After recently going though this with our car that was stolen off the drive-way (MY08 BMW 520d)
And having cctv of the whole thing and "watching it happen" the following morning we found that Police and insurance company wernt interested and we had just become another statistic and just another victim of crime.
so moving forward and speaking to the police, insurance company, car/van security installers, and a few other people we managed to come up with this 5-point plan.
the aim of the game is to make it as difficult as possible for the scumbags for get away with your pride and joy and put as many barriers in there way as possible.
so heres the 5 point plan.
1- move the OBD2 port
2 - Steering wheel physical lock
3- 3rd party imobilizer
4- tracker
5 - second alarm
step1 (£ Free)
a lot of modern thefts are being done with black market OBD programmers that can code a new key or disable the OEM immobilizer in seconds, this step is totally free. the advice from a auto security specialist was to screw the diagnostic port and cable tie it up out of the way. the idea being that any would be theith is not going to waist time unscrewing panels to get to the data port. Another option is to get a OBD2 extension cable and relocate the port to a hidden place that you know about.
step2 - Steering wheel physical lock (£20 - £150)
get a steering wheel lock, yes these can be removed by hack-sawing through the steering wheel, but its just another layer. stay away from ones that have a circular key as these can be picked in seconds. The autolock ones have be around a while and will add just that little bit of time required to get it off before the van can be driven....
step 3- immobilizer (£100 - £400)
fit a third party immobilizer, a lot of thefts are being done with RF key relay attacks for motors that use keyless entry . . . Thankfully our vans dont have that . . . but what happens when they break into your house to get the keys? well even if they manage to get to the OBD port to plug a black-box in and override the OEM immobilizer or steal your keys then this device will prevent the van from being started.
The Autowatch Ghost is the current preferred tech of choice.
step 4- tracker ( £50-£300)
The first thing the police asked me when i reported my car theft was "has it got a tracker?" it seems that a motor with a tracker is classed as a "crime in progress" and will get a better response from the police as they have something to go on, and not just another missing car or van (thats probably already got different number plates on or has already been stripped down for parts)
You can get fully monitored immobilizers or ones that you you tack yourself. You get get a £50 online and pay £30 a year for the simcard. You can then track your own motor to you hearts content. most of the cheap ones only need 2 or 3 wires to be fitted. super easy.
step 5 - second alarm. ( £40 - £500 )
fit a second alarm? sounds stupid righ? . . . well no, actually a lot of black box attacks rely on disabling the OEM alarm and immobilizer. if you have fitted a separate stand alone alarm then the theifs arent expecting it. so even is they get in, or steal your keys. and get to the obd port. or even replace the ECU they have to deal with you second alarm shouting at them.
you dont need to set it every time, maybe just a night or whenever you feel its needed. you can pick cheap ones up online from £40 and fit yourself.... you dont need to wire up all the bells and whistles.... just the basics.
as an example the vans come with an alarm that picks up the door switches, ultrasonic and siren etc from the CAN bus. so you can fit a stand alone microwave sensor alarm etc so it wont interfere with the OEM alarm. The below is an example. Cliffors arrow 5.1, fit yourself and add a microwave sensor for £50, just 4 wires to connect up =]
So there we have it. my 5 point plan to make it more difficult for the scroats to nick your motor....
sure if they REALLY want it, it will dissapear. but even if they lift it with a lorry you will be able to track it to the big container they are putting it into. - next stop Europe right!
