How to prevent thieves from driving your car

onemanmade · Apr 30, 2013

Im not sure If anyone knows of this, but whenever I have to park my car in an unfamiliar or dodgy looking area, I always remove the fuse for the fuel pump, it renders the car temporarily undriveable, and nothing they can do will make it start and run!

Easy to look up in your manual, 10 second job to locate and remove the fuse and keep it in your pocket, replace when you get back and drive off! Obviously wont stop people breaking into your car or stealing things out of it, but they certainly wont be able to take it anywhere.

Ziggy122 · Apr 30, 2013

disconnect crank sensor
press fuel cut off switch
take the steering like mr.bean

lots of simple ways to orevent them from taking car

onemanmade · Apr 30, 2013

Yes indeed, security is important, and another easy tip wont go amiss Im quite sure! If it stops one persons car getting nicked by googling how to, then it will be good

martwho · May 5, 2013

SO........................................................................................................What happens when you lose the fuse?:devil:

onemanmade · May 5, 2013

martwho said:
SO........................................................................................................What happens when you lose the fuse?:devil:

You keep spares in your wallet and clothes pockets, or go to asda or a supermarket or motorfactors lol

T14086 · May 5, 2013

Thief (assuming it's not a professional thief but a local ned) would smash the car up if it wouldn't start!

onemanmade · May 5, 2013

T14086 said:
Thief (assuming it's not a professional thief but a local ned) would smash the car up if it wouldn't start!

They would steal the car and likely smash it up if it did start, why give them the satisfaction of driving it?

Most Easterly Pandas · May 5, 2013

I find my immobiliser does a good enough job of cutting power to the fuel pump

onemanmade · May 5, 2013

T14086 said:
Thief (assuming it's not a professional thief but a local ned) would smash the car up if it wouldn't start!

car thiefs (unless they are getting classic or prestige cars like in gone in 60 seconds) are going to break your doors open, smash the steering column Cowling and break the ignition barrel at the very very least if they are stealing your car, if they are just stealing items out of it they will smash your windows or break open your doors, smash open your glovebox if you have a locking one, and rip your cd player out. if they intend to drive your car they are not going on a trip to asda to do their weekly shop and bringing it back with a full tank of fuel, they are going to joyride and probably crash your car.

the more noise you force them to make by putting security measures in your car (this drawing attention to themselves) and the longer you force them to be in one place attempting to steal your car by immobilizing it in any way possible including taking fuses out, the more likely it is that they will leave. Car thieves/neds don't want attention or to stay there long enough for anyone to notice them.

T14086 · May 6, 2013

onemanmade said:
car thiefs (unless they are getting classic or prestige cars like in gone in 60 seconds) are going to break your doors open, smash the steering column Cowling and break the ignition barrel at the very very least if they are stealing your car, if they are just stealing items out of it they will smash your windows or break open your doors, smash open your glovebox if you have a locking one, and rip your cd player out. if they intend to drive your car they are not going on a trip to asda to do their weekly shop and bringing it back with a full tank of fuel, they are going to joyride and probably crash your car.

the more noise you force them to make by putting security measures in your car (this drawing attention to themselves) and the longer you force them to be in one place attempting to steal your car by immobilizing it in any way possible including taking fuses out, the more likely it is that they will leave. Car thieves/neds don't want attention or to stay there long enough for anyone to notice them.

Put as much security as you want, leave a mobile/wallet/handbag/IPOD on the seat and it will get stolen plus cost you a new window. No alarm/immobiliser will stop the local ned (who is probably to smashed to drive anyway)....even a fiver left in the centre consul is asking for it!

onemanmade · May 6, 2013

T14086 said:
Put as much security as you want, leave a mobile/wallet/handbag/IPOD on the seat and it will get stolen plus cost you a new window. No alarm/immobiliser will stop the local ned (who is probably to smashed to drive anyway)....even a fiver left in the centre consul is asking for it!

I agree, i would never do any of those things, but thats beside the point im trying to make here, the title of this thread is how to stop thieves from driving your car, i posted a tip on how to do this. But i agree with what you are saying, you should (and i do) take every precaution to stop thieves from wanting to steal, and steal from, my car, and preventing them driving it.

Its just a pity that there are individuals in the world who get a kick out of taking other peoples property.

T14086 · May 6, 2013

To deter the opportunist I use a simple £2.99 red LED wired +30/+15 to ignition switch, opportunist won't take the risk (is it really alarmed or not) and will move to the next vehicle.

onemanmade · May 6, 2013

T14086 said:
To deter the opportunist I use a simple £2.99 red LED wired +30/+15 to ignition switch, opportunist won't take the risk (is it really alarmed or not) and will move to the next vehicle.

Good, another useful tip!

44sunsets · Jul 2, 2013

Pros would probably just use a truck and haul your car away. Either that or they'd steal your keys first.

Red Van Man · Jul 2, 2013

T14086 said:
To deter the opportunist I use a simple £2.99 red LED wired +30/+15 to ignition switch, opportunist won't take the risk (is it really alarmed or not) and will move to the next vehicle.

Interesting that there's no red indicator light anywhere inside to show an active alarm on the Fiorino - not sure if the Qubo has one but I imagine it's the same system.
I bought a flashing led powered by one C Cell so I'd better put that in to show off.. Spec says it will last c 3 years on a battery.

R-V-M

T14086 · Jul 2, 2013

you would need to keep on disconnecting the battery or fit a switch or it will be on all the time though?

Red Van Man · Jul 2, 2013

T14086 said:
you would need to keep on disconnecting the battery or fit a switch or it will be on all the time though?

Well you could I guess but at 3 years battery life and having to fit a switch (somewhere) and then remember to turn it on/off every time you get in/out of the car, I'd really just set and forget.
The whole bit only cost a couple of pounds and to have a flashing light saying 'Armed and Dangerous' it's money well spent and £1 on a battery every couple of years - well... (This one made by ARC UK, comes with battery cell holder and a led bezel/clip mount)

Try this for a cheap alternative - wires in directly to the car power supply then you don't need to worry about turning it on or off.

R-V-M

2668GRIFFIN · Jul 3, 2013

I have on mine
Its located in the middle up against the screen
Luigi

Red Van Man · Jul 5, 2013

2668GRIFFIN said:
I have on mine.
Its located in the middle up against the screen
Luigi

I noticed last night when I went to put the car away that I do have a flashing light. Not seen it before as it's usually garaged before dusk.

It's the 'Door Locked' light on that switch on the dash panel - rather out of the way, dim and not visible unless you peer into the cab to look. I still think my led will go on top of the mid-dashboard unit so it's visible through the windscreen. I'll need a resistor if I find a 12v supply too (guesswork now to see what value) since it's only a 1.5v LED - unless I can tap into the alarm wire powering the switch as that will probably be a 1.5v LED too.

R-V-M

Montypaks · Jul 5, 2013

Is all this in addition to the already available blinking led in the car?
I know the GP has a blinking LED when locked

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