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Number: 3488
From: "SNP Marq" <infosyssec@i...>
Date: Sun Sep 7, 2003  10:14 pm
Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] Re: Alarm Systems

Body:
The clubs in verts are worth their weight in gold - to a degree...
 
They provide a visual deterent to the inexperienced car napper.  However, for the pro who wants your car, they simply use a string blade to slice through most steering wheels in about 15 seconds.  Once the steering wheel is cut they just bend the opened area to remove the Club.
 
But the best deterent is to not put anything 'tasty' in the cockpit of the car that will draw unwanted eyes to your car.   For example, a convertible of any make is the last place in the world to put a 'cutting edge' model stereo system.   Johnny Quickbuck is looking for 'hot looking items' that he can sell for a quick buck or to stuff into his 1970 Datsun 510 or Plymoth K car.  
 
Unfortunately, the McLaren's have lots of interesting goodies in them that are of natural curiousity or jealousy to regular Mustang owners.  They might want to break into your car in order to get the door arm rest,  the sterring wheel hub, the center console or even something as simple as the badge on your dash.  Heck I would love to find out what happened to the door armrest and center console out of my road pig.  Obviously someone thought they would make a nice addition to their Mustang....
 
The fuel cut off switch does work.... but I would find a way to locate the switch somewhere other than the obvious 'under the seat' trick that most Mustang owners try.  I would hard wire a switch right back to the line at the fuel pump.  This would allow me to place the kill switch anywhere in the car and leave the car napper with only one option to get around that - to go under the car and jump the connection at the fuel tank.
 
My brother has a 5.0 coupe that a car napper thought would make for an interesting joy ride.   In his car there was the 'magic key'.   It is a simple flashing light on the dash, with a keyslot that only permits the vehicles ignition to be started if 'the right key' is in that key slot.     Suffice to say that the 'bad guy did not get my brother's car and even after punching the steering column, all he got was a car rurring over and over and not igniting.  The insurance company was pleased to pay the cost of fixing the column compared to reparing a trash 5.0 or a written off one involved in an accident. 
 
But above all the key is to not leave anything of interest in a convertible that will attract 'idiots'.    And believe it or not that could be something as simple as a zippo lighter, a pair of sunglasses, a few loose coins, a pack of smokes.  
 
Not all car theives and vandals are as classy as the folks in 'Gone in 30 seconds'.   Most of them are low class opportunist.   So remove the temptations for them and they will go and vandalize the rice boys cars with the neon light inside or a pair of cool sunglasses.
 
As for looking or not locking a convertible....  if the thief can see in your car and see that there is nothing interesting there... they probably won't slash your top in order to get into the car to explore around.   They will move on to another 'opportunity'.    But by leaving your doors unlocked you have basically said 'ooh I have nothing worth stealing, hop in and prove it to yourself'.   The problem with this is that the insurance company is not going to be overly excited when you report that you left  your doors unlocked and someone jumped in and damaged the interior of your car.  There is no proof of a physical forced entry. 
 
By locking your doors and leaving NOTHING visible to attract the pond scums attention you are forcing them to make a decision.  Do they really want to slash your ragtop in order to explore or would they prefer to move on to another 'opportunity'.    And what is the worst that can happen in this scenario... the slice the top, get in, look around, vandalize a little and move on when they find nothing of interest.  And you end up getting a free ragtop courtesy of the insurance company.
 
The only other scenario here is the joy rider who has decided to help homself to your wheels for either a joy ride or to steal your car so that he can strip the McLaren specific parts out of your car at his leisure.   In that case it really won't matter whether your door was locked or unlocked.  The car is going to be GONE in 30 seconds.   At this point, when the car is recovered you will probably end up receiving a brand new rag top, courtesy of the insurance company.  So what is the big deal about worrying about a ragtop in that particular circumstance.
 
But let me just say that most ragtops get sliced by people who are envious of your convertible.   These are the type of pond scum that don't have enough balls to kick your door panels, but are a close relative of the pond scum that like to run their keys against your paint.   Their jealousy shows itself by the little things that they will do in order to 'hurt your car'.   The convertible top is a natural prey for these key carrying pond scum, as a nice tightly fitting rag top is easy to pierce and slash with something as simple as a car key.   In that case the loser really doesn't care if your door is locked or unlocked ( in fact it might be better that this type of opportunist loser be locked out ).   This guys just wants to vent his jealousy on your vehicle and walk away laughing at the damage he has inflicted on you by damaging your car.  All you can do in this scenario is make sure you park your car in a highly visible parking spot, where pedestriang traffic doesn't automatically cascade by.   The car is left in a fairly visible location where the 'loser opportunist' will have to walk specifically towards your car in order to vent his anger that you have a nice car and he doesn't.
 
Oh well... those are my thoughts.  I owned a Triumph TR4A convertible for ten years, and drove it to the university everyday.  Not once did my rag get slashed or keys get run on my car.   Nobody ever bothered to try to rip it off ( even though it would take an inexperienced person about 12 seconds to hotwire one ).   But I also never left the car in a position where an opportunist or jealous person could get at the vehicle without attracting attention to their proximity to the car.   It takes a little extra bit of work when choosing a parking spot, but in the long run it certainly saves you the hassle of having your car ripped, damaged, stolen or vandalized.
 
But probably the best advice is never to take your McLaren out with you when you are going drinking in the evening at some bar.   You are putting the vehicle in close proximity to drunks - and they represent one of the major threats to your car.   With a little booze in them they are fearless and their inhibitions are greatly lowered, fueled by alcoholic bravery.  They are quite prepared to let their jealousy of your car influence their actions.
 
Tee hee... and for my next essay... 
 
Marq