Prevent Your Car from Being Stolen

[Cuda340]

Has anyone thought of how they are going to safeguard their new Challenger? I had a car stolen in front of my house (in the suburbs) with a dead battery!

In researching various alarm and anti-theft devices, I was shocked to learn how professional theives can foil just about every system (especially the factory systems) in just a few minutes using code-grabbers and key bypass devices.

However, I came across a device called the "Ravelco." It totally disables the car's electrical system (ignition, ECU, starter, etc.). The company claims that no car with this device has ever been stolen in over 30 years and 3.5 million applications. The cost is about $300 and is installed at your house.

Has anyone ever had this installed on their car? Are their claims valid?
See their website at: http://www.carthiefstoppers.com/

[Ragamuffin]

Ironically, recently I've been thinking of this scenario : today as well ! I'm thinking ,' Well the Challenger's will be in limited production [ somewhat ] compared to others so maybe won't be the thieve's targets...which seem to be what hondas /toyotas models at the top of the list ' ? What about the Lo-Jack systems and/or a selectivly hidden GPS gadget . I ,myself have thought for awhile { in part due to when I had my last Challenger and was the Caddymaster at a Local country club which had a few "Badboys" , at least one whom liked to sprinkle dirt down by the wipers } that I'd like to have a 360 degree mini camera to capture any and all culprits. Also, a person ,maybe the mechanic who worked on it most told me to just take this little part off [ which was a part with ceramic that's attached to the firewall solenoid?? ] and that was all to keep the vehicle from starting ! That is/would be a very simple manuver /5 minutes worth. The new Challenger though may not have this little "Dude" !

[Cuda340]

Ironically, recently I've been thinking of this scenario : today as well ! I'm thinking ,' Well the Challenger's will be in limited production [ somewhat ] compared to others so maybe won't be the thieve's targets...which seem to be what hondas /toyotas models at the top of the list ' ? What about the Lo-Jack systems and/or a selectivly hidden GPS gadget . I ,myself have thought for awhile { in part due to when I had my last Challenger and was the Caddymaster at a Local country club which had a few "Badboys" , at least one whom liked to sprinkle dirt down by the wipers } that I'd like to have a 360 degree mini camera to capture any and all culprits. Also, a person ,maybe the mechanic who worked on it most told me to just take this little part off [ which was a part with ceramic that's attached to the firewall solenoid?? ] and that was all to keep the vehicle from starting ! That is/would be a very simple manuver /5 minutes worth. The new Challenger though may not have this little "Dude" ![/quote]

I don't like Lo-Jack. See what CarThiefStoppers.com has to say about it:

"Tracking devices and vehicle recovery systems may work, AFTER your car has already been stolen. These expensive systems only come into play after the car has been stolen, provide no impediment; they are After the Fact Jacks and are easily defeated and by the time the car is found there is a good chance it has already been stripped of parts. The time it takes from when the vehicle is driven off, to when the owner notices the vehicle is gone, to when the vehicle is actually tracked gives most thieves time to strip and dump the car.

The question is how do they do it? Below are just a few techniques that thieves use.

Radio based systems such as LoJack can be defeated by simply driving the car to an underground parking lot or out of range or by removing the antennae which is usually located behind one of the headlights. GPS systems like GM's OnStar are even easier to defeat. All you have to do is clip or break off the GPS antenna and the system is rendered useless. Even worse, according to the Police Department of Los Angeles, California, professional thieves use a radio frequency finder to locate and disable tracking and recovery devices while the vehicle is in motion.
Success for tracking device and vehicle recovery companies, may not be success for you. Theft recoveries are tracked by companies such as, so even if your vehicle is recovered, the resale value will drop significantly. Add the cost of the tracking system, monthly fees, damage to the vehicle, drop in resale value, and tracking devices loose their appeal.
A tracking device should be the last line of defense, not the first. You don't want someone to have possession of your car for one minute, let alone several hours, days or weeks. And most insurance companies will wait up to one month before paying out on your claim, just in case your vehicle turns up.
Even if your vehicle is stolen and legitimately recovered it's resale value will be significantly reduced no matter how good it's condition or how low the mileage. Moreover, if during the theft, the vehicle is involved in a major accident or wreck- damage severely affects the safety and resale value of a vehicle. Even worse, if the vehicle sustained damage due to being stripped or fire damage and was rebuilt or reconstructed, then placed back on the road- the vehicle will bear one of the following undesirable titles: 'SALVAGE TITLE, CLEAN-RECOVERED THEFT, STOLEN/UNRECOVERED, REBUILT SALVAGE, SALVAGE CERTIFICATE, NON-REPAIRABLE, SALVAGE TITLE/REBUILDABLE, SALVAGE THEFT TITLE, SALVAGE CERTIFICATE BRANDED THEFT."

[Ragamuffin]

All this makes me want to like scratch my noggin !!! Want to live on Planet DCX ; where only the Good & Nice are ! Heck, for months now I've been mostly "residing" within the Land of Challengertalk.com !

[Tails]

The stock lock system on the OZ Goat is that they would have to steal the actual key to make the car work. Anyone heard how they will do the Challenger?

[XJameson]

I had a Jeep Cherokee stolen from me in Atlanta a few years back... was one of the worst feelings in the world to see an empty parking space where you KNOW you parked your car, then you see a small pile of broken glass in it....

I use a club on my Jeep now (that Cherokee is long gone; I drive a Grand Cherokee now), even in a safe neighborhood. My philosophy is that a thief will see that and immediately move on to the next car, without trying to defeat it, since Jeeps are a dime a dozen. As for my Challenger... will most likely install a kill-switch hidden in or on the dash somewhere. I'd much rather come back to a Challenger with a broken window and destroyed steering column than no Challenger at all!

A lot of times car manufactures will have "empty" slots on the dash for switches that aren't there for a variety of reasons (didn't get that option package, aesthetics, etc.) and my plan is to simply install a factory switch there as an ignition kill. Hopefully that'll be available on the Chally!

[Viper]

I just pull the injector fuse (or relay). Thieves will not take time to troubleshoot.

[JonW]

Originally Posted by Viper

I just pull the injector fuse (or relay). Thieves will not take time to troubleshoot.

How do you prevent someone backing a wrecker up to it and hauling it off?

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by JonW

How do you prevent someone backing a wrecker up to it and hauling it off?

Well, if you're not around at that time, then there probably is not much that can be done ! If ,on [ or in your Right Hand ] the other hand you are around then it may be advisable to have this " Comrade " possibly in the .44 Magnum: ready, unlocked and loaded !!! !

[wirewilly]

Back in the 70's, my cousin had something he called an "ear piercer". Once the car was started this alarm of over 200 dcbls would go off and blow out the eardrums of the would-be thief. I wonder if someone still makes this product?