What are some good devices or techniques to help prevent or discourage automobile theft?

Question

I had my Camaro stolen twelve years ago, and it really hurt me psychologically.

My friend just had his SUV stolen a few weeks ago.

We live in the Metro Atlanta area.

What can one do to help prevent auto theft?

There are some rather obvious choices, but which one is best? There are car alarms, Club steering wheel locks, etc...what do you recommend?

Also, what sort of insurance should one have in case this catastrophe occurs?

Answer 1

Park in busy, well lit areas. Now to the real world.

Lo-jack has a good recovery rate on stolen cars.
Mine has the factory pass key system with an aftermarket alarm that will buzz the key fob when the alarm goes off. It has a range of about 1000 ft. So when the alarm goes off I know it day or night and I can take appropriate action. I had one stolen a long time ago and haven't had one since.

Answer 2

i hang out at a 4x4 forum from oregon. we have discussed at great depth anti-theft methods, ranging from good ideas to crazy ideas.

here's a few:

-take the spark plug wire from the coil to the cap with you when you go someplace (home). or the battery.

-get/make a removable steering wheel.

-install a hidden starter switch.

-there's a much better product on the market that locks the brake pedal in the up position, so that the potential thief cannot stop himself.

-alarm system with a pager

less expensive than the lo jack system. all of these ideas are cheaper than a lo jack, but also, if the thief finds it and gets rid of it, then your car may not be found.

trust me, the club is useless.

Answer 3

All you need is an alarm that goes "WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP Whee-OO Whee-OO whee-OO Bramp Bramp Bramp" at all hours of the day or night.

As long as you get an alarm that does that, you'll have no worries of the car being stolen. Set on fire, maybe :-b but not stolen.

Seriously, I'd get The Club and Lojack both. Club deters the kiddies, and LoJack catches the guy who thought The Club was the only protection on the car.

Answer 4

i own a shop and i put a good alarm on mine,and put a sticker on the window that says protected by smith and Wesson,and since i did this i can leave the keys in mine ,and they wont bother it,its just an old Porsche ,85 model but after two attempts on getting it, i got tired of it,now they wont go near it,this might work for you also,I'm in Tennessee,and it worked here,good luck with it hope this helps.

Answer 5

theft recovery systems work good such as lojack. you could also put a hidden switch to the ignition, or fuel pump.

Answer 6

get a sticker that says lo Jack