Car Alarms

[Tins]

Don't want to hijack nickMango's thread, where the poor bloke has had his Deefer stolen. But the subject of alarms, or antitheft in general, came up. As shack pointed out, older Deefers had less than impressive antitheft, 10AS is nowhere near D2 standards, and they weren't great either. Probably prevented more legitimate driving than they did theft ( seems to be a persistent theme with LR ).

So, what do people use? Hard to see how you could immobilise a 200/300TDi, which is a bugger as I would like to do something to my OKA, and it uses the same Bosch VE pump. But maybe. Just disabling the starter circuit hardly seems adequate. A ear damaging siren inside perhaps?

I have a GPS tracker, but it needs cell service of course. I haven't found it to be of much use ( OKA has some Faraday cage properties it seems.... not really, there's just not many places to hide wired in stuff that needs to see the sky. Crude things. ), and most thieves are as aware of these as anyone. Of course, the OKA probably isn't high risk. There are only 450 of them, so parting it out for the bits seems unlikely. Deefers, not so much.

Years ago I experimented with a lockable non return valve in the braking system on a FIAT. It worked, as as soon as the brakes were applied they wouldn't release. I imagine such a thing would be frowned upon now. Probably was then, if I think about it. It did prevent me from driving drunk one night though. Couldn't figure out what was wrong with it! (45 years ago, things were different then)

I digress. What are some ideas, and have you done something?

[p38arover]

Years ago I experimented with a lockable non return valve in the braking system on a FIAT. It worked, as as soon as the brakes were applied they wouldn't release. I imagine such a thing would be frowned upon now. Probably was then, if I think about it.

My old (1955) Jaguar Mk VII had something similar. It was a solenoid valve on the rear brake line that held the rear brakes on until one touched the accelerator. It was great when facing down hill in Drive, the car didn't roll forward when one removed one's foot from the brake pedal.

[scarry]

I know this won’t stop the vehicle being stolen,but in our old Mitsy work vans we used to have a hidden waterproof external switch located in a hidden position outside the vehicle.
We wired it into the common door switch wiring with a latch in relay that kept a hidden very loud siren going until either the switch was turned off or the battery disconnected.

The newer vehicles we don’t worry about as they have their own system.

In another life,working for a large AC company all the work vans had a module mounted on the dash which we had to enter a code into to open a solenoid in the fuel line.
They only fitted these after a couple were stolen and one was used in a bank robbery.
The company carried its own vehicle insurance.

[V8Ian]

I reckon a secret kill switch on the fuel pump circuit. Similar on the starter has more limited deterrent features as the battery is relatively close to the starter for hot wiring.
Overly loud alarms are illegal, heavens to Betsey, we can't be injuring criminals.
I had a mate who owned a workshop. He was broken into, by cutting a hole in the tin wall, from the adjacent, vacant shed. The shed was repaired and tools replaced by the insurance company. Six weeks later the exact same thing happened. The police said it would have been the same crooks, they know it takes six weeks finalise the insurance claim.
My mate, John said that in six weeks, he and I would be waiting in the shed, with a bottle of rum and baseball bat each :bat:. The cop said that if we did so, we'd both be charged!
John's brother landed a job, selling alarms. The top of the range model was so loud, it affected people's balance. John had two fitted, diagonally opposite each other.
A month later, they were recalled as illegal. Apparently the owner could be charged with multiple offences, including assault and deprivation of liberty, if the alarm hurt or disabled a trespasser.

[Tins]

A month later, they were recalled as illegal. Apparently the owner could be charged with multiple offences, including assault and deprivation of liberty, if the alarm hurt or disabled a trespasser.

You can be charged if your dog attacks an intruder. What do the cops tell you to do to deter burgs? "Get a dog".
Man traps of any kind are illegal as well. Doesn't stop our betters from having armed security though.
And if your car does get stolen, nothing is done. The only reason to call the police these days is to get the insurance report. Might as well take up a life of crime.

[Tins]

I reckon a secret kill switch on the fuel pump circuit. Similar on the starter has more limited deterrent features as the battery is relatively close to the starter for hot wiring.


Older cars, like TDis etc, have mechanical pumps... Suppose a solenoid valve might work. So long as you don't forget it. Bugger having to bleed it every day[bigsad]

[V8Ian]

Older cars, like TDis etc, have mechanical pumps... Suppose a solenoid valve might work. So long as you don't forget it. Bugger having to bleed it every day[bigsad]
Bleeding is less of an inconvenience than walking, unless it is bodily. [bigrolf]

[prelude]

Most thieves want to be in and out as fast as possibly with as little drama as possible. Any alarm that is sufficiently loud will deter them from poking around the wiring trying to figure out how to turn it off. The same goes for any immobiliser that prevents them from driving.

A loud alarm on the outside with a dito (just within legal limits) siren on the inside that can't just be ripped off or shut down, alarm lights, heck even highbeams flashing that pulls a lot of attention wherever they go, a solenoid valve in the fuel line in a not easy to reach place which causes the engine to die very quickly after setting off, all sorts of things can be thought of.

Personally I am looking into a deadman switch or something similar to keyless entry for my car in case of carjacking. They could get in and drive away but the car would automatically stop a few hundred meters down the road. Too far away for them to still shoot me but I can just walk back, get in, start and drive off.

If thieves are bypassing immobilisers / alarms they would be known systems. Use or make something unusual and you are too difficult to steal from. Only problem with that is: I once glued a radio in after it was stolen twice for a mate and the thieves were so ****ed that they could not get it out, they stuck the screwdriver in the display. Petty -bleeeps-

-P

[TonyC]

Hi John,
For your OKA I would use multiple things.
Switch in the fuel solenoid circuit.
Cut off in the fuel line, manual or electric, or both
Switch in the starter circuit.
Alarm
GPS tracker.
A couple of Apple air tags, given your an Apple person.

You could probably hide the switches in plain sight in an OKA or Defender, just add them to a bunch of other unlabelled ones.
A manual fuel tap you could put between the seat ans engine cover, no one would know what it was.

That should be enough to confuse anyone.

It would take discipline to use them all the time.

Tony

[Tins]

Air Tags are great, as long as there are other  devices nearby. Way better than Tile, but still limited. I do have a couple. But unless there is someone nearby with an iPhone or somesuch they are just expensive buttons.

All your ideas are good and I am considering most of them. The OKA is not a high priority though, as most people either couldn't, or wouldn't, drive it...... But yes, plenty of places to hide stuff in plain sight. I still don't know what some of the switches do, if they in fact do anything...

[Tombie]

Air Tags are great, as long as there are other  devices nearby. Way better than Tile, but still limited. I do have a couple. But unless there is someone nearby with an iPhone or somesuch they are just expensive buttons.

All your ideas are good and I am considering most of them. The OKA is not a high priority though, as most people either couldn't, or wouldn't, drive it...... But yes, plenty of places to hide stuff in plain sight. I still don't know what some of the switches do, if they in fact do anything...

There is always someone going by at some point. We’ve had great success - the vehicles all have tags as do many other items like eMTBs, rifle bags, keys, wallet, passports

[Tins]

There is always someone going by at some point. We’ve had great success - the vehicles all have tags as do many other items like eMTBs, rifle bags, keys, wallet, passports

Yes, which is why Tile was doomed as soon as  released them. I have them in my camera bags and on my keyrings. But when my OKA was parked in Qld with its keys in it the tag wasn't pinged for weeks on end as nobody there was smart enough to have an iPhone.... Of course, if it had been taken ( three dogs so unlikely ) it would have been pinged as soon as it went through the town. Unless, of course, it turned left instead of right. Not much there. Obviously I wasn't relying on it, or the tag would not have been on the keyring.

I'm actually amazed by the accuracy if you have a recent iPhone. Just don't put one through the wash[bigsad]

[V8Ian]

If the tealeaf has a fruity phone, they can detect air tags, probably the same for the superior android system.

[Tins]

If the tealeaf has a fruity phone, they can detect air tags, probably the same for the superior android system.

Android doesn't have a system.

[V8Ian]

Android doesn't have a system.
If you want to be pedantic, sytems that work with Android.
https://www.amazon.com.au/SinoTrack-Portable-Real-Time-Waterproof-Motorcycle/dp/B07PWLQLW5/ref=asc_df_B07PWLQLW5/'tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463569671989&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1305570261484740678&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9069126&hvtargid=pla-762220961892&psc=1&mcid=365bbee0a075357bbce9eb16d2ff6256

[Tins]

If you want to be pedantic, sytems that work with Android.
https://www.amazon.com.au/SinoTrack-Portable-Real-Time-Waterproof-Motorcycle/dp/B07PWLQLW5/ref=asc_df_B07PWLQLW5/'tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463569671989&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1305570261484740678&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9069126&hvtargid=pla-762220961892&psc=1&mcid=365bbee0a075357bbce9eb16d2ff6256

Go on, hang that off your keyring. And have every Android device update its location seamlessly and privately. And run it for a year off a button battery.

[3toes]

I used to fit a kill switch for the ignition hidden under the dash. Car appears ‘dead’ and makes it harder to hit wire. My thought is that you can only slow them down. They want a quick in and away. Will move on to another if yours is not quick and simple. If they really want it you will not stop them

[Tins]

Will move on to another if yours is not quick and simple.

Where you are, that will probably be a new Range Rover, if what I hear is true.

My MGB had such a switch. It'd crank but not start. Mind you, it didn't always need the switch to achieve that.

[scarry]

Couldn't be bothered with air tags everywhere.....Last time we had anything of value stolen was a company owned Panel Van in 1984.

Touch wood,but we are probably overdue for a visit from the thieves[bigrolf]

We have two airtags,they go in our luggage when travelling.

[Tins]

My use of air tags comes only from my propensity to put something down and never see it again. Wish they'd come up with something for 10mm spanners.

[4bee]

I reckon a secret kill switch on the fuel pump circuit. Similar on the starter has more limited deterrent features as the battery is relatively close to the starter for hot wiring.
Overly loud alarms are illegal, heavens to Betsey, we can't be injuring criminals.
I had a mate who owned a workshop. He was broken into, by cutting a hole in the tin wall, from the adjacent, vacant shed. The shed was repaired and tools replaced by the insurance company. Six weeks later the exact same thing happened. The police said it would have been the same crooks, they know it takes six weeks finalise the insurance claim.
My mate, John said that in six weeks, he and I would be waiting in the shed, with a bottle of rum and baseball bat each :bat:. The cop said that if we did so, we'd both be charged!
John's brother landed a job, selling alarms. The top of the range model was so loud, it affected people's balance. John had two fitted, diagonally opposite each other.
A month later, they were recalled as illegal. Apparently the owner could be charged with multiple offences, including assault and deprivation of liberty, if the alarm hurt or disabled a trespasser.

I'll be buggered! Injuring a Car Thief's lug holes takes priority over a crime, serious or not ,although it could be a good thing. One day when he/she is imprisoned, & they will be. hearing probs means they cannot plan another job when Banged Up in Future Crime Planning Committee meetings.


Makes sense to me.:bat::rulez::Thump::Rolling:

[Tombie]

I used to fit a kill switch for the ignition hidden under the dash. Car appears ‘dead’ and makes it harder to hit wire. My thought is that you can only slow them down. They want a quick in and away. Will move on to another if yours is not quick and simple. If they really want it you will not stop them

If they want it quick now, they steal a tray back, hook up and go..

[Tombie]

Couldn't be bothered with air tags everywhere.....Last time we had anything of value stolen was a company owned Panel Van in 1984.

Touch wood,but we are probably overdue for a visit from the thieves[bigrolf]

We have two airtags,they go in our luggage when travelling.

We have them in main luggage, carry on, passport wallets..

Keys, vehicles, MTBs, Motorbike, Van, Boat, on the Dogs collars.

We even have one in the (6yo) Grandkids school shoes and backpack….

[3toes]

If they want it quick now, they steal a tray back, hook up and go..

In the early nineties Mt Gravatt shopping centre was suffering from a large number of cars stolen from the car parks

Took a few months but when they finally caught them in the act so to speak they had a tilt tray tow truck

If anyone asked said they worked for RACQ which it seemed satisfied those who noticed what was going on. Very few asked as it all looked legitimate

[Tins]

In the early nineties Mt Gravatt shopping centre was suffering from a large number of cars stolen from the car parks

Took a few months but when they finally caught them in the act so to speak they had a tilt tray tow truck

If anyone asked said they worked for RACQ which it seemed satisfied those who noticed what was going on. Very few asked as it all looked legitimate

It would. Only the owner would have known any different. But keeping on doing it was bound to get them caught, like a dog stealing eggs, just a matter of time.

[scarry]

When Holden came out with the trackers on their HSV range,probably mid 90’s,the thieves were still pinching them,then driving them into a container,so they couldn’t be detected.

[Tins]

When Holden came out with the trackers on their HSV range,probably mid 90’s,the thieves were still pinching them,then driving them into a container,so they couldn’t be detected.

I used to fantasize about doing that with camera cars[bigwhistle]