Please Consider Theft-Proofing your Van

[djkeev]

In light of the recent rash of stolen Van reports, I thought I would post this link to the FAQ section dealing with how to prevent your Van from being stolen.

Read these threads and do something!

It would be wise to invest in a cellular or GPS tracker too.

The link ....
Scroll down to Thefts and Theft-Proofing .......

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6236040#6236040

Dave
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[Multiman mv]

Thanks for posting these links. If i lived in the Pacific Northwest I’d be taking every precaution possible. I guess it doesn’t matter where you live because there are car thieves everywhere. A kill switch is certainly worth the time, money and effort. I have a gps tracker on my van and i must admit that it does give me some sense of security and possible recourse if someone ever stole my van. For $100 a year, spot trace is well worth the expense in my eyes.
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1991 multivan, FAS 1.9 tdi, Peloquin limited slip
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[owokie]

Devil's advocate and in the interest of alarm fatigue (remember the terror threat levels?) might I suggest that a kill switch, alone, is adequate? I have yet to hear of a single van successfully stolen with a kill switch in place. Happy to be educated if this is not the case but am interested only in reality, not potentiality.

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Appreciate you splitting off on this thread, Dave!

We've yet to do a GPS. Will. Should prioritize it (!) but too many other irons in our lives of late.

No excuse, but... I do have issues with relying on yet more tech in my life, the idea of expecting AT&T working properly in any circumstance, especially as a third-party attachment to a GPS, and under such nightmarish circumstances as losing our van, has me looking at other options beyond Spot Trace -- not to mention I ordered it last fall, got billed and never received anything, and had to battle for a refund. Looking for a better solution, I refuse to support companies that pull crap like that. Welcome to Century 21.

A kill switch sounds better to me. We have several ways to disable the van at trailheads and elsewhere, and am comfortable with those. I think the best defense for us all is to put the van in a position of thievery as few times as possible, but would see it all differently if living in a city again. With any luck, we never will again.

Premature post perhaps, I'll look at your links asap.

Thanks, and Best to All. Every theft riles me to the core.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[bobbyblack]

Dave,

Thanks! I recently wired in a cell/gps that I can retrieve the coordinates if it is within the footprint of the provider I chose. Problem is that rural US is poorly covered by that cell provider. Now, I need to find one that works with the big V, to add yet another prophylactic layer of (recovery only) info.

Yes, I am looking for a good solution to disable fuel, spark, etc.

Dave, I know you are well versed with available switches, and methods to wire these. Perhaps you could include some of your favorites in this thread?

I have seen some banter regarding a keypad type lockout or capacitance based switch in some interesting past threads on this, but either the member was making things up, or was so secretive that they didn't include enough detail on their equipment. I would like a solution that would require a temporary-contact to arm the start circuit and/or fuel pump that would auto-disconnect on key-off. Anyone know of such a device?

Kind regards,

-bobby
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[newerwesty1987]

Kill switch is probably the best overall for protection.

I have an additional and easily visible addition that is highly effective as well and ideal for when its parked alone for a while or god forbid, I ever go to the Northwest! I think it would be even harder to defeat than a club which can be cut fairly easily with a sharp saw (look at the videos). If the same guy saw this thing, they'd move on.

It's a thick cable lock like you might find on a bike. It's covered in soft vinyl so it can't scratch anything and has a handy combo lock so there's no key to bother with. It would be almost impossible to cut with anything a thief would carry, including large bolt cutters, and there's so way you are getting far with it wrapped around the steering wheel. I have mine looped around the steering column and it goes through the steering wheel. It has a sort of coiled resting state so it easily wraps back around the column and stays without any effort. You can get one here for cheap and wow is it easy to install and hard to defeat!!

https://smile.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Kryptoflex-Combo-Cable-Bicycle/dp/B000CPM3US

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One of the coolest things ever read here was a guy who had his stereo as part of a disabler. Like it would only start on preset 2, or the like.

Brilliant, even better if it first brought up Easy Listening for ten seconds to force a quick switch to Acid Headbanging.

Shoulda bookmarked it, but then again we have no traditional stereo.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Glenn]

Remove the rotor and put the distributor cap back on.
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Ding, Ding, Ding. 👍🏼
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[fxr]

A fun one I've seen in a different car is a hidden reed switch that needs a rare-earth magnet moved directly on top of it. So the thief would have to guess which square centimeter of the whole dashboard was the right place to move the small magnet - even if they were aware of the existence of the mechanism!
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[SyncroHead]

I want to ask, why are there so many thieves in Portland and the rest of the Pacific Northwest. But I won't ask that.

My real question:
Has anyone installed a brake "line locker" on their van?

Examples: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=brake+line+lock&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Having hydraulic pressure locking either the front or rear brakes would be pretty effective as long as the valve or switch was in an inconspicuous place.

Jim Davis
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Check out:
www.VANAVATION.com
www.SyncroSafari.org and
www.Vanagons.org

[kamzcab86]

Theft section in the FAQ has now been updated with more recent topics that have more thorough info.

[E1]

Wonder the percentage of car thieves who'd buckle in compared to not.

And how many have accomplices where both buckle in or not.

See where I'm going here...?
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[912 outlaw]

Make a fake coil wire

[pbrown]

I’m in Seattle so this topic is near and dear to my heart. I’m also one to think of ways to get even.

Install a fuel pump kill switch. Use a DTDP switch so that in position one the pump is on and the special accessory is off. Position two kills the fuel pump the powers a relay when the ignition goes hot — as in someone trying to take the van. Install a pair of Hella red horns inside the van behind the headliner right over the drivers head.

Just don’t forget the kill switch when using the van legitimately. It won’t be pleasant.
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Patrick Brown

1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
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[michaelbteam]

Kill switches are the easy way and any competent mechanic can figure out how on an old Vanagon. Specifics don't really need to be advertised here, IMO. These other creative approaches are entertaining, but complicated enough to preclude regular use. A simple fuel pump switch [or two?] under the dash can be tripped casually even at a quick 7-11 stop, no fuss.
I was proud of my battery kill switch, and then realized it disabled my power locks. Still saves my van.

[Abscate]

[dabaron]

i've considered a kill switch or some form of immobilizer, but the reality is, no one wants a tin top. maybe i'll just live with the hot start issue i'm having, the thief can crank and crank, but it ain't gonna start.
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[chachi]

i’d venture to say that we have so many thefts because we have so many vans.
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