Not sure where else to post this, but I figure body is the main cause. I have an 87 LT that I'm debating on getting a little crazy with (turbos, motor work etc). But I know of 3 people who had their third gen stolen in plain site. 2 of which had big dollar alarm systems. In one case my cousin parked next to a cop car at the mall and came out to realize it was gone.

What is it on the body/door/t-tops that makes these cars so easy to break into? I've had very good luck all my life (knocks like crazy on wood) about nobody stealing anything out of my cars. But are there things I could do to prevent theft? My guess is as long as I don't advertise a thumping sound system I will avoid most thievery. Both the cars I knew of that got stolen had subs and drove around town with speakers blaring at 1.21 jigawatz all the time. No shocker that someone was eyeballing their cars. Anyway, just looking for suggestions for alarms or preventing theft. Thanks!

 

You can get into them pretty easily due to the weatherstripping on the door. You can use a long reach tool to bump the lock slider over and open the door in no time. That's just because the glass just kinda floats there on the weatherstrip and isn't surrounded by a frame. Not that I've done it before or anything...

Just keep it low key and you'll be fine.

 

if somebody wants it bad enough theyre gonna find a way to get it, so definitely keep it low key like the post above me said

 

Low key is the way to go

 

So I should take the sign off the window that says "steal me". lol

 

Lol nah leave it on there

 

A strategically placed kill switch can't hurt. I

'll bet your friends cars were pre-89's as well (no VATS). I remember reading figures somewhere years ago that compared theft of 1988 and older F-Bodies with 1989 and newer (VATS). Theft of the later cars was less than half of what the pre-VATS cars were, IIRC.

 

When they first came out, 3rd gen Camaros made the list of the most stolen automobiles.

 

OK, with even a basic alarm system it will go off when the door is opened. So you have that siren going off and it should also disable the starter. If they get passed that then the “hidden kill switch" you installed will stop them in their tracks. Unless they have a tow truck it’s not going anywhere. If they can’t take the car and there ballsy enough to spend the time tearing out your stereo system than your screwed in that area.

Oh yeh, if you want some alarm systems will even trigger a signal to your key fob telling you it went off. That's kind of cool.


As mentioned by navy02ws6 above, a kill switch is fairly easy to do and IMO is THE answer to part of your question.

 

The two cars that were stolen were actually an 89 IROC and 90 RS. So I guess they fall on the odd side of statistics heh.

The kill switch is definitely the best I think. Alarm sirens only sound off while the cable is connected. What impressed me was on the 90 RS he had a siren INSIDE the car too so it would pretty much destroy your ears if you attempted getting in. I bet he didn't have a start kill switch though!

 

i leave a kill switch in plain sight on mine as people ask and i tell them how i do it but I dont tell them about the other 2 that are hidden inline with that one. i dont expect to have any issues ( I hope ) as i park in my garage and my work if it ever makes it there has cameras and a gate so they will pass on it. Any other time im within 20 feet of it hangin out with people

 

Nice idea about the siren in side. Also they sell a small battery for alarm systems that is totally independent of the cars.

 

An alarm, a kill switch even a club for your steering wheel will definitely deter a thief.

How about not having a steering wheel at all though?

My brother bought this adapter for his iroc that makes your steering wheel removable pretty awesome he also has an alarm and is going to get a kill switch soon.








The car is daily driven by the way.

As the others said being low key is the KEY turn your music off when your nearing you destination hide all things in your car remove you stereos face plate cover you subs and amp ETC.

 

Lol the club actually makes it easier to steal a car. I'm going to stick with keeping it low key.

 

there was a Guy I worked with that had mace nozzles connected to the ignition . if the right code wasn't punched in, then you get mace to the face.
he had it set up like bait car so it would lock your *** in too.

 

explain

 

OK but I'm not endorsing or condoning car theft in any way.

What you do is carry a small hacksaw blade and use it to cut a small section of the steering wheel out so you can release the club. Next you use the club as a lever and apply a huge amount of torque to the steering wheel to break the lock on the steering column. Then the car is all ready to go. Its basically just telling a thief how easy it is to steal your car...I mean you are providing half the tools to make it happen lol. Now a better option IMHO is a steering column bar. Yeah they look bulky but they are way hard to remove.