adding extra security to my car

paulboy83

Hi,

My car was broken into some months ago when I was at my partners place for the night. Since then it's not been back here, i'm now living with my partner and want to bring my car back up here with me, i'm just slightly concerned about the possibility of it being broken into again.

I've got a 2001 Fiat punto mia, its not got any extra security features on it, i'm totally un clued up on this kind of thing and do not have the foggiest where to start, so could anyone advise me on where I should look, and what I should look for in terms of making it a bit less inviting to the nasty little people who find that kind of thing fun. Nothing is or was ever left inside the car so i'm not leaving all my diamonds on display or anything!

If anyone can point me in the right direction i'd be really greatful


Thanks

Paul

Jorgan_2

A lot of it comes down to budget & the type os security you are looking for.

Is the car alarmed? If so does it have a flashing red light to show its alarmed? Sometimes these lights fade over time, you can buy aftermarket ones from most good motorfactors. If the car isn't alarmed then a good alarm won't cost the earth & could lower your insurance premiums.

Other visual deterrants include a steering wheel lock of some description, the ones that cover the whole wheel are a great visual deterrant. Personally I would avoid the gear lever to hanbrake or sterring wheel to foot pedal type of lock as they can be removed very easily.

Stickers stating the vehicle is alarmed maybe enough to put a simple thief.

Go to somewhere like Halfords that have a range of devices that you can compare yourself.

Keith

The first question to look at was why was it broken into? Was it to steal the car or something inside?

If it was the car, you should look for a decent immobiliser an alarm alone will be ignored. Another option would be to fit a discloc.

anewman

If you're good with electrics, have a wiring diagram for your car, and feel confident enough taking it apart and installing an alarm that could be an option. Otherwise alarm installation usually costs a bit, but could probably be worth it.

Firstly I would check with your insurer if a thatcham approved category 1 alarm system would reduce the insurance cost and by how much. Bear in mind a thatcham approved system will be more expensive than a standard one so weigh this up with any insurance savings. This would be a good system http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/6548.html but is very expensive and there are much cheaper thatcham approved systems around. http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3362.html might be ok but have no knowledge of cobra alarm systems. Bear in mind a thatcham approved system needs to be professionally installed to get a certificate for insurance purposes.

If no insurance savings just go for a standard alarm without thatcham approval. A good basic alarm is the Clifford Arrow 5.1, for example http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/6949.html

I have no affiliation with caraudiosecurity, just using the links to illustrate prices and features.

I'd like to say flame throwers up from the sills or electrifying the bodywork with thousands of volts would be a good idea, but it probably isn't

steveo3002

leave the inside of the car bare...glove box empty and open if you feel its a dodgy area...nothing to take should lower the chances of a break in

if you are on a budget then get a red led and some ebay alarm stickers fitted , disclock steering wheel locks are a good deterant too

if you have more money to spend...a catagory 1 alarm system should offer some protection , maybe some locking wheel nuts if it has alloy wheels

goldspanners

if they didnt try to steal it or steal anything from it, then it was probably mindless vandalism.
i remember a few years ago i was seeing a girl who lived in a rough area,i parked my capri outside the house for the night,went out in the morning and the back window was smashed with a stone that landed inside the car.
i liked the capri better than the girl so i finished with her shortly afterwards.
me or the capri never returned.

paulboy83

Thanks for all the advice, I'm not very technical so I'm gonna wimp out of fitting myself an alarm! I have been thinking hard about it today and have realised that after not having a car for almost 2 months whilst i've been living here i've missed it on maybe 3 days where it would have made my life a bit easier so I'm now weighing up the pros and cons of selling it and being carless for now. i'm going to look into the cost of an alarm and the other safety features first and try to make an informed decision!

Thanks again for all your help!

Keith

The simplest cheapest option is the disclok, you can buy one from Argos for £65, it's item 740/0081 you place it over you steering wheel and it prevents the car from being stolen, it's cat 3 approved so won't get you a discount on the insurance.

A cat 2 immboliser will cost between £100-180 dependant on brand and spec.

Cat 1 alarm/immobiliser will be even more.

You are are likely to recieve a small discount for having an alarm immboliser fitted, one which won't cover the cost of installation.

I'd fit a disclok and forget about it, it will be enough to put off the unproffessional thieves that were originally attracted to it.

in2deep_2

Your very unlikely to have the car actually stolen unless they steal the keys,
Your car has the code2 system embedded into the ECU.
so with that in mind there is nothing you can do about getting windows smashed. but as mentioned just don't leave a single item on show and even leave the glove box door open and empty so a thief knows there not even any point in looking.

steveo3002

alarm stickers
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENUINE-TOAD-CAR-ALARM-WINDOW-WARNING-STICKERS-X-2_W0QQitemZ380037471064QQihZ025QQcategoryZ75329QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

led and stickers

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FLASHING-LED-DUMMY-CAR-ALARM-CLIFFORD-SECURITY-STICKER_W0QQitemZ270247164190QQihZ017QQcategoryZ75329QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

weve had a dummy led in a few of our cheapies...well worth doing for what they cost, you should be able to find a mate that can wire it up its very easy

(im not the seller btw)

anewman

I went for a system with a proximity sensor (but only because the sensor was £35 delivered from the US off ebay to add to my alarm and was installing myself). It beeps whenever someone gets too close, for example looks through the window, to warn them away. Some alarms set the full alarm off if someone stands there for too long, although mine doesn't - it will just beep until someone goes inside the car or hits it hard enough to set off the shock sensor. It only beeps though, no silly voice warnings

It's annoying that people have no respect for other people's property. I installed an alarm on my car as my neighbours, yes my neighbours NOT random people in the street walking home from the pub etc, kept messing with my car. Well I caught one neighbour red handed putting rubbish all over my car, and I went out to ask what he was doing then he started threatening violence to me when he was messing with my property in the first place - before I put the alarm in. The other was a different neighbour walking away from the car as the alarm went off just after I installed it (they had obviously smashed eggs on the car).

Suppose the only satisfaction we can have is low life scum like that who are jealous of other people's belongings probably never will.own a car, or even pass a driving test.