anti theft measures used?
 

I'm investigating some sort of anti theft tracker system or way to prevent the theft of my almost finished car. What do you fellas use when you can't sleep in your car? Wheel boot/s, chains & locks, baby monitor, disabling switches, bad dog,etc.?

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

In today's world, the manual transmission and clutch work as a deterrent in most cases....


https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=h...-theft.jpg&f=1

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

Here's several HAMB threads where some ideas are presented. Interesting.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ds&o=relevance and
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...tolen.1153907/

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

I could tell you what I do, but then I'd have to kill you.;)

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

With zero value at a chop shop and way too obvious for a joy ride, our old cars are not at much risk of theft. But for my '41, I leave the doors unlocked to avoid entry damage, and take the keys out of the ignition to lock the steering wheel. If I have to leave the car in a shady location, I might take the ancient Garmin Nuvi out of its suction cup bracket.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

I'd have to agree with petehoovie, this bunch wouldn't even know how to start one... three pedals will just send them to tears.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

Shutoff switch under dash, not necessarily for anti-theft but for peace of mind when parked in garage.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

Always a battery kill switch. If it's real valuable, the ramp truck will out fox anything we can come up with. Somebody here suggested a locking car cover. Out of sight, out of mind.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

I have spent a lot of time ine the "Corvette World", and the general consensus over there is that a locking, alarmed car cover is the singlwe most effective method of preventing theft.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

You mentioned trackers. There a quite a few options, not cheap as there is a month charge. But even a cheap burner phone with gps and the ringer and vibrate off under the dash (will charge on 6v too), can become a tracker.

https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Tec-Porta...96e559db947c00


You can drag a car on a flatbed. Most modern alarms go off if you look at the car wrong :)
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Re: anti theft measures used?
 

I use Lojack its a one time change no monthly fees police departments across the country have the tracking used to find the vehicle if its taken. The system has an early warning detection sent directly to your phone if the car is moved without the key fob in the ignition.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

Protected by Smith &Wesson, additional coverage by John Deere!

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

Honestly, I never lock anything including my old Ford and Harley. I leave the keys in the ignition. I've asked various people over the years if they can start my car; invariably, first thing they do is turn the key, thus locking the car!

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

Live in a small town. The people in my town are so used to seeing me drive my cars that on the rare occasions that I let someone else drive them -I get about 4 cellphone calls in the first 10 mins to let me know ! Karl

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

Good low tech solutions... (some already mentioned) Which may deter a casual thief.



1. Friendly aware neighbors.
2. Battery cut off
3. Fuel shut off (just enough gas in the system to start, then stall 1/4 mile away...)
4. Jack up and block the right rear tire.


A serious thief will show up with a box van body over a rollup tow vehicle and have the car out of there within a couple of minutes, then his buddy will be using the electronic emitter detector to find and rip out any tracker.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

I wanted to keep my friends massive pit-bull in there but the duffus is so friendly he'd invite the thief in with hopes of a joy-ride.

~ Carl

And to Karl's point, good neighbors are a huge plus.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

I insure my car for way more than it is worth. If it is stolen, I win.

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

Battery disconnect and a hidden kill switch if you are really worried
Secure garage.... with an alarm
Keep an eye on it when you are out with it.
Going to the movies ? …..Take your Lexus
Don't leave the keys in it....Lock the doors...
I'm amazed at how many folks don't care about locking their doors
……."Just make the ignition key ….don't worry about the door locks ".....
Heard that more than you can imagine !!!

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

I have a re-occurring nightmare about my '36 Ford, which I have owned for sixty-six years being stolen and stripped.
I would never leave it un-locked in my driveway or on the street. My only hope for a theft deterrent is my left handed column shift... Think about that one.
A good theft deterrent on a '40-48 Ford is to just lift the hood and push both shift levers down when the car is parked. Locks the trans and no amount of effort on the shift lever will move the inside sift lever.
We use to do this trick on cars when I was a teenager..

Re: anti theft measures used?
 

blucar. Never knew that. Am going to test it out. Thanks.