mouse

Yeah, so I went to my car this morning to find the locks on my handles bent and tampered with, the weather stripping on my driver's side quarter window pealed off and paint in the area scratched, and paint stripped off my roof from where they tried to pry open the sunroof. I was fuming when I found it. The lack of respect these people have is just unimaginable to me. I've got a $1,000 deductable, so I'm pretty sure this is coming out of my pocket to fix. I don't know what I should do, there's been 2 cars stolen in my apartment complex within the past few months. First thing monday morning I'm going to give my landlord hell for not installing surveillence or lights as deterrents. This is a problem they need to deal with, tennants shouldn't have to worry about their cars getting stolen at home. To me, the theives were certainly trying to steal the car rather than vandalize or break into it and take things from it, because in that case they would have just broken the window. So would it be a good idea to get a wheel lock (i.e. "the club")? I don't have the key to my factory alarm, should I get a locksmith to make me one, or is the stock alarm worthless on these cars and should I get a better one installed? I don't have the money to pay for something big, and with my car close to being stolen last night I'm wondering how much money I really should put in this car anyway.

led

I'm thinking of buying one of those wheel locks that also lock the clutch or brake pedal

993Maineiac

If this is a constant problem, you might want to install an alarm which will activate a remote that you can have with you. That way you can either have the audible alarm or a silent alarm (if you don't want the b#$#%d to know you know) which would allow you to call the police.

What a bummer.

Perry 951

Get the factory alarm key fixed. When the alarm is active, it disables the DME, and the car cannot be stolen. (unless the thief punches out the alarm lock and turns it off)

Most locksmiths can make a new key or put in a new tumbler for about $50. Other option is to call some wrecking yards and see if they have the lock with key and replace it.

You could always install an aftermarket alarm too. If you do buy the club, get the ones that lock the steering wheel and also lock the brake and clutch. This way, the thief must saw through 2 bars to steal it. (and if the alarms are operational, deal with that too)

In the end, the more security you have, the more of a deterrent it is to the thief. And stay on your land lord to do something about it, that is crap if it is always happening.

Rich Sandor

Better yet, buy a snap off steering wheel. It's great for when you get a racing seat that's close to the wheel. AND it's nearly impossible to steer the car without a wheel in place!


My neighbour has this annoying *** car alarm in his truck that goes "I've been tampered with, I've been tampered with" and it goes off all the time.

We just heard it go off again, but my g/f says he was running after someone with a golfclub, and just got into his truck and chased the guy down. I dunno what happened, but if I wasn't in my ginch ready for bed, I'd join chase and beat the **** outta the car thief.

Peter K.

I hope you neighbor ran the foker down...several times. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

Kelly Holzhauser

Definitely talk with your landlord. I also live in an apartment complex where cars were broken into a lot, sometimes several per week. The realty company that owns the complex installed a lot of very bright lights, and since then, I don't know of any cars broken into. The wheel lock (The Club), may lower your insurance, and, maY deter a thief from trying to break into your car, but, it only takes about 2 seconds to saw through your steering wheel with a hacksaw blade. The Club can then be easily removed and the thief drive off in a car with a broken steering wheel. Also, any type of alarm is better than none.

I hope this helps,
Kelly

'87 944

triscadek

I know how you feel.

Mine was broken into about a month ago and I've been looking into alarms lately.

The factory alarm can be rekeyed to the ignition key for about $50, but the alarm won't sound until someone breaks in and opens a door, and damage has already been done.

To get an alarm that will sound before they do any damage, a 2 stage shock sensor is needed and I like the idea of the proximity sensor also.

Going to Best Buy, Cir. City etc. w/o the prox. sensor it seems to be about $300, with the prox. about $350 installed.

In my case the punk seems to be going for aftermarket stereos and digging through the cars for other items of value.

None of the cars broken into here had an alarm in them, I think that unless the theif is really after your car an alarm chirp will keep them out.

Until I get an alarm, I have been removing my stereo every night and rolling up a paper in the wimdow that says NOTHING LEFT TO STEAL. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

mouse

Thanks for the help, guys. I think I probably will take my car to a locksmith and get a key for my factory alarm, I didn't know it disabled the DME. In a way I think I'm kind of lucky, in that the guy didn't do a WHOLE LOT of damage and of course he didn't get the car...and now I get the chance to help defend myself in the future. He could have just taken the car and be driving it right now. Probably the luckiest thing about it was this: I took out the microswitch for the power locks on my driver's side handle a few weeks ago because it wasn't working. (I ordered a replacement from someone on rennlist) So while the microswitch wasn't in, I just cut off the wires and had them outside the door, covered by electrical tape (so I wouldn't have to go fishing for them when I got the replacement). So, while tampering with the lock, the theif could have just unpeeled the electrical tape to see the wires, and just connect two of them to unlock my door.

Also, should I report this to the police? I don't know if that will do anything.

Brian McCoy

[quote]Originally posted by mouse [CTY]:
<strong>Also, should I report this to the police? I don't know if that will do anything.</strong><hr></blockquote>

YES! While you may not see much from it right now, it's setting you up to have your *** covered. Also document the complaint to your housing complex (do it through certified mail first, then talk with them after you get the tab back for the letter). In most states, housing complexes have standards they must meet and # of incidents on property is one of those issues. They carry a form of insurance to cover their asses and it's something you have the possability of tapping into in the future with the right documentation (prior complaint to both the police and housing authorities, proof that no improvments were made within a reasonable time, etc - you'll have to ask a housing lawyer in your state what's neccessary). If nothing else, you're giving yourself a legal/no-penalties 'out' from that apartment complex if it happens again (to ANY car) and is reported. You'll need to check your lease paperwork, but every apartment complex I've lived in had a no-penalties 'out' clause that allowed me to terminate my lease early if 1~2~3 reported incidents occured within a certain peroid of time (usually several months). At that time, look for someplace that DOES have a gated community, lights, and nightly patrols.

I hate apartment complexes (and townhomes, condos, other 'community living' arangements) for a multitude of reasons - a store of cars parked in one place all night long is fairly low on the list, but it's a strong reason. I've always splurged and gotten a garage when forced to live in those types of places (of course, I have motorcycles to think about too - so there's additional reason for me).

I'm sory to hear about the attempt - glad it failed, even if there was some damage at least it's repairable and not worse due to some punks joy-ride come to a sudden end.

IceShark

Yes, report it to the police. They need it for crime stats and if they notice that your apartment complex is getting hit a lot they will start to keep an eye on your place and maybe at least scare the crooks off.

Also will make your landlord look bad that they are not doing anything while the poor residents keep getting smacked. Maybe you can shame them into doing something to help the situation.

emilysgranny

simple toggle switch on the fuel pump line works great.

Mledbetter

[quote]Originally posted by 944Maineiac:
<strong>If this is a constant problem, you might want to install an alarm which will activate a remote that you can have with you. That way you can either have the audible alarm or a silent alarm (if you don't want the b#$#%d to know you know) which would allow you to call the police.

What a bummer.</strong><hr></blockquote>

This was the option I took. Alpine makes a nice one and the range on it is quite good. Just do a search for FM trasmitter +alarm or something on Yahoo and you should find quite a few.

-Matt

SoCal Driver

[quote]Originally posted by mouse [CTY]:
<strong>Probably the luckiest thing about it was this: I took out the microswitch for the power locks on my driver's side handle a few weeks ago because it wasn't working. (I ordered a replacement from someone on rennlist) So while the microswitch wasn't in, I just cut off the wires and had them outside the door, covered by electrical tape (so I wouldn't have to go fishing for them when I got the replacement)...</strong><hr></blockquote>


The microswitch for the door handle has a plug at the bottom of the door. You have to pull the door panel off at the bottom to get at it. Or you could pull the entire panel if you wanted to.

Don't splice in the newer one.

mouse

Socal, I didn't know about the plug when I first cut it-- I don't want to have to take the whole panel off again if I don't have to, but can I get to it from the little access hole in the side?