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General => General discussion => Topic started by: mookie on 20 September 2005, 09:33
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Howdy chaps.
Just a quickie. I've been reading a few of the 'Stolen' threads and now I've been seized by 'The Fear' that my Golf is gonna get nicked or someone might damage it trying to nick it. My street is quite quiet and average, and the area isn't too bad - but none the less, I am wondering whether to maybe think about updating the security the car came with.
n.b. It's parked on a driveway - no garage.
It has an immobliser, an alarm, and a dirty great lock that goes round the gearstick when it's put in reverse/parked and is itself bolted through the floor of the car.
Is this enough? I realise you can never have enough security, but would that lot be enough to put off the usual toe-rags that might try and nick it?
What sort of security do other people have? Any special precautions I could take that I'm not?
Thanks.
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Mate, if someone wants it bad enough, they'll get it. You can only do what's reasonable to stop the bastids. I reckon if you religiously do all that you're doing already, it's got less chance of being nicked than the next car (and if you park in a carpark, always look for the easy target or posh motor and park next to that) but you'll do yourself a mischief if you carry on worrying about it....
You COULD get yourself a wheel clamp (or clamps!!), Tracker, pager system etc if you're really expecting trouble! :evil:
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The way I look at it is this:
If a professional thief wants your car (and I mean really wants it) then there is nothing you can do. They will do a Harry Houdini and make it disappear, or worse, break into your house and possibly physically harm you in order to get your keys.
But this scenario is unlikely.
What you have done is managed to secure your car enough so that it isn't attractive to the opportunist thief, who is the more likely to be breaking into/stealing your car.
Unfortunately, if you don't live in a fantastic area, then this will always be a worry on your mind whilst you own a nice car. You need to decide if the car is worth the worry!
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Would I be right in thinking you have a mk2 Mike???
If so the one thing I would say is armoured door plates, if it doesn't already have them make sure you get some fitted. This is the weakest point and the easiest way of gaining entry to your motor. I have learnt the hard way and on my last two cars ended up fitting them to cover the damage that thieving scum had caused. I fitted them on my current car before they had a chance this time.
If you do invest in some don't be tempted to buy the cheapest ones as you really get what you pay for with these things. The cheap ones are a terrible fit and aren't made from strong enough material.
If your motor already has some fitted then ingore everything I said :)
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Get a snap off steering wheel ,they have got to be one of the best ways of keeping your car!,
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Flame thrower alarm! :wink:
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Sleep in your car with a ver large dog and a baseball bat on your lap :wink:
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Do you often sleep with a very large dog mix?
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Do what you are doing but get some armour door plates like tobz said. Personally I think that the crook locks on the handbrake and gear stick are easily bent so I'd get a full on disklock that goes all around the wheel. Dont leave anything on show in your car, even an empty bag as they may break in to check, take out your stereo or face off everytime you leave the car. For the alarm, does yours go off if some one breaks the window ? If it only goes off if the door is opened and there's a voltage drop then you need to add an extra microwave type alarm, these can usually be added to your existing alarm and will be about £100. If you really want to go further you can add a tracker but these are not cheap and will be about £4 - 500 to install and a yearly subscription of over £100. If you do most of this and it still gets nicked then there's not a lot more you can do.
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Think I'll order myself some of those armoured door plates. Out of interest, how easy are they to fit? I've found a guide to doing it, but you know what this intraweb thing can be like sometimes...
I think might also just chain the car to a big stake in the middle of the drive while I'm at it. :shocked:
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Make sure you have a file on hand when you do, some areas of the door handle have to be shaved back to make them fit better. I have them on my car and havnt had a break in since/
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was gonna say snap off steering wheel.
MK2 bonnets can be opened with a long screwdriver. Get a bonnet switch connected to your alarm so when the bonnet opens the alarm sounds. or weld in a small plate so that the screw driver cant reach the bonnet mechanism.
If the theif gets in your bonnet then he can dissable the alarm sounder if he is really good and take his time
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Anyone got a link to a good guide for doing this job? The one I found is a tad vague I think.
Also, I've read up about Slim Jims or some such thang. Again, anyone got a decent link for fitting 'em?
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I can recommend the armour door plates from Euro Car Parts but they're not cheap at about £45 but I will say they are good, really heavy duty and actually look quite good imo. You will get 10% discount if you speak to Stuart at the Leeds ECP branch (see deals and discounts), but this discount is only valid at the Leeds branch.
Others may have got them a lot cheaper and I guess they will tell you how good quality they are.  :undecided:
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I have had a set of the £10 plates in the past and they were cr@p, distorted the doorskin like hell around the handles and stuck out quite a bit. Having said that, about a week after I fitted them I noticed somebody had had a go at one and failed to get in (just made the plate even more of a mess) so I guess even the cheap ones do the job. The set I have now are the £40-odd ones and they do look miles better, although as Fielder said you do still need some small files handy if you're going for the perfect fit.
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I've got a set of the proper door armour plates as Gibby stated - going for £20 for the the two... was going to use on old skool cab.. but not required now..
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A slim jim is a tool used by thieving scum wanting to make off with your pride and joy. It's a long flat piece of metal with a hooked end, it's slid between the doorskin and the glass and can be used to pull up the lock mechanism. You can have plates fitted inside the door to shield the mechanism from this kind of attack. I'm afraid I don't really know anymore details though.
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I've got a set of the proper door armour plates as Gibby stated - going for £20 for the the two... was going to use on old skool cab.. but not required now..
£20 for some heavy duty puppies is a bargain.
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I've got a set of the proper door armour plates as Gibby stated - going for £20 for the the two... was going to use on old skool cab.. but not required now..
£20 for some heavy duty puppies is a bargain.
Yep.. I'm starting to have a clear out and I need to just clear the garage mate... will put up full details later in the week under for Sale section...
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delocked mine, already had the armored door plates, had a disk lock from my last car and fitted a cat 1 alarm + imob! still worry though!
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also...think around the car,which is wot im doin..security light,well ive got two lol,and a cctv thats wired up to a monitor so that you can record any goings on...and plus all the other bits people have mentioned lol..also...try not to get into a rountine...as people may watch you and your car for a while so as to pick the best moment wen to have a go at stealin it...god..you have me all paranoid now..n tis worse with a cab! cheers mookie... :rolleyes: :laugh:
Dinx :kiss:
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to be honest i am not that worried about it being stolen, more that some little nob cheese will do it over and just plane wreck it! i only have 3rd party fire and theft at the mo! not good, but its all i can afford this year as i was banned last year! :rolleyes:
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Do you often sleep with a very large dog mix?
:laugh:
I like me big and hairy :laugh: :undecided:
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I have to say in 2000 I went clubbing up north and left my white mk1 golf cab at the time down a rough road from 9pm to 5am on a sat. when I came out every single car was broken into except mine... :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
I got questioned like hell from the police and then I told them what security I had - Clifford alarm with external sensors, gearbox lock (from C&R Enterprises) the car will not move for sh*t with this installed....(getting this installed in my black cab soon) and of course door armour locks... was the only person with a car that wasn't wet inside from the rain and drove home a happy person.... :grin: :grin: :grin:
I didn't get questioned though on how much I had drunk and then drove off.....
I think most break ins today on cars that do have alarms - are by kids that don't know jack sh*t.... a good alarm and door armour plates will do the job, make sure you have your stereo hidden away and speakers not on show...
A garage always helps too....