typical Vanagon theft method?

[DanHoug]

seems quite a few Vanagons are stolen... while we can hide fuel pump switches, etc. is there a predominant method of theft? towing? column switch hacking? key left on top of front tire?

i realize publically discussing theft methods can educate the vermin out there but on the other hand, it seems to be pretty common knowledge in that subgroup with all the vans being nabbed. better to discuss hardening systems than being ignorant.

-dan

[Christopher Schimke]

Many Vanagon keys will work in a bunch of other Vanagons due wear and such. Also, it's incredibly easy to hotwire a Vanagon with nothing more than a paperclip.
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[dobryan]

[DometicLover]

If un-engaged, the steering lock is defeated with any vanagon key installed in the lock, no need to turn the key at "on".

To start, all you need is an extra ignition switch. You remove the steering column cover, you unplugged the connector at the ignition switch, plug it in your extra ignition switch and switch it on. Voila, engine is running!

Once inside the van, you can start ANY Vanagon is less than 10sec, if there's no hidden cutoff switch.

[?Waldo?]

The steering lock is not released until the key is turned.

[E1]

Thinking this thread is a really bad idea...
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[Waldemar Sikorski]

[DanHoug]

[vegpedlr]

A dedicated thief will find a way.

That said, looking for the weakest points and trying to find ways to shore them up without providing a theft tutorial could be helpful. It seems the weakest points are the steering lock and ignition switch. So could discussion of steering wheel locks and kill switches be beneficial?
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1985 Tintop 4 sp GW 2.3 “Connie”
2006 Mk V GTI 2.0 FSI “Penelope”

[DanHoug]

my Volvo 1800S had an armored cable from the ignition switch to the coil, with the nose of the coil bolted into the firewall! difficult to access to provide the 12v needed for spark.

-dan

[DometicLover]

[PDXWesty]

It's really not a big problem when compared to all vehicle thefts.

If you google "vehicle theft statistics" you can get the numbers for your area. In Portland, where is seems there is a vanagon on every block, 3 were reported stolen in 2017. There were a total of 7800 cars stolen in 2017. 78 were volkswagon models and 3 were vanagon. That's not much in the big picture. VW wasn't even in the top 10 models stolen. That was Honda, Toyota and Subaru. Vanagon was 0.0004%
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[vegpedlr]

Good point. There are probably plenty of people who wouldn't even take one for free!
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1985 Tintop 4 sp GW 2.3 “Connie”
2006 Mk V GTI 2.0 FSI “Penelope”

[calfredson]

Having a manual transmission will thwart 80% of thieves these days.

[?Waldo?]

[Paulbeard]

[Merian]

I wonder how many Vanagon thieves have been burned alive when the fuel hoses let loose?
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[bobbyblack]

[DanHoug]

probably time for this in the thread.... The Trunk Monkey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsmLza7kcRg

-dan

[Aryana]

Locks exist only to keep honest people honest.

The hidden cut off switch on my Vanagon kills both fuel and spark, so it will have to be a very skilled diagnostic mechanic to drive my Vanagon off, or they will have to bring a tow truck to cart it away.

Even if they tow it away, the hidden GPS tracker will alert me the second it moves from its parking spot, and I can follow the breadcrumbs it leaves every 2 minutes to zero in on it.