Car Security, Lojack Options

[jim_hoyland]

After Chris's 914 was taken, I called my Lojack rep for a service check. It still worked after being installed in 2002. The back-up battery was 76% and good for another 3 years.

The problem with the original LoJack is you have to call the police or LoJack after you realize the car is gone--a lot of valuable time can be lost.

The newer LoJack with Early Warning solves the problem. The system has a motion sensor mounted in the car. If the car moves or is started by a person without a coded key-pass the LoJack sends a signal to to your cell or email. If the user has the coded key-pass, it stays in sleep mode. TThe entire package with Early Warning costs about $1.0K

GPS units look like newer technological applications with greater potential, but monthly costs too.

Please chime in on Lojack or GPS.

[Brando]

having the battery cutoff or the steering wheel missing has no effect if the thief has a towing vehicle.

Lojack and other GPS tracking/warning systems are after-the-fact.

prevention is key. make the car un-movable.

[byndbad914]

having the battery cutoff or the steering wheel missing has no effect if the thief has a towing vehicle.

Lojack and other GPS tracking/warning systems are after-the-fact.

prevention is key. make the car un-movable.

I agree to make the car un-movable. At minimum, I am going to make it a point to put my car up on jackstands and remove the wheels. Then add lojack if they get the wheels out of the other garage (separate 1 car and 2 car setup at my house) and make it mobile and get it out of there. With slicks and seldom use in my case, I have it off the ground anyway, but leave the wheels on... until now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

The wheel boot to me is somewhat questionable as a lot of cars were being stolen in the LA area a few years back by guys that would have a flatbed tow truck with a winch. They just drag the car onto the truck (no need to break in or get it out of gear, they literally drag 'em tires-a-screechin') So the boot would not only just go with it, but IMO, if I saw a car being towed with one, my first impression would be that it was being towed because it was illegally parked and booted or something as such, not that the owner put the boot there.

edit - forgot to say that if it were legally towed, I would think the cops would remove the boot... but think of the typical person... most don't think much past whether their hair is lookin' good that day.

So I would be suspect anyone seeing a car being towed with a boot would assume to call the cops cuz it had a boot. It will stop the people that need to roll it, but I remember it being on the news channels about the tow truckers just dragging Hondas on and rolling' out.