Theft prevention methods

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:00 am

What devices are you using to make your Minor more difficult to steal? Alarms, immobilisers, steering locks?

On my old Minor I had a hidden switch that shorted the coil to earth, thus killing the ignition. I haven't done anything similar on Fenchurch yet so I took the rotor arm out last night when she was parked on the drive.

Has anyone built a simple mechanical device that makes the car undriveable but isn't easily broken like a steering lock or bypassed like an electronic immobiliser?

How about tracking devices; any recommendations?

Post by **leyther8008** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:06 am

Hidden switch in the fuel pump feed wire is as good as any they would get about 100 yds before the fuel in the float chamber runs out. Assuming they know how to start a car using a choke! suprizing how many people dont know about chokes these days. Another one I remember from years ago was a sort of clamp that went around the clutch pedal shaft that stopped the clutch being depressed so you couldnt change gear, I suppose it might start in first but the getaway would be funny at 15 miles per hour tops.

Post by **JimK** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:15 am

To be honest it hadn't occurred to me to do anything, as this area is not exactly a hotbed of crime; I'll give some thought to protecting the cars now.

Post by **dunketh** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:17 am

Ditto. My only 'security' is the fact its a 40 year old Minor that no self-respecting joy-rider would be seen dead in.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:23 am

You can get a key operated hydraulic lock.
Press brake pedal and then lock pressure.
That makes even towing away difficult.
I rather like the idea of a detachable steering wheel so it can be kept indoors or firmly chained in the boot. Such are available motorsports parts dealers.
What about an additional hinged "leg" welded to the drivers seat frame. Lift seat until it is impossible to get behind wheel, drop "leg" and padlock in down position.
I used to have a Volvo P1800 (Jenson version and not P1800S). The coil mounted THOUGH the bulkhead. The wire from points screwed on as normal but the live went in an armoured cable to the ignition switch. Virtually impossible to hot wire. This sort of coil protection is available as I've seen adverts in Practical Classics for a modern version. You attach to top of coil and then an armoured cable goes into the car where a key or similar is needed to make the contacts. It locks onto top of coil making it again impossible to hot wire. A long version might even work on a Minor with coil still mounted on dynamo.

Paul Humphries

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:37 am

I like the tilting driver's seat idea.

I was thinking about maybe attaching a locking collar of some sort to the clutch pedal so you can't press it down to get it into gear.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:50 am

alex_holden wrote:I like the tilting driver's seat idea.

I was thinking about maybe attaching a locking collar of some sort to the clutch pedal so you can't press it down to get it into gear.

You can already get a lockable plate that covers all pedal for Land Rovers.
Not really adaptable idea for Minors but a locking clutch pedal would be easy.
Take thick walled tubing, slit down middle, add hinge and tab for padlock.
Even angle iron would work instead of slitting tubing.
The thing is to make it difficult so potential thief moves onto the next vehicle.
If they are targeting Minors then that isn't going to happen so the more difficult the better.

My Mineva (when I get around to moving it from storage in Antwerp) hasn't even external door handles never mind locks.
What I'm going to make is a frame that attaches with padlock over the drivers seat. The frame will then have loads of nails, spikes etc pointing upwards. They will be brightly painted and maybe even lit with LED's at night. The idea is to make it dififcult for the thief to actually get inside the car and certainly impossible behind the wheel.

Pauil Humphries

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:00 am

A battery cut off / isolator switch is a good one - thats pretty much the standard theft prevention on boats.
Used to have discreet tracker logo stickers on the Dagenham roller skate which although there wasnt one fitted is enough to put off a casual opportunist thief.
Suppose if i lived south and had a pristine Mog then wouldn't hesitate to fit a genuine functioning tracker, at least theres a VERY good chance you will get the car back.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:25 am

Orkney wrote: Suppose if i lived south and had a pristine Mog then wouldn't hesitate to fit a genuine functioning tracker, at least theres a VERY good chance you will get the car back.

A little searching of web site will show that you can make a cheap tracker out of a modern mobile phone which has built in GPS.
You do something like power the phone via a 12v adapter and hide it away.
You need to ensure credit and make one call very so often to keep it enabled.
For around £10 per month you can subscribe to companies with web sites which will give you constant updates of where the phone is (with personal password access).
One of the uses is to keep tabs on kids and workers but the system will readilly work as a vehicle tracker.

Paul Humphries

Post by **Welung666** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:31 am

I'm still qualified to fit Cat2 immobilisers and Cat1 alarms. I still have a contact for trade priced systems too if anyone needs one fitting.

The Cat2 is an insurance approved Toad unit that immobilises 2 circuits I.E. fuel pump and coil. The Cat1 is basically a Cat2 with a very loud sounder attached. I can also get Stirling (subsiduary of Toad) cheaper alarms with just 1 immobiliser that I would recommend be connected to the ignition circuit.

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:13 pm

Hmm what Lee just said and something in another thread about having the siren inside the car might be a cheap solution.
On a lot of household alarms the sounder in the house - in the control panel e.g. has a 'Disorientator' emitting type speaker.
These things really do work - they were originally developed for special forces applications as a 'Sonic grenade' lob one into a room of bad people / hostage situation etc they render your senses useless for a short while.
maybe Lee knows what I'm on about and if they can be got off the shelf from maplin or such.
Surely there should be someone with the electrical knowledge here that could come up with something like placed under the dash that was wired to a courtesy light switch in the door, that activated automatically after say 30 seconds if a well hidden switch was not turned off?
If they were cheap enough and the wiring simple enough could be a very effective theft prevention unit for under £20?

Post by **Welung666** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:37 pm

I had a standard house sounder inside my peugeot as a second siren along with a white light strobe fitted where the clock should have been, this had the effect of both blinding and deafening anyone inside the car at the time.

Post by **DaveC** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:39 pm

20 years ago, after seeing someone about to try to get my bonnet badges off my trav (as was the craze back then thanks to the Beastie Boys) I mounted the badges on rubber gromets with microswitches wired to the airhorns.

Worked though...

I have a 3position hidden switch that is on/shorts the coil/shorts the coil and puts on a flashing LED. I am considering a second switch elsewhere that does the fuel pump as well, I think that's a great idea.

Post by **ben739** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:53 pm

http://www.stickdeath.com/frameset.htm

check this out for theft prevention

on the right click, get the full list, then the 5th choice down is anti theft. i am installing these in my moggy. but now that i am in USA i can get a gun

"Morris Minor owner shoots gangster........"

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:30 pm

Under the US constitution I thought it was only US citizens who are legally allowed to bear arms. Are you a US citizen? Good idea though! ;-)

Post by **ben739** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:37 pm

have dual citizenship

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:47 pm

So you can!

Post by **ben739** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:15 pm

went to a gun show in alabama this weekend, applied for concealed weapons permit and now have it. has to be a small handgun to fit in the morris glove box though, and i had my heart set on the .357 magnum Clint Easwtwood used so accurately.

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:19 pm

Get a Glock - safer, more compact & reliable than a 'Macho' type.
Unless your writing a script for 'Mogz in the Hood' that is

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:23 pm

paulhumphries wrote: What about an additional hinged "leg" welded to the drivers seat frame. Lift seat until it is impossible to get behind wheel, drop "leg" and padlock in down position.

I like that idea

and the spikey seat gadget

I have a cut-off switch in the van, plus a DiskLoc (you need the largest size - ebay not Halfords), and am marking it in hidden places with clever microchip registration stuff so that if some idiot manages to steal the most recognisable Minor in the world then I can identify it as mine if the police find it