mab@hou4a.UUCP (Michael Brochstein) (01/09/85)
As one who (since May 1981) has had a total of six break-in's, two stereos stolen, and a car stolen, I believe I have acquired the necessary experience to give advice on car and car stereo thefts. As you may have guessed I live in NYC. CAR STEREO's The absolute best way I have found to protect a car stereo is to get a Bensi box. A Bensi box (two models, $50. and $70.) is an in-dash device which allows one to easily and neatly remove the receiver in a second for safe storage elsewhere. One problem with under-dash setups is that they are usually unsightly, the Bensi box is not. The one drawback is that unless you are very handy, the box should be installed (~$100.) by a professional who is experienced with the Bensi box. Owners of European cars are especially advised to get a Bensi box because the European standard for car stereo receiver installation makes it EXTREMELY easy to remove the receivers fast. STEREO SPEAKER's To protect speakers it is a common (in NYC) trick is to get plain black speaker grilles installed instead of the fancy (i.e. with expensive name brand showing) grilles supplied by aftermarket suppliers. CAR's I have had one car stolen which had a Chapman lock and an alarm and have had five other break-in's besides. A Chapman lock (~$90. including installation) gives the most value for the dollar because it helps protect the car in a number of ways. It protects the battery from theft because it locks the hood, it shorts out the ignition making the car impossible to start, and it locks the hood which makes it impossible to get at an alarm siren or other theft devices (including the Chapman's ignition shorting wires). The Chapmans other advantage is that it is simple with little to go wrong. It too should be installed by a professional. Use one-way screws only inside the car. A Chapman lock can be defeated in two ways. One is to with great force (a crowbar etc.) pull the lock off its mount inside the car enough so that the bolt holding the hood is pulled off a little enough to open the hood. Another way is to go under the car and cut the Chapman's cable which goes to the bolt. If you hood pivots in the front then there is small chance that the cable can be reached with a bolt cutter from underneath since the engine is usually in the way (not so in front). A car alarm is a great device if installed with a few items in mind. One is to put the keyswitch (only round key cylinders) in the door jam. There are two advantages here. The cars body is not drilled and ice can't get to the switch to freeze it. The other is that the door jam is an inconvenient place for a thief to work on it (the door jam is steel and the position is awkward). A auto shut-off for the alarm is advised unless you don't mind charging the battery the morning after an attempted robbery and having the residents living near your car taking matters into their own hands to silence your car. One device which I think is great is called a "steel donut", it will usually only fit American cars. I think the trade name is either "Car Guard" or "Car Lock" or something like it. It is composed of a steel case that goes around the ignition switch on the steering column and a steel round bar which when closed makes for a steel donut over the switch. This protects the car in a few ways. If the thief can't get to the switch then he can't unlike the steering wheel (and steer the car). A crowbar is useless on it. It is fast to install (and will therefore be used). The cylinder faces the instrument panel and there is not enough room to get a drill in there to drill out the lock. The device can't be moved up or down over the switch because of the protrusion of the switch from the column. I have as yet not found any way around this device. It usually costs about $40. and is black with a red bar. A cheap copy has a chain instead of a bar and should be avoided. OTHER It may be obvious to some but I'll state these items for the novices' sakes; 1. Lock your car and take the keys with you. 2. Do not leave ANYTHING in sight inside the car when you park it. 3. Only park in well lighted areas (preferably in a crowded area). 4. If you have an anti-theft device, use-it, or you've wasted your $. 5. Use a garage if your car is unprotected and in a place like NYC. (Better to pay for parking than the deductible for theft.) 6. Car thieves are brighter than you think, if you got away once being careless there is no reason that you will again. 7. If you are a real novice and have a car worth more than $1000. or a nice car stereo and no anti-theft devices, then stay out of NYC. EPILOGUE Alas even though it is now pretty hard to steal my car, thieves still used to try regularly enough that it has become cheaper to garage it in NYC than to pay the repair on the door lock (new cylinder plus body work) when it is broken into. By the way I drove 1973 Mustang from May 1981 to June 1983 when I bought a 1981 Mazda RX-7. The Mustang was stolen and stripped in October 1982 and dumped in Jersey City, NJ. The Mazda was broken into three times in five months (until I got a garage). I heartly recommend J&R Music World in NYC for Bensi boxes and Phil's Auto Radio for their installation. I have no connection with either shop and they are both well reguarded. -- Michael Brochstein AT&T Information Systems, Holmdel, NJ ihnp4!hou4a!mab (201) 834-3482
hrs@houxb.UUCP (H.SILBIGER) (01/15/85)
A very simple way to prevent car theft, or at least make it less likely, is to remove the distributor rotor. If the distributor cap is replaced it would take a while to figure out why the car doesnt start, and I doubt many thieves run around with a supply of rotors. It wouldnt keep them from towing it, or doing some damage to the car. Herman Silbiger