wales@ucla-cs.UUCP (02/28/85)
I am considering getting "call sign" license plates for my car, but I
am concerned that doing so might more overtly advertise the fact that I
am carrying expensive "goodies" in my vehicle -- thus making me a more
likely target for theft.
Is this a valid concern?
Since the rig (a Kenwood TR-7950) is mounted in plain view under the
dash, and since I keep the roof-mounted vertical antenna in place all
the time, I suppose someone so inclined could already determine that I
had ham gear in the car -- even without distinctive license plates.
Admittedly, however, having plates screaming "WA6SGA" for all the world
to see could attract unwanted attention from someone who might otherwise
overlook my rig.
In any case, I have a good car alarm (with stickers on the windows call-
ing attention thereto), and I also have the ARRL equipment insurance
policy (so inexpensive there's practically no excuse not to have it!).
So far, I've been lucky.
--
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Rich Wales
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Computer Science Department
3531 Boelter Hall
Los Angeles, California 90024 // USA
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Phone: (213) 825-5683 // +1 213 825 5683
ARPANET: wales@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA
UUCP: ...!{cepu,ihnp4,trwspp,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!wales
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-parnass@ihu1h.UUCP (Bob Parnass, AJ9S) (03/03/85)
In addition to call letters, Illinois ham plates have the words HAM RADIO embossed on them. If a thief didn't see any signficance in the plate AJ9S, this extra verbage may help attract his attention. :-) > I am considering getting "call sign" license plates for my car, but I > am concerned that doing so might more overtly advertise the fact that I > am carrying expensive "goodies" in my vehicle -- thus making me a more > likely target for theft. ..... > Admittedly, however, having plates screaming "WA6SGA" for all the world > to see could attract unwanted attention from someone who might otherwise > overlook my rig. -- =============================================================================== Bob Parnass, Bell Telephone Laboratories - ihnp4!ihu1h!parnass - (312)979-5414
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (03/05/85)
> I am considering getting "call sign" license plates for my car, but I > am concerned that doing so might more overtly advertise the fact that I > am carrying expensive "goodies" in my vehicle -- thus making me a more > likely target for theft. > > Is this a valid concern? > I've had HAM tags and a scuzzy KDK 2m in my car for a while. I was real careful about locking up the car (not that that does a whole lot of good) because I feared that someone would steal it mistaking it for a CB. Well it just sits there in a slide out bracket. All you do is unplug the power and the antenna and away it goes. Someone broke into my car, took a whole bunch of quarters out of the ashtray and the buck knife in my first-aid kit and left the radio. I have had my walkie-talkie ripped off. The guy who took it tried using it as a CB. I convinced him to sell it back to me because it wasn't a CB. I think he got sentenced to about a year. -Ron