At Home Theft Prevention For Your Classic Car or Muscle Car

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

We all tend to feel more secure when we're at home. It's our sanctuary from life's stresses. Usually all of our most cherished items are at home, including our classic car, muscle car, antique, street rod, vintage truck, or our project car. Still, more than one third of all car thefts occur from a home or residence!

Tesla Coil Providing Unique Car Protection!
Photo Credits: TeslaDownUnder.com

While most people have learned that it's a great idea to lock up the house, many don't set the alarm when they leave. And, many take reasonable precautions such as making sure windows are closed and locked, and that we haven't done anything to draw attention to the fact that we're not home. But, you'd be amazed at some of the simple, and obvious things that people overlook when it comes to preventing car theft from their own home!

In previous articles, we've looked at being careful talking too loosely about our cherished rides, and where and how to park our cars to minimize car theft risk. This week we're looking at vulnerabilities we have at home.

Where You Choose To Park Your Classic Car

We touched on this one last week, but specifically related to your home, here are some tips to consider. Think carefully where you want to store your classic car.

• If you have an inside attached garage, it may make sense to keep it there, as alarm systems can more easily be incorporated into your total multi-layer security plan.
• If you have an unattached garage, the car itself may be adequately protected from the elements, but more vulnerable to theft because it may be a distance away fro your main house structure.
• If you have no choice but to keep your car or truck in your driveway, try to select an area which will provide the best protection, visibility and difficult access for a theft if possible. Pull as close to the house and if possible block yourself in with something large, heavy and difficult to move such as another vehicle. 
• If you are in an area where your only choice is on-street parking, you're especially vulnerable and need to consider spending extra money in your anti-theft devices and multi-layer security protection.

Secure Your Garage

Even if you park your vehicle in an enclosed garage you may in inadvertently send a signal that there's something valuable inside. Passerby's peer in each time you have your garage door open, and if you've got a hot car, you can bet everyone in the neighborhood (and it's visitors) know!

• Make sure you've got a good lock on your garage door, and keep it locked! This may sound silly, but you wouldn't believe how many people just rely on their garage door opener closing the door and they don't bolt it closed if they're going on a trip or not using the garage for a period of time. Remember, you want to make it as difficult as possible. A determined thief will always find a way, but your goal is to slow them down.
• Put blinds, shades or curtains on your garage windows so an "opportunity thief" (someone who wanders about looking for an opportunity) cannot peer in.
• If you have a home alarm, make sure the garage doors and windows have motion activated sensors that hook into your system. If you don't have a whole-house alarm system, consider installing a system for your garage (we'll be looking closely at alarms in a future article).

Don't Forget to Use Self Deterrents

Just because you've gt your car parked at home doesn't mean you should forget the basics in theft prevention. We'll take a closer look at each of these, and many more, in upcoming weeks:

• Lock all doors and windows.
• Never leave car keys in the ignition or anywhere in the car.
• Don't leave a set of keys in the garage (on a hook or hidden).
• Use hood locks.
• Use steering wheel and/or brake locks.
• Use a kill switch.
• Disconnect and/or remove the car's battery (depending on how often you use it)
• Use a fuel cut-off switch
• Remove the Distributor Cap and/or Ignition Rotor
• Remove Fuel Pump Fuse
• Take a wheel off if you don't use the vehicle regularly!

Make Sure You Have Adequate Classic Car Insurance

Take a look at both your homeowner's insurance and a classic car insurance policy. Talk with an agent who can help advise about potential loop-holes in coverage. If you don't already have a classic car insurance policy, consider getting one. The cost is low compared to auto insurance for your modern daily driver, and it can mean the difference of losing your cherished ride forever, or the possibility of being able to begin again with another without losing your shirt.

And remember, the use of deterrents and active anti-theft devices can save you money on your premiums. Read the full article on insurance in the resources link below, and don't procrastinate!

Consider An Alarm System

Now I'm not recommending this one in particular, although you've got to admit, it'd be pretty cool to see the expression on a thief's face if you could rig it up so it was motion-activated!  Here's the video to the photos as shown above.



All kidding aside, all the theft deterrents and alarms in the world won't help keep your ride safe unless you actively use them. Remember to activate them whenever you're not in your car. One day you may be grateful you did.

REFERENCES / RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Classic Car News - Preventing Class Car Theft: The Big Picture

Classic Car News - Take Caution Where You Take Your Classic Car Or Muscle Car

Classic Car News - Identifying The Potential Classic Car Thief - Know Who Your Friends Are
Classic Car News - How & Where To Park Your Classic Car or Muscle Car In Order To Minimize The Threat of Theft
Classic Car News - Purchasing Classic Car Insurance - Why You Don't Want To Procrastinate!
No Nonsense Self Defense - Car Theft Prevention
TeslaDownUnder.com - Tesla Car Thief Protection

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

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How & Where To Park Your Classic Car or Muscle Car In Order To Minimize The Threat of Theft

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

We've heard that thefts are on the rise for muscle cars, classic cars and even old trucks. How and where you park your classic car can help minimize the risk of having it stolen, having parts taken off of it, or even of having it targeted for future theft. Whether you're at home, away from home, or storing your vehicle for an extended period, there are steps you'll want to take to help keep it safe. Theft prevention is key.

Indoor Parking Garage

Precaution rules the day here. Many interventions you take are common sense, but in the haste of our busy schedules  it's easy to make exceptions and put our vehicles at unnecessary risk. If you're away from home and enjoying time out in your classic, the last thing you want to find is a vacant parking space when you return to your vehicle. Danger also lurks at home where you tend to feel safe, and no owner wants to find an empty garage spot where their cherished ride once sat.

Becoming a victim of theft does not always mean disappearance of the vehicle. Guy recalls what happened to a customer, "He and his wife had gone out to dinner at a nice restaurant. They had taken their 1969 Corvette, parked under a big bright light in the parking lot, in what appeared to be a safe area. When they came out about 45 minutes later he found that all the trim and emblems had been taken right off the car! Obviously, although upset, he was relieved that the car was still there." This is something we're all in fear of.

While many thefts occur when vehicles are parked on the street or even on the owner's own property, logic would say that this is because you tend to park in these spots most often. Police data, however, reveals that based on per-hour-parked statistics, your classic car or muscle car may be at even greater risk when parked at a parking facility. They are often unmanned or poorly patrolled, poorly lit with lots of blind spots and have plenty of places where a thief can effectively hide. Low foot traffic aides in giving a thief the time needed to execute the theft of vehicles, even those with alarms and other deterrents.

But it does make a difference what type of parking facility you choose! Why? It turns out that parking garages are much safer than outdoor parking lots. In fact, reports show that there is five times greater risk of your car being stolen from an unattended lot than from either on-street parking or when parking in a parking garage or in an attended lot. Unmanned outdoor lots that utilize a self-pay system have little or no security or deterrents of any kind. They're often easily accessed and have very light foot traffic. At night you're particularly vulnerable.
What can you do to improve your odds? First, never take it for granted that because you're in a well lit area you'll be okay, or that if you're with fellow enthusiasts it's less likely something bad will happen. Bottom line, be prepared, take precautions and be proactive in securing your vehicle at all times!

Choosing Where To Park Your Classic Car:

• Never park behind buildings. This tends to provide cover for thieves.
• If you can, park in plain sight of windows, doors, and areas with good foot traffic.
• Do not park next to thick bushes or shrubbery.
• Do not park next to alcoves, walls and areas where a person can hide. 
• Avoid extremely remote areas.
• Avoid parking lots, especially unattended ones. Parking garages tend to be safer choices.
• Select parking garages that are fenced in and secure. Preferably with good visibility into the lot.
• When parking on the street, select busy well-lit areas.
• Be especially cautious at night, which is a thief's preferred time.
• If you're looking at long-term storage, select location carefully and have a way of checking on your vehicle regularly.

Parking Your Classic Car While Away From Home:

• Make sure all doors are locked.
• Close and lock all windows.
• Do not leave keys in your car.
• Do not leave your home's garage door opener, house keys, or other items in the car.
• Remove your GPS device if possible (you don't want it showing a thief the way to your home).
• Never hide keys in/or about your car.
• Never leave your title in the vehicle.
• Never move valuables after you've arrived.
• Don't park in two spaces. This only brings attention to your car.
• Arm your car with your anti-theft measures and your multi-layered security system.

Securing Your Classic Car In Your Own Garage:

• Lock your car! Doors and windows. This simple, very basic step is often overlooked because you're in the safety of your own home. It is often just seconds or minutes that separate a successful car theft from a foiled attempt, so everything you can throw at the thief is a good step in the direction of theft prevention.
• Keep your garage window shades or blinds closed.
• Cover your car. Not only will this help to keep your classic clean, but it will help keep it hidden when you do have your garage door open. Purchase and use a cover designed for outdoor weather if you're parking your car outdoors in your driveway.
• Never leave your keys in the ignition. Again, a lot of people keep car keys in the open because they feel it is safe in their own garage. Store your keys in a separate area.
• Consider cameras which can monitor and record any activity.
• Arm your car with your anti-theft measures and your multi-layered security system - even, and especially, while at home!

Next we'll take a look at At-Home Theft Prevention. We hope you'll our series on theft prevention for classic car and muscle car owners.

RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Manitowoc website - How to Prevent Theft From Your Vehicle
Pittsburgh Police - Types of Car Theft
U.S. Dept of Justice - Theft of and from cars in parking facilities

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

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Identifying The Potential Classic Car Thief - Know Who Your Friends Are

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

Classic car and muscle car thefts certainly appear to be on the rise, as quick as I can report on one, another goes missing. It's a real tragedy that, to an enthusiast, is much worse than having your modern daily driver stolen. A piece of history, a symbol of our youth, a life-long dream, a measure of acomplishment, whatever our reason for owning an old car or truck, we're deeply affected when we experience a loss.


Actual Sign!

"Boludo" =
Argentinian
slang for a--hole,
moron, jack---



For those of us who labored over the expense and time invested in a restoration, it is agonizing. The thought of our cherished ride ending up in some chop shop where they have no care or appreciation of the vehicle's sentimental value...only of the cash they can get for the parts.

We all know that it's a risk when we take our prized cars out into public places. There's no doubt of that. But, what many owners fail to see, or take action on, are the very real risks we take right in our own driveways and garages!

Effectively protecting your classic is a complicated array of choices, costs, and trying to keep at least one step ahead of the thieves. Last week we looked at the basic list of preventive steps. Today, we'll focus on an often overlooked prevention - knowing your enemy!

Know Who Your Friends Are

Professional car thieves can identify their victims quickly. For us, it's much harder to know who our enemy is. Thieves don't wear a neon sign that points them out. It can be a complete stranger you've never even seen, someone who has been watching you or watching your car, someone you've bumped into at a swap meet, talked to briefly at a party, someone you work with, a friend of a friend, or even an actual acquaintance, a relative or even someone you consider a "friend"!  Here are some potential "types" to look out for.

The Thief in Sheep's Clothing

Think back to car shows you've attended. Many people milling all around, with open access to dozens if not hundreds of classic cars, muscle cars, antique cars, vintage trucks, street rods, hot rods, old race cars, and often project cars offered up for sale. Here, an ounce of prevention is common-sense, but can be overlooked when we're supposed to be having fun with a lot of other like-minded enthusiasts.

This type of thief may actually engage you in conversation about your car, pulling useful information from you without you even giving it a thought. Most of us are eager to share our stories, and sometimes the stories contain information that can actually aid the thief in the theft of your car.

Actions to take:

• Don't reveal information about you
• Don't give strangers too many details on your car
• Never mention where you park your car
• Keep your stories general
• Never talk about or show your security strategies

The By-Chance Thief

Here, an opportunistic thief just takes advantage of a good situation. Depending on his/her experience and/or the degree of desperation they may have in making a "score", the opportunity may be viewed as "safe" or extremely "risky". We've all seen an episode or two of "bait car", where authorities intentionally leave a bait car running or leave it unlocked with the keys in the ignition, usually always in an area known for car thefts. While entertaining, we don't see ourselves vulnerable to this type of attack because we certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to do that! But, you don't need to leave the keys in the car for the opportunistic thief to strike.

Imagine you've pulled into the local hot spot on a Friday night where all the classic car buffs get together for a burger and car talk. You're standing around right near your car so you feel you've got an eye on things. But, you're accustomed to people walking about peeking into the car to see the great interior and all your fancy dashboard gadgets, so you don't pay any particular attention to the man who circles around back, quickly reaches into the open trunk, and makes off with your expensive concealed-in-the-trunk stereo. Things can happen in a flash. While it might be appealing to pop the hood and the trunk, roll down the windows and maybe even leave the door ajar for a better view, it's not always the safest thing to do. An opportunistic thief who is bold may even go so far as to jump into an unattended car and simply drive it off. With all the action at events where large numbers of people congregate, it's perfect cover.

Actions to take:

• Never leave keys in the vehicle - with or without the engine running
• Keep your windows up and doors locked whenever possible
• Don't leave easy-to-grab items in plain sight
• Keep your eyes on your car
• Stay next to your car unless it is fully secured
• Use motion detection alarms and/or cameras
• Make sure your multi-layer security system is always activated

The Bold 'n Brazen

Most professional thieves are not careless and they're not apt to do things that would draw attention to themselves. They've got too much experience to make senseless mistakes. But, when the thief is desperate for cash, a drug addict, gambler or in some type of trouble, they're apt to act very irrationally and do things that would be seen as extremely bold. I would consider carjackers in this category of thief. These thieves can be very dangerous because they can be unpredictable and act irrationally with no regard to your personal safety.

Actions to take:

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Avoid situations where you can become trapped
• Think ahead how you would handle an unexpected event
• Keep your cell phone handy with one touch dial to 911
• Brush up on self defense

The Stalker

We've all been guilty of doing this one. You go to the local movie theatre, beach, football field, outdoor concert, raceway or gun show. You don't want to leave any valuables in plain sight in your passenger compartment, so you move all your stuff to the trunk - locked safely out of view from prying eyes. You feel safe and continue about your event.

The stalker is someone who purposely waits in areas where people congregate for such events. They know that the event will run from 3-6pm. People generally start arriving a half hour to hour beforehand, and continue for another half hour or so for the stragglers who always arrive late. But, they've been watching. They look for people who have moved contents to their trunk, sending a loud signal that this is something valuable. They look for those who stuff things under the seat and other areas in the car. Once most everyone has arrived, and after having made note of the parking lot/security personnel routines, they're set to take action. They know exactly what cars to hit.

Actions to take:

• Don't move valuables after you've arrived
• Stow things before arriving if you didn't plan ahead
• Best - don't take any valuables with you

The Friend or Acquaintance

This is the one we never want to find. It may not devious at all. It may be that a friend has unintentionally brought awareness of your car to the wrong person, perhaps mentioning this "unbelievable car" that a friend has. It could be a co-worker that has heard us talking about the car show we took our car to, or the bank teller who has seen you at the drive-thru on a few occasions and mentioned it to her boyfriend. Bottom line is that the wrong person takes a fancy to our ride. The more rare or valuable the car, or the components on your car, the more you're likely to draw the wrong attention.

Face it, more people know about your car than you'd probably ever feel comfortable about. And, most often the information about the car, and you, is given freely because we all like to talk about our rides. We have a lot invested in the car, and we love it when someone takes interest. So, before you go bragging (not that we ever would do that) to a group of guys about all the bells and whistles you've put into her - you know, the 15 grand you sunk into the new engine, the custom concealed stereo system, the (drop whatever name you'd care to) performance upgrade, the fancy new security system, just know that in the heads of the wrong person, this information can mean a big loss to you.

Action to take:

• Be careful not to reveal information that is too personal (where you live, etc)
• Don't reveal your schedule or routines you always follow
• Never discuss your security system (even if worth bragging about)
• Always have your multi-layer security activated

We don't want you to get paranoid over your car. Everyone should be able to take their car out and enjoy themselves. After all, this is part of why we get into our cars in the first place. We enjoy the car talk, the stories, the community and the camaraderie. The best advice is to be aware of your surroundings, who you meet and what you talk to them about if you don't know them well. Take common sense preventive steps that will at least improve your chances of keeping your ride safe.

Keep Our Rides Safe, our weekly series, continues next Wednesday with the article How & Where You Store/Park/Garage Your Car.

REFERENCES:
About.com - Collector Car Theft Deterrents
Edmunds - Confessions of a Car Thief
Photo Credit:  Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog
The Car Connection - Four Things Car Thieves Love To See
Wall Street Journal - Unlocking the Secrets of a Car Thief

RESOURCES:
Classic Car News - Preventing Class Car Theft: The Big Picture
Classic Car News - Take Caution Where You Take Your Classic Car Or Muscle Car
No Nonsense Self Defense - Car Theft Prevention
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

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Preventing Classic Car Theft: The Big Picture

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

With classic car and muscle car thefts on the rise, car theft protection is more in demand than ever before. We all know that it's a risk when we take our prized cars out into public places, and it can even be risky parking in our own driveways and garages! But, many classic car owners are confused over the array of systems out there. Many do not want to do anything to diminish the value of an "all original" vehicle. So, what can you do?

You've probably read the stories on recent thefts. We had reported on a ProStreet Camaro stolen at a hotel near the car show the owner was attending for the weekend, and a fully restored 1954 GMC Pickup truck stolen right out of the owner's driveway. We also reported on a local car jacking. And, just as I was putting the final touches on this article, new a stolen car alert came out of Fort Worth where a 1937 Buick went missing from a gated townhouse community, and news of Dr. Phil's '55 Chevy Belair convertible being stolen from the shop he had taken it to for repairs! Owners have good reason to be concerned.

You may have already read or heard that Guy Algar and I, through Classic Car News, have launched a new series "Keeping Our Rides Safe". Each week we look at a different ways you can keep your classic car or muscle car out of the hands of would-be thieves! This is the first in the series, and will begin with an overview, an we'll take a closer look at each in more detail each week.

The very best protection is to stay ahead of the curve and put a multi-layer security system in place. By having more anti-theft measures in your arsenal, you make it "not worth the effort". And, you want to use these protection methods all the time - whether you are at home or on the road. With this in mind, we want to create a system that contains items from each of these categories of theft prevention and theft protection:

Know Who Your Friends Are

I can't wait for this article! Many of you would be surprised to learn that many theft victims have actually bumped into the person who stole their car!

How & Where You Store/Park/Garage Your Car

Some owners have their own garage where they feel safe. Others park in a driveway, while still others must park on-street, or even at a storage facility. We'll look at the safety of each, and steps you can take to maximize its safety.

At-Home Theft Prevention

In addition to home alarm systems if you're lucky enough to have a garage, these steps will include many common-sense but easily overlooked practices that you'll want to get into the habit of doing every day.

On-the-road Theft Prevention

Classic cars, hot rods, street rods and muscle cars are especially vulnerable when on the road. Because they're collectibles that others view as valuable, you're at risk of having parts, trim pieces or the entire car stolen in a flash.

Insurance Protection

Make sure that you have adequate insurance for your ride. We've reported in the past on all the benefits of having classic car insurance, and some of the typical options. We'll go into more detail in a future article.

Do-it-Yourself Theft Deterrents

This is a great category because it tends to include a lot of things you can do yourself at no cost or very low cost. It includes battery disconnect and so much more.

Alarms

Audio alarms, visual alarms, dispatch alarms, pager alarms and more will be discussed, along with lists and links of products.

Locks

Hood locks are just the start. Steering wheels, brake pedals, wheel locks and more offer protections that can slow a thief down. But what are the best? We'll take a close look and provide resources.

Car Theft Systems

There are many types of systems out there that are much more sophisticated than simple alarms that can be deactivated by ripping out a wire. Manufacturers are making it difficult, and we've got tips from some experts in having them installed the right way!

Cameras / Video

Hidden cameras can activate a paging device, provide a live feed, and/or record theft for use by police. Many are so small they're virtually undetectable. We'll look at a wide range that are available.

Tracking & Recovery Systems

GPS Tracking devices are offered by companies such as LoJack, OnStar, and others, and newer options include very sophisticated recovery system options.

As you can see, there is a lot to cover. Guy and I hope you check back each Wednesday for an article that will cover each of these topics and more. Our hope is to provide you with accurate, timely information that will help in Keeping Our Rides Safe.

If you have a story you'd like to share on a theft you've experienced, please take a moment to comment.

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

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