Placed my order for the 06 Blue Xb. Less than 5 week wait.

Now its time to get serious about supplies!

Fist off....protect it!

I LOATHE car alarms and will not be putting one on my XB. As of now I am leaning towards a steering wheel lock and a brake lock.

Any suggestions/comments/???

Slainte,
Keith

 

ok I know that alot of you that will respond to this will say i'm crazy but.....I got the Scion security system and here is why...I do not plan on putting alot of expensive equiptment on my xB. The system meets my needs for security. I don't have the beep/horn thing on. When I lock or unlock the lights flash and I hear the click of the locks. Thats what I had on my Previa and I am use to that. You can get it programed to beep/honk when locking & unlocking. If broken into the engine is disabled and when the glass is tapped on or broken the the horn will go off. Plus I get a nice discount on my insurance.

 

I don't do alarms either. They might deter a punk kid, but a real thief will be able to work around it. Besides, when was the last time you heard a car alarm and thought "Someone's car is being jacked?"

As far as a steering wheel/brake device... I wouldn't bother. I don't really see our cars as being that desirable to steal. They don't have in demand parts like on a Civic, Evo, STI, etc, etc.

Usually thieves take cars for one of three reasons:
1. To use the car to commit another crime. After the crime is commited, they will dump your car and take another.

2. They simply need a ride somewhere. Maybe to buy drugs, maybe to get home. Usually the car ends up being dumped within a few days.

3. For parts. Motor, body panels, etc. Pros will take it to a chop shop and sell the whole car for $500(high). Then the chop shop goes to work and you will probably never see it again. Amateurs will do it themselves and cut up the leftovers with a sawzall and dump it. Auto theft investigators might be able to pull the VIN(they are all over the car in special places that most people don't know about), then they contact you saying the found the remains.

Honestly, no matter what you do, if someone wants it, they will get it. Minimize the risk by not leaving valuables in your vehicle, parking your vehicle in secure locations(well lit!!), not adverstising what you have(bumping your system down the block on the way home), etc.

GL!

 

No matter what you use it only takes four people and a Chevy pickup and its gone.
J/K

Scott

 

oops

 

thief's
Maybe this web site will help with some ideas
http://www.stickdeath.com/2005auto.html

Rob

 

sounds similar to the general rule for motorcycles.

 

My objective is not to make my vehicle impossible to steal, but just to make it more difficult than the vehicle parked next to it.

Unless there are a lot of 'goodies' inside, or really popular parts, or a really exceptional ride, the thief will usually go for the easiest mark.

The same is true of an apartment or house: One can't make it burglarproof, but one can make it more difficult than the place next door...

Like the two guys running away from a bear...

"We can't out run a bear, Fred!"
"I don't have to, I just have to outrun you, George!"

 

i use the autolock---which is a device you attach my putting it around the brake pedal with your foot.

much more theft deterrent than that of a steering wheel lock--it is augmented with a DEI Hornet alarm system...

 

i heard crimestopper is great and viper also but both really expensive

 

steering locks are easy to get thru, especially with our steering wheels. . . our wheels are designed to collapse in the even of an accident, thus getting through one with a bolt cutter would be pretty easy.

But they are usually good deterents for the would be thief. Also install an alarm LED (just a red flashing light, wired to turn on when the car is off). It'll fool most other would thieves. Finally, I would strategically place razor blades under the dash. I have done this with all my cars, and it is actually quite effective. If you go this route, be sure to note the locations, and have them written down on paper. You could also memorize the locations. . . but I can't be held responsible if you hurt yourself doing this. Also, you should remove the razors if you ever take your car in for service. But otherwise it is an excellent deterent.

Nothing gets a thief out of your car faster than a severly bleeding wrist. . . and if they are dealing with wiring, they will not be using gloves. I learned about this technique from a car thief. I asked him what the most effective alarm was, and he showed me his scars. Oh, and you might be interested in upgrading your locking mechanism. I don't recall how well Toyota locks stack up, but many American cars can be driven away with a screw driver and a strong twist. Independently wired, hidden, ignition switches can do wonders as well.

But all in all, you are more likely to have your car broken into than stolen. Hence, I'd only do the LED, the razors, and some good common sense. If you have eye candy in your car, they will probably steal it if given the chance.

 

Also, any one of these would be sufficient:

 

the trunk monkey.

 

Hmmm....I have an SLR-95 w/ a 75rd drum that might fit the bill nicely.

But, I live in Kommiefornia so I may run into some problems if I ever implimented this form of security.

 

Lots of great tips from all of you...thanks!

I am certain a Club and a brake lock will be first on the list.

I like the simple flashing LED and kill switch too which will be done shortly after that.

I know it is only a $15K ride but it is my first new car and I am a bit paranoid about it.

 

Thats why Im thinking in layers instead of a single device.

 

I like it!

Is the stock stereo a target to thieves? I am thinking not but I am more concerned that the radio might get jacked more than the whole van.

 

Yes and no. . . smart thieves won't care about our stereo. Idiot thieves who need money to buy crack won't care. My friend had her FM stereo ONLY deck stolen out of her Geo. . . this was back when I lived in a VERY shady area. My roommates Civic was broken into countless times. . . one time they stole a jacket and some CD's. Like I said, it takes some common sense about where you park and what you leave in plain sight. Good areas require little discretion, and questionable ones require lots.

My razors are under my dash, for someone looking for ignition wires. . . places around the major wire harnesses. The stereo is trickier, as it is held in with screws. You have to do some cutting to get the razors to fit, but I have em line onto the sides of the head unit.

But for the most part, your stereo should be fine.

 

Getting a concealed permit is not too dificult of a process in this state, so long as you don't live in the S.F. Bay Area. However, it does take a lot of time and effort. But it's definitely doable.

For the record, Senator Barbara Boxer or Feinstein, but both of them are known to be strong advocates against gun ownership. However one of them (I forgot which she-devil it is) has a concealed gun permit.

 

Yeah but concealing that drum alone is going to be a royal pain, let alone the whole rifle!! J/K

I have considered it in the past (for a Glock, not the SLR) but decided it was too much of a pain to be worth it. Too much time, effort and $$$$.

But I like the low tech approach of the razors.