Security measures

Is it on a drive or on the road? I just block the entrance to the drive with a random car parked at an awkward angle so that a spec can't get under the wheels. Although this is a bit specialised. Apart from that get a digi motion sensor security cam set up and hook it up to your pc. So at least you can see who nicked it even if it doesn't prevent it. Unless it's parked on da street, then ignore all of that.

Putting a clamp on it might be a simple solution.

i just got a gear lever lock. not great really, i reckon 2 mins with a power drill on the hinge and it would be off. The main point for me is to make it not worth it for you average run of the mill scum. I'm hoping given the choice between a capri with an alarm and a gear lever lock, and another car with out, the everyday thief on the street will choose the other car. If someone really wants a car no security measure will stop them (within reason)

True.

So, I am thinking a disc lock at the very least, plus probably some immobiliser device somewhere. Car alarms are totally useless. Tracking devices seem like a good idea to me but I doubt I could afford one right now. Maybe soon.

Thanks, guys. ;D

"I'm"

Practical classics or someone did a test on steering lock things ages ago. Most of the ones which go from the wheel to the clutch pedal wewre easy to defeat (by bending the wheel down slightly. However there was one design which worked well, I can't recall the name of it but it was like a really heavy duty krooklok. I used these on a couple of cars. I still have a couple but I dunno where the keys are now... Real heavy duty stuff. I don;t think they are made any more.

The sort that go through the wheel are supposed to be OKish.

The big round Disclok or whatever its called is supposed to be good, IIRC it has Thatcham approval but its rather dependant on the size of your steering wheel...

The sort that go from the handbrake to the gear lever (Autolok?) used to have an OK reputation but I am told the can be forced off on some cars pretty easy.

There are a bunch of options...

1. a secret switch. Wire it into the LT circuit on the coil and the engine will never fire unless the switch is turned on. Or someone bypasses it. On an old car it might be mistaken for "the damn thing just won't start". People sell kits or just wire it in to a spare switch on the dash.

2. fuel cut off switch - offered for sale in most of the classic mags. Car will run for a bit and then die. Again may be considered "stupid old car broke down"

3. a proper alarm/immobiliser. Start from £30 or so. You get what you pay for. I think the shock / tilt sensors are worth having. If someone is jumping on your car it goes off, if someone tries to jack it up or wich it or load it with a hiab, the alarm goes off. Stick to decent brands though. Some good deals out there. The better alarms are for professional fit only, come with no instructions even if you can buy one off eBay or whatever and all the wires are black not colour coded for security.

4. Removable steering wheel - some companies do a quick release hubs. PITA to remove every time but ideal for being parked up at home.

5. "dis-car-nect" - not tried it but looks like its easy to overcome as soon as you open the bonnet its pretty obvious.

6. remove HT lead etc etc. A bit of a PITA to do on a regular basis but when I go on holiday or whatever I generally remove the king lead and or the rotor arm from anything on the driveway.

7. deadlocks. Hykee do (or did?) a replacement lock set for many classic cars - about £70 or so last I asked. Thats for three locks (inc. boot/tailgate). Converts to modern style seciure key not the old school style which are "any key will do". Cosmic used to do an add-on deadlock and I sweat they saved my Mk3 Cortina 2 door from being done over or nicked about 5 or 6 times. Means drilling through the panels but better than losing the car... Not sure if they still sell them?

8. Careful parking... Obvious stuff but park in well lit observed areas, car parks with CCTV, whatever. I always try parking near more desirable cars in the hope that a thief will target them not mine. Not sure if that psychology works.

9. Security Film. Its like the tinted glass film but clear. Means that when some oik breaks your window all the glass stays together stuckon an untearable film so they can't get in. Nice. However, I saw some folks trapped in a burning Punto on the M1 and the cops were trying to smash the windows with a hammer to get them out and the car obviously had security film on the windows because they couldn;t get through... and then the fire got worse and the cops ran for it.... Not a nice way to go out, gotta hope the smoke got them first...

10. disconnect the locking pins. This stops people getting in with a "jacker bar" or coat hanger or whatever. Also means you cannot lock the doors from the inside or without a key. You need to remove the cross link, noit just remove it from the lock pin or it can still be "fished" for.

11. Quarterlight clamps. In the old days you could buy clamps to secure the quarterlights on cars like Morris Minors etc who have opening ones. If you have something like a Cortina Mk3 2 door GXL which has swing-open rear side windows (some Minis did as well, probablyloads of other 2 door cars did) these are really not secure and the best thing is to "down grade" them to the fixed type windows on the basic models.

12. Hide your stuff. Most car thieves are oportunists and I have had a car broken into for a pack of cigareetes before. Hide everything. If you have GPS or whatever in the car either remove the mounting brakets when not in the car or use some kind of discrete mounting system. Nothing says "there may be a GPS in the glovebox" more than the mounts all there and wires dangling down. Mount headunits right under the dash or in a glovebox or behind a facia or something and keep the stock povo AM only radio in the dash as a red herring.

13. if you have a loud sound system don't play it loud near where you live or where you park up for work / all day shopping. Just draws unwanted attention to the car.

14. Locking wheel nuts. Stop people nicking your wheels. Like it says on the tin really.

15. re-enforce the handle area! Severe but this is what the OEMs did on some later cars. If you can get access to get in weld a fairly thick plate behind the panel 3mm or 4mm steel FTW. This will preevnt people doing what they did to my Capri - jam a screwdriver through the door skin and ping the lock up that way!

16. Lock your car behind gates, post, whatever when its at home. But beware - solid full height gates allow thieves to operate unobserved if they scale them...

17. Security lighting. Does PIR really scare off thieves or provide light for them to work by?

18. Gravel driveways.In quiet neighbourhoods at least gravel driveways put thieves off as they can be heard "crunching about" on the gravel and sound travels at night... Neighbourhood Watch tip that one...

19. No net coverage... If your car has a stock appearance but if full of expensive audio or has a turbo V8 hiding under the stock looking bonnet - don;t post pics showing the registration number and your location on the internet. I have heard that thieves have tracked down speciifc cars this way... (admittedly the only "live" ones I've sen have been on US forums) But anonymity is stealth is safety here...

20. Valet mode - if you take your car to be worked on anywhere, or leave it in attended parkig or whatever, don;t give them the key with the alarm fob / master key / or give any details of security to them. I remember a guy in the CCI when I was a member had taken his Capri 2.8i Brookland to a local garage for an MOT and left it with them and explained the security to them. The day after this is was nicked, and no sign of damage. Turned out one of the MOT statiin staff had cloned the alarm fob, keys and everything and came back the following night and helped himself.

21. If you fit an expensive Clifford alarm, put Toad Alarm stickers on the car not the Clifford ones... No point in giving a thief any tips about what brand of security you have.

christ AK - slow at work this afternoon? ;D good post!!

i never get those red cut off switches - if you want a hidden cut off switch a bright red rubber toggle is hardly subtle!
there was talk on here about using 'dummy' switches in place of the blanks on povo spec cars. thats a great idea. hidden and clever cut offs are a great idea!

course, yes, i forgot some of them are removable! you're still left with a red 'hole' though! (hehe)

That is a mega post AK! jeez! I like the gravel drive one, never thought of that. and install magic switches under gravel too that operate lights and horns on your land!

I have a crappy stop lock, however this is on a near worthless, less obvious car, thats got an alarm, that I would not miss too much, and every visual deterent helps, keeps the opportunists away. a more comprehensive thatcham lock, like I have on other cars would be a better deterent too! better to give a warning that you are security concious, than wait for em to try, and find out its got security!

How about wheel/trye clamp? thinking of getting one for projects and when i have to take prized projects out of garage. any recccomendations?

I've got a steering wheel lock (half-disc) on my 2CV - with the aim to prevent low-lives from having a joy ride (I know, in a 2CV!). If someone REALLY wants your car, there isn't much you can do. I just aim to prevent a quick steal.

Having a key or cut-out somewhere is a very crafty and simple plan to also stop it being nicked for fun. Just don't put it somewhere obvious.

Grow straveller bushes around ya fences to make climbing in harder.

Didn't someone on here also mention a while back a lad with a Escort RST who had screwed a steel eye into his drive to chain his car to when he left it.

PITA to carry out but something like that might work through drain grates at the side of the road.