25 replies to this topic

[lewBlew]

Hi everyone. Recently had to park my pride and joy in a rather suspect car park in a big city and thought I'd create this thread for us to share tips on how to prevent our Minis being stolen. A lot of it is common sense, but if you have any other ideas you want to share then be my guest.

Of course, no car can be 100% safe from being nicked by a keen professional thief, but there are a few simple steps you can take which will deter a lot of the opportunistic ones:

1) Leave it somewhere visible (believe it or not). Tucked away at the quiet end of the road or car park in the dark is not a good idea. Under a streetlamp in unobstructed view of your house or other people's houses, shops and pubs and so on is better.

2) Don't leave any clues on the internet as to where your car is kept. You'd be surprised how many people trawl forums like this to try and pin down easy steals, especially rare cars and those being advertised for sale.

3) Remove the rotor arm or other simple ignition component/wire. Takes 5 seconds and prevents the car from starting. You can also buy battery cut off switches and things which either fit in the cabin or on the actual battery in the boot (and who's going to think of looking there?). Fuel cut off switches are aso available.

4) Engage steering wheel lock and add a Stoplock or other similar anti-theft device to it. Clamps can also be bought to secure your road wheels if you so wish. I have removed the steering wheel before (not on a Mini but on another car)!

5) Never leave anything of value on show, even items of low value which lowlifes desperate for cash may find easy to sell on (e.g. CDs). Removing sat navs, shopping, mobile phones and detachable stereo faces goes without saying. As does leaving your registration documents. spare keys etc inside!!

6) Keep your mini clean. Police and highway people are more likely to pay attention to a tidy looking car on the back of a pick-up than a dirty old rusty one. Even if they stop the car in order to have a nice chat with the 'owner' about it.

7) Engage handbrake and 1st gear to help stop the car being moved around without gaining access.

8) Park next to a fence, wall, bush or kerb and turn the wheels fully towards it to help prevent the car being towed in a straight line. Park nose first.

9) I also like parking the car with the choke all the way out, radio on full blast, wipers and indicators all on too, just to annoy anyone who did get it started.

10) Desperate attempts: fill your car with bees, leave a police uniform in the back, or a blood stained shirt, or a for sale sign saying "Accident damaged, 300,000 miles, £250 ono'.

[mab01uk]

AutoExpress Steering Lock Product Tests:
13 locks tested to destruction......
http://www.ovat.be/A...AutoExpress.pdf

Edited by mab01uk, 02 July 2012 - 11:12 PM.

[Noah]

Im going to save for a alarm system, I'd rather spend some money. And keep my pride and joy safe. But yes I also agree with your advice.

[Noah]

But steering wheel locks are stupid too. If you have a steering wheel thats like mine. Secured on with a few screws, if they've been targeting the car all they have to do is bring a screwdriver and a new steering hweel.

[Jakeclubby]

Great advice i do nearly.all of these tho.... Haha

[headsock]

GPS with cutoff switch via SMS and alerts via SMS. Costs around £50 on Ebay.

Best part is it is virtually invisible if hidden properly.

[Jakeclubby]

GPS with cutoff switch via SMS and alerts via SMS. Costs around £50 on Ebay.

Best part is it is virtually invisible if hidden properly.

Wow show me... Show me show me i want one

[headsock]

Here you go: (if link's down, search Ebay for "gps gsm")

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item41667e5faf

Just ordered mine, should take a while to arrive.

This has a function where in you can control a relay, which can be used for anything that needs to be switched. (ie. fuel pump, ignition etc etc) - so if stolen simply SMS it to shut the car down and use the GPS to find where the car is.

Only downside I see is, it will not work in any carpark/building parking (no GPS signal, but could still probably send an SMS to shut down engine).

[Jakeclubby]

And youve just bought one of these?

[less is more]

I think the best way is not advertise what security you have on any public forum, for example headsock I and thousands of web surfers now know what security you're going to get and that makes it easier for a potential thief to overcome, let's face it how many hiding places are there in a mini, and any extra wiring will bring attention to its location anyway.
Please guys keep your security to yourself, share when at meets if you have to but not on a public forum

[SA MINI]

Tracker, alarm, fhel cut off , Wheel clamp, steering lock & the hand brake one.
Park. An in car camera would be a good idea that way it would capture people having a snoop round before hand

[lewBlew]

Im going to save for a alarm system, I'd rather spend some money. And keep my pride and joy safe. But yes I also agree with your advice.

Alarm systems are good if you park outside your house or on your drive, and make sure your neighbours keep an ear out for it. But somewhere more public or away from you and it will probably just be ignored

But steering wheel locks are stupid too. If you have a steering wheel thats like mine. Secured on with a few screws, if they've been targeting the car all they have to do is bring a screwdriver and a new steering hweel.

Get a steering wheel lock which covers the whole wheel!

[Stuart92]

Only downside I see is, it will not work in any carpark/building parking (no GPS signal, but could still probably send an SMS to shut down engine).

I have an SMS GPS tracker, a bit different to yours but mine seems to get the GPS location from car parks.

[Ado1379]

No body has said it yet so i will add... Why not try fitting an immobiliser? It let the engine turn unless you have the button on the fob pressed down? Also you could get a handbrake lock that covers the whole handbrake and wraps around the gear stick to stop anyone changing gear...
Good few tips here though, especially the one about turning everything up and leaving everything on! Muahahaha...

[headsock]

I think the best way is not advertise what security you have on any public forum,

True, but it also deters non-pro thieves. But yeah I get what you mean.

Edit: I mean if a not-so-good thief knows there's some sort of anti-theft, it'l make em think twice.

I have an SMS GPS tracker, a bit different to yours but mine seems to get the GPS location from car parks.

Haven't got mine yet. Still waiting from China.

But my GPS nav loses connection whenever I enter a carpark (underground or above ground inside building). Roof-less (non-concrete) carparks I'd imagine wouldn't be a problem.

Edited by headsock, 03 July 2012 - 12:29 PM.