Does anyone have suggestions with making their "E" as burglar proof as possible? I've had my "E" for three months and last night while parked at a local Barnes and Noble, I noticed my key wouldn't go into the driver's side door. Someone had attempted to pry open my "E" with what appears to be a file of some kind and damaged the key hole to the extent that my key will not go in. I can still open the door with the remote, though. They also attempted to remove the door handle panel. They had no luck. They didn't get into my "E". They just damaged the key hole and the door handle panel. Does anyone think that a separate alarm system will be of any value? Or will it interfere with the alarm that already comes with the "E"?
cgbri
Just an FYI, the key remote is not an alarm, rather just keyless entry, unless you paid extra for the factory alarm. I'd write this off as just an isolated incident, after all, the E is not known as a highly sought after vehicle to be stolen. On the other hand, I don't know much about your E. Is it customized in any way? Are there stickers broadcasting to everyone what you have in the car? I had an Acura Integra that was broken into 3 times, I don't understand how some people actually believe they can open a door turn the ignition by sticking a screwdriver in the keyhole and turning. They probably watch to much tv. One time they even pryed the door handle off, it looked like they took a can opener to the doors sheet metal, I mean come on, wouldn't breaking the window be easier? Sorry, I am going off on a tangent...So anyway, as people always say, if somebody really wants your car, they will find some way to take it.
Sorry this happened to a fellow Texan - and at a BOOKSTORE of all places. Not exactly a shady sort of establishment filled with low-lives huh?
My guess.....KIDS! They probably thought it was a cool new SCION or something. ;-) Really, no pro car thief is gonna A - do such a crappy job and NOT get the car or B - take a car that has basically no demand for parts on the black market. If a REAL thief had been after your E it would be GONE. These are kids - and not very experienced at stealing cars or even breaking into cars and stealing stuff. A crowbar would have been a smarter tool for either.
I really don't think car alarms do all that much - they are universally ignored and the person (you) they are supposed to "alarm" is likely too far away to hear it - or doesn't even realize its THEIR car. If you are worried for real about the E getting stolen, a Low-Jac is better and has a better chance of getting you the car back or getting the thief and his chop shop both busted.
If it's kids stealing stuff or looking for a joy-ride get your windows tinted dark enough to keep people from seeing any goodies you have inside and put anything loose (like an iPod) out of sight when you get out of the car. Park where the E can be seen - that is one advantage of parking far away from other cars - would-be thieves will pass it up as too likely they'll be seen - nowhere to hide. I have known people who had great luck discouraging thieves with a "club" visible on the steering wheel - even if it didn't really work it kept would be jerks from even TRYING when there are 50 other visibly easier cars to chose from.
They only make like 5000 to 6000 E'S each month - it isn't on anybodys "must steal" list (unlike other Hondas). I think you had a couple of dumbass kids with a screwdriver and very few functioning brain cells. Geez, a smart 12 year old would know better than to try to steal a car with a screwdriver.....
Sorry they messed up your E - almost worse than if they had STOLEN it huh?
My guess.....KIDS! They probably thought it was a cool new SCION or something. ;-) Really, no pro car thief is gonna A - do such a crappy job and NOT get the car or B - take a car that has basically no demand for parts on the black market. If a REAL thief had been after your E it would be GONE. These are kids - and not very experienced at stealing cars or even breaking into cars and stealing stuff. A crowbar would have been a smarter tool for either.
I really don't think car alarms do all that much - they are universally ignored and the person (you) they are supposed to "alarm" is likely too far away to hear it - or doesn't even realize its THEIR car. If you are worried for real about the E getting stolen, a Low-Jac is better and has a better chance of getting you the car back or getting the thief and his chop shop both busted.
If it's kids stealing stuff or looking for a joy-ride get your windows tinted dark enough to keep people from seeing any goodies you have inside and put anything loose (like an iPod) out of sight when you get out of the car. Park where the E can be seen - that is one advantage of parking far away from other cars - would-be thieves will pass it up as too likely they'll be seen - nowhere to hide. I have known people who had great luck discouraging thieves with a "club" visible on the steering wheel - even if it didn't really work it kept would be jerks from even TRYING when there are 50 other visibly easier cars to chose from.
They only make like 5000 to 6000 E'S each month - it isn't on anybodys "must steal" list (unlike other Hondas). I think you had a couple of dumbass kids with a screwdriver and very few functioning brain cells. Geez, a smart 12 year old would know better than to try to steal a car with a screwdriver.....
Sorry they messed up your E - almost worse than if they had STOLEN it huh?
similar issue
hey all,
first off i agree 100% with mrs.tango.I purchased my 03 SOP in August and one of the first things i noticed whilst inspecting the car on the lot was the drivers side door handle/lock appeared to have been damaged or pryed at.I pointed this out to my salesguy and he told me that a couple of nites earlier someone or "some punk kids" had tried to break in.no luck.just amateurs.Anyway he assured me it would be dealt with and the deal went forth.The black door handle piece was replaced and scratches painted and it looked better than new when i came to pick it up.Maybe it seems like a logical place to start for a amateur thief.Anyway im thrilled with "ellie".
hey all,
first off i agree 100% with mrs.tango.I purchased my 03 SOP in August and one of the first things i noticed whilst inspecting the car on the lot was the drivers side door handle/lock appeared to have been damaged or pryed at.I pointed this out to my salesguy and he told me that a couple of nites earlier someone or "some punk kids" had tried to break in.no luck.just amateurs.Anyway he assured me it would be dealt with and the deal went forth.The black door handle piece was replaced and scratches painted and it looked better than new when i came to pick it up.Maybe it seems like a logical place to start for a amateur thief.Anyway im thrilled with "ellie".
newb
Honda did a pretty good job of securing the E. Inside the door there is a shield protecting the door lock linkage so that the typical "slim-jim" won't work. There are, however, specialized tools made just for unlocking Honda products with locks like ours. But you can't buy em at a parts store.
The keys are both high-security and transponder, meaning the locks are nearly impossible to pick and even if the igntion was turned it still won't crank without the transponder chip.
99.9% of the time I go out on a stolen and recovery the car was stolen with the keys. Either someone they knew or they left their car running at the store while they went inside to get their coffe.
Since I use mine for work I added a little button, hidden out of view, that has to be pressed in addition to having my foot on the brake to take it out of park. This way I can leave it running while I do my job and I don't have to worry about some jackass jumping in and driving off.
BTW If someone really wanted your car all they need is a tow truck. And I gotta go, got a call to run.
Pierre
Probably a couple of punk kids, amatures.cgbri said:
Honda did a pretty good job of securing the E. Inside the door there is a shield protecting the door lock linkage so that the typical "slim-jim" won't work. There are, however, specialized tools made just for unlocking Honda products with locks like ours. But you can't buy em at a parts store.
The keys are both high-security and transponder, meaning the locks are nearly impossible to pick and even if the igntion was turned it still won't crank without the transponder chip.
99.9% of the time I go out on a stolen and recovery the car was stolen with the keys. Either someone they knew or they left their car running at the store while they went inside to get their coffe.
Since I use mine for work I added a little button, hidden out of view, that has to be pressed in addition to having my foot on the brake to take it out of park. This way I can leave it running while I do my job and I don't have to worry about some jackass jumping in and driving off.
BTW If someone really wanted your car all they need is a tow truck. And I gotta go, got a call to run.
Pierre
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
