: »

You'd usually know by the key. Most japanese imports don't have factory immobilisers. Car thieves know this.

The key looks like a house key and doesn't have a battery/central locking/electronics built in

Are these cars easy enough to steal without the key at all? I'd be looking at some sort of anti-theft device in this case. The car isn't worth that much but you often hear of moderately powerful Japanese Imports being stolen.

OP, I'm in the same boat as yourself, a chain lock around the wheel as suggested here might be the cheapest and most effective way, as suggested already.

bazz26

Cars without immobilisers are easier to steal as they can be stolen the old fashioned way via being hot wired. An alarm with a kill switch is probably a good start.

Atlantic Dawn

Pops_20 wrote: »

The key looks like a house key and doesn't have a battery/central locking/electronics built in

No immobilizer then, can be easily robbed with no skills required I am afraid.

colm_mcm

Clifford alarm with blackjax Is the right job

Pops_20

How much would one of these alarm and immobilisers cost do you know?

Is it a DIY job or professional install?

ArnieSilvia

I wouldn't recommend chains as it's very easy to cut through steering wheel and release chains.

I was unfortunate to experience few attempted car thefts. They stole one car though which was later recovered and I put it back on the road. I learned that best security is the one only you know about.

I had to go to the lengths of taking out ecu's, all fuses, ignition wires, coilpacks etc. Ended up paranoid seeing a recovery truck (in case someone wanted to lift it this way) and decided to sell the car as it was too tempting for thieves (Mazda rx7)

I'd recommend go different route and probably have tracker fitted, these are relatively cheap these days. Otherwise an aftermarket immobiliser would help.
Good immobiliser saved my rx7 but thieves came back next day. It greeted them with most of electronics taken out of car:D They made right mess of the ignition wiring though.

On a side note I sympathise with OP. Having my car stolen was definitely one of the most unpleasant feelings I ever had.

colm_mcm

Pops_20 wrote: »

How much would one of these alarm and immobilisers cost do you know?

Is it a DIY job or professional install?

For the Clifford alarms they're professionally fitted. You'd get a nice one for €500ish

gozunda

crazygeryy wrote: »

A few cars have been robbed in the area, mainly older ones.
What is the best way to turn a car off and prevent it from being started?as in can i unplug something in the engine, a fuse?, a plug etc
What would be the best deterrent.
Its a 99 Toyota avensis.

One of these in the back ....

biko

If it's a pro that wants the car it's not much you can do.
Wheel lock and perhaps a hidden ignition switch will stop joyriders which I suppose is more of a concern?

CiniO

biko wrote: »

If it's a pro that wants the car it's not much you can do.
Wheel lock and perhaps a hidden ignition switch will stop joyriders which I suppose is more of a concern?

For a amateur looking for a joyride, most security solutions will do - like immobileiser, good alarm, wheel lock, etc...
Professional will easily override all typical security systems - even the best immobilaisers and alarms.
But what professionals won't be able to override, is simple yet nonstandard protection. F.e. some well hidden switch turning off some simple sensor without which engine won't start. Preferably home made.
Unless he has few hours to spare to diagnose why car is not starting, he won't steal it.

StereoSound

A gigantic chain and padlock is what I always used back in the day when I was mad into little jap imports. I even still use the same chain and padlock on my relatively new Octavia even though with all the security electronics that it has would make it fierce difficult to take anyways.

Stingray

Has anyone come across a facility to remotely activate the car alarm? I'm thinking ear piercing noise whilst its been stolen/driven, it wont stop the act but its better than just rolling over and waving bye bye to the car

Or even better a fuel kill switch? Not sure if these are even legal?

Caliden

colm_mcm wrote: »

Clifford alarm with blackjax Is the right job

And if you get one of these, don't put the alarm siren under the bonnet like 90% of them.

Do, however, hide the blackjax input somewhere not visible.

ardmacha

Stingray wrote: »

Has anyone come across a facility to remotely activate the car alarm? I'm thinking ear piercing noise whilst its been stolen/driven, it wont stop the act but its better than just rolling over and waving bye bye to the car

Or even better a fuel kill switch? Not sure if these are even legal?

Years ago, when cars were easily stolen, my Dad had a car with an electric fuel pump. He installed a small switch under the dash. The car would start fine from whatever was in the fuel line, but would stop within 100m.

pippip

Previously posted on boards.... someone used to put a wooden 2x4 with a load of nails sticking out of it under a blanket on the drivers seat every night.

Thought it was brilliant, as long as you remember to move is yourself in the morning.

ironclaw

I've taken to fitting these:



Connected to a tracker (Its a dual purpose GSM / FM antenna) Its tricky to jam as the GPS is sitting at the base of the antenna and has clear line of sight to the sky. Depending on the tracker, the accuracy and lock time can be very impressive. If you are even more fancy, you can use the actual antenna for GSM / 3G and FM.

The more eagle'd eyes amoungst you will recognize the antenna base

Special Circumstances

More details on that please ironclaw.
Interested in a tracker, not so interested in cutting holes in roof though.

colm_mcm

Caliden wrote: »

And if you get one of these, don't put the alarm siren under the bonnet like 90% of them.

Do, however, hide the blackjax input somewhere not visible.

Done and done

antodeco

I've used a GPS GSM tracker. Texts me if it senses a vibration, of it goes over a certain speed, if it moves out of a pre defined area. On top of that, I can ring it, and listen to what's going on.

ironclaw

Special Circumstances wrote: »

More details on that please ironclaw.
Interested in a tracker, not so interested in cutting holes in roof though.

No cut required. You merely replacing the antenna. It works better if you have an existing back-roof antenna. If you don't e.g. BMW SharkFin etc, then you may have issues and may need to cut or replace the fin.

Its then a simple case of wiring it up. Radio stuff can be a little more complicated if you want FM and GSM / 3G at the same time, not impossible though.

kerry4sam

antodeco wrote: »

I've used a GPS GSM tracker. Texts me if it senses a vibration, of it goes over a certain speed, if it moves out of a pre defined area. On top of that, I can ring it, and listen to what's going on.

Mind my asking where you bought this? I'm looking into getting a GPS-device for my car to track & trace if taken.

Thanks,

robtri

on a 99 avensis an alarm and imobiliser will stop them taking it, but more often than not by the time these idiots realise there is an alarm or imobiliser they have bent your door back or broken the window....

the big disc lock in post 2 is what u need, a big visual thing like that and they usually shuffle off to the next car, looking for an easier target....

Kelly06

Caliden wrote: »

And if you get one of these, don't put the alarm siren under the bonnet like 90% of them.

Do, however, hide the blackjax input somewhere not visible.

I have one of these alarms fitted, ill have to go out and look in the morning but I think the siren is under the bonnet and the key pad was fitted right slap bang in the middle of the dash. I was not happy when I saw how it was fitted:mad: I have the proximity sensor on it as well and the alarm has recently started going crazy on a regular basis, the sensor goes off and then the alarm goes off, have to bring it back to the fitter on Friday. Has anyone else had this problem?

antodeco

kerry4sam wrote: »

Mind my asking where you bought this? I'm looking into getting a GPS-device for my car to track & trace if taken.

Thanks,

Mine isint hardwired, so even if the battery is cut, it still works. Its cheap and cheerful. Its an iTrack 2.0.

Caliden

Kelly06 wrote: »

I have one of these alarms fitted, ill have to go out and look in the morning but I think the siren is under the bonnet and the key pad was fitted right slap bang in the middle of the dash. I was not happy when I saw how it was fitted:mad: I have the proximity sensor on it as well and the alarm has recently started going crazy on a regular basis, the sensor goes off and then the alarm goes off, have to bring it back to the fitter on Friday. Has anyone else had this problem?

Sensitivity could be up too high. You can lower it in the 'settings' but you need a manual to follow in order to do it.

ba_barabus

Get one of these. They're actually a lovely pet and nobody will enter your garden never mind house if you have one.

RandomAccess

The blackjack is probably worth more than the car.

Plus depending on the design of the car door they may bend the frame back, so need to deter them before they get to that point!

Maybe you could put a locking pole in your driveway. they are pretty good deterrent if you have a suitable driveway.



potted plants are optional extra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFHQboiR-oM

lomb

It doesn't take too long on a vag to program a fresh transponder and drive off in one. I got the secret code off my 02 in around 5 minutes and had the transponder programmed in another 5 all with 20euros of hardware and software off ebay and a laptop . Fair enough I needed the ignition on to do it and used an existing key for that but a screwdriver would do. I bought a Thatcham immobiliser off ebay and have to install that as haven't much confidence in the factory system. the tracker sounds a good idea for those high risk cars and one one offs.

dr.fuzzenstein

gozunda wrote: »

One of these in the back ....

There's an old joke where a guy parks a Porsche in Dublin, alarms it and has a dog inside it. Young scrote shouts at him "hey mister, can your dog put out fires too?"

What you need it this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRNVxHPJ0hM

Kelly06

Caliden wrote: »

Sensitivity could be up too high. You can lower it in the 'settings' but you need a manual to follow in order to do it.

Thanks I'll see what the fitter says tomorrow. I'm sleeping with the keys in my hand at this stage. Have had to leave the alarm off a couple of nights to shut it up. My neighbours must love me !

vienne86

I have one of those security posts, not a neat telescopic one, so I have to bring it into the house when I'm leaving. I use one of those padlocks you can't cut. Lock the car keys into a key box.


.........and yes I have reversed into the post. Twice.

dr.fuzzenstein

vienne86 wrote: »

I have one of those security posts, not a neat telescopic one, so I have to bring it into the house when I'm leaving. I use one of those padlocks you can't cut. Lock the car keys into a key box.


.........and yes I have reversed into the post. Twice.

but what to do with the key to the key box? Safest way would be to swallow it, though the regularity of your trips would now depend on how regular you are...:D:P

Special Circumstances

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

but what to do with the key to the key box? Safest way would be to swallow it, though the regularity of your trips would now depend on how regular you are...:D:P

Make 6 copies,feed to 6 rottweilers at different times!

dr.fuzzenstein

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Make 6 copies,feed to 6 rottweilers at different times!

Only one copy works, the other 5 will cause the key box to blow up in your face.

goz83

kerry4sam wrote: »

Mind my asking where you bought this? I'm looking into getting a GPS-device for my car to track & trace if taken.

Thanks,

You can get them on ebay for around €100. I hardwired mine, so it charged when the ignition was on and had about a week of battery. Aside from what was already mentioned, the model I had in my car could cut power to the engine with a text message command.

kerry4sam

antodeco wrote: »

Mine isint hardwired, so even if the battery is cut, it still works. Its cheap and cheerful. Its an iTrack 2.0.

Currently sold out on Amazon. Unknown if coming back into stock (added to my wishlist though).

Thank You

goz83 wrote: »

You can get them on ebay for around €100. I hardwired mine, so it charged when the ignition was on and had about a week of battery. Aside from what was already mentioned, the model I had in my car could cut power to the engine with a text message command.

Thank You

I don't use ebay at all. Must ask around. Such varied devices online (& varied prices) might just ask one of the lads to order one for me and ask no questions.

Thanks for replying ^^