With the electronic keys can someone still start the E without it? Does anyone know if an E has been stolen yet?
Can the E be stolen?
siclmn
21 - 35 of 35 Posts
Joined
·
925 Posts
My understanding is like has been stated. If someone is intent on stealing your car or it's contents, they will attempt it whether you have an alarm or not. Some professionals will either be so experienced with their crimes that they can commit them and not be hindered by the triggering of an alarm. They can have what they want and be gone before they can be caught. Others may know exactly how to get around the systems.
From talking to friends in Law Enforcement, the most valuable part of a security system, whether on your car or your home, is the sticker on the door. While that won't stop the most professional and determined it will deter most attempts that are probably crimes of opportunity or amatures or desparate types who just need a few bucks for a fix or a bottle of booze.
Largely it might depend on where you live. Do you live in a fairly safe area where most car thefts are serious thieves who intend to chop up your car or put it into a cargo container and ship it to Poland or Mexico.... I have seen news stories where stolen SUVs were spotted on the streets in Eastern Europe. The Illinois License Plates and dealer frames were still on them. Then there are places like in cities where cars will be broken into and ransacked for whatever can be found in the glove compartment etc. The car itself will not be taken but your camera or computer stolen out of the trunk. These are people who might be detered from an alarm sticker and will go to the next, UNPROTECTED, car rather than taking a chance of setting off an alarm.
I am considering an alarm for a few reasons, First, I live in the former area where nothing I do is going to stop a determined and experienced thief. There aren't as many of those people so I have little fear of having my car stolen. However, I do carry some expensive items from time to time and want some protection from a smash and grab type situation. I am thinking of the Viper Responder 791xv here. It has a pager function so if someone does attempt to break into my car, and I know there is something in there, I can get a readout of whether a shock (hit) was recorded, whether a window was broken, the door opened? Hood Opened? etc. Knowing the situation can alert you to call the police yourself, from your cellphone or to go out and invstigate a possible hit and run accident. You migth see the guy driving away. While an alarm might not cause others in a parking lot to run to defend your car, my experience is that human nature is such that people do look up when one goes off. Therefore, if someone does smash your window and grab something out of your car you might be lucky enough to have a witness or two when the police do arrive. Another reason for a pager alarm. Don't rely on someone else picking up their cell phone to call. However, if you get a readout that the window sensors were triggered, indicating broken glass, and a door opened, as if someone has gotten in to open your glove box or storage spaces.... Maybe your tailgate(trunk) was opened. These together would cause me to grab my cellphone while running out to my car.
As good as an alarm is, some other things are more important and maybe more valuable. I would recommend getting the cargo cover. It is fairly expensive but Extremely easy to install. It goes into the back, behind the rear seats and pulls out like a window shade, and clips into the frame of the tailgate. With the dark windows and the cover, you CAN NOT see if anything is in the back of the car. Don't leave valuables in plain site. Hide things under seats or stow wallets, jewelry etc. into the armrest glove compartment or overhead storage. Or don't leave valuables in the car at all. If you have to, OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND. Don't make things easy for a casual thief. Also, don't park in secluded places. Park where it is well lit. Lock your car....
From talking to friends in Law Enforcement, the most valuable part of a security system, whether on your car or your home, is the sticker on the door. While that won't stop the most professional and determined it will deter most attempts that are probably crimes of opportunity or amatures or desparate types who just need a few bucks for a fix or a bottle of booze.
Largely it might depend on where you live. Do you live in a fairly safe area where most car thefts are serious thieves who intend to chop up your car or put it into a cargo container and ship it to Poland or Mexico.... I have seen news stories where stolen SUVs were spotted on the streets in Eastern Europe. The Illinois License Plates and dealer frames were still on them. Then there are places like in cities where cars will be broken into and ransacked for whatever can be found in the glove compartment etc. The car itself will not be taken but your camera or computer stolen out of the trunk. These are people who might be detered from an alarm sticker and will go to the next, UNPROTECTED, car rather than taking a chance of setting off an alarm.
I am considering an alarm for a few reasons, First, I live in the former area where nothing I do is going to stop a determined and experienced thief. There aren't as many of those people so I have little fear of having my car stolen. However, I do carry some expensive items from time to time and want some protection from a smash and grab type situation. I am thinking of the Viper Responder 791xv here. It has a pager function so if someone does attempt to break into my car, and I know there is something in there, I can get a readout of whether a shock (hit) was recorded, whether a window was broken, the door opened? Hood Opened? etc. Knowing the situation can alert you to call the police yourself, from your cellphone or to go out and invstigate a possible hit and run accident. You migth see the guy driving away. While an alarm might not cause others in a parking lot to run to defend your car, my experience is that human nature is such that people do look up when one goes off. Therefore, if someone does smash your window and grab something out of your car you might be lucky enough to have a witness or two when the police do arrive. Another reason for a pager alarm. Don't rely on someone else picking up their cell phone to call. However, if you get a readout that the window sensors were triggered, indicating broken glass, and a door opened, as if someone has gotten in to open your glove box or storage spaces.... Maybe your tailgate(trunk) was opened. These together would cause me to grab my cellphone while running out to my car.
As good as an alarm is, some other things are more important and maybe more valuable. I would recommend getting the cargo cover. It is fairly expensive but Extremely easy to install. It goes into the back, behind the rear seats and pulls out like a window shade, and clips into the frame of the tailgate. With the dark windows and the cover, you CAN NOT see if anything is in the back of the car. Don't leave valuables in plain site. Hide things under seats or stow wallets, jewelry etc. into the armrest glove compartment or overhead storage. Or don't leave valuables in the car at all. If you have to, OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND. Don't make things easy for a casual thief. Also, don't park in secluded places. Park where it is well lit. Lock your car....
Joined
·
925 Posts
OH, one other thing I didn't address. I think the issue of some items like GPS and LO-JACK may not be worth the money. Unless you have an extreme attachment to your car and want it or it's contents back at any cost, they might not be worth the extreme prices. Like was mentioned, insurance doesn't rebate for them and most of the time the cars are seriously damaged when returned. I have read that often cars will be stolen and then parked in a remote parking place for several days. Anything of real value will be taken right away during the drive or at the time of abandonment. After a week or so, if nobody has approached the car or observed watching it, the thieves will move back in to snatch the car and or it's other parts. Also, hiding these cars in certain types of buildings or the backs of trucks can make it difficult or impossible to track the alarms. Thus rendering all this expensive technology worthless.
Save your money. If you feel more comfortable with an alarm in your car, get something with features that make more sense or more functional and valuable to you. Something that will protect or alert you to a hit and run in a parking lot, a smash and grab. vandalism etc. Something more reasonable that will protect you from the more common incidents. Keeping in mind that the protections that will deal with the most serious attacks on your car will be less affective against the types of people doing those crimes. Unless your car has been stolen by a bunch of kids on a joy ride, these features might not be too effective.
Some of what makes the Viper system that I mentioned valuable to me is the Remote Start features for the winters here in Northern Illinois, Being able to have your car start every 2 or 3 hours and run for 30 minutes when the temps fall below -10 or so and keep your engine warm and battery charged. The ability to roll up windows by remote if you leave them open and it starts to rain. 1/4 mile range on the remote and the display to tell you the status of your car from a distance. Were your doors locked? Alarm Set? Door Open? Interior lights ON? Engine Running?....
Save your money. If you feel more comfortable with an alarm in your car, get something with features that make more sense or more functional and valuable to you. Something that will protect or alert you to a hit and run in a parking lot, a smash and grab. vandalism etc. Something more reasonable that will protect you from the more common incidents. Keeping in mind that the protections that will deal with the most serious attacks on your car will be less affective against the types of people doing those crimes. Unless your car has been stolen by a bunch of kids on a joy ride, these features might not be too effective.
Some of what makes the Viper system that I mentioned valuable to me is the Remote Start features for the winters here in Northern Illinois, Being able to have your car start every 2 or 3 hours and run for 30 minutes when the temps fall below -10 or so and keep your engine warm and battery charged. The ability to roll up windows by remote if you leave them open and it starts to rain. 1/4 mile range on the remote and the display to tell you the status of your car from a distance. Were your doors locked? Alarm Set? Door Open? Interior lights ON? Engine Running?....
Joined
·
1,704 Posts
[quote:8dc461cefa=" "]
Then I said, well, it does have this immobolizer system that won't allow the engine to start unless it recognizes a computer chip in the key...so it make it extremely difficult if not impossible to hotwire.
With that I qualified for a 10% DISCOUNT on the insurance. Quite nice![/quote:8dc461cefa]
Just checked my discount from State Farm for the immobilizer system. $2.10 ...
Then I said, well, it does have this immobolizer system that won't allow the engine to start unless it recognizes a computer chip in the key...so it make it extremely difficult if not impossible to hotwire.
With that I qualified for a 10% DISCOUNT on the insurance. Quite nice![/quote:8dc461cefa]
Just checked my discount from State Farm for the immobilizer system. $2.10 ...
I should have added to my previous post that I work for the largest security company in the world consulting with corporate/industrial clients in the north east area. All I have in my car are stickers from my company and no alarm. As it was mentioned above, deterence (alarm stickers)will prevent most attempts to steal your vehicle. The small % who are true professional car thieves won't be detered and will take your car with ignition kills, lojack, satellite tracking etc...
Joined
·
1,704 Posts
I certain that the E can be stolen if the S.O.B. wants it bad enough. But the real problem is this .The way people love their E ,should the S.O.B. that takes your E be charged with theft or kidnapping . :twisted: I think we should hang the sucker .. 
Great posts everyone! Thanks for the very helpful information!
Ok, I realize that this thread is almost 2 months old... I don't mean to ressurect the dead, but after watching MSNBC tonight I took a keen interest on this subject! Did anybody else catch this program about the chop shop ring (aired on Sat 10/2/04)? They caught the ba$tards on video and audio, and all they got was a slap on the wrist! One of the drivers didn't even get charged! What a bunch of B.S.! "It's only Car Theft", the Police say... Ooooh, I am so MAD!! :x
Why is it that our legal system allows the parents of a 12 year old child be fined tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for downloading illegal MP3's, but grand theft auto is just a slap on the wrist for those involved? Is there any such thing as justice??? This really sucks!
As far as the Honda Immobilizer system goes? Here's a very interesting story about a Honda Civic Hybrid that was stolen without the keys... read for yourself and you decide; http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4265482/site/newsweek/ It would definately seem that the system CAN and WILL be over-ridden... WHEN the parts for such vehicles are hot enough to warrant doing so.
I am so glad that my baby is now locked up in a garage safe and sound (I hope... maybe I'll go "tuck her in"!). :shock:
(LEGO used to like the movie "Gone In 60 Seconds", but now hates those SOB's!! Get a job, you bums!!! Oh, and Angelina Jolie - WASH THE DAMN OIL OUT OF YOUR HAIR!!)
got beer?
Ok, I realize that this thread is almost 2 months old... I don't mean to ressurect the dead, but after watching MSNBC tonight I took a keen interest on this subject! Did anybody else catch this program about the chop shop ring (aired on Sat 10/2/04)? They caught the ba$tards on video and audio, and all they got was a slap on the wrist! One of the drivers didn't even get charged! What a bunch of B.S.! "It's only Car Theft", the Police say... Ooooh, I am so MAD!! :x
Why is it that our legal system allows the parents of a 12 year old child be fined tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for downloading illegal MP3's, but grand theft auto is just a slap on the wrist for those involved? Is there any such thing as justice??? This really sucks!
As far as the Honda Immobilizer system goes? Here's a very interesting story about a Honda Civic Hybrid that was stolen without the keys... read for yourself and you decide; http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4265482/site/newsweek/ It would definately seem that the system CAN and WILL be over-ridden... WHEN the parts for such vehicles are hot enough to warrant doing so.
I am so glad that my baby is now locked up in a garage safe and sound (I hope... maybe I'll go "tuck her in"!). :shock:
(LEGO used to like the movie "Gone In 60 Seconds", but now hates those SOB's!! Get a job, you bums!!! Oh, and Angelina Jolie - WASH THE DAMN OIL OUT OF YOUR HAIR!!)
got beer?
Joined
·
1,704 Posts
Angelina Jolie has hair ???? Hmmmmmmmm ,When viewing her I never seem to that high up !!!!
I've a friend, a Portland cop(also Irish)who works CSI. Anyhow, he tells me the most common theft is 'grab and go". The perp sees anything that looks even remotely resellable, smashes the window takes and runs. They care not about alarms, he tells me this never takes more than 60sec, but do about escape routes.
Best defense: leave naught visible, park away from exits, and lasttly, don't open your trunk/back when you park. The reasoning: why would you, unless there is something valuable there? This is a real issue in parking lots at parks and mails.
Best defense: leave naught visible, park away from exits, and lasttly, don't open your trunk/back when you park. The reasoning: why would you, unless there is something valuable there? This is a real issue in parking lots at parks and mails.
No sticker or alarm is going to stop a bum who sees a cell phone in the front seat and is jonesing for his next hit of his drug of choice.
The ultra simple mantra is just NEVER leave anything of value in sight in your car! Trunk or under cover in the back of the E is fine, as long as you don't let on it is there. That is the number one reason for any car getting broken into, is that the thief SEES something they want and takes it. But I know many people who had alarms that have still had a window busted and something taken, since no one reacts to an audible alarm, especially in a parking garage. The chance that they will get caught is so low (and the punishment too), that the rewards justify their efforts.
Pretty much common sense if you ask me. you can also put comprehensive on your insurance if you expect to get broken into, which is cheaper than a decent alarm will be over the 4 years you own the car, and will protect in many more ways than theft.
The ultra simple mantra is just NEVER leave anything of value in sight in your car! Trunk or under cover in the back of the E is fine, as long as you don't let on it is there. That is the number one reason for any car getting broken into, is that the thief SEES something they want and takes it. But I know many people who had alarms that have still had a window busted and something taken, since no one reacts to an audible alarm, especially in a parking garage. The chance that they will get caught is so low (and the punishment too), that the rewards justify their efforts.
Pretty much common sense if you ask me. you can also put comprehensive on your insurance if you expect to get broken into, which is cheaper than a decent alarm will be over the 4 years you own the car, and will protect in many more ways than theft.
Bill, I'm curious, as you say you carry A/V equipment occasionally. What are your thoughts on the privacy curtain, at least while your E is parked with gear inside?wmas1960 said:
I'm a drummer in a few Seattle bands and definitely will be carrying drums in my new E. It shouldn't happen often, but there may be times I need to park her w/drums inside. I've thought the privacy curtain might be a nice option for at least some security.
Joined
·
2,760 Posts
Can the E be stolen....Saw this and fell out of the chair laughing....The Answer...Yes...in 3.5 seconds
We've had our E for about a week. The only car I ever had stolen/broken into was a mustang convertible ('66) that I parked and locked in St Louis. It cost me more to replace the top they cut through than the value of what they stole from inside the car. I've never locked a car since. My friends tell us we're nuts to leave our new E unlocked with the windows down. We leave nothing visible in the car. A pro will steal it locked or not. An amateur won't get around the immobilizer. I'll take my chances...I haven't locked a car since the mustang break-in in 1979, and have never had another problem. Paranoia will drive you nuts...
Joined
·
105 Posts
This thread has been very helpful in our decision to add an alarm system on our new E. After all the advice, we're just going to get comprehensive, tint the windows, and cover anything of value.
As for the unlocked door technique: many thieves aren't smart enough to check if it's locked or unlocked. We've had 3 cars broken into in our old driveway, one being an Accord. 2 of the 3 times a door was unlocked. The last time, 7 windows were shattered. They had the anti-shatter tape on them so the glass didn't fall out. One window had a hole the size of the perp's fist. My neighbor heard it and turned on her light, which scared them away. All they got away with was the change in my change drawer and a cheap old pair of shoes. When I inspected the damage, I found the burglar's watch had fallen off his wrist when punching through the window and was now lying on my seat. LOL, the watch was worth more than change/shoes that were stolen. I still wear the watch today, it's been more than 8 years. You gotta love stupid criminals! :roll:
As for the unlocked door technique: many thieves aren't smart enough to check if it's locked or unlocked. We've had 3 cars broken into in our old driveway, one being an Accord. 2 of the 3 times a door was unlocked. The last time, 7 windows were shattered. They had the anti-shatter tape on them so the glass didn't fall out. One window had a hole the size of the perp's fist. My neighbor heard it and turned on her light, which scared them away. All they got away with was the change in my change drawer and a cheap old pair of shoes. When I inspected the damage, I found the burglar's watch had fallen off his wrist when punching through the window and was now lying on my seat. LOL, the watch was worth more than change/shoes that were stolen. I still wear the watch today, it's been more than 8 years. You gotta love stupid criminals! :roll:
21 - 35 of 35 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
