Jeep Security

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The question was asked by David.Berry at laminations.com:

"What is the answer to preventing thieves from attacking my YJ?"

Answer - You can't.

If someone is dedicated to stealing a Jeep or stealing something from it, there is nothing that we can do about it. But in-between the honest and the dishonest are the "dishonest when it is convenient," that is to say, the ones who will steal from your jeep when it is easy to do, but not if there is a chance of an alarm going off or if they will have to spend time breaking into the jeep. These are the people that we can deter - tjamcd at ix.netcom.com

I watched a show awhile back in which the network paid an ex-thief to show how easy it is to break into a car. He did a few just to show it wasn't something special about one particular car that let him do what he did. He unlocked the vehicles doors with the popular "slim jim" opened the doors and got in with a hack saw and cut through one side of the steering wheel and bent it slightly, slipping out the "Club". It took him 11 seconds to cut the steering wheel, and less than 40 seconds total from the time he first touched the outside of the car until he had the vehicle started and drivable with the club off. He also said car alarms that don't have ignition diasable features don't work because everyone just ignores alarms as an annoying sound these days. - Kevin Bush <kbush atspectra.net>

After having 3 cars broken into on a regular basis in Washington DC, and paying out the butt for new auto glass, I decided that the best and cheapest approach was to simply keep all valuables (and invaluables) out of it and leave it unlocked. It took me a long time to get used to the idea of someone just helping themselves to the inside of my car, which I knew was happening every other week or so by the occassional beer bottle or cigarette butt that was left in there.
BTW, as far as potential punishment for Jeep thieves/vandals, how about this: The last time my car was broken into the only thing that was stolen was a white, powdery compound (in a plastic baggy) that I'd gotten from a jeweler friend to buff a scratch out my windshield.
To the thieves who took it, I'd like to say, "Enjoy!" ;^ - Chris Mancusi cmancusi at adams.patriot.net

Suggestions of things you can try:

The Disabler Switch.

• I have a hidden 2 way fuel valve (extra tank) and I put it between ports. You can only drive about a block before it runs out of gas

If you don't have a second tank a straight thru valve would work fine to shut off flow. I use swage-loc valves (real quality with stem mounting nuts) and for the on/off option I recommend a toggle valve. A simple "flip" on or off! It could even be installed inside a lockable box or the consol, or with a lock on the toggle handle itself - bfunkat sundown.sdsu.edu
• Be careful of you have a fuel injected engine. The tank's fuel pump keeps the lines under high pressure at all times, even when parked - steve at micronetlaw.com
• The only problem with this is that you could do damage to the fuel injectors - fury at tribedesign.com
• I'm not personally familiar about them, but Jacobs Electronics (http://www.jacobselectronics.com) makes a "Stop Action" with optional pager. After activation it allows the vehicle to be driven for a few feet then causes the engine to die. Anyway, the theory goes that the punk who does this gets charged with Grand Theft instead of simple vandalism - gerald.r.dominowski at cmich.edu
• Battery Disconnect switch under the Hood with Keyed hood lock - Barry_Raymond at mail.Utexas.edu
• I'd consider an alarm, because it would provide a starter disconnect. That way, if someone decides to steal the whole vehicle (not just the stuff inside it), they won't get anywhere - elkman at spamcop.net (Hey! That's me!)
• Insurance companies may give discounts if you own an alarm. It may pay for itself - dschulz at luminet.net

The Steering Wheel.

• I use a 4' length of very heavy chain that goes thru the steering wheel, around the seat leg and is secured by a very large padlock - sfugate999 at aol.com
• I think that the best steering wheel based security device I've seen is the removeable steering wheel: Grant's No Wheel, No Steal kit. 4WD Hardware sells it. - ajd2 at millcomm.com
• You can get a steering column sleeve (like a big metal fist) that is lockable over the entire steering column. Quadratec advertises these in its catalog. - adam at online.comm-data.com
• I've seen a removable steering wheel in the Summitt (sp?) catalog for around $100. It is removed with a key, and has a cap that locks onto the steering column so that another steering wheel can't be put on - sherlock at holly.ColoState.EDU
• One of the most popular solutions in Central/South America is to weld tabs on the brake and clutch pedal, drill holes through the tabs and then place a lock through them. If you are creative and place the tabs correctly, a "trailer tongue" type lock can be utilized and is darned near impossible to cut off - "Tom Green"

Other Goodies.

• The only true solution I can come up with is one of those silent pager-alarms you carry in your pocket. They aren't much good past a certain distance, but at home, or like where I work, they are just fine, and you can deal with the thief yourself. Be careful, YOU could also get arrested for assault. - ragreen at ix.netcom.com
• I leave the jeep filthy and full of trash, and don't have a radio thus making it less of a target in a target rich environment - bloth at email.unc.edu
• I rigged my doors with a CS gas & pepper spray combo - lobosden at aol.com
• Put the center dif. in neutral - jmvlcv at aol.com

Alarms, "The Club" and other devices don't always work.

I have been extremely skeptical about the Truck club since mine jammed on my wheel a few weeks ago and I had to cut it off with a hacksaw, on a busy street in broad daylight with lots of people walking by. And nobody even asked me what I was doing, or if it was my jeep, or anything. And it only took ten minutes - adam at online.comm-data.com

After having my CJ7 stolen, I secured a VERY heavy chain between the seat and the brake pedal using a padlock. One saturday morning I came outside to find my Jeep up on the sidewalk in some bushes. I guess they got it started and began to drive. As they approached the stop sign I think they realized that they weren't going to be stopping! So they drove it up on to the sidewalk into some shrubs to stop it. There were a lot of people just standing around looking at it in the morning. I just hopped in, backed onto the street and parked it - chrustie at bnr.ca

A friend of mine was arrested for assault after she clubbed the shit out of some guy she caught in the act of ripping off her tape deck (she used one of the silent pager alarms). She broke the guy's leg and collarbone, and got busted when the police showed up--someone called them because they heard the guy screaming for help--but when she got to court her lawyer claimed self-defense and the charges were dismissed by the judge (I guess they found a knife at the scene.) She got the jump on the guy, sprawled across her front seats - ragreen at ix.netcom.com

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