S-PIN as theft prevention?

[Ray84]

I have set the S-PIN as this (should) prevent a car thief to remove the primary We Connect user. This way the car should stay trackable. Only nuisance is that I have to enter my pin every time I start the engine.

What are your thoughts about having set the S-PIN?

[MaggotsRus]

Definitely do that it prevents someone turning of the ability to be able to track the car via VW or We Connect. I’ve also turned off the remote access for doors unlocking when you have the key with you so every time I access the car you need to use the key. This also prevents the key grabber devices that are commonly used by thieves nowadays. Obviously you can add other security bits and bobs. But these small easy to do things aid security at the outset.

[Kenis]

I’ve kept it on and enter every time.

Got a bit of a surprise when I got all sorts of notifications that someone had set up a guest user or something …..turned out it was a mechanic who wanted to reset the tyre pressure monitor after fixing a pothole damaged tyre.

I also keep an AirTag in the car, although not in the headlining or anything at the moment.

[JoeGTI]

I disabled this after a few weeks of ownership. Too much of a faff for me entering a code on every startup, particularly when the infotainment system itself isn’t exactly snappy.

[GTI_Ant]

Definitely do that it prevents someone turning of the ability to be able to track the car via VW or We Connect. I’ve also turned off the remote access for doors unlocking when you have the key with you so every time I access the car you need to use the key. This also prevents the key grabber devices that are commonly used by thieves nowadays. Obviously you can add other security bits and bobs. But these small easy to do things aid security at the outset.

I also do both of these things. Plus a Disklok. The S-Pin was also recommended by Volkswizard in one of his videos from when he had his Clubsport. Sad state of affairs that we have to do this but that’s the way it is.

[BillSan]

I am the Primary User and enter my S-PIN if I ever log in.   Most of the time however I just drive using my wife's account, which doesn't require an S-PIN entry.   

So you presumably you can just set up a second account and not log in for the majority of your short drives , with the same settings as your primary account.  I think if you log in to your primary account with your S-PIN once a month or just for longer journeys, it stays live and you can still track it.

[Ray84]

It's actually a good idea to have two accounts! I also bought a Airtag. Hopefully that'll do! It's indeed a shame we have to take measures like this.

[Rudedog]

Okay I don't have an iPhone but from what I've read Airtags have their flaws so you might not want to use them as the main way of tracking your car (if stolen).

Airtags can be tracked by anybody with a newer iPhone using the Find My app and their exact location (in car for example) pinpointed because a third party can make them play a sound - so they could be found and removed.

Maybe read up on them?

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-find-out-if-an-airtag-is-tracking-you/

[Adam T7]

Okay I don't have an iPhone but from what I've read Airtags have their flaws so you might not want to use them as the main way of tracking your car (if stolen).

Airtags can be tracked by anybody with a newer iPhone using the Find My app and their exact location (in car for example) pinpointed because a third party can make them play a sound - so they could be found and removed.

Maybe read up on them?

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-find-out-if-an-airtag-is-tracking-you/

I read the same article the other day. Spend c.£40k+ on a car and rely on something that costs £30 to protect it?
Invest in a decent Tracker and Immobiliser and a Disklock, the former can also reduce your insurance premium.   

[Ray84]

While the AirTag isn't a ideal theft prevention method, it's an easy and cheap solution imo (especially in combination with S-PIN). I'll make mine soundproof, so it's not too obvious where it's hidden.
If the car gets stolen I - hopefully - have two ways to track it.

Also, if it's that easy to check if a car has an AirTag, perhaps they'll skip those instead. Maybe it's naive to think but dismantling the car & alarm and check for an AirTag does seem riskier imo 

My car is parked in a parking lot, so keyless entry probably won't be an issue (except when parking somewhere else obviously).