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Car Security

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Coastalman

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Hi guys,
I just got my car back from the paint shop. She is looking good and I am planning some overnight trips soon. Having seen the prices the Healey 3000s are going for lately I am worried about the car being stolen while parked at a hotel or anywhere. It seems like a nice looking car like the 3000 would be a good target for car thieves. What is a good way to prevent our cars from being stolen while on road trips?
Charlie
 
I added a second fuel pump inline and added a hidden 3 position toggle switch (on-off-on) under the dash. This gives me a redundant pump and a cut-off. If your really paranoid take the rotor off and put it in your pocket.

Some will use a steering wheel "Club".

Also turn off the ignition coil disabler in the trunk.

These will keep the deliquents from joy riding.

If your up against professionals they will just winch it onto a flatbed or into an enclosed trailer.

Park where you can see it, park it in, keep your garage door closed. Avoid Oakland Calif. :smile:
 
BH, The Club is worthless, because all you have to do is unbolt the pedal from the arm. Put the rotor in your pocket and hope en pray they not Pros.--Fwiw--Keoke
 
Coastalman said:
Hi guys,
I just got my car back from the paint shop. She is looking good and I am planning some overnight trips soon. Having seen the prices the Healey 3000s are going for lately I am worried about the car being stolen while parked at a hotel or anywhere. It seems like a nice looking car like the 3000 would be a good target for car thieves. What is a good way to prevent our cars from being stolen while on road trips?
Charlie
Click to expand...

There's an article in the upcoming May issue of Healey Marque on the related subject of security while the car is at home, based upon the experience of an owner who had his Healey stolen out of his own garage.

However, my favorite security measure while on the road with overnight stops is to remove one wheel and take it into the motel room with me. Throw a cover over the car to help mask just what it is, but leave the one corner of the cover rolled up to expose the wheel-less corner sitting there on a jack stand.

Who would want a three-wheeled car that is obviously giving the owner trouble, and they can't even see what the car really is anyway? Probably an excellent deterrent for the casual, spontaneous thief. Almost nothing will stop a real pro thief, but again, it's a matter of making your car look less attractive as an object of theft.

"When you're lost and helpless deep in the forest, try not to look like food."
 
No body would want a three wheeled car. But it sure give some the idea to take the other three!---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
 
GregW said:
What about the spare in the trunk?
Click to expand...


Now he got four! Greg. --- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/winner1.gif En the Bloody Jack too!---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
GregW said:
What about the spare in the trunk?
Click to expand...

I guess we'll have to mention at the beginning of every post in this thread that no system is absolutely perfect. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

Most people don't keep a spare knock-off in the trunk.

Most car thieves don't carry jacks.

Most wheel thieves don't carry knock-off hammers.

Why I gotta tell you all dis? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
 
I put an additional hidden keyed switch on the power to the fuel pump. I have a wheel lock that goes around the tire kind of like a Denver Boot. A steering wheel club. And the standard trunk cut off. Locked car cover. (I'm trying to think of a way to lock the gear shifter in reverse)All this wont stop a pro with a steel to order agenda but it might make him go to the next Healey (yours?) instead of mine. They can drag a car onto a trailer and be gone. Doing something is better than doing nothing. I'm insured but would any of us want to start all over if out baby's were stolen? They may no;t even want to steel it. It may be stripped of its parts in 3 minutes by the pros. Its a crappy world we live in.
 
Editor_Reid said:
Why I gotta tell you all dis? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
Click to expand...
I dunno, I guess if my car was stolen, I'd rather have a rotor in my pocket than a tire in my hotel room. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
GregW said:
Editor_Reid said:
Why I gotta tell you all dis? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
Click to expand...
I dunno, I guess if my car was stolen, I'd rather have a rotor in my pocket than a tire in my hotel room. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Click to expand...

Aw, shucks, I'd take the wheel. Rotors are cheap. Have you priced wheels and tires lately? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
Oh yes, my 16 x 6 rims were a pretty penny. I just wouldn’t want to lug that thing home. Kind of insult to injury. Maybe this is the best reason to switch to negative ground, so a modern alarm could be installed. I think Victoria British sells a positive ground unit, but tracking devices such as Lo-jack are all neg. ground I believe.

P.S. I agree that most people wouldn’t have a spare knock-off in the trunk (boot). I guess to cover all bases, you’d need one for each side.
 
Editor_Reid said:
GregW said:
What about the spare in the trunk?
Click to expand...

I guess we'll have to mention at the beginning of every post in this thread that no system is absolutely perfect. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif---Thats true ER, Were just funnin a bit----Keoke

Most people don't keep a spare knock-off in the trunk.---Keoke do. It be fine thread so it don;t fit-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/yesnod.gif

Most car thieves don't carry jacks. ----But you left him yours!

Most wheel thieves don't carry knock-off hammers.-----But he got that along with the Spare!

Why I gotta tell you all dis? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
Click to expand...

Keoke----------------- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
I just thought of one that might work. How about a steel cable run through the spokes of two or more wheels and locked with a strong lock. Has anyone tried that?
Charlie
 
Bugeye58 said:
Marvelous invention, boltcutters.
Jeff
Click to expand...



Yep---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif

Nope Charlie, won't pass muster. The thieves carry boltcutters in their hip pockets.
 
Listen, a close friend lost a new Porsche 911 Cab with an activated Clifford alarm and an electronic fuel cutoff system. It also had a Lojack. The car was taken in bright daylight in a movie theater parking lot and never recovered. If they want it, they'll get it.

What you have to remember is that pros know that classic cars like Healeys are tough to sell quickly. Invariably most are registered and parts numbers can be traced. They can make a whole lot more money safely by stealing Mustangs and Honda Accords.

I use The CLUB and turn the battery off in the trunk. That discourages the casual punk just looking for a joy ride. I cover the car if I'm out overnight. At a hotel I park the car in the front of the hotel in the covered area reserved for check ins. A $20 bill always secures a spot there. Mostly, I think carefully before I park. If you lose it, well, that's what insurance is for.
Randy
'66 BJ8, '68 E-type OTS
 
Yes those are some usable techniques, But you know what will draw the punk thief is an expensive car cover,its easy to get $25/30 bucks for one.---Keoke
 
Charlie -

Five things:

1) turn your wheels full lock and then put on a steering wheel bar. preferably do the steering full lock where the car will roll into a post or concrete wall if towed out with a winch

2) turn off the battery master switch... ALWAYS.... and lock the boot. Most people who are not familiar with healeys have no idea there's a battery switch in the boot. (Someone tried to bump start my BJ8 in 1986 in Berkeley... they didn't get anywhere! I found my car down the street.)

3) for extra measure remove the rotor in the distributor. No one will ever figure this out.

4) Leave the top down (provided the car is covered, of course). Nothing tells theives that there's nothing to steal here than a car that's wide open. If you have a BJ8 leave the glove box unlocked... just don't leave anything valuable in there. Let the punks rifle through your glovebox... better than having them ripping your top to get in the car (as has happened to me) to discover nothing is there.

5) Make sure your car is registered with one of the Austin Healey registries... this is good protection for you... to have the healey community on the lookout for you.

Cheers!
 
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