Re: Alarm recommendations for 16v?

[Riley McDowall <rileym@sfu.ca>]

On Fri, 28 Feb 1997, Shawn C. Meze wrote:

> Heres the thing about car alarms, They're useless!! They're a waste of money!! 
> They add to the trouble only for the owner/driver!! They're largely ignored!! 
> They bug people!! 

They're not useless.  Useless would be sitting there with a fatalistic
attitude saying if they want it they'll get it.  I agree that an alarm
will not prevent b+e, or theft of rims, etc.  But if you get a decent
alarm you *can* prevent the thieves from driving your car down to a chop
shop and working it over real good.  By decent alarm I mean starter kill,
battery backup, and NO valet switch (or if you do have one, put it in the
back somewhere).  Pull the fuel pump relay when you leave the car, or
install a hidden bypass switch for it.  

> If you want to maximize its recoverability, put on a "Lojack" <SP> on the car so 
> you can at least get it back within a day or two. 

Or even better, give the cops a chance of catching them while they're
still in the car.  

> Something that im considering, is an alarm system that pages me. No alarm, no 
> noise, I can go out and cap the bastards, drag them in my house and make it all 
> look like self defence. Well, not really, its secterly what everybody wishes we 
> could do!

Most of those pager alarms have a very limited range - we're talking about
a half mile or so, unless you have a CB antenna you can use.  If you're
never that far from your car, then great, but remember that the punks are
going to be LONG GONE by the time you cover that distance getting back
after the page.  

A little story: a friend of mine caught a punk breaking into his car
outside his house one night.  He cracked him in the face with a baseball
bat; the punk goes down with a concussion.  My friend drags his ass
inside, tapes him to a chair, and calls the cops.  2 hours later they get
there, bottom line is now my friend is facing charges....

> think about it and thats all it takes for them to pass it up and move onto an 
> easier victim. The more difficult you make it for them, the more likely the lazy 

This is generally true but some people will break your window for a few
quarters lying in the center console, flashing light or not.  Tempt them
with a shift knob or a CD case, and it's smash and grab time.  

> up on them taking my car. Like I said before, if they want it, they WILL get it. 
> I want to make it as difficult for them to steal while not making using my car 
> any more difficult for myself. 

There are ways you can literally prevent thieves from taking your car, or
even getting into it.  Have a creative stereo shop install deadbolts in
your doors, activated by an alarm fob ONLY.  Now the punk can't open your
doors.  You can get some thick tint film that acts like safety glass when
applied to your windows - a direct blow with a 10 pound sledge will not
punch a hole in this stuff.  Now the guy can't get in, period.  This isn't
going to stop *everybody*, every time, but it gives you a lot more
coverage against b+e's.  


----
"Doin it to you in your earhole...."
	-George Clinton

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