Preventing stolen car

Why has no one mentioned the obvious solution? Just hide an old Android phone or iPhone in the car as a tracker. Standby times are great on most smartphones, so they only need charging once a week. Just make sure mobile data is enabled and that some airtime is available. Find my iPhone is free for all iPhones, and Cerberus is probably the best Android tracking app.
 
Bryn26 said:
Why has no one mentioned the obvious solution? Just hide an old Android phone or iPhone in the car as a tracker. Standby times are great on most smartphones, so they only need charging once a week. Just make sure mobile data is enabled and that some airtime is available. Find my iPhone is free for all iPhones, and Cerberus is probably the best Android tracking app.
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So with your stolen car you are also wanting to donate a cellphone? How nice of you!

Just don't buy the car highest on the thief's list and still get an immobiliser. I have a 2004 Opel Corsa, nobody has ever tried stealing that... (touch wood)
 
Like others have said, don't buy a car that tsotsis love.
 
louispires said:
So with your stolen car you are also wanting to donate a cellphone? How nice of you!

Just don't buy the car highest on the thief's list and still get an immobiliser. I have a 2004 Opel Corsa, nobody has ever tried stealing that... (touch wood)
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Except that the phone is used to track and recover the vehicle.
 
josh_lister said:
Hi, I recently had my 2006 Toyota Yaris stolen in Hatfield Pretoria, which sucked. Now I'm about to buy myself a VW Polo 2012 (1.6 comfortline). I'd like to know how to minimise the risks of getting this one stolen, I just can't afford that happening again. Would the aftermarket immobilisers/alarms do the job? Or are they merely a deterrent? I don't mind paying a bit of money to keep the car as safe as possible, so any suggestions?

Thanks
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So... you're going from one high risk vehicle to another? Toyota's (especially Hilux, Fortuners, Quantums) and VW (Polo's) are the highest risk vehicles i.r.t. thefts and hijackings. I would know as I work in the tracking industry.
 
kianm said:
Wonder if trackers are worth it, just another security feature
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What most people don't realise is, having a tracking device fitted, it's not 100% guaranteed that the tracking company would be able to recover your vehicle. It is merely there to MINIMIZE the risk of loss. When dealing with a syndicate, your tracking device would be removed even before you knew your car is missing in any case.
 
Bryn26 said:
Why has no one mentioned the obvious solution? Just hide an old Android phone or iPhone in the car as a tracker. Standby times are great on most smartphones, so they only need charging once a week. Just make sure mobile data is enabled and that some airtime is available. Find my iPhone is free for all iPhones, and Cerberus is probably the best Android tracking app.
Click to expand...

OP was asking how to prevent theft. Not recover something stolen. Your solution is the latter - best case.

For such a thing to be of use, GPS would have to be on all the time. LBS based locating isn't accurate enough IMO. Assuming GPS was on, it would chow battery. Which means you'd have to have it plugged in.

That solution would just be a waste of a good backup phone.
 
mr_norris said:
OP was asking how to prevent theft. Not recover something stolen. Your solution is the latter - best case.

For such a thing to be of use, GPS would have to be on all the time. LBS based locating isn't accurate enough IMO. Assuming GPS was on, it would chow battery. Which means you'd have to have it plugged in.

That solution would just be a waste of a good backup phone.
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The myxperia function on Sonys is acceptably accurate, with GPS off. I think it temporarily switches it on when the location is requested. It showed me where in my office block the phone is, not just an estimate. Thats a pretty good idea in my opinion. You cant prevent a VW from getting stolen without making Hollywood-like modifications. There is no system that can protect you from a gun pointed at your head... well except bulletproof glass, which would be ridiculous on a polo
 
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mr_norris said:
OP was asking how to prevent theft. Not recover something stolen. Your solution is the latter - best case.

For such a thing to be of use, GPS would have to be on all the time. LBS based locating isn't accurate enough IMO. Assuming GPS was on, it would chow battery. Which means you'd have to have it plugged in.

That solution would just be a waste of a good backup phone.
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What? You don't even need GPS to be on - it enables automatically when you connect remotely. It's not there to track the car permanently, but for when it's stolen.
 
Install multiple tracking units.
 
Install another switch between the starter motor and the battery, which is hidden in the car (under dash, in cubby or so).
 
Joeboy69 said:
Install another switch between the starter motor and the battery, which is hidden in the car (under dash, in cubby or so).
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Lol really.

Ok you want to install your switch on the ignition line running to the coil. Ohh snap no such thing in a polo? Computerised?

Best not to screw around with wiring on a brand new car. It will probably end up costing you more than the excess for total loss.


Buy a car thats not at risk.
 
boxerulez said:
Lol really.

Ok you want to install your switch on the ignition line running to the coil. Ohh snap no such thing in a polo? Computerised?

Best not to screw around with wiring on a brand new car. It will probably end up costing you more than the excess for total loss.


Buy a car thats not at risk.
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If the car has a battery, you can interrupt the current wherever you want. Unless you want to start it without requiring the battery??
 
Just add Malware bytes to the car?

boxerulez said:
Lol really.

Ok you want to install your switch on the ignition line running to the coil. Ohh snap no such thing in a polo? Computerised?

Best not to screw around with wiring on a brand new car. It will probably end up costing you more than the excess for total loss.


Buy a car thats not at risk.
Click to expand...
 
Joeboy69 said:
If the car has a battery, you can interrupt the current wherever you want. Unless you want to start it without requiring the battery??
Click to expand...

You have seen the guage on a positive battery cable? You will fry that switch every couple weeks with the current that the starter uses. At best interrupt the current from ignition to the starter solenoid.

Still.


All of this will void your warranty as soon as your car sees the agents again.
 
maneshk said:
Fuel pump cut-off switch. Hide the switch in a secret spot.
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My mum's 1996 Corolla was stolen two weeks ago, it had a fuel pump cutoff switch, alarm, immobiliser, gear lock and anti hijack. As others have said, if they want it, they'll take it all they need is a tow truck.
 
Man , just this week , as i'm leaving my car in the parking lot , a oldish guy in his old car is busy reconnecting his steering wheel ....
 
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