Improving shite security

[Leyland Lawrence]

I've noticed over on the RR forum a fair few old Fords seem to be targeted for theft (I suppose they always used to be)and I have always been a bit anxious about my older cars getting stolen.

 

With the MGB the batteries were behind the car seat so I could fit a battery cut out switch near which would be sufficient to put the opportunist off.

 

Not so easy with the E21. I tried a "Dis-car-nect" on the battery terminal but I'm concerned that lifting the bonnet every time I park up is going to wear the bonnet latch mechanism out.

 

I had thought about extending the battery terminal cable and putting a battery cut out switch somewhere underneath the dash but is there a limit on how long a cable can be, in terms of resistance etc?

 

Is there another way of improving security? Alarms etc not sufficiently shite (unless a period Sparkrite)

 

H

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Don't know the specifics of the E21, but typically you'd fit a discreet cut off switch to the fuel pump circuit somewhere under the dash. I've been meaning to fit a key operated switch to my car, so even if it is discovered it's slightly harder to bypass.

[240gl]

Any of these should put the average joyrider off, but non of them are going to be any good if they turn up with a hiab.

 

Thatcham cat 1

 

Thatcham cat 2

 

Disklok

[willswitchengage]

 

If poss try and box yourself in with other cars. That's what I do.

[Albert Ross]

I keep mine looking like shit, and full of shit too. Less likely to attract the "wrong" sort.... It's also quite distinctive in it's livery, with enough amber beacons to attract UFOs. Makes it stand out a little. Also, if I do hear anyone farking about with it overnight, I would have enough time to go for a crap before stumbling out of the door to apprehend the scrotes. It takes a while to preheat......

[Spiny Norman]

To be honest, I've never encountered an aftermarket alarm that didn't inconvenience the owner at least as much as it would the thief.

I've always just used one of the big yellow steering wheel lock things (can't remember what make it is, the Merc is young enough to have a factory immobiliser so I haven't used it in a while) and that always seems to have done the trick for any of the old sheds I've left out in the street in Glasgow.

Just be sensible and don't leave it with anything valuable showing, or if it doesn't get used that often, invest in a cover to hide what it is.

[Madman Of The People]

Razor blades inside the door handles. Problem solved.

[lovejoy]

 

Ha ! that's not the first time I have seen a car chained to a post in Prague, Czech Republic.....

 

but an interesting thread anyway, doesn't anybody do what I do, and just have a small switch in the "points" side

of the coil to ground the output (NOT on the feed + side!!) which prevents anyone starting the engine.

It only needs a small wire to the switch, which can be concealed anywhere, and a small link to the -ve chassis somewhere.

(or the other way round, if it's a positve earth oldie...)

[HillmanImp]

If parking in a salubrious area i just take out the rotor arm (it once broke in two putting it back in though and i got a free lift home from the RAC).

 

If they are going to rob them, it wont be driven unless its little kids TWOCing. If its kids you will probably get it back, if its lifted and driven off on the back of a van professionals (not Bodie and Doyle) and you wont.

[Manbearpig]

Consider a fuel solenoid and switch http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/731/category/121? Old Lotuses have on the ignition circuit as a means of stopping siphoning through the carbs, but can be used as an anti theft device if wired to a switch. They are also not as obvious as battery switches and the underbonnet solutions

[retrogeezer]

I always used to take out the coil to dizzy cap lead whenever we left our XR2 parked anywhere, they are easy to get into with just a ruler!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Also don't forget it's the 21st century and you can buy cool shit like this: http://back2you.com/store/product_info. ... duct_id=52

 

£125 one off cost for a 12v GPS tracker which will alert you if the car moves, tell you where the car is, tell you if your alarm sounds, and even lets you control a relay by text so you can disable the fuel pump remotely. That's pretty impressive!

[RedSparrow]

Metro I had had a very basic ignition cut off switch hidden under the dash. Incredibly simple but stopped it getting nicked twice.

[406V6]

If poss try and box yourself in with other cars. That's what I do.

In the 90s one of my neighbours owned a Cossie Sierra which he kept in the garage and a Sierra estate which was parked on his drive. One night thieves broke into the garage and stole the Cossie having broken into the estate and pushed it into the road, then, incredibly, pushed it (the estate) back on to the drive afterwards.

[Junkman]

According to a crimefighting policeman I know, the most efficient theft protection for older cars is a chain (preferrably the type that's inside a tube) and a padlock around the steering wheel and pedals.

 

 

Occasional thieves will not bother with it and that's the only kind you can protect yourself from anyway, since professionals will nick your car no matter what.

[Pillock]

If you're going to do that, first check your pedals don't lift up.... my mum used to have a proper oldschool Krooklock (with the orange rubber covered hooks on either end) - one around the wheel, one around a pedal. I think she used to use the clutch. I found that if you put your foot behind the clutch you can lift it enough for the Krooklock to just fall off, and then unhook it from the wheel. This was a Mk4 Escort.

 

She then moved to the Autolock, which goes around the gear lever and handbrake. So I showed her how you can unscrew the gearknob and take it off. Was OK on her Astra though as you could use the reverse lock-out ring to secure it.

[Junkman]

It doesn't matter. If you have this chain and a padlock they won't touch your car.

[FredTransit]

when parked up abroad we would remove the steering wheel and lock it in the back. See somebody walking about with a steering wheel and you know they are up to know good. I am talking a Mk2 transit luton here.

[Pillock]

Can you still get those quick-release steering wheel bosses?

I'm sure it was designed to make boy racers think they had a proper racing car, but the novelty wore off when you had to sit in the pub all night with a steering wheel.

[FredTransit]

one 22mm nut holding the steering wheel to the steering shaft is as quick as it gets for me. No fancy airbags or collapsable column.

[warren t claim]

when parked up abroad we would remove the steering wheel and lock it in the back. See somebody walking about with a steering wheel and you know they are up to know good. I am talking a Mk2 transit luton here.

 

Mole grips or universal spider type wheelbrace. Job done.

[FredTransit]

yeah I heard that too. Good luck with that with no power steering and Parisian touch parking. Also, the Mk2 steering wheel is a good 18in so I would like to see the Popeye type that could steer a 22ft luton with mole grips. Again you can put off most theives but you cant stop the determined ones.

[jonny69]

This subject constantly bothers me, particularly as I'm an owner of an old Ford with knackered locks. Are any of those crooklocks actually any cop? Throughout the 90's there were constantly demonstrations on Crimewatch etc that most of them could be easily prised off.

 

I used to have a battery kill switch on my Model T which I considered fine for during the day if I was at home or outside the shops, but for overnight I'd stick a chain through the wheel and round the chassis rail. I've always been a fan of physically preventing a vehicle moving. If you have wire wheels I'll really recommend this method:

 

 

This, I figured, would stop anyone rolling it off and would make it hard to drag onto a flatbed. Those Almax Immobiliser chains are properly tonky and one of those security devices that arrived in the post and I thought no way anyone will get through that without some serious power tools. I guess the only issue with them is battery angle grinders, since with a 1mm cutting disc they will slip through pretty much anything in a matter of seconds. If my Almax chain hadn't been so expensive I'd be tempted to cut a link to see how long and how easy - plus Almax weren't interested in supplying me with one link 'just to see'.

[garethj]

I know a bloke from another forum who recommends Almax chains for motorbikes. He's also done some independent testing of other locks, have a look here to see how shit some of them are.

[vulgalour]

I avoided drama with my old Mk2 Polo - just about the easiest car to steal and start ever - by having nothing on show inside and a brightly coloured steering wheel lock. If you're really worried, you can go all out and fit lots of security but surely the Autoshite way is a substantial chain inside an inner tube and a flashing red LED on the dashboard. Another handy thing that most of us do is to purchase something so utterly undesirable and shite that nobody would even want to touch them, let alone steal them.

[Micrashed]

I a flashing red LED on the dashboard.

Didnt stop one of my ex patients stealing my Fiesta.

Git.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I was just removing the rotor arm from the car just now and the god damn carbon brush fell out of the distributor cap, followed into the darkness by the tiny spring.

 

That's that well immobilised then, also the car it's blocking in

[FredTransit]

you have to look at the 'desireabilty' to the low lifes here, its all a numbers game, ie how many low life scum there is versus 'pro' thieves. Low life pondlife just want a quick no hassle weigh in. So if its old, heavy, but unspectacular (740 volvo say) or just some old tat they are the one who will be off with it if its quick and easy. Forget starting it up. If it can be hiabbed or winched (even with the handbreak on) they will be after it.

The pros on the other hand will be wanting a quality collection of parts, or something big enough to export. I lost a 10 ton cargo! she was street legal and we took the batteries off. Last seen heading for Tilbury!!!