Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site hou4a.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!ariel!hou4b!hou4a!mab From: mab@hou4a.UUCP (Michael Brochstein) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Car Theft - Part 2 Message-ID: <997@hou4a.UUCP> Date: Fri, 11-Jan-85 09:48:46 EST Article-I.D.: hou4a.997 Posted: Fri Jan 11 09:48:46 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 12-Jan-85 06:11:31 EST Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ Lines: 59 There were a few items I left out of my first article on protecting ones car from theft. WHEELS If you have fancy wheels on your car which you would like to protect there is one device that has worked for me and many other people I know. They are called McGuard Wheel Locks. They are a set of lug nuts that are put on (one to a wheel) in place of regular lug nuts. They can only be put on and taken off through the use of a "key" (a weird pattern) that is put in the lug wrench when using these locks. The key is unique and a second copy should be secured immediately since these locks are impossible to remove forcibly without damaging the lug. McGuard sells packages with one or two keys, if you can't get the two key package, order a second key. These keys can ONLY be gotten direct from McGuard and are NOT interchangeable. I have two stories reguarding these keys. A friend of mine had a freak accident (a leaf spring broke at high speed) in a BAD neighborhood in NYC. He took the battery home with him by taxi that night and returned the next morning to find his car stripped. The only thing left were his mag wheels (each missing four out the five lug nuts since the McGuard lock was still on each wheel). I later bought these same mag wheels from my friend to put on my 73 Mustang (looked great although my friend's 1971 Mach 1 looked nicer). When my Mustang was stolen, it was found stripped in Jersey City, NJ. While my mag wheels were missing, the lug where each McGuard lock was on was stripped (useless) from the forceful removal of the wheels which had the locks. OTHER USEFUL DEVICES A while ago, after a break-in, I was truly getting frustrated at the situation concerning my car. I came up with what I thought was a great and original idea. Have a canister of tear gas go off in the car X seconds after the alarm did. Lo and behold, this very device is marketed through "Louisville Locksmith" (advertises in Road & Track). I heard of a device (and saw a picture) of something called (I think) a "Denver Boot". This device is supposedly attached to cars that are found to be owing fines for a multiple of tickets such that the cars can't be moved until the city takes this device off the car. It is a large clamp that attaches to the wheel of a car that is too big to let the wheel turn. The wheel can't be removed while it is on and one can't move the car more than six inches without damaging the car. Practically speaking, only towing (with a tow truck) your own car will let you retrieve it from the law. I don't know if this device is sold to the public but it looked like a great theft deterrent. Of course, in NYC we just tow scofflaw cars to a pier on the westside run by the NYPD. If you want your car back you must pay all your fines plus a towing charge ($60. plus). TOPICS NOT COVERED I have come across many other devices and methods of breaking into cars (my parents car was broken into 5 times and the front bumper was stolen) and would be happy to share the information with anyone interested. Please send your questions to me via e-mail. -- Michael Brochstein AT&T Information Systems, Holmdel, NJ ihnp4!hou4a!mab (201) 834-3482