Anti Theft Devices- What do you recommend?

[Tomasfish]

So what are your thoughts on anti theft devices?
I'm most interested and intrigued by Ravelco device. Does anyone have this and what are your thoughts?
A battery kill switch could effect the electronics and always being reset.
I read a kill switch connected to the fuel pump is a good alternative if you creatively hide the switch. The engine will turn over, but never start and deter thief.

Can LoJack really help anti theft and is it worth the cost to maintain?

I'm not a fan of steering wheel locks or bars. A portable saws all would eliminate those.

Curious what people are using these days. Thank you!

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[Zig]

Stock 2a system​

(stock system, my plate, 2a)​

 

[5.0ALM]

I'd recommend a manual transmission!

That will immediately turn away a high proportion of dumb asses, who will then look for an easier target.

 

[dusman59]

Smith & Wesson makes a very nice antitheft unit. You don't even have worry about connecting it to the battery.

 

[steveo1960]

Aren't many cars stolen by cloning a key that is left too close to the garage, driveway etc?
How good is the Ford security system?

 

[agreywolfe]

urban myths and jokes aside, the best anti theft thing you can do is to just lock your doors. A majority of thefts are opportunistic ie the thief will just walk a line of cars and pull the door handles, if it dont open, move on till one does. secondly is to park out of easy public view be it a garage, parking lot or what have you. Ultimately the best "anti theft device" is going to be a locking bar or hard wired kill switch because if they can get past Fords security systems than anything electronic isnt really going to stop them either.

 

[Zig]

urban myths and jokes aside, the best anti theft thing you can do is to just lock your doors. A majority of thefts are opportunistic ie the thief will just walk a line of cars and pull the door handles, if it dont open, move on till one does. secondly is to park out of easy public view be it a garage, parking lot or what have you. Ultimately the best "anti theft device" is going to be a locking bar or hard wired kill switch because if they can get past Fords security systems than anything electronic isnt really going to stop them either.

4 flats may be slightly more difficult to deal with. Although I agree with the sentiment.

 

[Zig]

So what are your thoughts on anti theft devices?
I'm most interested and intrigued by Ravelco device. Does anyone have this and what are your thoughts?
A battery kill switch could effect the electronics and always being reset.
I read a kill switch connected to the fuel pump is a good alternative if you creatively hide the switch. The engine will turn over, but never start and deter thief.

Can LoJack really help anti theft and is it worth the cost to maintain?

I'm not a fan of steering wheel locks or bars. A portable saws all would eliminate those.

Curious what people are using these days. Thank you!

It appears one of the trade offs is remote start. Manuals don’t get remote start so not an issue with those but if contemplating for use with an automatic it seems in order to use the remote start/rev functions the ‘plug’ needs to remain in place defeating the purpose.

while a window sticker is nice, stickers and labels only mean something to someone that has prior knowledge (ie what’s that, I dunno), kinda like LoJack, it don’t mean anything to anyone that doesn’t already know.

not knocking them just expressing my opinion.

A lowish tech solution, I have heard some use, for after the fact is to hide an AirTag in it. At that point every iPhone becomes a location scanner.

 

[Skye]

1. Faraday pouches, one for each fob. If you're not in the car, keep the fob in the pouch.

2. Always lock the car, even if parked in the garage.

Bluetooth signals can travel well. You want to prevent fob-to-vehicle interaction as much as possible, to prevent clone and relay attacks.

I periscope up to occasionally pull Sync updates, but otherwise leave Wi-Fi off. User access to bluetooth, for phones and all that, stays off.

I have the factory security system installed ('22), which works well. Those setting up for a new car purchase, might be something to consider.

Most thefts in my area are opportunistic. People leave their cars unlocked, they don't have good lighting, leave something of value in plain sight or leave it running (warming up in Winter).

Trucks and SUVs are #1 and #2 on the hit list in CO. Older KIAs and Hyundais are not too far behind.

 

[Longitude Zero]

Trunk Monkey.

 

[flattrkr]

I’m hoping that the manual transmission is a deterrent. I had a Lexus SUV stolen, then recovered, with a broken window and some minor damage. It took 5 months to get the rear window ( supply chain issues).
FWIW, I live about 75 miles from Montreal so most stolen vehicles from Ontario and Quebec are on their way to Africa very quickly. Police officers told me the vehicles are sometimes left overnight in a quiet commercial area to see if a tracking device is installed.
Sadly, the crooks seem to quickly defeat most security devices. There are many you tube videos showing how easily the thef deterrent systems are circumvented.

 

[keithwalton]

I believe the latest Ford key has followed other manufactures and has a motion sensor in it.
If the key doesn't move for a minute (or so) keyless entry is disabled and thus relay attack will not work.
On my merc double tap lock on the key and it turns off keyless entry on that key.

I did hide a tracker tag on my M5, worked nicely to know where the car was at anytime and where i parked it.

 

[RLE55]

1. Faraday pouches, one for each fob. If you're not in the car, keep the fob in the pouch.

As soon as I heard about the Faraday pouches, what they do and just how vulnerable "push to start" cars are, I got 2 for our FOB's. Pouches are a little bulky in the pants/shorts, but I'm making it work.

 

[HWill]

There really is no such thing as an anti-theft device. If someone wants your car they will take it!

The manual thing is funny but silly.

These so called anti-theft devices are just for amateur/stupid thieves.

I just use the factory devices and have good insurance.

 

[steveo1960]

As soon as I heard about the Faraday pouches and what they do and just how vulnerable "push to start" cars are, I got 2 for our FOB's. Pouches are a little bulky in the pants/shorts, but I'm making it work.

I did the same. I have a little Faraday box at home that all of the key fobs go in. I tested it by putting a fob in it and walking out to the car and no greet, nothing, so it works. I have a pouch when traveling. It passed the test as well.

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