jp98 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 (edited) To start the car all a thief does is pull the ignition and then use a screwdriver, they don't care what they break. They also don't want to stick around and try to figure out what is going on with a vehicle that won't start. I would say that if they are not in it and gone in around 30 seconds then they will leave it alone unless they really want it. Edited October 12, 2014 by jp98 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 My brother got his car back almost 2 months later. Based on what he found in the car it appeared that the theives were likely "all around" low lifes. He thinks the only reason they ditched the car was that the registration was about to expire. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/147499-brothers-1996-legacy-wagon-was-stolen-from-northgate-north-of-seattle-found/ He's in the process of cleaning things up and will likely be installing a kill switch and another anti-theft device, which I thought was pretty ingenious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Has to be easy to use otherwise the Owner won't. If the SOB is planning the theft they may be watching, so if the Owner goes into the trunk each time the enter or leave the car, that would give it away. Drive an old car and leave it open, if they take it, just go get another with all the insurance money you have saved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Thanks for the input, jp98. When you say "pull the ignition" what does that mean--something like jamming a screwdriver into the cylinder's key slot and just using brute force to break its mount? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp98 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Thanks for the input, jp98. When you say "pull the ignition" what does that mean--something like jamming a screwdriver into the cylinder's key slot and just using brute force to break its mount? They will carry a small slide hammer with a screw type attachment on the end. The screw the screw part into the key cylinder and then yank it out. They all it takes is a screwdriver. This all can be done in less than 30 seconds once they are inside the vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leadfootracin Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 shaved keys, my wifes legacy was stolen from the courthouse parking lot, employee parking. the xt 6 at home was rifled but not stolen, the club is a deterent, they would steal a car w/o because its easier. the keys I have for our subys will enter and start most 91-98 subarus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grimaceNMike Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 DIY Car Security Killswitch: Old school mighty car mods! When I got my car back I put an alarm in, and bought a club. A Kill switch is still on my to do list.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brus brother Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 (edited) Now THIS is the ultimate "club" deterrent! Edited October 13, 2014 by brus brother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 GOOD NEWS! Police found the car today and called Eric at work. It was parked on a residential street (27th Ave W just off Dravus) in the Magnolia area, so he caught a bus up there after work. So far it seems to be in good condition. They left the driver's window down so seat and rug are wet. And of course they grabbed stuff out of the glove box and center console (including my trusty old Actron code reader) but didn't touch the radio. Didn't mess up the key cylinder either! Car started up okay so he went and got gas and drove it home. We want to thank everyone for your good thoughts and interesting discussion. Now to get to work on some security steps. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Very glad to hear of the happy ending! Yay! Now, about that kill switch... LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Great to hear he got it back! I hope the police got some prints or some hair samples out of the car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 @ heartless: Yeah! #1: Maybe The Club as a visual deterrent. #2: Kill Switch! @lmdew: Thanks! What a relief that the car wasn't totally trashed or destroyed. @Fairtax: Hah! All the cops did was a visual look-over--then a phone call to let him know where it was! Thanks for the nice thoughts all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnatchedHatch Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) Great ideas--love the AM/FM switch concept, and the flashing rear lights are genius! Thanks brus, heartless & Fairtax. But I have a basic question--how does a "bad guy" start a targeted car? Do they carry a bunch of dummy keys? Do they actually hot-wire the ignition and if so, how? Re-dedicating an existing (or newly installed) factory-looking switch on the dash would certainly fool an average, honest person like you or me. But I'm pretty sure the bad-guys know all the usual "tricks." Let me play devil's advocate. Assume you're a semi-pro car thief: 1) You've gotten into the vehicle. 2) You try to power up the starter/ignition system. No power! 3) Aha! The owner has probably installed a "kill system." 4) So you try every "normal looking button" on the dash, thinking the owner might have re-wired one of them as a kill switch. 5) If that doesn't work you'd probably feel around under the dash, then check the glove box and the center console. I kinda' think the most unobtrusive little switch mounted in the most unexpected place would be better than a re-dedicated factory switch or one hidden in the usual places. The bad-guy/SOB can't afford the time to search the entire car for a hidden switch! Comments? I was thinking the same thing, the center console box is definitely a no-go, so obvious to spot, and if it's in the glove box, it'd better be behind the actual door. That stifles everyday use.. It would hav eto be out of reach of the driver's seat assuming some Ocean's 11 hot shots troll the area. As others have mentioned, this may not be the case. Also I LOVE the alternated rear lights solution, but I'd couple that with a kill switch. No need risking them getting away if you can stop them from leaving. Congrats on being reunited! Edited October 17, 2014 by SnatchedHatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisgpz Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 WOOT! great news man my wife actually found her own car after it was stolen, we called the cops, they told us to 'look around and in the car for anything suspicious" and then to drive it home. . this was in Lynnwood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThosL Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Good to hear you got it back considering statistically your odds were not good; more likely for it to have ended up half way across the country or up in Canada or chop shop, but the high value cars are more popular targets for that. Cops are advising owners lock their cars with thefts becoming more of a problem, Subarus are harder to break into than some cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grimaceNMike Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Cops are advising owners lock their cars with thefts becoming more of a problem, Subarus are harder to break into than some cars. Unless you have frameless windows.. Like mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grimaceNMike Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Great to hear he got the car back! It's an awesome feeling to get your property back. I wish i would have found it though, I live off dravus.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Yeah, grimace--we wish you could have found it too. Would have kept it in the USMB family! Funny, Eric used to live at the corner of Dravus and 22nd, so at least it was all "in the neighborhood!" Thanks everyone for your concern and great thoughts. Hopefully it helps with awareness for all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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