Classic Cars and Car alarms: Advice?

[BLK_20v]

There is yet another approach on car protection. The idea is not to let anyone under the hood and optionally even not to let him/her inside.

Hood lock is safer and is useful for carby cars. For example you may remove rotor cap and lock the hood. Designs exist that make it extremely difficult to do something to the lock from outside of the car. Typically several brackets are mounted to the hood and actuators are mounted in the engine bay. Actuators let some sort of rod or cable through the brackets. Installing such a lock is all about finding some place where it is inaccessible from outside.

Yet another strategy is to have two lines of defence. You may for example run free-installed alarm system as the first one. It will let the car to be stolen quickly so the one inside may drive and relax. At the same time gps tracker or mobile phone may be hidden somewhere deep, equipped with backup power source.

Depening on the car, theives will show up with a stolen tow truck and just tow it away, or if they can't get it running they'll jump all over the roof and destroy it.

It sucks we have to goto these lengths, but the hood lock is definately a great investment. The issue with most alarm installers is they cut wires around the ignition barrel, and the theives just rejoin factory wiring together or supply power at another point in the loom.

I'd love to see legislation passed that anyone found guilty of stealing a car is banned from driving for 10 years as a result. I know most won't care and drive anyway, but at least it is something.

I've got gps tracking in my car, no immoboliser or siren. I figure its easiest to let it go easily so the damage done whilst stealing is minimised. The gps has a backup battery that is suppose to last up to 1 week. I haven't had to use it, but if the day comes I hope it works.

[George]

Depening on the car, theives will show up with a stolen tow truck and just tow it away

Decent hood lock+siren under hood+backup battery: these will help you turn their stealing plan into disco show. On the downside they can still destroy such unfriendly car.

It sucks we have to goto these lengths

You'd be surprised but here in some regions car owners even protect parts from stealing I've heard it is even possible to exit cinema and see your vehicle on the bricks with no wheels, sidelights, headlights etc.

I'd love to see legislation passed that anyone found guilty of stealing a car is banned from driving for 10 years as a result

You know, in China for example people are banned from life for drugs and corruption, and even such radical measures does not eliminate these kinds of crimes. I think law is far beyound this topic's scope

off. in Russia several car owners went to jail for installing way too radical devices that hurted thieves. Among the most remarkable ones are ship siren inside (thief dead because of shock) and straightened fishing hooks mounted into driver's seat.

[egamirrorim]

...I've got gps tracking in my car, no immoboliser or siren. I figure its easiest to let it go easily so the damage done whilst stealing is minimised. The gps has a backup battery that is suppose to last up to 1 week. I haven't had to use it, but if the day comes I hope it works...

How does the GPS activate? You said the battery only lasts a week so I'm guessing it is off most of the time?

[WDE_BDY]

Battery backup lasts a week, it would normally feed off the main car battery but can power itself if the thief disconnected the power.

Callum

[BLK_20v]

Battery backup lasts a week, it would normally feed off the main car battery but can power itself if the thief disconnected the power.

Callum

Yup this, it feeds off the main battery.... Another issue is with allot of alarms, they drain your battery if you don't regularly drive the car.

[o_man_ra23]

BLK 20V, unfortunately the damage can be maximised by joyriding thieves. Example is Bigworm's car. Rolled and written off. Another is a mate in Townsville's Skyline GTS-t. Thieves got it all the way down to Albury, it ended up with 4 smoked tyres, a fubar bottom end, fubar paint, interior damage and other general vandalism. Although catching up with them quickly with GPS and fuzz would minimise the damage.

[Just1n_mc]

Speaking of kill switches, etc...

Back when I was doing Valet work there was a regular who had a 'kill switch' where you had to touch a false (and hidden) bolt head with one finger/hand and touch the ignition barrel with the other while you turned the key.

It was pretty nifty since there were no mechanical switches. but I have no clue what brand of alarm it was.

That's a Touchtek immobiliser. I've fitted a few of them to customers cars and it's what I use in my cars.

[MWP]

You could build one of those for under $15 in parts from Jaycar

[o_man_ra23]

But building it for $15 doesn't have as much wank factor as saying "I have a touchtek and it cost me a gazillion squid to get it installed, so now can I get in your pants??"

[Just1n_mc]

There no harder to install than ony other immobiliser and they cost around $100-140 to buy.

So there not really that expensive when compared to other immobilisers.

[o_man_ra23]

$100 is nearly 7 times the cost of $15. Not sure which part not really that expensive I am getting concerned about...

[Just1n_mc]

Just depends on whether or not you have the skills and tools to assemble one I suppose. I know it's just a matter of soldering components to a printed circuit board but alot of people are scared of that sort of stuff especially if it comes to vehicle security.

I hardly call $100 expensive when it comes to protecting your pride and joy but thats just me.