Locking & Safety

[thixon]

Hey TA,

I'm curious, how did you discover that the dirt had been poured down your oil filler pipe?

My guess is that the event prompted your engine swap. If I'm right, then I have a good idea of how you discovered the dirt!

[NickDawson]

Ive discovered a new theft deterrent - leave the center seat and access panel out and all of your empty oil bottles strewn about the cabin...

[Les Parker]

I wonder if any one has come up with a "roll-up" oil slick?
Just put it under your veh. when you leave it, roll it up and take it away with you when you're ready to leave.
Maybe that might deter folks from "nicking" your ride home?

Just a thought

[superstator]

Just take a lesson from the 1993 Chameleon XLE:

Inside, the Chameloen XLE has everything you would expect in a luxury sedan of its class. Soft leather seating, a contoured instrument panel, and fine wood. But there's more - much more.

Authentically distressed fenders give way to a partially padded roof of blistered vinyl. While under the hood, a simulated transmission-fluid drip whispers, "Hey, not worth the trouble."

[xsbowes]

I've found a good theft deterent is a sign like this:



The only thing I'm worried about going missing is the pioneer kit on the tailgate.

What's even funnier is people actually steal cars in Hawaii, to go where I don't know. When I lived in Sicily people would steal anything left in your car whether it was valuable or not.

[yorker]

When I was worried about this I used to take the rotor out of the distributer, it was pretty easy to do. I've had stuff stolen out of my Rovers before and the best bet is to not leave anything you'll really miss in it if the Rover is out of sight.

[yorker]

I have locks all over my truck. With 3 fuel tanks (42 gallon capacity) I keep my fuel caps locked. I don't get change back from my hundred dollar bill when I fill from dry and prefer for the fuel to be there in the morning.

When the price of fuel was up around here they were actually punching or drilling holes in the tanks to steal the fuel. I know it sounds like a stupid way to steal gas but that is how a lot of it was done.

[zayante]

We lost a few plastic fuel tanks at work when gas hit $4/gal. Pretty low risk to punch a hole. Drilling a steel or aluminum tank is much more risky.

I had a friend who put a fuel pump switch on his Mk II Austin Healey Sprite. Three off-duty soldiers from Ft. Ord hot wired it and figured out the pull starter, but got only a couple of blocks away before it quit. They were pretty drunk, and decided to push it down the street while one of them steered. A passing cop stopped them.

Chris

[frans]

I put a switch in to be able to open or close the coil wire circuit. Like it has been said already, I think it is a good idea to do something to discourage being able to quickly get in and drive away.


Here is a funny / sad story about stuff being stolen from a vehicle that I will share:

My friend's family dog died. They were heartbroken and decided to bury the dog at this place where they used to walk. A beautiful meadow.
Well, they loaded the dog into this cardboard box they had handy, put the box on the back seat and they took off to the final resting place.
They made a quick stop at WalMart to buy some bottled water.

When they got back to the car, the window was broken and the box was gone!

The cardboard box was a T.V. box from when they bought a t.v. recently.

[greenmeanie]

THe kids and yweakers in my area see me out in my garage almost every night keeping my fleet running. I just don't think they have the mechanical skill and commitment needed to get anyone one of them to go past the end of the street so they don't even try.

When fuel prices were up someone siphoned the tank on my 88 for 3 gallons of fuel and the 1/2 gallon of sludge that was in it. On looking I found a bunch of bright marks where they had tried driving a screwdriver through the bottom plate obviously befoer they had tried the petrol cap. Dumb but it could have been funny in one of those Darwin moments.

I had to laugh because sitting right next to them my 101 had 30 gallons of high octane and a drain plug that takes a 3/8 drive that was sitting in the cab.

[wooday]

I don't lock my doors ever either. I'm a firm believer in the 'keep nothing of value in the truck when you're not in it' approach. That said, when I leave the truck for long periods of time (at the trailhead when camping or at the airport for example) I'll disable my fuel pump. I installed an electric fuel pump from a Defender with an inertia switch mounted to the bulkhead in the engine compartment. Its simple to pop the hood and flip the switch - something that a would-be thief would probably have difficulty figuring out. Besides, its good to have the inertia switch in case of an accident.

[ScottT]

Having driven one type of rover or another since 1990 leaving it open and nothing of value is the way we go. Putting door tops in only with the threat of rain. I left the series 3 topless all over Detroit without issues. The 109 has a lock box used by the previous owner to hold a gun, a CCP holder. It is a great thing.


As for stealing the truck, I have coil cut off switch on the firewall, easy and makes it a no go. Pulling the rotor as mentioned is good. You could also look into the battery disconnects that have a threaded brass knob.

The only time someone messed with my truck was when I had a RR. It was a bunch on rich kids that were eventually caught and did boot camp.
Again the truck was open, they got a Leatherman, Olympus Stylus camera, and a national park pass.

The moral in my mind, rich kid in the burbs are more a pita then anyone else.

[Andrew IIA]

I often have valuable stuff in in my IIA. My two black retievers discourage most people from messing with it (even though they're totally harmless). I keep all the doors locked so that no on will steal the dogs.

Andrew
'63 SIIA 88" SW