Car Stolen-Thinking about installing bollard

Rasher_Sausage

My car was stolen recently from my drive way, and I am now thinking about installing bollard to act as a deterrent. So just wondering what peoples opinion on installing one are, as I rarely see any in any drive ways in Ireland, considering the amount of cars that are stolen in Ireland.

Be interested to hear any pros or cons if anybody has installed one previously. I am getting cctv installed this week, however from experience I am not sure how much of an effect cctv has in these situations.

freshpopcorn

What type of car was it?

bazz26

How was the car stolen?

Most cars have an immobiliser fitted so thieves focus on getting the keys to start it. Many people leave their car keys on view on the hall table lamp or on top of the kitchen counter. Thieves break into the house, take the keys and off they go. Some Japanese imports don't have an immobiliser so these can be hotwired so no need for a key. Other more sophisticated methods involving tech to clone or imitate a key with keyless start being vulnerable to these methods.

Atlantic Dawn

If it's a modern car I would forget about the bollard and look instead at a ghost immobilizer, these work in conjunction with the key by having a sequence of button/switch presses in the car in order to start it. Even if the thief breaks in to your house and robs the keys the vehicle will not start without the pattern of buttons being pressed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpXYKVOcl6Q

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120832923#Comment_120832923

The TikTok videos of them stelling the Jap imports are very brazen!

Rasher_Sausage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120832918#Comment_120832918

It was a Hyundai Tuscon 2022.

Rasher_Sausage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120832923#Comment_120832923

I don't know how they stole it as they didnt have keys and it was obviously locked. Probably as you say more sophiscated method by cloning the key fob. No idea how they could do that as key in house in the bedroom.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833354#Comment_120833354

They can use a radio signal booster to relay the signal from the key fob to the car. The car then thinks the key is nearby and lets them unlock the door

Someone got into my 2016 Leaf this way, although they didn't steal the car or take anything (most valuable thing in the car was probably a usb cable)

You can stop them, or at least make it difficult by keeping your keys in an RFID blocking box or pouch at night. Move them to the other side of the house as well to put as much distance between the car and keys as possible

In terms of the bollard, it's worth considering. Just keep in mind the thieves might not be overly concerned about the car getting damaged on the way out. So if they can get around the bollard in any way, for example by going through some hedges, then it's not much use

If you have the Tucson PHEV, another idea could be to leave it plugged in overnight. There's usually a setting to lock the charging cable in place until you unlock the car, so they'd need to mess around unplugging the cable before the car will move

In general terms, you have to manage your expectations somewhat. If someone really wants to steal your car then they'll find a way. The idea is to try and make it unattractive to steal so they don't bother and move on to someone else's house

elperello

A good strong locked gate will make them move on somewhere else.

A gate is as easily locked as a drop bollard.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833617#Comment_120833617

It's not always feasible, for example my driveway doesn't have walls on the sides, just hedges. So I'd need to build a boundary wall which involves getting planning permission as well as getting the neighbours to agree.

Also there's no space to swing the gate inward and IIRC outward swinging gates aren't allowed

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833742#Comment_120833742

you dont need planning for a low wall or get agreement from neighbours

without a wall the bollards might be pointless too

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833742#Comment_120833742

Correct, not suitable in all cases.

An electric sliding gate can be used in locations where there is no room for conventional gates to swing.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833617#Comment_120833617

A few seconds with a cordless grinder ?

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833820#Comment_120833820

Not if you install properly.

The main advantage of a physical barrier is that the thieves go and steal someone else's car.

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833820#Comment_120833820

its a good way of having a short career in car theft

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833882#Comment_120833882

You mean the noise ?

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833905#Comment_120833905

yes

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833354#Comment_120833354

Where were the spare keys?

Tenzor07

Very surprised to see that a relay attack worked against a 2022 car, the keys for my own car (VW Group) deactivates when it's not in motion and has to be within a short distance before it will work... I also keep it in a foil pouch to be extra sure...

Vic_08

Unless it's a very valuable and rare car then any significant obstacle is enough to send them off to find an easier target in an unobstructed driveway or street parked.

colm_c

Why would car thieves steal a family suv?

Resell with new plates?

Break for parts?

Getaway car?

Joyriding?

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833989#Comment_120833989

Typically they will run until you stop the car, rather than cutting out

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834055#Comment_120834055

all those things

parts probably the easiest thing

getaway car yes, you want to blend in

kdevitt

My mates Range Rover was robbed when the key got cloned during a valet - getting around the cars security seems to be getting easier these days rather than harder. Either way, I think a bollard or two is a great visual deterrent. I've cut the locks off myself in the past when a key went missing, but it makes a lot of noise and these lads generally want to get the car and slip away quietly.

For some of the fancier stuff, they just ring the doorball and demand the keys!

Tenzor07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834060#Comment_120834060

I meant the signal from the key deactivates once not in motion so it's not constantly pinging between the key and the car so there's no signal for the relay attack to pick up...

Also good advice for people is to keep the keys away from the front door and use a metal pouch/box to keep the key fob in..

amovingstatue

A used biscuit or chocs tin is ideal. Even better is one with a hinged lid makes getting and putting away the keys a one handed action.

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834222#Comment_120834222

i think it more works that the car wakes up the key, the equivalent of the toll tag

the car is constantly looking for a key though

otherwise the keyfob would run flat in no time

kdevitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834055#Comment_120834055

My mate was a claims manager for a few insurance companies - by pure luck a Garda down by the CCC saw his car being driven away on the back of a flatbed, quite obviously gave chase and caught the car. The lad led them to a bodyshop in the midlands - someone would arrive with a Passat needing a front bumper and bonnet for example. They'd have spotters who knew where an identical car was - they'd have it lifted and just swap the parts over. Guy was getting €250 or something per car he lifted. The mate had an open file for a 1 series which was robbed in similar way, and there it was being stripped.

The Range Rover stolen above I mentioned was tracked to a similar setup - just being stripped down to sell on as spares though.

JoeA3

With those bollards, I think there's a very real risk you (or someone else) will forget its there someday and will reverse into it! Same goes for any "post" type fitting in a driveway. I have bollard-style kerb lights on my driveway and they were whacked into and damaged badly a few times by idiot courier drivers until I finally had a gate fitted.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834314#Comment_120834314

Would be less work to transfer plates onto stolen passat😁

Tenzor07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834306#Comment_120834306

New keyfobs use UWB, if a signal isn't received in good time it won't activate the car so makes relay attacks useless due to the delay in sending the signal to the vehicle.. Though as I mentioned before always use a faraday pouch too.. https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-security/rfid-blockers/

UWB outwits the car thieves who try to extend the signal of the key. A UWB box (Ultra Wide Band) works on the principal of signal time-of-flight verification. The UWB box sends a signal to the key and waits for a response which must come within a certain time frame. If the signal is artificially extended, it will never make it in time.

kirk.

You don't need a pouch if you have a physical car key ?

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834643#Comment_120834643

this is something separate right and fairly new

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834736#Comment_120834736

pouch only if you have keyless entry

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834926#Comment_120834926

When you say keyless entry

I've remote locking but ignition takes a key?

Tenzor07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834916#Comment_120834916

Doesn't seem that the OP's new Hyundai has that, though VW group cars come with it since 2019 I believe..

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120835096#Comment_120835096

You don’t need a pouch.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834577#Comment_120834577

That kinda sounds more like their problem than yours

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833856#Comment_120833856

As cynical as it is I think you nailed it. Thieves are looking for the quick steal, get in and drive away within 60 seconds before anyone notices them

Anything that will slow them down or cause them to make a load of noise before they can start the car will discourage them and hopefully they go in search of easier targets

murphthesmurf

Get a Disklock,

https://www.halfords.ie/brands/disklok.html

they work really well. I've seen several tests done on these and they're very difficult to remove. Not perfect, but no security is. Will work better than a bollard. Power tools are needed to get them off. Make sure you get the correct size though, or you'll be defeating the object.

These were very popular in the UK when car crime went wild. I had one for a long time. Little bit cumbersome, but better than standing in the pissing rain trying to undo a post lock.

creedp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120835738#Comment_120835738

Must dig out that chain and padlock I used to use for the steering wheel of my Civic Esi back in the day. Ah the memories😇

kdevitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120835859#Comment_120835859

Haha I had the same thing on my VTi - more effective than any of the normal steering locks!

creedp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120835946#Comment_120835946

Yea I used to use the yoke connecting the handbrake to the gear stick until I yanked it upwards one day and it disengaged!

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120835104#Comment_120835104

seems it was only a concept in 2019, so wouldn't rely on it

Rasher_Sausage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834301#Comment_120834301

The guards and insurance assessor advised this best way forward as they cannot get a signal. Am unssure if this is correct but this is what we are doing now, and not leaving the keys in the bedroom.

Strumms

I’d go with a bollard. Any thief will see it and just not bother. To open a gate you have to be at the bollard . Using a tool to remove one will make too much noise, take too much time…the longer and louder they are there, the higher likelihood of being caught.

Rasher_Sausage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120833989#Comment_120833989

I cannot say for 100% how they managed to get signal but we always leave keys in the bedroom upstairs and our window can sometimes be left slightly open, especially during the summer when its warm, so I would imagine that they got signal that way, althought the key would be nowhere near the window, and would be at other side of the room. The guards mentioned that they have seen cases in shopping centre car parks where people are being watched and they clone keys there and they follow the car for few days to watch their pattern and then swoop. Its crazy to think that they can do this. Myself and the other half have been driving for best part of 25 years and we have had numerous cars between us, a lot of old bangers and average cars, never stolen, and we get a brand new car with what you would think would be the biggest and best in security, but the robbers are one step ahead of us all. Thanks to everyone for the advice. I think based on what people have said maybe bollard is not the way to go. Maybe I will look into gate or just park the old banger in behind whatever new car I end up getting.

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120834577#Comment_120834577

Yet another of the manifold reasons you should reverse in and drive out.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120837829#Comment_120837829

Would they even be sticking trackers on cars when cloning in car parks

JoeA3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120837900#Comment_120837900

Great advice. Then you might need a new front bumper rather than a rear one! I know I know, parking sensors etc, but in a moment of rushing, forgetfulness etc, it’s very easy to forget a low bollard is directly in your path.

JoeA3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120835697#Comment_120835697

When you have to chase a courier company (on 2 separate occasions) to acknowledge damage caused and pay up… then it’s most definitely my problem too.