Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    One large dog - free from the local Dogs Home + Ongoing running costs of
    �10/week for food.
    
    no hidden installation costs and you don't have to give it up whwen you
    change vehicles.
    
    g.
    

    But that doesn't work at Railway Stations.

    Why was it broken into?
    Was it for the radio or did you leave something in sight?
    I had mine broken into six times, five of the six was for the radio,
    the sixth because I left a pack of 200 cigarettes in sight (that was in
    Calais!).
    The radio had a removable top but they still broke in because it seems
    most people leave the top in the glove compartment (I did first
    time!!). The thieves even left the glove compartment open.
    Doesn't it make you feel sick.
    
    Howard

    
    No I suppose not, youd need several Dogs and a bigger food bill for a
    railway station %^)
    
    Seriously though, are yuo trying to stop folks breaking in, or stop
    them from stealing it ? The best way to stop them breaking in is to
    take away their reason for doing so - don't leave things on view,
    remove the radio etc... and make it plainly obvious that they'll have a
    hard time nicking it, use one of those Eagle Claw things through the
    steering wheel.
    
    If you want to stop them nicking it then you really need a good alarm,
    although Ring who make the Eagle claw will pay you �200 if your car
    gets nicked while it was fitted.
    
    Graham

    
    I have an Alpine stereo with a removable head (always removed) so they
    break in, look in the glove compartment and under the seat (never
    there) then they leave.
    
    Two new front doors and paint worked out at about 1200 quid plus
    anything they can think of.
    
    So I'm trying to stop them breaking in at all. I have enquired about
    deadlocks being fitted but am advised that this doesn't work either.
    
    /a

    
    back to the big dog I think, or a CS gas canister in the glove box %^)
    
    GRaham

    I am reliably informed that a CS gas canister in the glove compartment
    can be considered illegal and the poor slob can sue me.

    
    	Or get a Matsui stereo.  Let's face it, hi-fi is made for the
    	home not the car.  No matter how much you pay on your car stereo
    	all you are buying is an expensive sticker saying "steal me".
	Can you honestly say that when you're screaming down the motorway
    	or bumping up and down on British roads that you're really getting
    	so much better quality sounds for your money?
    	When you're in a house then sure, the difference is huge.  In a
    	car only a certain percentage of the noise that reaches your ears
    	is coming from the speakers and the rest is outside noise.  I have
    	a nice stereo at home and a tacky one in the car.
    
    	Okay, time to torch me ;-)  But I leave tomorrow so I'm not worried
    	;-)
    
    

    Andy,
    
    If you had a fully removable unit it would take *any* interest out of the
    car. I have friends who have had stereos with the front panels detached
    that have still been stolen - pure spite at work I suppose.
    
    If you fit door locks/deadbolts they will just smash your window to get
    in instead! You are in a bit of a no win situation here as long as you
    have a nice looking stereo on view.
    
    I could lend you my dog for a small fee per day if you like!
    
    
    
    			Stretch.

    BTW: I am having the CD changer removed from the boot and placed under the
    bonnet too.

    
  >  BTW: I am having the CD changer removed from the boot and placed under the
  >  bonnet too.
    
    doesn't that just make it easier to get at ?
    
    G.

    Obviously this solution would not match your type/quality of car and 
    stereo, but it works (so far) for my daughter who leaves her car
    unattended all day:
        . car value < �500
        . two doors are unlockable due to previous owner changing the doors
        . strongish clamp on the steering wheel to deter opportunist thief
        . leave doors open, so no damage as they try to break in
        . radio value < �50
        . leave nothing valuable in the car.
    It's an experiment. We'll see how it goes...
    DaveT

    Yes, this is my 'other' solution, but doesn't prevent my 'real' car
    being broken into on other occasions.

    Mate of mine had his radio nicked once and just left the hole with the
    wires poking out and installed the new one under the drivers seat.
    Didnt look pretty but the second one never got nicked.
    
    Trev.

    My sympathys go out to the base noter, I too have 
    had two break in's over the past 3 years
    that have resulted in the removal of firstly, the
    standard clarion jobbie, then, secondly a very nice
    Sony unit with a wonderfull theft proof!! removable 
    face plate.
    
    That lasted for about 6 months with the base unit
    literally ripped out, during the "school hoidays"
    last year and have now invested in a fully 
    removable unit, (not that many around) a very fine
    Blaupunkt(the whole range has a converting chassis
    which allows it to fully removable) which sounds 
    even better than the Sony, so as previous noter 
    suggested leave nothing of value inside and it 
    won't get nicked!!
    
    cheers
    
    mark
    
    
    p.s. apparently at the cop shop near Old St. London i was told
    that "kids" get about 20-30 pounds for a base unit on the "market"
    

    
    I think we've discussed this before but where do all of these stolen
    stereos go to ? there are probably more of them out there than there
    are cars !
    
    G.

Just wondering whether you couldn't fashion a dummy front 
unit from a cheap stereo to replace the Alpine one when
you leave the car?

Farrell.

    I heard somewhere of a film that can be stuck on the inside of the
    glass (like the stuff used for tinting windows, only clear) - it
    apparently strengthens the glass to the extent that several blows from
    a hammer would be needed to break through it. 
    
    Richard

    re: .17
    
    They used to sell a tacky plastic front panel designed to look like a
    cheapo car radio at Halfords. 
    At night it looked quit effective. 
    
    re: .18
    
    Tomorrows World once featured something like that. A plastic sheet that
    strengthed glass enormously. The New York sub-way trains were fitted
    with the stuff to prevent them getting smashed all the time. 
    
    
    AL.

RE: .16

While reading the replies to this note I was thinking the same thing: where do
all of these stolen stereos go to?

My assumptions are:

1. All new cars come with stereos
2. All hi fi shops sell car stereos
3. All auto parts shops sell car stereos
4. Most pawn shops (I've only visted a few) sell car stereos
5. All junk yards sell car stereos

So where is the market for stolen car stereos? Would you buy one? have you been
offered one?

Personally I've found that buying new from the hi fi shop is the best
solution,at leat you know the thing is complete and in good working order. 

nigel

    re: .18
    
    The name of the company is Toad Security that make
    this clear film, you cannot break into the car from 
    the outside with this in place but in an emergency 
    you can kick it out from the inside.
    
    The company was displaying all their other products
    on a bmw in Liverpool st station recently most impressive 
    it was too, especially the smoke screen!!!!! should you
    get past all their other gizmos,
    
    cheers
    
    
    mark