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car alarms useful or useless?

A

andrewjm

Senior member
i understand that when an alarm goes off, theres very rarely anyone running to your car to check it out. however, do you think it deters theft at all?

if a robber is going to break into a car, will seeing an alarm or hearing a warning sound scare them off and have them pick a different car?

what about those viper responder kinds, that tell you if someone breaks into your car?
 
i was going to buy one with the remote pager that alerts the owner if the alarm is going off...however i decided that i'd probably end up going to jail for murdering whoever busted into my car....or getting shot by whoever busted into my car

so i decided to just leave my car stereoless
 
Alarms scare off a good percentage of theives. Most wont even try it if they see a blinking LED in your car. The Vipers are very nice alarms. Why not spend a couple bucks more and get an alarm/remote start combo?
 
i actually kinda lied when i posted this... i got the viper responder w/ remote start...

i was just hoping that i made the right move... cause i heard they scare some off... then others say they dont do a thing...

i bought the best one there was and i just hope i dont have bad things ever happen *again* 🙁 🙁 🙁
 
Alarms will deter the novice thieves who are just looking to slim jim their way in and pick up whatever they can. Alarms will do nothing to deter professional thieves though.
 
Well it really depends on the mental fortitude of the thief. The alarm going off only increases the chance that one will be caught, but so many people disregard car alarms because they are to common place. The situation in which the thief is trying to steal the car also changes weither the alarm will stop them. All they have to do is try to steal a car when it is storming. People are so used to them going off with thunder no one will care.
 
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Alarms will deter the novice thieves who are just looking to slim jim their way in and pick up whatever they can. Alarms will do nothing to deter professional thieves though.
Click to expand...

yea, i had someone break into my car the day before i was driving 300 miles... it was very terrible... had to get it repaired somewhere and then drive, cause the pressure of no window kills your ears

i drove to a different city just to get a new window, apparently no one in my city had that exact window... but i needed it repaired... oh well 🙁
 
If they want your car, they'll take your car. But, the way I see it, why make it easy for them to take it? My car has an alarm, a steering wheel lock and the computer chip key recognition. Perhaps a bit overkill, but it at least gives me a bit more piece of mind.
 
useless

best thing to do is own/drive crappy cars so nobody wants to steal them

next best thing is to go with lowjack or lojack , whatever it is
 
Originally posted by: isasir
If they want your car, they'll take your car. But, the way I see it, why make it easy for them to take it? My car has an alarm, a steering wheel lock and the computer chip key recognition. Perhaps a bit overkill, but it at least gives me a bit more piece of mind.
Click to expand...

Computer chip key is pretty useless for a professional thief. Steering wheel lock - if you're talking about The Club, all they do now is saw the steering wheel and slip it off.
 
You should put up a poll! We can see how many people think alarms are worthless...

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: isasir
If they want your car, they'll take your car. But, the way I see it, why make it easy for them to take it? My car has an alarm, a steering wheel lock and the computer chip key recognition. Perhaps a bit overkill, but it at least gives me a bit more piece of mind.
Click to expand...

Computer chip key is pretty useless for a professional thief. Steering wheel lock - if you're talking about The Club, all they do now is saw the steering wheel and slip it off.
Click to expand...

With anything security-related, there is nothing foolproof. No system can deter a thief with enough determination, skill and time.

Therefore, the goal becomes deterring all but the most fanatical thieves. Chipped keys and clubs can be broken, but they exist to deter as many thieves as possible.

I think alarms are pretty useless, though.
 
my alarm is special. no, really it is... special varying sirens within sirens that I've never heard elsewhere. People will turn and look... but that'd be it... maybe it's enough. It does cut off the engine too ... but I'm pretty sure most do that nowadays. I'd like the remote paging so I know it's actually going off though.

I am going to splurge and get a remote start that may just replace the whole system... so I'll be missing it big time. It was nice being different.
 
it depends on how good your alarm is...

if you have a shibby alarm...this is what happens

hit car, alarm goes off, pop hood, disconnect battery OR rip out siren

proceed to rape car

a little better....

hit car, alarm goes off, pop hood, disconnect battery, rip out siren, rip out brain

proceed to rape car

almost there....

hit car, alarm goes off, pop hood, disconnect battery, rip out siren, try to find brain, fail

call tow truck

proceed to rape car

the best...

hit car, alarm goes off, pop hood, disconnect battery, rip out siren #1, try to find brain, fail, hide in bushes until self powered siren #2 turns off

call tow truck

proceed to rape car
 
The best alarms and security are found in European cars.... I can't find the stats, but most europeans have a car stolen at some point in their lives.
Because these cars are driven by moneyed and powerful men, luxury cars have the most advanced security systems. Just a touch of a button locks all doors when the car hits nine kilometers per hour, turns on all interior lights, or turns on signal lights and headlights (especially handy when one cannot locate the car in the dark). Virtually all luxury cars have remote control features. All these cars also have keys with certain groove patterns etched into them and ignition locks so that the only way to turn on the car?s engine is to steal these custom-made keys. These systems also use a computer code integrated into the key (to unlock the gearshift and the ignition) so that if the key is removed, the electronic computer unit (ECU) is disabled, preventing unauthorized engine starts.
Click to expand...

Most of us have heard the stories of BMWs going into total lockdown, in which the windows won't work, the doors won't open, the car won't start, etc. My last Volvo had a pretty in depth security system as well. Once the alarm was set, either with a key or with the remote, opening or any door, trunk, or hood would set it off.
 
A thief could break into your house through your windows, but you always lock your door right?
 
Many cities have ordinances where if your alarm goes off too many times per hour or stays on for more than a minute, your vehicle can be cited, regardless of whether your car was actually broken into.
 
well, most insurance companies give you lower rates if you have a security system installed.... so for that reason, they have at least some financial benefit
 
It will probably scare off the amature thieves but the professional thieves will take your car no matter what. My parents Integra GSR was stolen out front of our house and it had an alarm as well. It was parked in the driveway and the alarm didn't even go off. The car was just gone the next morning
 
Put an NRA, or better "State Trooper Association" sticker on the back of your car. That is a better deterrant than any old alarm.

Most alarms, IMHO, don't work very well.. If someone is really good, they can steal it from under your nose without making a sound. However, if the guy just wants to nab your stereo or cd collection, they're gonna set it off, grab the goods, and then get out before you even have a chance to run outside and see what the ruckus is (if you even do that).
 
My brother's car got broken into. They popped the hood, disconnected dthe battery, jacked the head unit and speakers. The alarm apparantley did nothing.
 
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