With all these S4 thefts going on..

[spinny]

I think we should all take precautions to making our S4's allot more difficult to be stolen.

As most of you know, it takes a flat head screw driver and about 30 seconds to steal one.

But it doesn't take much longer to make it harder.

I also think it's smarter to NOT DISCUSS PUBLICLY ways to disable the S4's.
Car Thieves are getting smarter, and may be trolling the boards.

If you need ideas, PM someone. PM Me if you want, I can point you in the right direction.

Good luck and keep the S4's safe guys!

[WMi_S4]

Man, these hoodlums here in GR would take half a day to break into my car.....and they would end up breaking the window w/ a rock or some shit!

[Evilevo]

hidden ignition cut switch FTW. Tho i never use it. I used it once and than wondered why my car wouldnt start cause i forgot to turn it off :(

[DEB5S4]

GIAC flashloader with the Kill program...

[Dr.Duct]

you act like this is new?? I see your a new member, but if anything s4 thefts are down..

the 00, and 01 were in the top 10 stolen car list up until, I THINK last year. 2 or so years ago it was worse.

[Evilevo]

GIAC flashloader with the Kill program...

Again, had that. Never used it. Doesnt help if you keep the flashloader in the car either.

[Dr.Duct]

Again, had that. Never used it. Doesnt help if you keep the flashloader in the car either.

just get full coverage and let them take the damn thing.. lol buy another one. Insurance will prolly give people more then someone would pay for it.

In the end, its just a car. I would prolly die if mine was stolen with all of the work and time I spent on it, but ive come to realize alot lately (especially after wrecking my bike) that their are far greater things to worry about then a stupid car.. Just me though

[Evilevo]

just get full coverage and let them take the damn thing.. lol buy another one. Insurance will prolly give people more then someone would pay for it.

LOL, my thoughts exactly. If someone wants it THAT bad, take it. Ill take the money and move on

[Dr.Duct]

LOL, my thoughts exactly. If someone wants it THAT bad, take it. Ill take the money and move on

Plus your car is a ragged out hooker, haha. MNany many miles.. wanna trade engines?? : ) NOTTTTTTTT.

I think im going to be taking off the entire first week of january to tighten some bolts on my bonnet, and give her a fresh paint bath. Gotta tell you some of my newest things when we speak.

[Evilevo]

Plus your car is a ragged out hooker, haha. MNany many miles.. wanna trade engines?? : ) NOTTTTTTTT.

I think im going to be taking off the entire first week of january to tighten some bolts on my bonnet, and give her a fresh paint bath. Gotta tell you some of my newest things when we speak.

LOL, ok. BTW i didnt want your engine, just the Casa exterior ;)

[spinny]

I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather not have my car stolen.

Aside from insurance rates going up, I'd never get back what I have into the car.

GIAC flashloader.. not too hard for thieves to buy one of these and switch your car into another mode.

Dr.Duct, I'm not acting like it's new, but it seems to be happening very often. Just trying to help out some fellow members.

[CruzS4]

I agree with both of you guys. cars are just cars and the possibility of theft is why we pay absurd insurance premiums, however i'm going to be really fucking pissed if mine gets stolen because i doubt i'd be able to find one in such good condition and mileage, *knocks vigorously on wood*. on a side note the previous owner had lo-jack installed, but like others have said, it doesn't prevent the theft of the car, it just expedites the recovery of your raped/stripped wreckage

[Dr. Jekyll]

I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather not have my car stolen.

Aside from insurance rates going up, I'd never get back what I have into the car.

GIAC flashloader.. not too hard for thieves to buy one of these and switch your car into another mode.

Dr.Duct, I'm not acting like it's new, but it seems to be happening very often. Just trying to help out some fellow members.

Most of the theives aren't very sophisticated. Nor do they have a lot of money. So if they can't break into your car with a screwdriver, they are likely to just leave it. So simple security measures will work to prevent most of the thefts. And you don't have to worry about them having a GIAC flashloader... if they had enough money and were smart enough to buy one, they wouldn't be stealing cars. This isn't gone in 60 seconds... it's an impulsive crime of opportunity. Not a well thought out plan.

And I'm not saying this because I'm generalizing, I'm speaking from experience. When mine was stolen in New Brunswick, NJ and recovered in Irvington, NJ, it was taken by 15-16 year olds. Most of the time the cars are joyridden, trashed and then dumped. The tow yard worker said he saw my car being driven around Irvington by 15-16 year old kids, showing it off. He said he knew it would end up smashed up or stripped(the area is full of chop shops).

I was just one of the few lucky ones to have theirs stripped. Most are recovered smashed up and beat on, but intact. Personally, I'm lucky mine ended up the way it is. I'm not sure I'd want it back after it's raped like that... too many lingering problems to deal with.

[Dimcorner]

I'm thinking of running up a kill switch of some sort to the window lock button.

Haven't really decided where I want to put it, but I do want it accessible.

[MacDaddy]

I park under street lights, near walking areas, etc. a visable and/or high traffic location is the last place a car thief will steal from. its not worth the effort or chance when someone has parked their car in the dim lit corner of the same lot (because someone always does).

If for whatever reason i can't do the above, and the car happens to be a bit cluttered, i put all the junk in the trunk where it can't be seen, a cluttered car usually has something of value amongst all the junk, someone who keeps their car clean on the inside tends not to leave change in the car. in extreme cases, take everything out of the glovebox and leave it open.

you may have something of value in the trunk, but a car their will move on to the car that he knows has something good in it (because he can see it) rather than go through all the effort of breaking into your trunk and hoping he finds something

[infinkc]

anyone think of installing one of these? http://www.megatronixusa.com/Merchan...y_Code=IMMOBIL

pretty much what audi left out on our cars.

[Bimmerchop]

I have APR's anti-theft lock out setting on my ecu... how effective is this?

[spinny]

Most of the theives aren't very sophisticated. Nor do they have a lot of money. So if they can't break into your car with a screwdriver, they are likely to just leave it. So simple security measures will work to prevent most of the thefts. And you don't have to worry about them having a GIAC flashloader... if they had enough money and were smart enough to buy one, they wouldn't be stealing cars. This isn't gone in 60 seconds... it's an impulsive crime of opportunity. Not a well thought out plan.

And I'm not saying this because I'm generalizing, I'm speaking from experience. When mine was stolen in New Brunswick, NJ and recovered in Irvington, NJ, it was taken by 15-16 year olds. Most of the time the cars are joyridden, trashed and then dumped. The tow yard worker said he saw my car being driven around Irvington by 15-16 year old kids, showing it off. He said he knew it would end up smashed up or stripped(the area is full of chop shops).

I was just one of the few lucky ones to have theirs stripped. Most are recovered smashed up and beat on, but intact. Personally, I'm lucky mine ended up the way it is. I'm not sure I'd want it back after it's raped like that... too many lingering problems to deal with.

Then there's the professional car thief. It is a business, and chop-shops to exist - especially in this
area.

Granted most of them probably don't want our cars ;)

[Dr. Jekyll]

I park under street lights, near walking areas, etc. a visable and/or high traffic location is the last place a car thief will steal from. its not worth the effort or chance when someone has parked their car in the dim lit corner of the same lot (because someone always does).

If for whatever reason i can't do the above, and the car happens to be a bit cluttered, i put all the junk in the trunk where it can't be seen, a cluttered car usually has something of value amongst all the junk, someone who keeps their car clean on the inside tends not to leave change in the car. in extreme cases, take everything out of the glovebox and leave it open.

you may have something of value in the trunk, but a car their will move on to the car that he knows has something good in it (because he can see it) rather than go through all the effort of breaking into your trunk and hoping he finds something

My car was stolen in broad day light, in a crowded hotel parking lot. The hotel was a "suits" type hotel that had stairs on the outside of the building. So anyone going into, or out of their room could looks down into the parking lot. Yet my car and 3 others were stolen.

Oh and did I mention there was a cop ticketing cars in that lot, right before mine was stolen?

It's obviously good park in light areas... but take other, mechanical, safety measure to ensure your car wont be stolen.

[CONTROL ONE]

A lot of people just run a simple kill switch to the negative terminal of their battery. However retyping my stereo code everytime I start my car would get a little exhausting.

[md s4]

forget all those devices that supposed to do this and that to make your car theft proof.. instead if your that worried that your car is going to be stolen then just take your ecu with you when you park.. it takes me about 30 seconds from the time i pop my hood until the hood is shut, ( of course I leave the ecu cover unbolted to make it faster ) but then again,if they want your car that bad, they could of course just use a tow truck..

[gunchs4]

APR software with lockout and anti-theft, can't even start the car with the key.

[Evilevo]

forget all those devices that supposed to do this and that to make your car theft proof.. instead if your that worried that your car is going to be stolen then just take your ecu with you when you park.. it takes me about 30 seconds from the time i pop my hood until the hood is shut, ( of course I leave the ecu cover unbolted to make it faster ) but then again,if they want your car that bad, they could of course just use a tow truck..

LOL true.

[badbiturbo]

forget all those devices that supposed to do this and that to make your car theft proof.. instead if your that worried that your car is going to be stolen then just take your ecu with you when you park.. it takes me about 30 seconds from the time i pop my hood until the hood is shut, ( of course I leave the ecu cover unbolted to make it faster ) but then again,if they want your car that bad, they could of course just use a tow truck..

they usually dont wan our b5 s4's that bad, usually high dollar cars.

[RolledMySTi]

I think the most important thing is don't live anywhere near Jersey.

[S4_NE]

I think the most important thing is don't live anywhere near Jersey.

LOL true that or in the tristae area to boot, I won't leave mine in NJ if I don't have to, my friend A4 ( B5) was stolen in Newark, he left it to run into a building and 3 min later it was gone. wrong place wrong time i guess, just be carfull and put a kill device in it, it will stop a wood be theif from a joy ride, but a pro wants it they will just flat bed it.

[SLC_S4]

I have APR's anti-theft lock out setting on my ecu... how effective is this?

If you have it activated, it's very effective. The car won't start. I've had mechanics that have disconnected my battery and then after reconnecting it can't figure out why the car won't start.

[djwimbo]

Are you guys having the cars started and driven away, or picked up on a hauler?
What's the deal on the immobilizers? or didn't the 00-01's have them?

... Theft proofing 101, detachable steering wheel. If you can't steer, I don't care if you start the car.

[Muck_and_Grind]

Are you guys having the cars started and driven away, or picked up on a hauler?
What's the deal on the immobilizers? or didn't the 00-01's have them?

... Theft proofing 101, detachable steering wheel. If you can't steer, I don't care if you start the car.

vice grips can steer a car or even channel locks

[slmds4]

My precautions: Stay out of jersey

[tike0rz]

I've got the Viper 5900 with all the bells and whistles. I sleep well at night, and park my car in Camden, NJ 75% of the week. It paid for itself within the first week of ownership.

[CruzS4]

I've got the Viper 5900 with all the bells and whistles. I sleep well at night, and park my car in Camden, NJ 75% of the week. It paid for itself within the first week of ownership.

why, was there a theft attempt that week?

[Tea Mandy]

As a alarm installer, I don't think they are really the best at keeping the vehicle from being stolen. It certainly works well as a deterrent, however they usually are not too hard to get around. From a alarm I will be putting in a backup battery and a long range two-way unit. I will also be putting in a piezo siren inside the vehicle to make it very uncomfortable for anyone to be in there.

The immobilizers I have used seem to be much tougher to get around, so I plan to use one of these as well. After reading this I may use a combination of a electric unit as well as a more mechanical backup like the kill switches you talk about.

[Bimmerchop]

If you have it activated, it's very effective. The car won't start. I've had mechanics that have disconnected my battery and then after reconnecting it can't figure out why the car won't start.

Yea, I have it activated. Happened to me a few weeks ago when I disconnected the battery to install my DICE kit. I didn't realize that disconnecting the batter would automatically trigger the anti-theft lock on the ecu. Went to go start the car and nothing haha

[CruzS4]

I will also be putting in a piezo siren inside the vehicle to make it very uncomfortable for anyone to be in there.

that's incredible. stellar idea

[TPC303]

I have a breathalizer does that count?

[A4 Meets 27t]

Cant believe no one said lo jack yet. Worst case at least you get it back sometime, in case you don't know its stolen till the next morning, yes by then the motor may be gone, but its better than nothing.

[x X CLoud X x]

since my poor car is parked outside due to me having a steep driveway what i do have is a cutoff switch, club, auto-lock (locks clutch), and i removed an ecu fuse

but if a Thief really wants your car nothing is going to prevent them from taking it, but these few small things can delay the process and the only way there stealing this is if they Flat Bed it


ps- lojack is pretty much useless, i had one in my previous car and in order for cops to track your car w/ the lojack they have to be around a certain perimeter in order for it to work but like most good thieves they'll have your car in pieces before cops even get there

[SilverStr33k]

i just looked at nhtsa website, we were number 43 for 2001 with 72 thefts, lol the nsx beat us at number 22, with only one theft due to low production numbers, honestly i dont look at my car as being that vulnerable especially because more suzuki esteems were stolen, lol, if your that woprried, just buy a nice alarm with a fuel cut switch