What do folks do to protect the contents of their 200?
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Security for high-value items inside vehicle (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter BloggerL
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maybe a dog?
have you watched the youtube on the British electrician that wired up his work van doors?
have you watched the youtube on the British electrician that wired up his work van doors?
Glass breakage sensor can be integrated with many alarms. Try to make cruiser look as plain as possible to not draw attention.
Early morning hours of Feb 1, 11 pickups and SUVs broken into at my apartment complex. All smash and grab stuff. Among the vehicles was a Ford F-150 parked next to my two LXs. Neither of mine were touched. Gotta love the soccer-mom-effect.
Is that of any help to you? No, and I apologize, but lends some anecdotal credence to @White Stripe comment. Less seems to be more as far as exterior goes. And maybe a high voltage door handle.
Is that of any help to you? No, and I apologize, but lends some anecdotal credence to @White Stripe comment. Less seems to be more as far as exterior goes. And maybe a high voltage door handle.
- Thread starter
- #5
The electric door handle is great! Wonder if that would be legal in the US?
mcgaskins
SILVER Star
Get some tint and one of these:
Or you could look like a slob build a wooden platform that pulls up by hinges when the back hatch is open. Glue all the waste items to that plywood and looks like a huge garbage pile in the back. The people see that and I'll say"G hey, this guy is a slob! " and leave the vehicle LOL that. What he doesn't know is Just 4 inches underneath all that garbage that is glued to the wood is all your valuables underneath the plywood.
Twice a thief broke into my Land Cruiser and took some tools that were not bolted down or security indoors they didn't take my tool chest because my tool chest was bolted to a piece of plywood that extended from the back of the seats to the back of the hatch. Could also install a large box and have several different locks on it. Install a raid siren inside the truck guarantee they won't stay inside very long!
I sure hope people suggesting getting a dog are joking. That's not even close to being an acceptable reason for getting a pet. If serious, those are HUGELY irresponsible suggestions.
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OP, I think you are greatly overthinking this.
You can spend a million dollars on the latest and greatest protection, but if someone wants your stuff, they will get it. You already have insurance for your gear, and that's all you really need.
Tint your windows to the max allowed my law, don't park in downtown Detroit, and consider putting in a set of drawers or other false-floor to give the average passer by the impression that you have an empty trunk. Done.
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OP, I think you are greatly overthinking this.
You can spend a million dollars on the latest and greatest protection, but if someone wants your stuff, they will get it. You already have insurance for your gear, and that's all you really need.
Tint your windows to the max allowed my law, don't park in downtown Detroit, and consider putting in a set of drawers or other false-floor to give the average passer by the impression that you have an empty trunk. Done.
Crush 4
SILVER Star
Being from Detroit, I kiddingly take exception to your comment about the Motor City! But it did inspire me to Google it.....
15 Cities with the Most Car Theft [Study: Trends & Totals] | BuyAutoInsurance.com
All drivers are at risk of car theft, but some cities are more dangerous than others. Click here to explore the 15 most dangerous cities for car theft.
www.buyautoinsurance.com
New Mexico is #1?!
I was recently in San Antonio, TX at a hotel.
I was driving a 2020 Tahoe that looked like a soccer Mom. I intentionally left a bunch of trash on the passenger seat and floor (like McDonalds wrappers, pop cans, used napkins, food bags) to make it look like I was a slob and had nothing of "value" in the truck.
Within 50 feet of my vehicle a white Ford F-250 4 door pickup dragging a CAT generator trailer had the rear window smashed out and all of his tools, firearms, and other important stuff was removed.
1) His truck LOOKS like it's full of tools and firearms.
2) He parked in the farthest back corner of the lot.
3) He was only in the parking lot for 4 hours (arrived at 2:30 AM, back out at the truck at 6:30 AM) and they grabbed his stuff.
4) He commented to me as I was walking through the lobby of the hotel, as I was carrying my firearms case. He said: "Oh, you take yours in with you, huh?" I replied: "Yes, I never leave them anywhere that someone can pop a window and get to them in a few seconds."
So, I'm on the side of:
Keep it plain and simple. It's still a Land Cruiser, so that will draw some attention ($$$).
Keep the trash scattered around inside so it "looks" undesirable and organized.
Have a false floor to make things less visible.
Cover everything inside with a dark blanket if you don't have a false floor, then pile clothing and other random things on top of it to break up "lines" of boxes or cases. Don't make it LOOK like you're covering up something valuable.
Otherwise, tying the cases together and having sensors and alarms help.
People ignore car alarms when in parking lots, even if someone is in it because "everyone" accidentally sets off their alarm. Easy to dismiss it if someone acts as if it's their own vehicle.
I was driving a 2020 Tahoe that looked like a soccer Mom. I intentionally left a bunch of trash on the passenger seat and floor (like McDonalds wrappers, pop cans, used napkins, food bags) to make it look like I was a slob and had nothing of "value" in the truck.
Within 50 feet of my vehicle a white Ford F-250 4 door pickup dragging a CAT generator trailer had the rear window smashed out and all of his tools, firearms, and other important stuff was removed.
1) His truck LOOKS like it's full of tools and firearms.
2) He parked in the farthest back corner of the lot.
3) He was only in the parking lot for 4 hours (arrived at 2:30 AM, back out at the truck at 6:30 AM) and they grabbed his stuff.
4) He commented to me as I was walking through the lobby of the hotel, as I was carrying my firearms case. He said: "Oh, you take yours in with you, huh?" I replied: "Yes, I never leave them anywhere that someone can pop a window and get to them in a few seconds."
So, I'm on the side of:
Keep it plain and simple. It's still a Land Cruiser, so that will draw some attention ($$$).
Keep the trash scattered around inside so it "looks" undesirable and organized.
Have a false floor to make things less visible.
Cover everything inside with a dark blanket if you don't have a false floor, then pile clothing and other random things on top of it to break up "lines" of boxes or cases. Don't make it LOOK like you're covering up something valuable.
Otherwise, tying the cases together and having sensors and alarms help.
People ignore car alarms when in parking lots, even if someone is in it because "everyone" accidentally sets off their alarm. Easy to dismiss it if someone acts as if it's their own vehicle.
Thanks for sharing your experience in San Antonio, BILT4ME. When I read that firearms were taken I was wondering why anyone would leave such “tools” overnight in their vehicle. Then when I read “Oh, you take yours in with you, huh?" I thought, maybe some sense would soak into that guy’s head?
What pisses me off is that now we have some criminal(s) better armed.
Rant over.
What pisses me off is that now we have some criminal(s) better armed.
Rant over.
In my industry as well as the Oil Field industry, there a LOT of construction folks that drive these heavily built trucks with tool racks, tools, and almost ALL of them have firearms in them and more than one or two. They are easy targets in hotel parking lots because the vehicle itself screams to the world what it contains.
Glass and car alarms are non-deterrent items and it only takes seconds for folks to get what they want out of these vehicles. You must make it so they cannot see or retrieve what they want with a quick smash-n-grab. Time is the criminal's enemy.
A couple of years ago three days before Christmas I went into Bed Bath and Beyond to check something as a gift. I was planning to be in the store for about two minutes so I just took the key. In the 4runner I left my wallet and backpack which carried EVERYTHING when I traveled, passport , extra phone, credit cards, and so on.
I returned to the truck probably five minutes after I left and found glass all over the ground and the drivers seat. It didn’t help that it was pouring rain and temp just above freezing. The crooks were looking for Fisher snowplow controllers, my plow uses a different system. The controller is worth about $300 and an easy sale.
So they grabbed my backpack, maybe they would have anyway, the truck is black with moderately deep tinted windows and an electric door handle certainly would not have stopped them.
The moral is “ bring it with you”. No matter how good your security is, they can beat it. If they can’t the first time they will come back better prepared the next time.
I returned to the truck probably five minutes after I left and found glass all over the ground and the drivers seat. It didn’t help that it was pouring rain and temp just above freezing. The crooks were looking for Fisher snowplow controllers, my plow uses a different system. The controller is worth about $300 and an easy sale.
So they grabbed my backpack, maybe they would have anyway, the truck is black with moderately deep tinted windows and an electric door handle certainly would not have stopped them.
The moral is “ bring it with you”. No matter how good your security is, they can beat it. If they can’t the first time they will come back better prepared the next time.
Could just have an armor package installed on your truck. 2” thick glass and armor plating throughout.
