Cheap Car Security

Shoshannah

My beloved car was stolen this weekend, and I am devastated as it was in excellent condition for the age and of great sentimental value. It was locked and no valuables were in the car, but the alarm hadn't worked in years and she was quite old. Poor security has to be a factor in this theft.

If I get her back (fingers crossed, but I don't hold out much hope) or if I buy a replacement car in weeks to come, I want to try and boost security as much as possible.

However, I am a student and not overly rich. A good quality Krooklok style thing will be first on my list but what else can I do as cheaply as possible? The car (and any replacement car I might buy) was not the type of car a high-class car thief would target. More the opportunist thief or joyriders - 'twas only a Sierra after all - so I am hoping that a Krooklok is the best visual deterrent I can get.

My fiance has the same model of car, parked in the same carpark a few yards away, but with a Krooklok. I wonder if this was a factor?

hewhoisnotintheknow

well if there are two identical cars they will just go for the easiest one to pinch

anewman

Steering wheel locks are somewhat of a visual deterrent as they cost a thief a minute or two, but offer little real security



If the car was an old sierra they may have targeted it because it did not have an immobiliser so could easily be hotwired. All cars past a certain year (think it's something like 1998?) had immobilisers fitted as standard - although many did before this date. So when purchasing a replacement car go for one with an immobiliser, which will also reduce the cost of your insurance significantly.

Other things that can be done cheaply is to put car security stickers in the window, something like... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOAD-CAR-ALARM-WINDOW-STICKERS-X2-FREE-P-P-ONLY-1-50_W0QQitemZ130298401497QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item130298401497&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

and also to wire in a flashing LED like http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Flashing-LED-Car-Alarm-Light-With-Security-Sticker_W0QQitemZ220383279828QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item220383279828&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318 you need to drill a hole in the dash, push it through and wire it to a positive wire and earth. A switch would stop it flashing while driving around.

Or this would be quite easy to fit http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0382962/Trail/searchtext%3EALARM.htm
but would probably cause more annoyance than anything. But if installing one of these do *NOT* use any stickers provided with it, buy different ones like those in the link above.

dacouch

A good trick is to buy a wireless baby moniter (You can pick them up second hand for very little). They are rechargeable and have a fairly long range, you simply put the microphone (The bit that goes in the cot) in the car. The monitor (The bit that goes in the parents room) goes in your front room on in your bedroom when you go to bed. If any one breaks in you will normally hear the noise and can ring the police or go out and confront them if your brave enough.

The other way which cost nothing is to remove an essential part of the engine

theonehere

A combination of a good Thatcham approved steering lock and a Clutch Claw (you'll have to Google it; as a new user I'm not yet deemed worth of posting links!) should deter pretty much any thief. I've seen the Clutch Claw in action, and short of sawing of the car's pedals, I can't see it being removed...

steveo3002

a diskloc is the only steering lock to consider...theyre a hefty peice of gear

you can also get a led and alarm stickers on ebay for a few quid , may help deter some thieves

hewhoisnotintheknow

only problem with the disklock is its such a big thing to put on / off

The average 16 year old joy rider will be put off by simple security devices as they just want the easy steal. When i goto french beaches i leave nothing in the car, alarm it but leave it unlocked. Its better than them smashing a window/ breaking a lock only to then find it has nothing to pinch AND that it has an alarm

Simple measures like leaving the glove box open do help to stop people breaking in to steal stuff, but not really to stop them stealing the car

I would go down the cheap stoplock and flashing led route in future

Shoshannah

Thanks everyone for the useful replies.

I am hoping the visual deterrents will be enough to stop this kind of joyrider break-in. As I said, fiance's car remained untouched and his old Krooklok thing doesn't even lock any more, it is purely a visual deterrent! Has worked so far *touches wood* but he will now buy a proper working one.

I will go with a fairly sturdy Krooklok device - won't stop a determined thief but will hopefully put off the lazier opportunist thieves that are most likely to target my car - and some sort of LED system. The baby monitor idea is a very good one and I shall consider that too!

It is only an old Sierra but a fairly well equipped one when new. It came with an alarm and immobiliser. The alarm no longer works and unfortunately the built-in LED no longer flashes, and the immobiliser has also been inactivated. I knew all this when I bought the car but never felt the need to sort the problems... guess I am paying the price after having her for four years untouched.

I should really stop talking about the car as if I still have it...it's gone.

Thanks again everyone!


PS I never leave any valuables in the car at all, let alone on display. This does work - our carpark has been targeted by thieves twice previously who broke into cars and stole contents. Mine was left untouched on both occasions, potentially because I never left anything on display.