What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

[Wayne M.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

Smith & Wesson

No guns please, Greg (and I) are Canadians .

[Clem Z.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

No guns please, Greg (and I) are Canadians .

that is why our family quit going fishing in canada because i am not going to be out in the boonies without a personal protection device.

[Greg L.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

Ah Clem it's not that bad. Grizzlies need to eat too you know! Outside of our national parks you can carry pretty much what ever you like except for hand guns and to be honest I think I'd rather have a nice little 12 ga defender with slugs or buck shot than a hand gun.

Thanks for your ideas guys. Claymore? I didn't know you could aim those...do tell.

The GPS tracker is something I never thought of so I'll look into that. Actually I was thinking more of prevention than recovery. Idealy I would never leave my car outside unattended but sometimes you have no choice like if you go out for dinner or if you are taking it on a road trip. Making it difficult to get into and hot wire would probably be good enough for the average thief that just stumbles across it in a parking lot and only has a short time to take it. If he has a flat deck all bets are off though.

I know if someone WANTS your car they will get it so a good insurance policy is a must.

One thing that I'd like to share is "situation awareness". I don't advertise what's in my garage by keeping the doors closed at all times. I also try to see if anyone is "following" me home now too. Ya this may sound paranoid but one morning after work I was coming home in my 60 when I thought I noticed a grey late model Dodge 4x4 following me after a bit. I thought it was odd so I didn't drive straight home but just around for a bit and he still followed so I pulled over and let him pass and then followed him for few blocks to get him plate number. He pretty much went back to the main drag and then carried on so my guess is he was just admiring the car which I think many of will do from time to time. I know I've followed my fair share of cars in my life time just to have a better look at it. My point is you can never be too cautious and a thief can't take your car if he doesn't know where it is.

[Steven B.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

Mine haven't been outside unattended for decades but when they were I always removed the rotor, coil wire and flipped my hidden switch.

Along with the garage alarmed include a motion sensor mounted on the back wall facing the garage door. Just remember to turn the alarm off before hitting the remote.

[Phil D.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

One thing that I'd like to share is "situation awareness". I don't advertise what's in my garage by keeping the doors closed at all times. I also try to see if anyone is "following" me home now too.

Yes. I always take a certain freeway exit and go home "the back way" to avoid the traffic on the major arterial road and going by some section 8 apartments that I would otherwise have to go within a block of. And I've been known to keep driving if I think someone is following me. I won't pull into my own driveway if there's anyone behind me who isn't a neighbor. My next door neighbor had a 87 Buick T-type stolen just a couple of years ago from their driveway and its not like it was just sitting out as their driveway goes around back and can't be easily seen from the street. Somebody probably followed them home and made note to themselves to come back later that night. I basically try to keep a low profile. Out of sight, out of mind.

Another note to those who swear by displaying a gun or "protected by Smith and Wesson" bumper sticker for protection. Criminals prize guns more than any other loot. Guns are very easily traded directly for drugs or other contraband, while most other items, especially your Corvette takes a great deal more effort to fence to turn it into cash and exposes them to greater risk of being caught when they go to pawn or sell. My own home was once burglarized and all of the classic gun hiding places were ransacked, leaving many other more valuable items in plain view behind. I've known more than a few gun fanatics who've been burglarized looking just for the guns. Thieves typically stake out and follow their mark home from the range or the gun store, case your home, then come back when they know you aren't typically at home. Don't advertise a gun as a deterrent. Its more likely to "backfire" on you. Again, out of sight, out of mind.

[Clem Z.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

Ah Clem it's not that bad. Grizzlies need to eat too you know! Outside of our national parks you can carry pretty much what ever you like except for hand guns and to be honest I think I'd rather have a nice little 12 ga defender with slugs or buck shot than a hand gun.

Thanks for your ideas guys. Claymore? I didn't know you could aim those...do tell.

The GPS tracker is something I never thought of so I'll look into that. Actually I was thinking more of prevention than recovery. Idealy I would never leave my car outside unattended but sometimes you have no choice like if you go out for dinner or if you are taking it on a road trip. Making it difficult to get into and hot wire would probably be good enough for the average thief that just stumbles across it in a parking lot and only has a short time to take it. If he has a flat deck all bets are off though.

I know if someone WANTS your car they will get it so a good insurance policy is a must.

One thing that I'd like to share is "situation awareness". I don't advertise what's in my garage by keeping the doors closed at all times. I also try to see if anyone is "following" me home now too. Ya this may sound paranoid but one morning after work I was coming home in my 60 when I thought I noticed a grey late model Dodge 4x4 following me after a bit. I thought it was odd so I didn't drive straight home but just around for a bit and he still followed so I pulled over and let him pass and then followed him for few blocks to get him plate number. He pretty much went back to the main drag and then carried on so my guess is he was just admiring the car which I think many of will do from time to time. I know I've followed my fair share of cars in my life time just to have a better look at it. My point is you can never be too cautious and a thief can't take your car if he doesn't know where it is.

i was more concerned about the "2 legged animals" who might not have turned in their guns at the govt request.

[Norm B.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

Hi Greg,

Not sure if Lojack is available in your province but a buddy of mine swears by "Boomerang" here in Ontario. It may be the same company as Lojack, just using a different name.

Norm

[Greg L.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

Thanks Norm I'll look into that. How are you doing? Haven't heard from you for a while.

[Charles F.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

I have no connection to Escort Radar but read about this product recently. I do not own it but it looks interesting. Cost is about $300-$400.

Chuck

https://www.escortradar.com/store/security/

Here is their "blurb" from the web site:

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What's in the boxActivation and Subscription Plan required for use:

[Michael W.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

that is why our family quit going fishing in canada because i am not going to be out in the boonies without a personal protection device.

Clem,

Condoms are perfectly legal in Canada, but if you're going to get frisky with the wildlife we'd just as soon not know about it.

[Paul S.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

For me, an agreed value insurance policy is all I do. I generally don't park anywhere for long. I figure if my 67 (or any vintage Vette) is parked anywhere for more than an hour, it's a target for theft.

Honestly, I can buy another-I found mine after all.

It's cheaper to buy insurance than to spend money on theft deterrents that have dubious value. You're gonna be insured, correct? After that, do whatever makes you comfortable enough to drive it how you plan to.

I don't think you can watch any car, unless you're sitting in it. Hence choose when and where you park, carefully.

A gun might come in handy if you feel like shooting yourself for taking the car where it can be stolen. And remember, thieves carry guns. A secretary of mine buried her boyfriend who was shot trying to defend his truck rims from being stolen. Not sure I want to die to avoid an insurance loss for Haggerty.

[Paul J.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

A retired car thief once told me to just take the coil wire with you. He also told me if he wants my car bad enough, he'll get it. We don't have wrecker and rollback grabs out of parking lots in my area, so this has worked fine for me.

Greg and Phil, if I lived in an area where I was scared to open my garage doors and keep them open, or had to look over my shoulder every time I was driving my cars home, I'm living in the wrong place. That kind of paranoia is not healthy.

Paul, the kind of car thieves that we're talking about do not carry guns. We're talking about professionals who know how to steal a car, not punks stealing rims.

[Donald O.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

A Colt M1911a1, a Mossberg 12ga, a Weatherby 300 Mag (for when they think they can run really fast and far) and 3 female rotweillers )unleashed for when I'm sleeping and don't want to be awakened).

[Phil D.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

Greg and Phil, if I lived in an area where I was scared to open my garage doors and keep them open, or had to look over my shoulder every time I was driving my cars home, I'm living in the wrong place. That kind of paranoia is not healthy.

I live where I do because the zoning and lot size allowed me to build a huge metal shop building in my back yard for four cars, and its only minutes to work in downtown. Plus, I came to think like Dave Ramsey, insurance is far cheaper than interest. I used to live in a safer suburb, but on my meager salary, I was modding budget 80s rice rockets in my two-car garage, not classic 60s Corvettes and Mustangs. I guess it's a trade-off, risk for reward. But I'd be looking over my shoulder no matter where I lived I think. My dad lives out in the country, 100 yards off the road, and he keeps the door to shop closed all the time too. Paranoid? If that's what I am, I came by it honestly. I prefer to think of myself as simply "cautious".

Back to the original topic. Like most everyone else has said, I don't leave my Corvette parked unattended, ever. Probably for most of us, our "antique" auto insurance policies don't allow that anyway. I have a 68 Mustang coupe insured on my regular insurance as a "pleasure vehicle" that allows me to drive it more or less like normal. But as classics go, it's far more common, less valuable, less noticeable than the Corvette and hence, less a target for thieves. But I am still very particular about where I drive it and park it. I like to drive it to go out to eat but I'll park where I can see it from the window. I tend to "worry" far more about door dings than getting stolen.

[Valeria H.]

Re: What are you guys using for anti theft devices?

Many years ago, back in the 80's I would pull the main cable to the distributor cable, pop it in my purse and carry on. I still occassionally use this method as an adjunct.
I had Lojack with the early warning system installed which notifies me in 4 different places, cell phone, house phone, work number, e-mail. I still at times take out the distributor main cable. Unfortunately I am in line to have the ignition shield placed on my car which will cover this area.

I really liked the holster of a gun idea left in the car on the driver's seat. I have a concealed carry permit and are loaded for bear at all times regardless which vehicle I am driving ( I wear too much jewelry not to carry!)

The insurance policy on my car is probably far in excess than the car is truly worth so I should not be so finicky about the security measures on the car, but... I love her after all of these 30 years. She is my child and I want her to stay with me.

Valeria