anti-theft tracking systems

[stickandrudderman]

Another of my customers has had his car stolen in London. I urge everyone to have trackers fitted to their car.

[Jkalplus1]

I am baffled. It seems like such a losing proposition.  What can they do besides dismantling it for used parts? We know almost all the cars, (registry, VIN), they cannot possibly keep it integral and resell? I am so sorry for your customer.

[GGR]

Several Pagodas have been stolen recently and with values going up the problem is not going to recede. Stick urged owners to have cars fitted with trackers in his other post. I've been looking into it and I really don't know what's the best option. Some systems use GPS, cell phone networks or radio signals. Some use several of these systems at the same time. Some systems use their own batteries, some the car's battery. Some display some stickers, some don't. What's the best option?

System like low-jack claim a high rate of recovery, but their geographical coverage is not that great.

Own battery systems may look better as they will go on working if the thieves disconnect the batteries. But then batteries need to be recharged/replaced regularly, so probability that the system won't be operational when needed is not negligible.

stickers may deter some thieves, but may also tell them what system is on board making their lives easier in disabling it.

I guess there is no definite system and some may be more appropriate than others depending on where people live. But I thought some discussion here could help each of us to take better informed decisions in this regard.

[Paul & Dolly]

This stolen Polish Pagoda was mentioned on the M-B UK  Forum recently.......

 http://www.classicvintagecars.co.uk/2014/08/polish-car-thief-killed-when-he-crashed-high-powered-vintage-mercedes-classic/

Paul

[stickandrudderman]

I don't fit trackers, I get an authorised company to do it, but what I do know is that one of my customer's has to remember to tell his tracker company when we have the car because if we disconnect the battery he gets an immediate call from them alerting him.

[garymand]

Can the gurus here recomend trackers and how/where to install them.  I'm concerned to leave mine anywhere for very long as a tow truck could make easy work of it. 

[jameshoward]

Can the gurus here recomend trackers and how/where to install them.  I'm concerned to leave mine anywhere for very long as a tow truck could make easy work of it. 

Well if they can, I certainly hope they won't on this forum! Please!!

It is well know that would-be thieves trawl sites such as ours for exactly this kind of information.

Please do not share this information on this site or to any new members without validated membership and something like at least 20 sensible posts. A recent similar case on another forum I frequent demonstrated just how sneaky these shite bags are.

[mnahon]

The latest LoJack runs on its own internal battery and that battery is supposed to last 7 or 8 years. They hide it in the car and don't even tell you where (the installation is done with you absent). They do display stickers.

[66andBlue]

Please do not share this information on this site or to any new members without validated membership ....

...They hide it in the car and don't even tell you where (the installation is done with you absent). ....

Good - we should do the same here!

[iftykhan]

Should one go with a tracker, is it best to install the stickers or not?

[mdsalemi]

Here in the USA, you are more likely to have a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord stolen than any other vehicle. But, classics/collectibles do get stolen, I get it.

If this is an issue for some people--apparently more than a few Pagoda owners here are worried or concerned about theft of their car--why not add a wheel clamp to the tracker mix?

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=wheel+clamp+lock&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=30047743887&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1046212283681315701&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_9h5g1ixrgx_b

They are NOT expensive, and while not impossible to defeat you generally need a grinding wheel or torch which raises an awful lot of suspicion, (something about lots of sparks flying out from grinding or melting steel) and does take a bit of time. Generally all but the stupidest of crooks would move on…

Just a thought...

[garymand]

This is funny.  Well, some of it is funny.  Where else should you discuss this if it isn;t on the site where we all have an interest?   Oh, lets not talk about it or recommend where to find help amount the ones who need it.  Hmmm, if we are all ignorant, with our heads in the sand for fear of the smart guys, maybe they will steel the other guys car.

[jameshoward]

Gary,

Whilst I take your point, I do feel that anyone who doesn't accept that it's unwise to discuss car security features on an open forum solely dedicated to cars that, in the UK at least, are being targeted is being naive.  This is a serious issue, and I assure you that scum bags will exploit the considerable identifying information on sites such as ours to their benefit. So, whilst it is reasonable to ask questions about car security it is unsafe to do it here. Email members direct, but I for one would request that there are no discussions on specifics here, because I live in the UK where the cars are being pinched. Some folks will just need to get over the fact that some topics should be off limits on open forums. Why help the bad guys? Tracker isn't hard to figure out and the real expertise is most unlikely to be found here anyway.

JH

[mdsalemi]

Listen--everyone needs to make their own decision as to the level of security they need on their car, or any other aspect of their life. Some carry guns for goodness sake.

Tracking devices such as LoJack are placed hidden in a car, and work only in jurisdictions where the police are involved, as they need to have the equipment to locate it. In this day and age, I suppose one might find some home-brew version that works with a smart phone…but if YOU are going to confront a thief who "pinched" your car, I'm not sure how serious you are about safety. I suspect it might be challenging to get the local constabulary to believe you when you call in a tizzy and tell them "someone stole my car and I know where it is"; not likely they'll completely ignore you but I can guess their reaction would be different than with the LoJack.

The experts will tell you that a barking dog instills more fear in a house-thief than does a security system or a sign for a security system. Maybe low cost "tracker signs" are as useful as a tracker itself, if only to move the thief along to another victim.

There's not much a thief could learn from any discussion of security systems on a car here, that would either enable or disable their ability to execute their plan.

I was quite serious about the wheel clamps as a suggestion for those who are worried about where they leave their car. I would never do this as I don't live in an area where I need to worry about this, nor do I leave the car unattended anywhere. Having a LoJack or a wheel clamp or tracker isn't going to do anything for me. Continued safe parking and storage is.

[jaymanek]

In the UK i can recommend Smartrack Trident.. It works on various mediums to transmit and you can track your car live.

Well worth the investment if you want your car back in the event of a theft...

Of course an agreed value insurance policy is priority as many may not want the car back after its been in the hands of a low life!

[mdsalemi]

Around here, I don't think too many would bother with an old car. Too much research involved. When I think of the effort required to properly list vintage parts on eBay, you have to know what you are doing. Jeez, I'd rather sell Ford Fusion wheels, Toyota airbags, or recycle the cats…no effort required.

They go for Catalytic Converters; airbags, and wheels. Every now and then one of the TV news stations has something about it, and the thieves can remove any or all of these things in seconds. BIG black market for all of them, particularly for the popular cars…Honda, Toyota and Ford.

[garymand]

Thanks Mike, I really don't get the paranoia that we would learn less than a thief who already knows how to take a W113 in day light on a street!  Nieve, if the system can be laid ineffective I think it would be good for us to at least know what is ineffective.  Who was it that once said, "Just because you think it, doesn't make it true"?