Car ransacked... they stole my sunglasses
 

So I came out this morning to find my passenger door open, glove box open, and center console open. They got my sunglasses, but left my tire pressure gauge. This was happening an average of twice a year. I moved to a nicer apartment complex a year ago, and it hasn't happened since. I don't lock my doors, because I would rather not replace my top. I paid $10 for the aviators, and expected them to get stolen so no lose there. Don't give me your pity, because I don't want it.

I am really freaked out that they might come back for my AEM Uego or my MS though. The AEM would bring some coin, but they might steal the MS thinking it would. I don't think there is anything I can do to stop it besides parking the car some where else.

On to the point of this post. I was looking at Sparkfun (http://www.sparkfun.com/), and found their GSM modules. I think it would be cool to have a DIY car alarm that texted me anytime the doors are opened. Some of the modules even look like you could call them, and get GPS information which would be handy if the car was stolen.

I haven't seen anything like this before so if you have post up a link.

Looking at the GM862 (SparkFun Electronics - GM862 Cellular Quad Band Module with GPS) I wouldn't even need a microcontroller. It has a few IOs, and a built in Python interpreter with user memory. They also have an Eval board for it for $30.

I just can't wait to see the look on some thief's face when I come running out to beat the shit out of them.

I would like to do this for under $200. Discuss.

I drive a 19 year old car, with a 10 year old cd player, 90% of the cds in the car are burned copies, I have a 4 dollar compass globe thingy, and a $45 dollar ebay radar detector. I always lock the doors, unless I leave the top down. I only leave the top down if Im going inside a store for less then a half hour(Tops, Wegmans, riteaid) or if Im running inside the house for a few minutes. AFAIK I have never had anyone break into any of my cars, never had anything missing, never been vandalized. Im not really worried about anyone ruining my top because there isnt anything inside the car. And a large percent of people I know/have met dont know how to drive stick.

Im sorry for about your 10 dollar sunglasses but it doesnt sound like they broke anything from your description so I dont feel too bad for you. It sounds like youre in the same boat I am where there is nothing inside the car worth taking unless its easy access, I dont think you would have too much trouble if you locked your doors.

^ :facepalm:

I've debated for awhile about getting some type of "alert" alarm. I wouldn't want the kind that starts blasting sirens and shit, that just makes them rip the shit out faster. I would prefer the messaging ones that let you know "doors are open, time to kick ass and chew bubblegum".

I have $100's worth of shit inside my car, and most of it can be yanked out pretty quick if the thieves know how. I would rather spend the night in jail for smashing a thieves face in then wake up the next morning to see my car was raped and I did nothing to stop it.

just be glad you don't drive a civic hatchback.

^ Still boggles my mind why people who get these cars dont actively take precautions to protect the cars. I read theft threads at least once a week on a local forum.

from owning convertibles all my life I have learned. There is NOTHING you can do to stop a thief. The best alarms, clubs, etc will not stop them.

I have had a pristine restored 66 VW vert stolen right out of my drive way. They hooked up to it with a chain, drug it for a block where it was then taken with a tow truck. Every one of my convertibles VW, Triumph, S2000, TJ, 4 Miatas, has been ransacked at one point. Some jack ass even stole the doors off my VW Thing once.

/rant

How many nonmiata people do you think would look at a miata and think, "Oh I bet he has MS behind his glovebox I should steal it"?

I think that most theft is opportunity. Why go for a hard target when there are plenty of easy targets all over. Unless they are looking to steal something specific, or of extremely high value, they go for what is easiest. The best thing to stop a thief is to not make yourself a target. Blend in. Unfortunately most peoples cars on this forum don't blend in really well. Not to mention convertible makes it a target...

I don't see anyone trying to steal the whole car, and I am glad I don't have to worry about it.

I think after thinking things through my options are

1) Take my chances... maybe start locking my doors. I don't see locking my doors making a difference though. Then I'll just be replacing a top and the Uego.

2) Hiding the stuff I've got. Take out the Uego and get a LC-1 or JAW. Get a cheap boost gauge. Sell the DDM Works panel (which looks good, but not worth it). Make sure the tuning cable is out of the car so a thief doesn't find the MS. Not keeping anything in the car except my cheap sunglasses.

3) Building the alarm which will end up costing a lot more than I expect. Pushing back the purchase of stuff I would rather have.

I'm leaning away from 3 after thinking about it. If I had more money to spend I would try it. I think 2 sounds like the best option now. The geek in me wanted this thread to turn into an alarm build thread. I guess it still might, but it isn't looking like it right now.

I am less nervous parking my car topless than with the top on. Note: No soft top. I'm so paranoid about my hardtop getting stolen sometimes that I feel like i'm getting an ulcer.

I'm an Integra owner...i've been down this theft road more times than I can count on both hands.

Now if you had even the cheapest alarm with a shock sensor, you would have heard it before it even moved an inch.

I usually take my HT off if I'm leaving my car for a while. Call me paranoid, but I also take my catalytic converter off the Toyota truck as well.

I figure if it gets stolen, I'd be due to my indolence.

Are you serious? What a pain in the ass. I'd move if it was that bad.

+1, you guys need to move somewhere less ghetto, never had any of my cars fucked with.

wtf is no cat gonna do but let them drive off faster and louder?

Several months ago my car was gone through, and my several things were taken including my cheap head unit. My top was down, and this was one of only two times I've left my car outside over night since I bought it. Now this sucked, but one of my coworkers did exactly the same thing except his doors were locked and the top was up. They cut a hole in the top of he 2008 Convertible Mustang. I live in a house in a small town, he lives in an apartment in a slightly larger town. I'm a firm beliver in leaving the doors unlocked. If they want whats in your car they are going to get it.

If I would have caught them, and I know who did it. I would probably not have a clean record now.

My hardening the target measures:
1. Park it in the garage at night if you are able.
2. Alarm system, no noisemaker (hate that crap) but kills the ignition.
3. Hidden fuel pump switch.
4. Dark tinted windows all around (5% rear, 20% side) and a sun shade in the windshield whenever parked. The causal observer cannot see anything in the car unless they do the cupped hands on the window routine, which is an invitation for a boot buried in their ass.
5. Park it with the drive wheels hard to get to. Backed up against a wall, light pole, whatever. Not foolproof, but makes it harder.
6. If you are parking it for a long time and have an aftermarket ECU, reprogram it with a impossible to run map, or take the ecu iwith you.
7. Don't buy Oakleys and leave them out in plain sight. When you wake up in the morning and the lighties hurt your head. The first thing you do when you get up out of bed, is hit them streets a runnin' and try to beat the masses, and go get your self some CHEAP sunglasses. Oh yeah, oh yeeah, OH YEEAAAHHH!!


No mercy for the thieves if caught red handed. The LEOs will have sympathy for you.

While I am in Afghanistan I have my car(not the miata) stored in some huuuuge lot that I found out after I deployed gets broken into just about everyday. It's on Post so I though I would be at least a little safe. So I am really hoping no one decides to check my truck, for I have nearly 7000 worth of tools in there. Whoops.

I had a head unit stolen from my DSM a few years ago. If my driver side door locked I doubt it would have gotten stolen. I think breaking a window, or cutting through a soft top looks a bit more suspicious than casually opening an unlocked door, grabbing something from inside, and leaving. Someone might have stopped them or called the police if it was obvious it wasn't his car.

Toyota cats are a HUGE theft item...meth heads cut them off with a 18v sawz-all and sell as scrap (for the expensive metals inside) for something like $50. Meanwhile, the Toyota owner is usually out over $500, sometimes over $1000 if they cut wires, O2 sensors,etc. Happened to a coworker, in our office parking lot, broad daylight, nicest part of town. Cops that took report said 10 other cars were hit around town that day. These thieves are douchebags.

As far as the Miata, I've disabled interior trunk release, keep anything of value in the trunk, leave doors unlocked, console and glovebox open when parked. I do worry about my MS though, thieves will take ANYTHING they think they can sell for a hit of crack. I once had a $10 FM antenna booster stolen from my Jeep in a mall parking lot-I was there for literally 5 minutes, came out and it was ripped out. Fuckers-THEY ALL SHOULD DIE!!

The cat thing was a huge problem here in Columbia SC too. There was a whole task force put together to stop this problem!!