Stolen MP3's?

[neomatrix924]

I'm new here, just picked up my Yellow MP3 yesterday. Have yet to really take out the car, but my main concern is the safety of the car. I'll be taking the car out on a daily basis for work, and I'm scared that after people notice the car in the same area day after day, someone might try something. Are there any/many instances of people's MP3's being broken.. or stolen even? Ok.. just wanted to see what everyone thought.

[mp3girly]

A lot of MP3s have been broken into, so GET AN ALARM! As for stealing them.. it'd be pretty easy to spot, right? Stands out in a crowd.. especially a yellow one! I guess it depends on what kind of neighborhood you're livin' in.. but I really wouldn't worry about it getting stolen.

[ARD MP5]

Alarm and INSURANCE. When it does get stolen, just use the money to buy the next model cause it might whistle, i.e. turbo. They'd be doing you a favor. hehe.

See ya, Rishie

[BigBlue]

Personally I don't like the fact that the car doesn't have the ability to lock off the auto trunk release. I know the Civic has the trunk valet lock so you can only open the trunk by key, or in the case of an alarm, with an optional electronic solenoid.

[LinuxRacr]

Accually, there is a yellow lever in the middle of the trunk, to the right of the locking mechanism that disables the trunk release on the drivers floor. There is also a emergency releas pull that glows in the dark if you get stuck in the trunk. :D

[DooMer_MP3]

And then after you realize the trunk release is disabled, you flip down the rear seats and nab the subwoofer ;).

[MalkavianMP3]

you can disable the fold-down seat device. it's the little lever on the back of the seat but you have to lock them from the inside of the trunk.

[LinuxRacr]

Now I did not know about this. :D

[AZxMP3]

My Question is... One.I saw the trunk release inside the trunk and thought to myself OK.. Two. How in the hell does someone get stuck in a trunk.. I dont see how its possible for someone to get the trunk closed on them when they are in the trunk, or even fit inside the trunk, that place isnt like a living room. Now I understand dead bodies and all that, but still dont see how you can get stuck in the trunk.... :confused: :D

[ 12-16-2001: Message edited by: AZxMP3 ]

[BigBlue]

Lol, it's not for if you get inside the trunk. If either the trunk release switch or the seat lock switch were in the interior of the car other than in the trunk, it would make a pretty pointless security thing because a thief would break in, see the trunk release and seats are locked and just flick whatever switch was on the interior of the car and boom he'd be in your trunk carrying away the sub.

[kep0ne]

actually the trunk release inside the trunk is for when you get stuck in there. there have been a few mishaps where people died cause they couldnt get out...

[Mp3P0]

well, after getting mine broken into, i've definately updgraded the whole security system. i got an alarm installed, than when it trips, will page me and let me know what area of my car triggered the alarm.

the MP3 is definately a target, so make sure you get the thing alarmed & insured or else yer in for a lot of disappointment.

[neomatrix924]

What kind of alarm system is that your using, that pages you when it goes off? And do you have to pay monthly for that or is it a one shot deal? I took my car to work for the first time today and felt extremely paranoid while working. If you can, or anyone.. please fill me in on the kind of alarm system your using, along with a price tag.. thanks!

[Inimical_01ES]

Originally posted by Linuxninja:
<STRONG>Accually, there is a yellow lever in the middle of the trunk, to the right of the locking mechanism that disables the trunk release on the drivers floor. There is also a emergency releas pull that glows in the dark if you get stuck in the trunk. :D</STRONG>

Isn't it usually dark in the trunk? How does it get light energy so that it'll glow?

Or maybe it catches just enough light while the trunk is open just before someone runs up behind you and stuffs you in there...
:D

[cfbjr]

I have a Viper Alarm. Cost me $300 installed. Find an installer that knows what they are doing that will hide the wiring and the siren so that it can't be yanked out or have the wires cut. All my wring is hidden or deep inside the factory looms. It would take at least an hour to get to the siren IF you could find it. Even if you did, my horn honks when the alarm goes off and it'll take forever to disable that. Make sure the brain is far from accessible and the valet switch is not easy to find. I REALLY like to have the horn honk feature. Nobody pays attention to a regular alarm sound anymore. But the horn honk makes people look.

[withoutme]

I think if you locked yourself inside your trunk, you DESERVE to die. Actually, you don't deserve a Protege.

[katsmp3]

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT 4 MP3s IN MY AREA HAVE BEEN BROKEN INTO> i didn't beleive this at all at first. a friend of a friend has one and hers was broken into yesterday. when she took it for repairs today they told her that this is the 3rd one they've had in the past month and that the shop next to them had had one. I called the body shop and they told me that one of the cars had an alarm.
Ok help me out... To disable an alarm on our car you have Cut the Battery wire.. This is not easy to do on our car.. The entire brain of the alarm is usually under the dash.
I think I'll just chain him down at night
kat

[Massyellowmp3]

I have posted this before and i feel this is the best way to go. You have to find a really good installer for this system. This is what i have. I have a top of the line brain form www.directed.com
the brain is not hidden under the dash it is in another location. there is two sirens under my hood one of the is a standard siren and the other is battery back up,like some one else posted the wiring is deep in factory loom. Under my dash i have a stobe light so you cant look up to atemp a hot wire and i also have a pain genorator siren under the dash as well. Under each seat i have pain gereators and 2 in the trunk and the whole system is put on battery backup. you can pull the stock battery out and the alarm will still go off. Let me tell you when the istaller was testing it i tried to put my head inside the car (I couldnt do it)and my ears wear hurting me for 2 days. The whole system ran me about $650 and well worth it for me.:)

[enry]

650$$ ?? U.S. ?? That alarm better drive the car for you too, at that price!

[redwagon02]

Man,I spent $650 on a G4 clifford millenia alarm 2 years ago on the miata and now that its no longer under warranty the siren doesn't have the confirmation chirps. :( But will sound if the alarm goes off. ;) O'well as long as I still can make the windows roll up and down, turn on the headlights, open the trunk and lock and unlock the doors its all good.:cool:

[cfbjr]

$650 to protect a $19-$20k investment doesn't seem that bad to me.

[scott42]

Agreed...I think I spent something like 300 or so on mine from the dealer, and at times I wish I had waited and gotten something like the above mentioned $650 pain inflicting type of alarm...I'd be much less nervous.
:) :D I think that alarm sounds like a very good investment, considering the obsession we all have with our cars.
:)

[katsmp3]

You can move the location on the brain on any alarm you buy. the battery wire on the car is what was cut...

[Massyellowmp3]

Kat,
they can cut the battery line on my car all they want but that wont disable my alarm. If my battery line is cut my battery back still supplies power to the system. To get to my back up it takes about 5-10 min if you know were it is. If a pro really wants a car nothing you do can stop him he will get it somehow. but people who just do it for extra cash or joy rides, they will not bother with the car if it starts going crazy and they cant stop it within 20 secs or so..

[vegasmp3]

Like someone said INSURANCE so if they want the sub they can have it........Get money get a better one........Our sub is good but it isn't that good......I really don't know a lot about systems....I have taken my car to a few stereo shops.....A few times the guys told me that mazda put the sub in backwards......It should be facing the other way.....Let me know if any of you guys think this is right what i was told.......

[MP3_4ME]

The sub is not worth the effort of opening the trunk. It actually really sucks compared to anything but the absolute cheapest stuff out there. Now the 828 is worth protecting. Always take the face off. The radio is not worth much without the face. Kenwood purposely sells faceplates for near whata whole new radio costs just to detur theft. Also if you have the 828 turn on the security code.








P.S. Getting glass out of the door is a bitch once the car is broken into!

Later

[enry]

I don't think they call alarm systems "anti theft" devices, but rather "theft deterrent" devices. If I really wanted to, I could lift the car on a platform pickup truck and drive off to some secluded area and slowly gut the poor car. So short of wiring a cyanide bottle or car bomb to your alarm you won't be able to prevent a car theft from a dedicated and professional car thief. Although I think it would be cool to electrify the body of the car with say, 10 kV, like those cattle fences, so that when you take it to shows nobody puts fingerprints on it.

[rocbtmd]

I just had my mp3 broken into last night. I think this thread jinxed me because after reading it I decided to buy a car alarm this friday. But they just couldn't wait till then so I could watch them quiver on the pavement with their ears bleeding from the noise of the alarm, which I am still getting friday but I think instead of paying 400 bucks it'll be more like 750 or so. I lost my 919 and the sub. They broke my drivers side window, scratched up the stereo surrounding area, broke my rear view mirror, and stole $2500 dollars in cds. So I think next time I am going to be prepared!

[katsmp3]

hey enry,, we have this bar that goes on the steering wheel and looks like "the club". its avtivated and deactivated by a remote. if you touch it its 50,000 volts, pretty cool.
kat

[redwagon02]

hey I remember those. Do they still make 'em. They cost like around $200 if I'm not mistaken. I always wanted one. Anyway, If you know where I can get one let me know. thanks

[cfbjr]

Originally posted by Massyellowmp3
Kat,
they can cut the battery line on my car all they want but that wont disable my alarm. If my battery line is cut my battery back still supplies power to the system. To get to my back up it takes about 5-10 min if you know were it is. If a pro really wants a car nothing you do can stop him he will get it somehow. but people who just do it for extra cash or joy rides, they will not bother with the car if it starts going crazy and they cant stop it within 20 secs or so..


True. And a pro isn't going after cars like ours. There's really no market. They want the stuff that sells quick, Toyotas, Hondas (for parts) and high-end stuff like Porsches, Jags and BMW's. Pros are generally part of some big fencing operation or some insurance scam thing. We've got watch out for the window smashers and stereo grabbers. Basically, bored kids on Summer break.