what would you have to do to prevent this from happening

[EPandaman29]

pager alarm, different wheel locks, park inside a garage, and 24 hour watch guards with automatic weapons. thats about it.

[Evil J]

i hate to sterotype but do a lot of people in texas carry guns with them

Not as many as you'd think, and it's not as easy to do so as you'd probably think. I do it because I'm the type of guy who likes to think that if things get physical, I'd rather settle it man to man. A few years back, I got myself into a bad situation, had my life threatened by a few people, and realized that not everyone believes the way I do, that things should be settled without violence first, but if violence is necessary, that it should be done without weapons.

It was then that I decided that I would legally provide myself with a way to get out of a life-threatening situation by whatever means necessary. There is honor, courage, and bravery, but none of that matters if you're up against a chickenshit with something as small as a .22 or as big as a 12-gauge.

So, I got my concealed carry license, and I'll be honest, I didn't carry it on a regular basis. Two things in the news changed my mind (and one of them wasn't VA Tech). The first was a guy down here who intentionally crashed his car, and when people came up to check on him, he used a shotgun on them. Four guys walked up (unaware of this) and he fired once, and they all got away because one of the four was a licensed carrier and fired back. He didn't hit the guy, but provided enough cover for them to escape.

The second thing was that mall shooting up in the Midwest where the "troubled teen" with the AK-47 started picking people off.

I'm not gonna act like I'm a superhero or Chow Yun Fat over here (though the "fat" applies), but I'd rather have a sporting chance if some psycho decides to try and kill me when I'm a complete innocent...

That said, we do have what's called the Castle Doctrine down here in Texas that allows you to use deadly force to protect life and property, and it even extends to "anywhere you would reasonably expect personal safety" i.e. your car. You've got a lot of guys out there both licensed and unlicensed talking about how they're gonna blow the first motherfucker away that screws with them or their property, and I say... shit, I'll pay a deductible before taking human life.

I carry to protect life (even if it costs some bad guy theirs), not property, and I'd not bluster about doing so for a vehicle break-in.

I guess it's because in my line of work I've dealt with thieves for five years. I get them, I get the motivation, and while it was a pain in the ass to get my stuff fixed after that most recent break-in, I don't get the sense of violation and anger that other people do about it. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass, and it sucked to pay the cash because some fuckhead was too lazy to earn a living and has to be a leech on society, but I'm not going all "Death Wish" on them for it.

[Evil J]

BTW, I don't mean to imply any judgment on anyone here.

I felt the same way until I started carrying on a regular basis. Carrying an instrument of death should make you realize the preciousness of life and be aware of the enormity of the responsibility riding on your hip... or wherever you carry it.

I've been in situations where it would have been easy to draw it to scare the other person, but I've handled it diplomatically because I realize what it is to be a part of armed citizenry where your objective should be to keep the public peace, not be a "billy bad-ass" causing trouble.

Just my $0.02 on the matter.

[supercivician]

pager alarm, different wheel locks, park inside a garage, and 24 hour watch guards with automatic weapons. thats about it.

you forgot the guard dog inside the car

[supercivician]

BTW, I don't mean to imply any judgment on anyone here.

I felt the same way until I started carrying on a regular basis. Carrying an instrument of death should make you realize the preciousness of life and be aware of the enormity of the responsibility riding on your hip... or wherever you carry it.

I've been in situations where it would have been easy to draw it to scare the other person, but I've handled it diplomatically because I realize what it is to be a part of armed citizenry where your objective should be to keep the public peace, not be a "billy bad-ass" causing trouble.

Just my $0.02 on the matter.

may i ask you what you do on a daily basis.

[xsimplistikaznx]

dude those pics suck. reminds me of the days i had an ODYSSEY when it 1st came out. bastards egged it everytime and broke into it stealing my CDs and change in the glovebox. on top of it, they smashed my windows b/c i had liquor in it not dissing the hood, but s*** i was in THE HOOD

[Tnhatch03]

put an anaconda in your car.

[epshtielsl]

i just check the price for a viper 750 2 way alarm system with other accessories came up to be $600 at autoimage. anyone has a better idea or a better deal else where?

I used to work at Best Buy and I know with the discount I can get the viper alarm system for about $175 (doesn't include installation). I don't work there anymore but I know almost everyone in the store and can still get the hook up.

[Evil J]

may i ask you what you do on a daily basis.

I'm actually an office worker now, the short answer is "security analyst".

Before, I was in the field and dealt with unsavory people, but that's not what really got me into dutch. Let's just say that I got "involved" with someone I really really shouldn't have.

[Kodeen]

As for insurance they suck! the only way i see my full coverage insurance helping me out is when i get pulled over or into an accident. as for my car being stolen i could see any bastard agent finding any way to not pay me for my stolen items.

Yeah, you're right about that. My agent even told me when they fixed everything that it was good that nothing was taken because anything not permanently affixed in the car wasn't covered. In other words, if they would have taken a solid gold brick out of the back of the car, I would have been shit out of luck.

Loose items in the car are usually covered by either homeowner's or renter's insurance (whatever is applicable) if the car is parked on the property of the residence. If you're in a parking lot at the mall or something like that, then yeah, you're kind of SOL.

[Evil J]

Loose items in the car are usually covered by either homeowner's or renter's insurance (whatever is applicable) if the car is parked on the property of the residence. If you're in a parking lot at the mall or something like that, then yeah, you're kind of SOL.

That's true. I forgot about that...

[Mugensi03]

i read most of the comments and all i can say is wheel locks, alarm and personally a fuel cut off switch is the best way to keep your car in your possession. bullet proof glass helps(no broken windows) shaved door handels, and a kick ass guard dog.

[supercivician]

i read most of the comments and all i can say is wheel locks, alarm and personally a fuel cut off switch is the best way to keep your car in your possession. bullet proof glass helps(no broken windows) shaved door handels, and a kick ass guard dog.

i have thougth about a quick release steering wheel but no air bag.
also thougth about a battery cut off switch but we used to have a thread before the melt down mentioned bad things about it.

[Stanz0r]

There is nothing you can do to keep someone from stealing or breaking into your car if they are determined to do so.

1. Park in a well lit area where people will be around.
Not saying this will stop someone, but when you're parked in front of a mall where people will be walking by every minute or so it's a lot less of a target as compared to a car parked well in the back of the lot in an obscure location.

2. Keep it garaged.
It's not easy to see what you've got or if it's a worthwhile target.

3. Buy a pager alarm.
Face it, so many people have car alarms that go off way too easily. Most people ignore them now, I know I do half the time. At least with a pager system you know your alarm is going off.

4. Don't show off. E.g. don't advertise.
Don't have your system blaring everytime you drive in your neighborhood. That just means people know you have something worth stealing.

5. Hide anything of value.
Even if it means hiding it in your trunk. If I was a thief and I saw lots of shiny objects, a purse, ipod, etc. laying in your car, I'd much rather break in it compared to a car with just a stock headunit and nothing of value laying in sight. This also includes removing your face plate or having a stealth headunit.

6. Wheel locks.
They will slow down a well prepared thief, but they will not stop them.

7. Kill switch.
Again this will at least slow the thief down unless they have a tow truck.

8. Lock your doors.
What is one second of your time as compared to the time it took to purchase and install your stereo?

There are other options to help deter a thief, but these are the basics.

[Breakep3]

Great tips stanz0r, I have had two head units stolen from me (one with my celica rip, the other from my ep3) and I was starting to get really pissed. My insurance company payed for both but I decided to make it a little more harder to do.

Upon installation of my new headunit I I put razor blades and double sided tape on the back of the cd drive. When they reach their hand back to pull it, it will give him a few good cuts. And when I mean a few, I mean about 12 really deep cuts.


=)