Car break-ins - need advice

[daveleau]

Our neighborhood has had a rash of break-ins. 3 months ago, 7 cars in my apartment complex were broken into via smash and grabs (breaking windows). This included my Cherokee which had my stereo, amp and speakers stolen. A month later, my 87 Cherokee was rifled through but nothing was taken. A month later, my Cherokee had a ] highlift jack and some jack stands stolen out of my Cherokee. This morning, a much newer (2003) Cherokee was broken into in front of our apt. Another cars rims were foiled somehow in an attempt to be stolen. Someone attempted to get into an occupied apt.

First off, for home defense, I am covered. No worries there. My need is to determine a way to protect our vehicles. I know the obvious choice is an alarm, but I know those can be disabled and stolen as well and can be an extreme annoyance. I plan to talk to my apt manager today to see what steps can be taken. Moving is not an option right now because of funds, time and the lease. Does anyone have any good ideas for vehicle defense...that are legal? People have mentioned lining the bottom of the radio with razor blades (JB Weld them to the radio and amp's underside) and have mentioned using my home defense (firearms) to deter crime, but neither is legal.

Please do not turn this into a gun thread. That is not the intent and I need help from some people who can think outside the box.

Thanks and have a great weekend.
Dave

[Pexster]

Maybe put in your own surveillance camera and you can catch the perps? I'm guessing that this is one or two guys -- get them and the problem will go away (at least for a while). Do you have an assigned space?

[Sweet]

What a pain! I hate to hear about bad things happening to good people.

...What about the owner/management of the area. Can they provide additional security personnel or cameras. How about the local police, can they patrol more often since this seems to be a hot spot? Community organizations to lend a hand? What about writing your local gov't, the mayor, congressmen and ask what they might be able to do to help?

As far as the car goes, some other people can help more on this...

Hope you can figure this out....

[mad1]

How about setting up a type of nighborhood watch, not the vigilantee type either. Locate people of different work schedules so there is someone at all times. My suggestions is to have someone presence at all times, walk around and look at things(no chasng or confrontation of crinimals, use cellphone to call police).Hopefully the perps will notice the constant presence and decide the risk is too great. There have been some that carry a video camera and tape any situation that arrises, seems to work very good and police are receptive to this form of neghborhood watch.
Have you tried to ask the police to increase patrols in the area?
I had this situation with someone going thru a vehicle where I used to live. The police had two persons assigned to the area and gave me there pager and cell phone number to call in the future, doesn,t do much unless you witness them in the act.

Good luck!

[Chuckiechan]

By all means get an alarm. Sure it can be beat, but it can't be beat by everyone.

Smash & Grab is usually a sign of a drug addict, and they aren't likely to beat anything but feet! The stuff they are stealing sounds like they have a vehicle around to cart if off in or they live there. Depending on how many exits you have, a surveillance camera should be pointed to see who is going out when an alarm goes off. Give the police the tapes. You'll have video with a license number, and/or the car, and/or the perps. Give these tapes to the police.

Demand this of the landlord!

[John Prophet]

Id go all out with the video idea...make sure whoever stole from me was caught on video...also the license plate on their vehicle. The video could run from , say, midnite to 5 am maybe...cuz I suppose thats the hours they may strike.

I hate thieves....not much lower than blatant purposeful stealing.

JP

[MDS]

wireless cams are nice in this situation. They work up-to a 100' from the receiver.

[Mr. Goodbytes]

I have always wondered why booby traps in places people obviously shouldn't be are illegal. Using JBweld to put razors on the bottom seems perfectly legit to me, as long as you remove them before selling the cherokee. It's not like they would be in a place where someone could accidentally stumble upon them. I do like the camera idea. If you got a car alarm, make sure to get one with ignition lockout and to have it wired so it's next to impossible to find. And if you have the valet switch installed, hide that too, not just under the dash where everyone else puts it.

If you're worried about the entire vehicle being stolen, I'd recommend either getting a fuel line cut-off switch or an MSD ignition system (much more costly). The MSD ignitions have RPM limiter chips that can be changed (3K, 5K, 7K, etc), but when one is not inserted, the vehicle is impossible to start.

[Prison Kids]

Go to the humane Society, and save a dog. Put him on a long chain at night. Attach one end of the chain to your jeep.

They won't disable these alarms.

[joker_927]

Nice idea there Pison Kids.

And why would razor blades be illegal? What law says that?