Vert questions about security

DisposableHero · Oct 9, 2004

got my first 2000 convertable GT and im wondering about how unsafe it really is... i know someone just has to slice the roof open and then they're in... but really how many times does this happen?

the reason i ask is because im looking at getting a new stereo head unit and maybe that Avic-N1 with a gps/dvd monitor... it looks pretty plain when the screen is tucked away which shouldnt make it too apealing.

is the stock alarm enough?

streetstang03 · Oct 9, 2004

my bro has a jeep wrangler, he was worried about the same things, so he had an alarm installed that has a motion sensing alarm for the interior of the jeep. if you just stick you hand in his jeep, the alarm goes off. Just get a similar set-up for your stang. My dad has a 66 stang vert, and when he actually takes it out of the garage and parks it at a store or something, he just leaves it unlocked since he knows someone will just cut the top to get in. Hes had the top replaced, and would rather just let someone in than cut his top. My moms 00 stang vert hasnt had any problems with being broken into or anything. we have had it since we bought it off the lot, and noone has attempted to cut the top yet.

damacman · Oct 10, 2004

Having done auto security as a trade for a LONG time, I can tell you this - ANY security system you can have installed is designed to prevent the vehicle from being stolen, not its contents. (FYI - an "alarm" is simply a noise-maker . . . ) Don't let anyone tell you that any kind of sensor can prevent a thief from stealing contents. Keep in mind that no matter how elaborate your security system is, a tow truck can make very short work of it.

I like my odds having my vehicle equipped with the latest in security though - think of it like this, two cars in a crowded parking lot side by side - one has an alarm, the other does not. Which one do you think a thief is more likely to break into? Of course, this makes several assumptions:

>You didn't give a would be thief a reason to break into your car - like pulling into the mall parking lot with the top down playing Dr. Dre at 145dB for all to hear before walking in to watch a movie.
>You take precautionary measures NOT to leave your valuables in plain sight.
>IF you have a security system, the parts the would be thief CAN see (like the L.E.D.) are installed with some thought to their placement. A thief can VERY quickly size up the quality of the installation by looking at where and how the L.E.D. is installed. An L.E.D. mounted to the left of the steering wheel in a factory plastic knock-out is a GIVEN that the brain for the system is also to the left of the steering wheel - a SUPER easy spot for a thief to disable it. An L.E.D. flush-mounted at the top of each door panel just next to the lock plungers indicate a real effort has been put into the installation, making a quick defeat unlikely. Again, this is where you differentiate a security system from an alarm.

I had an '88 GT convertible for many years with a very well thought out (and extremely elaborate) security system. At no time did I ever have anyone tamper with the vehicle.

Do some research and find out who in your area specializes in auto "security" - pass on the guys offering the $99 whiz bang gizmo. Expect to pay five to six hundred dollars for a security system worth having - about half of this cost will be in labor. Insist that all connections are soldered, not done with T-Taps or scotch locks - to insure reliability and as few false alarms as possible. (Having your alarm go off every morning at 3 AM from the cat is a sure fire way to have the neighbors ignore the sound of it during an actual break-in.)

Do your homework, and you'll find exactly what you need to keep that 'vert in your possession for many years to come.

maddogg545 · Oct 10, 2004

Are those convertible tops really that flimsy that they can be cut open by a pocket knife?

tarch · Oct 10, 2004

maddogg545 said:
Are those convertible tops really that flimsy that they can be cut open by a pocket knife?

yes.

5 months after i got my car the roof got cut and they took my headlights... just the headlights... what a bunch of dip****s

StangVert00 · Oct 10, 2004

I've never had any problems from my roof getting cut, but I always lock my glove box to prevent people from popping open the trunk if the top is down.

StangVert00

fr96ss · Oct 10, 2004

leave the doors unlocked so they dont cut the roof

DisposableHero · Oct 10, 2004

thanks for your replies guys...

about how easy is it to steal the cd deck if the car is left open

CottonBurnerz · Oct 10, 2004

tarch said:
yes.

5 months after i got my car the roof got cut and they took my headlights... just the headlights... what a bunch of dip****s

lmao wtf mate?

CottonBurnerz · Oct 10, 2004

DisposableHero said:
thanks for your replies guys...

about how easy is it to steal the cd deck if the car is left open

I would say less than an hour...

Just don't park in "bad" space and lock your car everytime with alarm turned on. If possible, move to a good neighborhood

MyEarsHurt · Oct 10, 2004

I have had two verts, and a system, (subs, new head unit, speakers, amps, etc) in each and I have never had a problem. I was a little worried with the stang so I got an aftermarket 2-way alarm with an interior motion sensor (so if someone sticks there hand in the car when its armed, the alarm goes off). The interior sensor was decent, but it did false a lot so I ended up taking that out and now its just a straight alarm. If you really think about it though, its much easier to break the driver side window then to cut the top open and climb in. Moral of the story, if someone wants what is in your car that bad, they are gonna get it, whether they slice the roof or break the window. Just keep things hidden, amps under the seats, remove your faceplate when you park your car, dont ride though mall parking lots with your subs on full blast. Its the simple decisions like that which will prevent theft.

ToplessStang · Oct 10, 2004

damacman said:
Having done auto security as a trade for a LONG time, I can tell you this - ANY security system you can have installed is designed to prevent the vehicle from being stolen, not its contents. (FYI - an "alarm" is simply a noise-maker . . . ) Don't let anyone tell you that any kind of sensor can prevent a thief from stealing contents. Keep in mind that no matter how elaborate your security system is, a tow truck can make very short work of it.

I like my odds having my vehicle equipped with the latest in security though - think of it like this, two cars in a crowded parking lot side by side - one has an alarm, the other does not. Which one do you think a thief is more likely to break into? Of course, this makes several assumptions:

>You didn't give a would be thief a reason to break into your car - like pulling into the mall parking lot with the top down playing Dr. Dre at 145dB for all to hear before walking in to watch a movie.
>You take precautionary measures NOT to leave your valuables in plain sight.
>IF you have a security system, the parts the would be thief CAN see (like the L.E.D.) are installed with some thought to their placement. A thief can VERY quickly size up the quality of the installation by looking at where and how the L.E.D. is installed. An L.E.D. mounted to the left of the steering wheel in a factory plastic knock-out is a GIVEN that the brain for the system is also to the left of the steering wheel - a SUPER easy spot for a thief to disable it. An L.E.D. flush-mounted at the top of each door panel just next to the lock plungers indicate a real effort has been put into the installation, making a quick defeat unlikely. Again, this is where you differentiate a security system from an alarm.

I had an '88 GT convertible for many years with a very well thought out (and extremely elaborate) security system. At no time did I ever have anyone tamper with the vehicle.

Do some research and find out who in your area specializes in auto "security" - pass on the guys offering the $99 whiz bang gizmo. Expect to pay five to six hundred dollars for a security system worth having - about half of this cost will be in labor. Insist that all connections are soldered, not done with T-Taps or scotch locks - to insure reliability and as few false alarms as possible. (Having your alarm go off every morning at 3 AM from the cat is a sure fire way to have the neighbors ignore the sound of it during an actual break-in.)

Do your homework, and you'll find exactly what you need to keep that 'vert in your possession for many years to come.

I too have been installing auto security systems for years and must say you give great advice. One thing an alarm will not do is save your top from being cut. Even if it does sound, the damage is done. As for led placement, I always install one on customer cars but on my own car I have not. The led will might stop the young joyrider from trying to steal your car but in my opinion the led also gives the pro advanced warning and time to think of how he will disable the alarm. Of course if a pro wants the car, he'll get it no matter what but I rather he be surprised by the alarm once the door is open giving him less time to think about how he will shut it up. My car is either being driven by me or parked in my garage anyway but in some towns, you can never be to safe . Good luck with your vert .

GT2000JAY · Oct 10, 2004

tarch said:
yes.

5 months after i got my car the roof got cut and they took my headlights... just the headlights... what a bunch of dip****s

In Redmond? I think that's a capital offense here in the home of Microsoft....

Jay

00BlackBeautyGT · Oct 10, 2004

tarch said:
yes.

5 months after i got my car the roof got cut and they took my headlights... just the headlights... what a bunch of dip****s

Dude, just a few months after I bought my car, my top too was sliced and what they took was my airbags (driver/passenger). Not just my car but my lady's car also. She drives a 95 GT Vert. They took her s h i t too. Both in the same night in my driveway. I wall all trippin' getting ready to go off on anybody. I was hot. I skipped work that day and just sat around looking at everyone in the neighborhood like they were suspects. For some reason, I have this funny feeling that my neighbor had part in this. My neighbor and I don't get along too well and I really do hate that guy. I was wondering to myself, who the f u c k wants to steal airbags? A couple days later, I was watching the news and saw a story about people going around stealing airbags and making hundreds maybe thousands in the black market. Why steal radios and make a few bucks when you can steal airbags and make a hundred dallors. When I took my car in to get fixed, my mustang was not the only mustang in the shop getting new airbags. There had to be like 10 - 15 other mustang verts getting new airbags because of this s h i t.

DisposableHero · Oct 10, 2004

if the doors are left unlocked... how easy is it to "hotwire"/steal the whole care these days?

maddogg545 · Oct 10, 2004

Not just my car but my lady's car also. She drives a 95 GT Vert. They took her s h i t too. Both in the same night in my driveway

Two words: CCTV and flood lights. Lots of flood lights!

tarch · Oct 11, 2004

GT2000JAY said:
In Redmond? I think that's a capital offense here in the home of Microsoft....

Jay

yes

it was a horrible thing...

hope to see you at the track on the 17th!

GT-03 · Oct 11, 2004

DisposableHero said:
if the doors are left unlocked... how easy is it to "hotwire"/steal the whole care these days?

The inexperienced thief would have problems "hotwiring" a late model Mustang due to the use of the electronic key.

However, as noted, a professional thief would still have no problems loading the Mustang into a truck, and driving away with it, before any of your neighbors can file a noise complaint against you with the police.

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