Topic: Steering wheel locks & other security measures

[SteelyDon]

I was reading about car theft, and this:

The third step uses anti-theft hardware like steering wheel/brake pedal locks, steering wheel covers & shields, and armored steering column collars. They can all be custom-installed for your individual make and model. These items will stop most joy-riders, however experienced thieves can quickly render them useless.

Is that true?  Are there no fool-proof ways to lock up the car, protect it from thieves?

Thanks

[dr_spock]

Hire armed security guards to watch your car.

[The Mighty Duck]

Nope - if a thief is determined to get your car, they will.  It's a very simple matter to cut the steering wheel and remove a Club-type device.  Even the most complex anti-theft measures like immobilizers can be defeated by a flat-bed trailer (and it has certainly happened).

However, unless you're driving a car that is a target of chop shops (Acura Integra, Civic Si, etc.) or a heavily modified car, chances are no one is going to put in the time and energy to steel your ride.  A Club is a great deterrent - I've got one in my car.

[PJungnitsch]

The Ravelco system seems to have a good reputation:

http://www.ravelcocanada.com/

[tpl]

It looks to me as if that Ravelco system would be difficult to install and would require considerable knowledge of each separate car models wiring diagram to do correctly and of course it does not protect against a pro with a flatbed.... I see more and more breakdown truck companies with flatbeds now there are more AWD vehicles around.

[barrie1]

This appears to be a decent system the Ravelco and will help protect a vehicle against many different types of theft methods. I personally feel if the bleeding heart courts would really start doing something about this problem for once then it would also help all of us vehicle owners quite a bit with lower rates to begin with. Full Restitution for all of these cretins who steal or damage any or all vehilces when caught. The theives never pay but the Insurance Companies do and then we do again only much higher for being the victum. 

[SteelyDon]

I personally feel if the bleeding heart courts would really start doing something about this problem for once then it would also help all of us vehicle owners quite a bit with lower rates to begin with. Full Restitution for all of these cretins who steal or damage any or all vehilces when caught. The theives never pay but the Insurance Comapnies do and then we do again only much higher for being the victum. 

I agree.  Car theft should draw 5 years in prison.  Judges are useless.

[PJungnitsch]

Reading the paper this morning it looks like the efficiency of something like the Ravelco would depend on where you live. Apparently in the car-theft capital of Canada (Winnipeg) most thefts are for joy rides, so it should work well. In Vancouver however most thefts are for resale, so I'd guess it's more likely thieves there would flatbed the vehicle.

[tpl]

I personally feel if the bleeding heart courts would really start doing something about this problem for once then it would also help all of us vehicle owners quite a bit with lower rates to begin with. Full Restitution for all of these cretins who steal or damage any or all vehilces when caught. The theives never pay but the Insurance Comapnies do and then we do again only much higher for being the victum. 

I agree.  Car theft should draw 5 years in prison.  Judges are useless.

I don't want my taxes to go up 'cos every car thief is costing >$200,000 to keep in prison for 5 years. Sorry.

Maybe the Saudis have it right.... cut off a hand for theft.... except then you'd get some incredibly expensive government program for retraining one handed people as taxi drivers or something.

[xviper]

The Ravelco system seems to have a good reputation:

http://www.ravelcocanada.com/

This will not prevent the "yank it onto a flat bed and gone in less than 2 minutes" trick.  The Ravelco device is very similar to the "ProLock" of some years ago.  These were known to fail and leave the owner stranded in the middle of a parking lot.  What it does, is scramble the important wiring under your dash so that only the "key" can unscramble it.  For the expense and added hassle of this device, a smart and handy car owner can simply install one or two hidden "kill switches" that tap into the ignition wire, starter wire or fuel pump wire (of a modern day car).  There is no ultimate theft prevention system short of an armed guard watching it the whole time you're not there.  And even if you are there, ever hear of "car jackings"?
The best you can hope for is to use some care and attention on how and where you park it.  Visible deterrents are always a good idea against the punks and small time car thieves.  If a pro wants your car, it's gone.  Have insurance.
Hang a few car thieves like they did with horse thieves and maybe the rate of theft will go down.  But no, we're a nation of bleeding hearts.  Death sentence is too cruel.  Instead, we keep them in jail for a year or so at a cost of $100,000.00/year.  (Oops, getting side tracked here.)

[barrie1]

I belieive full restitution is the only answer there is to make these little cretins pay the whole damage bill for their misdeeds. The bleeding hearts don't want them in jail as it costs too much but what if they make it mandatory that they pay all of the damages to the courts who make sure the right folks get it back from the same account. There should be NO wheeling or dealing on the costs as the victums should receive totally fair value for their troubles. 

[rrocket]

I was reading about car theft, and this:

The third step uses anti-theft hardware like steering wheel/brake pedal locks, steering wheel covers & shields, and armored steering column collars. They can all be custom-installed for your individual make and model. These items will stop most joy-riders, however experienced thieves can quickly render them useless.

Is that true?  Are there no fool-proof ways to lock up the car, protect it from thieves?

Thanks

Yes.  Install a Ravelco.  Since it's been on the market, (25+ years) not a single vehicle has been stolen with it.