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RCB Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005 Posts: 4143 Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject: Ways to theft proof your Westy |
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Whats your ideas?? |
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Bubs Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2006 Posts: 330
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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Previous owner installed, for whatever reason, an inconspicuous starter button. When you turn the key, it just does nothing. Not that great of theft deterrent, but it would discourage some! _________________ '84 Vanagon w/ Subaru 2.2 Swap
'08 Versa HB six-speed
'09 Zuma 125, '75 Kawasaki H1 500 Triple |
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Dogpilot Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005 Posts: 4205 Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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I put an alarm and keyless entry system at the same time. But really cheap theft deterrent is to remove the relay that powers up the fuel pump when it is left in the vulnerable site. Or, as the Sicilians would do, take the steering wheel with you. _________________ Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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alarm and keyless entry system plus club that can be seen from the outside. |
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McVanagon Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007 Posts: 1684 Location: Northern part of the Virginia
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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_________________ '69 Mike
'85 GL
'87 Wolfsburg Hardtop |
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markz2004 Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007 Posts: 944 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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I was mostly concerned with basic vandalism or theft of contents. For me it's an alarm that is wired to the doors. It also has a sensor for glass breaking. _________________ 87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 , 16" wheels |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Try leaving your dog in the van. Our Lab is the friendliest dog in the world until you stick your head or arm in an open window. _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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shorepig Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2005 Posts: 516 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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I often just leave my dog in the van...she loves it. Sometimes even over night.
Speaking of B and E's , last weekend I decided i was too inebriated to drive the westy home after a night of clubbing, so I decided to sleep in the van in a rough area of downtown east vancouver, BC. Well, at about 4am I get woken out of my comatose drunken sleep, and notice the van wobbling back and forth, then I hear a guy walking around the van and kind of banging all the windows. I guess he was checking for an alarm. Just as he was about to jack the lock on the passenger door, I opened up the side curtain, slid open the sliding window, and sprayed the snot out of him with my bear spray. Luckily, I do not have a screen in that window! He squeeled like a pig ran about five steps and fell to his knees. a few minutes later he got up and walked away, hopefully in alot of pain. This guy was decked in in ALL BLACK, head to toes, with the big puffy jacket thing going on. Realizing that he may be back, likely with his B and E posse, I relocated to another part of town.
I have had my westy broken into twice....and they have always gotten in through the passenger door lock. I really need to get an alarm! |
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mightyart Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004 Posts: 6188 Location: Portland, Oregon
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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shorepig wrote: |
sprayed the snot out of him with my bear spray. |
Whats bear spray?
Like anti-bear spray?
I always leave it unlocked and just don't leave anything inside that's worth stealing.
I had the stereo stolen out of my car before and they broke the window, I don't want to have to fix a window.
When I was younger I lived in the rust belt, I always tried to make the cars I had run well, but I never gave much attention to the outside cause of the rust.
I always liked music so I always tried to have a good stereo even if the cars were a bit crappy.
I never had anyone steal anything out of my beater cars, I guess nobody even bothered to look inside, that happened as I got older and could afford the nicer looking cars.
So maybe if you have to park on the street keep it a little shabby looking. |
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Bruce Wayne Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2007 Posts: 1210
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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alarm may work,but who pays attention to them in the city anymore? not me. most of the meth heads around here are just looking to snag a cd deck,tools or whatever else you got in there. I like the idea of removing the steering wheel. I heard there is a way to "electrify" your car. anyone know about this? someone touches your car they get zapped! could work,could be a lawsuit waiting to happen. or it pisses them off and they throw a brick through the windshield. I keep my gate closed at night and 3 dogs roaming around does the trick for me at home. |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10371 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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shorepig wrote: |
Speaking of B and E's , last weekend I decided i was too inebriated to drive the westy home after a night of clubbing, so I decided to sleep in the van in a rough area of downtown east vancouver, BC. Well, at about 4am I get woken out of my comatose drunken sleep, and notice the van wobbling back and forth, then I hear a guy walking around the van and kind of banging all the windows. I guess he was checking for an alarm. Just as he was about to jack the lock on the passenger door, I opened up the side curtain, slid open the sliding window, and sprayed the snot out of him with my bear spray.
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Yah some parts of Vancouver east side are dicey.
I just keep my Westy looking, uh, like non desirable. Crappy looking steel wheels, patchy paint. (well that's my excuse anyway) The windows are also tinted, but I'm sure with a flash light one could find things.
But then I don't park around the dicey parts of Vancouver east side. heh heh.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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mightyart wrote: |
Whats bear spray?
Like anti-bear spray?
I |
Bear spray is like super duper pepper spray that shoots like 40 or 50 feet. Can't imagine what that felt like to that dude breaking in. I have a canister of it hanging on my backpack. Had to reach for it once hiking the AT through North Carolina. Luckily the bear saw me, decided I looked less than appetizing, and she went the other way. _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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Bubs Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2006 Posts: 330
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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hiram6 wrote: |
mightyart wrote: |
Whats bear spray?
Like anti-bear spray?
I |
Bear spray is like super duper pepper spray that shoots like 40 or 50 feet. Can't imagine what that felt like to that dude breaking in. I have a canister of it hanging on my backpack. Had to reach for it once hiking the AT through North Carolina. Luckily the bear saw me, decided I looked less than appetizing, and she went the other way. |
If that stuff is really capable of shooting 40-50 feet, just the high-pressure spray to the face at point-blank range should hurt any intruder pretty badly! _________________ '84 Vanagon w/ Subaru 2.2 Swap
'08 Versa HB six-speed
'09 Zuma 125, '75 Kawasaki H1 500 Triple |
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JiMz Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 87 Location: California, USA
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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Grizzly bears will come back to the site they got sprayed and LICK the grass and tree leaves with bear spray on them. Dont try it with Alaskan Griz. Just a FYI Carry a Freakin Gun
Big Gun _________________ 1991 Vangon syncro |
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SockMonkey Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2008 Posts: 223 Location: Windham, Maine
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Get it painted to look like crap... Have what looks like bubbling paint and rust on body seems and peeling clear coat with faded paint... so even thought it has a nice paint job, it wouldn't look like it was worth braking into! |
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bmwloco Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2006 Posts: 1093 Location: Asheville NC
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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I've had "Earl, the Lizard of Safety" in my cars for years.
It's amazing what a very visible and real looking rubber 3 foot long lizard tail will do.
I bought "Earl" at "The Junkman's Daughter's Brother" in Athens GA many years ago. One of the reasons I bought it was the date printed on his belly, 1957. He's one old rubber lizard.
Parked in Atlanta or Charlotte, I never had my Porsche 911, later 912, and today, Westy, bothered. It's especially helpful to have a paper or something covering the body of the rubber lizard to just leave that long tail hanging in the breeze.
So far, no break ins. Photo soon. _________________ '85 Vanagon Westfalia |
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Rhinoculips Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2005 Posts: 918 Location: Keystone, Colorado
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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A small hijacking........
JiMz wrote: |
Grizzly bears will come back to the site they got sprayed and LICK the grass and tree leaves with bear spray on them. Dont try it with Alaskan Griz. Just a FYI Carry a Freakin Gun
Big Gun |
LOL! Yea, the grizzlies in Alaska can be stubborn mofo's, brown bears less so. Bear spray is more like a seasoning to the AK Griz. Don't carry a gun, carry a hand cannon! I lived in the Alaskan bush for 4 years, working as a fishing/bearviewing guide and have seen some encounters that probably made the guys load there pants. The bear spray does well as long as you are upwind of the brown, black bear or possible van thief. If at all possible, NEVER EVER shoot it up wind! Don't ask me how I know this.
Also heard about some Japanese tourist that didn't read the instructions on their bear spray. They thought it worked like mosquito repellent. They all lined up, while another spayed them down. They were hurtin' big time. Law suit followed!
And now back to your regularly scheduled program........ _________________ “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” - Edward Abbey
Click to view image |
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MrPolak Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2004 Posts: 1337 Location: AG ,atnaltA
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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I use my renewable, biodegradable, hi-zoot radio delete kit that came with my Westy. It's a cup holder the previous owner made. The banged-up speakers are still in the door. Check out the leather straps hanging from my vent wings - that's my A/C kit. Add some pre-stained underwear strewn conspicuously throughout the interior and nobody will bother breaking into it:
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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Google DEWALT MOBILE TRACKER Best thing I have found for my 181 and Westy and they can be moved from one to the other! We use them at work to keep the METH Heads from stealing spools of copper wires! It is funnier than hell to have them tracked by police with 911 0n the line....Yes, I am back with internet access...still have a premie and a 2 year old and 6 12 hour shifts upcoming but, the samba calls!
Here is my post from back when I first found thishttp://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=294604&highlight= _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!
Last edited by carterzest on Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:45 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16503 Location: Brookeville, MD
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