Body General body information and techniques for restoration, repairs, and modifications.

Making it harder to break in

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-15-2022, 09:58 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
pirateofms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Western WA
Posts: 71
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: T-5
Making it harder to break in

No long story or anything, but my car was recently broken into and emptied out. It looks like they either popped the lock or slid something through and popped the back hatch with the dash button. My question is this: is there anything I can do to make a third gen harder to break in to? I know no vehicle will ever be 'burglar proof', but if I can make it enough of an inconvenience maybe I won't have to buy all of my stuff a third time down the road.
Old 04-16-2022, 06:50 AM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
OrangeBird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,699
Received 668 Likes on 477 Posts
Car: 1989 Firebird
Re: Making it harder to break in

Originally Posted by pirateofms
No long story or anything, but my car was recently broken into and emptied out. It looks like they either popped the lock or slid something through and popped the back hatch with the dash button. My question is this: is there anything I can do to make a third gen harder to break in to? I know no vehicle will ever be 'burglar proof', but if I can make it enough of an inconvenience maybe I won't have to buy all of my stuff a third time down the road.
Please don't hate me for saying this, cause I'm really not trying to be condescending here, BUT, , , , the best theft protection for your stuff is to never store your stuff in your car. I know it sucks, but the plain fact is that, as you now know, there ARE scumbags who prowl for "easy marks", valuable stuff left in plain sight and the only way to stop them is to not entice them with stuff in the car in plain sight. Even if you were somehow able to make the door locks not "slim jim" able or the trunk button inaccessable, they WILL get in if so determined, by breaking a window. I treat all of my vehicles as transportation devices only, and not storage devices, this one simple change alone will just about assure no one will be breaking in for stuff that ain't there to be seen & stolen.

In the good ol days shooting Horse thieves was totally legal, stealing a Man's Horse was rendering him helpless and unable to work. Too bad the same ethos doesn't apply in modern times for cars........
The following 2 users liked this post by OrangeBird:
1989karr (04-18-2022), NoEmissions84TA (04-16-2022)
Old 04-16-2022, 10:08 AM
  #3  
Senior Member

 
Aaron R.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 831
Received 197 Likes on 134 Posts
Car: 1985 Z28
Engine: 305 LG4
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Making it harder to break in

Not sure where you live in WA, but best way to avoid breakins is to move to a quiet rural area of the country. If you have crazy left wing voting habits please leave those behind though, those of us living in paradise dont want new people bringing their corruption and stupidity with them.

If a move doesnt suit you I recommend spreading some dirty underwear around the car interior. Nobody wants to deal with that.
The following users liked this post:
ez2cdave (09-07-2023)
Old 04-16-2022, 04:09 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (2)
 
TransamGTA350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: South Windsor, CT
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
Received 212 Likes on 178 Posts
Car: '89 GTA
Engine: ZZ6TPI
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 3.70:1
Re: Making it harder to break in

I’m sorry that happened to you. Theft is an unfortunate reality of the world we live in.

These cars are pretty easy to break into and there isn’t much that you can do to change that, within reason anyway. As has already been stated, don’t leave anything visible in the car, less reason for someone to break in and steal your stuff.

Wheel locks aren’t a bad idea. Also, if you don’t have an 89 or newer with passkey (resistor in the ignition key), a hidden ignition kill switch is also something that can be added easily.

These are all just deterrents though. If someone wants the car that bad, they are going to get it. The idea is to not advertise what is inside and make it harder to break into and/or steal so the criminals move on to an easier target.
Old 04-16-2022, 05:22 PM
  #5  
COTM Editor

iTrader: (22)
 
QwkTrip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,928
Likes: 0
Received 1,860 Likes on 1,274 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Making it harder to break in

This is how they handle it in South Africa

The following users liked this post:
OrangeBird (04-17-2022)
Old 04-17-2022, 10:25 AM
  #6  
Senior Member

 
Aaron R.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 831
Received 197 Likes on 134 Posts
Car: 1985 Z28
Engine: 305 LG4
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Making it harder to break in

Originally Posted by QwkTrip
This is how they handle it in South Africa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLhWzMOccTg
That is brilliant. Totally sent my underwear idea down in flames.
Old 04-17-2022, 12:30 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
OrangeBird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,699
Received 668 Likes on 477 Posts
Car: 1989 Firebird
Re: Making it harder to break in


Damn I love that flamethrower!!!!, it's got the Trunk Monkey beat on the cost of Bananas alone
Old 04-17-2022, 05:37 PM
  #8  
COTM Editor

iTrader: (22)
 
QwkTrip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,928
Likes: 0
Received 1,860 Likes on 1,274 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Making it harder to break in

Ha! I forgot about Trunk Monkey! He's the best!!
The following users liked this post:
OrangeBird (04-23-2022)
Old 04-21-2022, 08:52 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
pirateofms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Western WA
Posts: 71
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: T-5
Re: Making it harder to break in

Trunk Monkey may be my best hope!
The following users liked this post:
OrangeBird (04-23-2022)
Old 04-22-2022, 07:04 PM
  #10  
Member
 
Johnny Gun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: The Peach State
Posts: 145
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Car: '88 GTA
Engine: 355 SBC, AFR 195 heads, Stealth Ram
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Making it harder to break in

Not with the glass on rubber part of our doors. Maybe an anaconda?
Old 04-23-2022, 09:31 PM
  #11  
Senior Member

 
KCobain147's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cheektowaga., NY, USA
Posts: 862
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI LO3
Re: Making it harder to break in

A glock.
Old 04-24-2022, 12:05 AM
  #12  
COTM Editor

iTrader: (22)
 
QwkTrip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,928
Likes: 0
Received 1,860 Likes on 1,274 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Making it harder to break in

The real answer is having your own garage.
Old 04-27-2022, 02:40 PM
  #13  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
pirateofms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Western WA
Posts: 71
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: T-5
Re: Making it harder to break in

Originally Posted by QwkTrip
The real answer is having your own garage.
Sadly, this was at work, and of course employee parking doesn't have any kind of camera coverage (not up to us, it's the strip mall that decided the back lot wasn't important.) Needless to say, my boss has decided it's not worth the argument, and we all park in front, now. Customers will just have to walk farther.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
johnnyboy
Body
1
06-12-2006 11:49 AM
Syxx613
Body
9
12-15-2004 01:25 PM
ken3983
Body
4
06-24-2003 04:03 PM



Quick Reply: Making it harder to break in



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:27 AM.