Stolen car at Springfield NSRA?

It was announced at the Springfield event that a car had been stolen. Does anyone know if this is true? I would like to drive my car "when finished" to a few events, and know that there is a chance that this could happen. Dealing with bad weather is bad enough, but having to deal with car thieves has to be at the top of the list. Are there things that I can do that can make it more difficult for them to do this? These guys could easily roll my car away from its parking spot and load into an enclosed trailer and be on the road, never to be seen with the car. My car will have efi, so it would be possible "I think" to remove ecm, but this won't stop them from loading the car in a trailer. What should I do here?

It seems there have been quite a few of these incidents over the past months, we keep seeing reports on various forums, and it is very scary. I know when we drive to an event where we have to leave our car sitting in the hotel parking lot at night we worry that something might happen to it.

I guess hidden disabling switches, gas shutoffs, alarms, clubs on the steering wheel, and possibly a LoJack type device is pretty much all we can do, aside from having it insured well. Hotel parking lot security is pretty much non existent from what I have observed, so we are on our own there. Police usually recommend having a combination of devices so the thief has to overcome more than one obstacle.

The real problem is that some of the guys who do these things are very good at their craft, and no matter how we try to protect our stuff, if they want to get it they usually are successful. :mad::mad:

Don

Activate e-brake with a linear actuator and a hidden switch. If it won't roll they will go for a softer target.

I was at Springfield Saturday and Sunday and never heard any public announcement about a car being stolen, or anything missing. That is not to say it did not happen, only that I was not aware if it did. There was an announcement via PA Sunday mid-day that a rodder was looking for an open trailer to get his car back home to KC due to a mechanical problem, but that's all I ever heard.
I will say that there were several nice cars sitting unattended with keys in the ignition, which I found surprising. Sure, the chances are good that no one is going to bother things, but why tempt fate?? Bruce Lee's suggestion on the brake is a good one, and LoJack tracking is another. If they get it you at least have a chance of it being tracked via strong GPS.

i did hear about it being stolen at his hotel on friday night , it was a 32 roadster orange with cast wheels ( from what i remember the owner telling me ) .
i dont care how you protect it with kill switches , if they want it they will get it !

remeber troys built 37 ford , they looked outside the hotel window at 6.00 , walked outside the hotel at 6.10 the car ,truck ,trailer gone ! never to be seen again .

The announcement was over the PA at fairgrounds around 11am Saturday. I hope it was a false alarm. 2200 cars entered; 1 possibly stolen. Small percentage, but very disheartening for the persons who lost their vehicle if this did happen. E-brake and LoJack sounds like a good starting place. On a positive note, we did see a large number of exceptionally nice cars and pickups. Street Rodding is certainly alive and still kickin. We had a great time!!

Just read Kennyd's post. Dang!!

Once you accept the fact that anything can be jacked, to me the most prudent course of action is to attempt recovery. The LOJACK system is probably the best thing going at doing this. Although what you may recover is only the piece of the car with the transceiver in it .................. :eek:

Kitz

I would consider the LOJACK system, but in NY State, only coverage is near New York City, 175 miles away. Even the VA area we are planning to move to - nada.

Here's their current coverage areas : https://store.lojack.com/content.asp...ntCoverageArea

That surprises me as I thought there was better coverage across the US:CRY:

I wonder how successful LoJack is, percentagewise. Watching some of the cop shows, like that one in NJ where the wolfpack rides around looking for stolen cars, they have had LoJack signals pop up and they ride around trying to zero in on the car and sometimes think it might be a signal skip from somewhere in NY. I think I only saw one show where they ever found the signal, and it was on a piece of construction equipment that had LoJack installed on it.

I guess they are good, but just wonder how good. Are there any systems we can install ourselves or do you have to go to one of their dealers for install?

Don

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I wonder how successful LoJack is, percentagewise. Watching some of the cop shows, like that one in NJ where the wolfpack rides around looking for stolen cars, they have had LoJack signals pop up and they ride around trying to zero in on the car and sometimes think it might be a signal skip from somewhere in NY. I think I only saw one show where they ever found the signal, and it was on a piece of construction equipment that had LoJack installed on it.

I guess they are good, but just wonder how good. Are there any systems we can install ourselves or do you have to go to one of their dealers for install?

Don

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Their optimistic advertising which I just read says 90%. My guess, probably closer to 60-75%, real life:LOL::LOL:http://www.lojack.com/ Happy reading, click 'Automotive' !!

It would appear that LoJack wouldn't have done much good since the state of Missouri is not on their cover list:eek::(

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Originally Posted by IC2

That surprises me as I thought there was better coverage across the US:CRY:

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That "coverage" sucks!! I was seriously considering LoJack but had only assumed that they used the major cell systems, crossing systems to cover the whole US. I wonder if a person could hardwire a cell phone, enable the GPS tracking, and bury it in a cubbyhole? It would work as long as the battery was hooked up, and then for another period of time on the cell phone internal battery. Probably not strong enough to be seen inside a metal building, though... Bummer!!

i think the best idea is good insurance and dont get attached !

A while back, I heard an interesting, rather inventive way to monitor your ride. This guy places a baby monitor in his car so he can hear what is going on outside his motel room. Like everything else, it is not fool proof, but it is one more way to watch over a ride. I take a fatalistic view of car theft, and figure if my rod gets stolen, it is insured, and I can always build another one just like it.

Chain the rear end to a strong post like American Graffiti when they got the police car. (Kidding) I know it’s no joke; I've had mag wheels stolen off from a 55 Chevy and a removable hard top from a 60 Corvette.

The best thing would be to have good insurance for actual amount coverage stated and agreed.

Richard

Sounds like insurance is a must! "Dont get attached" helps. Anything else I can do just gives peace of mind. Guess I need to drive it and enjoy! Just hate it for those people that had their car stolen.

Theft sucks, and it should be lawful to shoot the rockapes who steal your stuff.

Deuce4papa, the only thing worse than having your stuff pinched, is to be too afraid to take it out of the garage. Now that would really suck.

Insure your car and drive the wheels off of it.

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Originally Posted by ford2custom

Chain the rear end to a strong post like American Graffiti when they got the police car. (Kidding) I know it’s no joke; I've had mag wheels stolen off from a 55 Chevy and a removable hard top from a 60 Corvette.

The best thing would be to have good insurance for actual amount coverage stated and agreed.

Richard

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This reminds me of a story that may well be an urban legend. Some guy was so afraid of having his Corvette stolen that he chained the rear axle to a post when he went into a restaurant. When he came back out, the Vette had been turned around and the chain was looped through the front suspension. A sign in the window said, "When we want it, we will take it." Interesting story whether it is true or not.

I just saw a thread on another forum where a Pontiac drag car was also stolen, here are the particulars:

For Immediate Release

Contact: Don Keefe, Keefe Media International 585.489.9826

Richard Killian’s 1962 Catalina Nostalgia Super Stock Racecar Stolen

Nostalgia Super Stock racer Rich Killian, from Orland Park, Illinois, has suffered a tremendous setback this past Memorial Day Weekend. On May 31st, his Bamboo Cream 1962 Catalina Racecar was stolen, along with the enclosed trailer that it was stored in.

The theft took place in the parking lot of Rick’s Racecraft in Yorkville, Illinois. The Catalina can be identified by the cream-colored paint, red Ventura interior and “Super Chief” graphics on the rear quarter panels.

The 535 cubic-inch Pontiac engine is rather unique and is based on an IA-2 Pontiac block, Edelbrock heads and a Wenzler intake manifold. Photos of it are provided for identification purposes.

The Catalina is registered and street-legal, with Illinois antique car plates. The license number is 62INJN (Illinois Antique) and the VIN is 962W2877. The trailer is a white 28-foot Haulmark with “ARC Environmental Engineering” logos on the sides. Its license number is 65591TD (Illinois) and its VIN is 16HGB28217H156139.

A trailer fitting this description was spotted headed east on Route I-94 headed east about 1:00 pm Sunday May 30th between Kalamazoo and Marshall. U.S. and Canadian customs and border patrol authorities have been notified. Any leads or other information would be greatly appreciated. Please call Rich Killen at (708) 460-7373.

This stuff is getting way out of hand. Makes you afraid to leave your car anywhere. :mad:

Don

Not saying anything that some of you have not thought. When the economy gets ruff and our toys value falls. Stuff seems to disappear a little more often.
Not saying that real theft does not happen but too many guys run there mouths years latter on how much insurance paid them and they were really glad to see said toy disappear.
Boats, trucks,rods,trailers,snowplows,lawn equipment,bucket loaders and daily drivers . We have recovered many in past years and over 80% were inside jobs.
Just sayin...i dont think anybody here would do that!!!!I hope.
GPS units and remote alarms are the best .you can find it yourself in a matter of min if you know how to install.Power supply is very important. My race care trailer has one and it wont even make a sound but i know if its moving or the jack gets moved. Those blocks that Home Depot have on there trailers are a good idea also...you could fab it up yourself

I wonder if you painted on the side of your enclosed triailer something like "Danger Nuclear Waste Contamination Unit" would they leave you alone? Seriously though,not giving any hints of whats inside might help,ya think?

Yep we never letter a trailer other than what has to be on it for commercial hauling.

Just another tip, you can put a wireless motion detactor in your car. they are inexpensive and will give you a ring in your room when activated. You can adjust the sesitivity by taping off the pickup asnecessary. Works for me.

I was just telling another guy how I also put a hidden switch for the trailer lights.
Just in case someone should get your trailer because then they will draw attension to them selve's with no trailer light's. Then you may also get lucky when a cop pull's them over to see why they are running with no lights on the trailer.
Kurt

a friend of mine many years ago had his trailer stolen from a job. he spent all weekend building custom hitches for all his trailers. the hitch came out of the trailers just like the truck receiver hitch. don't recall him every losing another one. myself i will just insure them and forget it. too many other things to worry about.

Some times I think the James Bond system of exploding the car and the thief is the way to go, but I bet the insurance agents wouldn't agree! For awhile they had a mat on the passenger's seat that was a TASER set up, so that when the thief slid in on the passenger side they were tasered with and alarm system going off at the same time. But I guess it was to good, because it too is now illegal I believe!
For now all the systems mentioned above seem to be the best we can do, but Don's advice towards a good insurance policy is probably the best. Insurance companies don't like paying out unless they have to so it's worth their time to try and recover expensive vehicles too.