The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Thief Proof

Hey Guys,

I cant express my thanks enough for this site and all its helpful participants, you have already educated and helped me immensely in the Stovebolt ways. Being completely new to "Old Trucks" and the responsibilities of owning one I was hoping that someone could tell me any way to make my truck('66 C-20 fleetside) harder to steal or vandalize. I never feel safe parking around the corner, where I cant keep a close eye on its well being. This is not a hobbie vehicle, it is my everyday work truck(my livelihood & Joy). Any tips or advice is appreciated.

thanks,
Nolan

ScTrucker,

It can be as easy or as hard as you want to make it to steal or vandalize your truck.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where some people just don't respect the property of others, and no matter how much we would discourage it, some wise-a** is always going to be lurking around the corner.

I would suggest a hidden ignition cut-off switch of some type. I certainly wouldn't go with an alarm, as I believe most of society has become immune to the sirens they use.

My 46 has a shut-off valve on the gas line, at the tank. Unless you know it's there, or were ambitious enough to crawl under the truck and look for it, you'd have a real tough time getting my truck started. It sure wouldn't prevent someone from loading it up on a flatbed though.

I'm sure this topic is bound to get you alot of responses. I'm anxious to see what others might be doing.

Generally, I just make sure it's not too far out of sight. I guess I'm fortunate, that I don't have to use it as a "daily driver".

Sctrucker, know what you mean, I have a cut-off switch on my 52, sorry I cant tell you where, also I am not sure how many thiefs know where the floor starter is, another thing is that I have mine fully insured so that helps some but the truth is, if they really wanna steal our truck, they will find a way to do it, sometimes I think it is good just to leave the windows down and not worry about it,, they do a lot of damage trying to get in, just drive it and enjoy it.......thanks for your post,,,,,,regards..Fred

All good ideas and sure more will be forthcoming. Redneck southern liberal that I am I suggest the same as with looters...shoot em'. Hunt em down like the dirty rotten dogs they are and give em a dose of old fashioned justice.
That ought to get it started.

good point, nolan, you could put one of those protected by smith & wesson stickers on your rear window,,,, got a lot of them down this way Fred

Locks only keep honest people honest, as my grandaddy used to say.

Whatever method you go with (fuel shutoff, ignition kill) you should place them in the cab.. so if somebody is "camping" your vehicle, they won't see you fiddle under the hood or under the vehicle (a dead give away you're activating some theft deturrent)

Even in a "dead stick" situation, an old vehicle is pretty easy to steal.. with no way to lock the transmission or steering column, it would be easy to push it up on a trailor and be gone.

The most direct method i've ever seen was a guy who welded a ring on his shift lever, and another ring on his seat riser.

He'd put the truck in reverse, then used a heavy gauge steel cable threaded thru both rings then locked with a padlock.

With the steel cable in place, it was impossible to get the truck out of gear.. unless the theif had a way to cut that cable fast.

So I guess they could still start the engine and drive away.. but they'd have to do it in reverse.

I'd say a variation of that method, combined with The Club would be effective.

Sure, they can cut the steering wheel to get around The Club, and they can cut thru the cable to free up the gear selector, but thats alot of work, and can be time consuming.. a would be theif may see both measures, and go for an easier target.

try:
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001624#000000

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http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi...d=results&record=2453643-023802-MD4N

I've always liked the coil kill/grounging switch under the dash or seat or ??? open the starter wire @ S post, or open fuel pump power, or ???

Here is a simple way for you to lock the hood so thieves don't try the engine compartment. I have simply welded two small pieces of 3/4'' flat stock about 3-4'' long, mocked up to allow me to install a padlock on the hood latch lever bar in between the top two grill louvers so they can't pull the hood latch to open it.
I also have the horn blow if you don't know the correct starting code.

as been said b4::
If they want it ... consider it gone.

When I drove a bobbed tail delivery truck some years ago they had brake locks on them. When stopped for a delivery a simple switch on the dash activated a solenoid in the brake line to lock the brakes, via the brake fluid, in the braking position. The harder the pedal was depressed when activating the switch the more set they were.

I have always thought I'd put such a device on my vehicle if in a theft prone area.

I have also thought about using air horns on door activated switches. Nothing more than a dome light switch would be needed to activate it, but you would have to route through a key switch on the outside of the vehicle to enable/disable it before entering. Air horns vs. common theft alarms should garner attention.

Perhaps there would be a way to keep the air horns blaring once the door was opened rather than have the thief simply shut the door to stop them.

With my flatbed, perhaps tie flashing clearance lamps into the circuit to also draw attention, perhaps a back up light also.

Perhaps tie in a circuit to activate spray nozzles via a pressurized tank containing a dye for marking the perp for identification. Expect vandalisim later!

If you can always park on wet ground (unlikely) you could tie in a flasher to an old coil with a positive wire to the soil. When the perp stands in the positively charge moisture and touches the vehicle he gets a coil fed jolt. We've all been jolted and know that it is no big deal, however a lot of folk don't like shocks. Famers use this to keep cattle away from their feeding vehicle.

The power lead from switch to starter on switch activated starters could be fed through 3 or 4 switches that have to be in the correct position to feed through all to allow flow. The switches could be labeled for lights and the thief might not ever realize they go to the starter instead.

Vandalism---that's an entirely different chapter
that has few preventative answers.

Get a sign that says "Beware of Dog" prop it up in the window. Then go to the novelty shop and get some fake Dog Poop. Place "Poop" on driver seat leave Windows open.

I understand wanting to protect your truck from theft but most auto thefts are stolen for their parts. You may have to worry if your truck was parked in Havana though.

If you are still worried, simply loosen the coil wire from the cap or put a rat trap on the seat. lol... People will pay attention to THAT alarm.

A buddy of mine years ago had a problem with people sticking their hands in his mail slot in the door to his office.

His solution involved super-gluing thumbtacks to the arm of a large rat trap, then using drywall screws to attach the trap to the inside of his door.

I used a piece of PVC pipe, with a broomstick that was a snug slip fit. Duct-tape a bungee cord to the outside of the pipe, and cock the device by pulling the stick back and stretching the bungee. Drill a hole for a cotter pin to keep the stick cocked.

Now- - - - Fill the pipe with fine-ground cayenne pepper and stick a piece of masking tape over the end to prevent spillage. Bungee this assembly to the steering wheel, open end toward the driver's door, with a piece of monofilament fishing line routed to the inside door handle. When the scumbag opens the door, he gets a faceful of pepper, followed a split second later by a broomstick between the eyes! It's hard to drive away with both eyes shut!

Jerry

Wow guys, these are some awesome suggestions. Keep'em coming.

if only it we could make this legal

Do the test (The BBC's Jeremy Vine witnesses a demonstration of the "blaster")it's just a click away!

Another method of deterent would be a electrically activated windshield tinting device (like they use in welding helmets, only darker). The alarm would set after ten seconds and the window would blacken, forcing the thief to either break the windshield or walk away.

How about a switch operated shift kit and hood lock. This would be great for column shifters, lock the shifting levers and the hood with a hidden or remote switch.

Another home fix would be to set up two air horn systems, one hidden under the seat and the other under the car. They would activate ten seconds after the door is opened and can only be disabled by a hidden switch. (my choice)

Install an additional hidden switch (double pole/double throw DPDT) locks the brakes and disengages the power to the ignition switch.

If you have a floor starter (pre sixties), remove the pedal when you leave the truck.

Another (AD) Truck idea is to drill a hole in the parking brake arm and install a lock in the fully depressed position.

But if they do like the repo man, your outta luck. They have you hooked and outta there in less than ten seconds, and it does not matter what you have done to prevent it. They drag the truck a couple of blocks and then they drag it up on the flatbed. The only way I see preventing that is to drop and anchor when they try lifting the front of the truck.

Insure the vehicle for what it's worth and don't worry about it.

If you go laying booby traps expect legal problems.

YIKES! Not only would you get slapped with a HUGE civil suit but you'd face criminal prosecution as well. Not to mention the fact that it would be easy to forget and fall for your own trap.

A guy rigged a tripwire shotgun inside his business which kept being broken into. The rip-off was killed and his family sued the crap out of the store owner. He also went to prison.

Seems to me that a "club" across the steering wheel would be good enough for an old truck. That, and a fuel and or ignition cut off should do it.

YIKES! Not only would you get slapped with a HUGE civil suit but you'd face criminal prosecution as well. Not to mention the fact that it would be easy to forget and fall for your own trap.

A guy rigged a tripwire shotgun inside his business which kept being broken into. The rip-off was killed and his family sued the crap out of the store owner. He also went to prison.

Seems to me that a "club" across the steering wheel would be good enough for an old truck. That, and a fuel and or ignition cut off should do it.

after all said and done spend the money for an alarm system i put one in my shop they tryed 10 points of entry when they got in and the sirens went off i bet they wet them selves they havent been back best 200. bucks spent saved 1000s

after all said and done spend the money for an alarm system i put one in my shop they tryed 10 points of entry when they got in and the sirens went off i bet they wet them selves they havent been back best 200. bucks spent saved 1000s

after all said and done spend the money for an alarm system i put one in my shop they tryed 10 points of entry when they got in and the sirens went off i bet they wet them selves they havent been back best 200. bucks spent saved 1000s if i head my alarm going off in my truck id cheack it out

My last truck left my my pitbull sitting in my front seat when I went into any stores, plus left my windows down a quarter. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR Plus I have an empty gun rack inthe back window. So they know they are messing with a true red neck.

In my last truck just left my pit bull in the frontseat with the windows a quarter of the way down, just had keep on washing the inside of those windows, plus I HAD AN EMPTY GUN RACK IN THE BACK WINDOW. It sure was a true red neck truck. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

In my last truck just left my pit bull in the frontseat with the windows a quarter of the way down, just had keep on washing the inside of those windows, plus I HAD AN EMPTY GUN RACK IN THE BACK WINDOW. It sure was a true red neck truck. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I just keep my Great Dane with me. She's gentle as a lamb, but no one else knows that----crap----just gave it away.

I like the air horn, but also have common sense park in a well lighted area were there are decent people around, so that if they see something not right they can call police on a cell phone , and do use a club when parking.

Dont be predictable, see things from the other persons view ask yourself is my truck a sitting duck?? each time you park it.

Wire in a kill switch, stick someting under your tire that will flaten the tire, move it out of the way each time you get in and drive forward. GPS?

At home pull in the back yard out have a locked gate, dogs, dont leave nothing on the seat or in view.

I have camped in my van when traveling and parked at the holiday inn before and had people test to see if my door was unlocked, in both cases the area was not the greatest.

I have a life size picture of Curly in my back window. In low light, it looks like someone is sitting in the cab. NYUK, NYUK, NYUK.

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/ducor_doug_1966_02.htm

If Curly doesn't work, my cat will scratch the theif's eyes out!

Doug,

Anti Thieft Device
Use a relay to the HORN. Make it loud and the guy moves on. Use the KISS theory ..... it's a relay to the start switch and/or to the horn. When you don't turn on the secret switch, the horn goes off.
wire as::

#30 to ign of ign switch. 10 gauge
#87 to S position of starter solinoid.10 gauge
#87a to horn. 14 gauge
#86 to ground. 16 gauge
#85 to special switch, there ever you wish to put it or... a switch. 14 gauge depending on the circuit.

The guy I shot in the legs, then made him unload the tool box he had just stolen, didn't sue me. Why would something simple like a faceful of pepper provoke a lawsuit?

I explained to him, very carefully, that the next time I saw him, for any reason, I'd aim for his head. I think he believed me.
Jerry

Thanks for all the great tips and stories folks. I'll definitely keep them in mind when "Thief Proofing" my truck.

Nolan

Nah, don't kill the bastard [censored] - you want to make him suffer. Once you've got him you can rough him up real bad before you call the police, then explain in court that your truck is "your baby" and that this was a crime of passion.

Personally, I'm thinking that my blazer is getting a LoJack system (http://www.lojack.com/). Not a bad idea to shave the handles and install a keyless entry either (although in a 71 k5 that won't do *anything* with the top off). As mentioned above nothing you do inside the cab, including starter/fuel kills and brake locks won't mean anything if they steal it using a wrecker with a wheel lift. A brake lock will make it much louder when they do (attempt) stealing the truck though, which might give you enough time to grab the 12 gauge and go for blood. A lojack system, on the other hand, will alert authorities to the location of the chop shop and hopefully bust everybody involved rather than just the guy getting the truck.

My blazer is going to get huge horns, I think it'd be a good idea to add a flip-flop circuit with a relay to the ign switch, and a cutout tied to a keyless fob. Hotwire truck, get started, then the horn is blaring at full volume until you can either disable horn(s) or someone with a gun (me) comes by with the keyless fob to turn off the horns and wound the silly bastard.

I always liked the pager type alarm system;a good friend had one on his Harley,and carried his handgun (legally)whenever he was on the bike.One night while we were eating dinner downtown,his pager went off. We walked out of the eatery and saw somebody trying to get his bike to start. I went back to call the cops,and he walked around and came up behind the thief,and,with gun drawn,tapped the crook on the side of the face with the barrel. The guy felt that cold steel and heard the hammer come back right by his ear and voided his bodily functions. He was then forced to walk 5 blocks to the Police station at gunpoint,where he confessed voluntarily. (nice touch when the officer told him "You're lucky to be here-the last guy had to confess in the Emergency Room.")
Alarm system-------------------$179.99
Handgun------------------------$459.99
The look on the bike thief's face--PRICELESS
Speed

My wonderful, protective Pitbull died. I took her EVERYWHERE with me. I never locked my car or truck. When someone got to close, she would just show her teeth and give a mild growl. It was a thing of beauty as was she.
[img]http://users.htcomp.net/TFunk/ShimiNebulaEmail.jpg[/img]

Bad idea. You will absolutely forget and fall for your own trap. lol....

In some states you have the right to shoot to protect property but you don't have the right to rig a booby trap. Besides, booby traps don't discriminate. If a cop or fireman opens the door to your truck / home, expect to go to prison for a long long time.

Hi Tech-Hi Schmeck. Actaully, and in all seriousness, just what 'Jed' said way back at the beginning. It's easy. And if you really want to stop the f_____s, then a little C4 and a pressure switch and a pigtail you can disconnect. But that's not too good for your truck.

I wouldn't put a F0RD transmission in my Chevy, even if it were a theft deterent.

I do side work with a Repo agency....
Here is my take on all this.

I don't care what state you live in... you cannot use a firearm & threaten deadly force with it for a property crime offense.

You can only use a firearm if your life [ or the life of someone else is in jeopardy ].

Even if you catch the thief red handed inside your truck..... it is only a property crime & you cannot use a firearm .... unless ...............for example [ the guy has tools with him... like a screw driver... you can say he tried to use it as a weapon against you ].

Here are a few more suggestions:

Install 2 - 3 position toggle switches inline with the ignition switch. Only YOU know what position BOTH switches need to be in to get spark.
[ easily defeated if the thief hot wires from the battery to the coil ].[ or brings his own ignition system & hooks it up to your motor ].

Always park nose in with the steering wheel fully cocked to one side or the other with a steering wheel lock [ prevents "tow off" from the rear].

Steering wheel lock AKA "The Club " [ easily defeated by avaliability of master keys & the serrated lock rod can be broken with only a shallow cut from a hack saw ].

Alarms are OK but as mentioned earlier .. but no one pays attention to them anymore.[ Alarms are good if the thief shows up with a Tow Truck ].

Here are a few of my "sneeky " remidies to the vermin car theives,

If the vehicle is gonna be parked for any lenght of time.... remove all the lug nuts on one front rim & install the hubcap [ theives will run away when when the wheel falls off & the vehicle is grounded 20 feet from where it was moved moved from].

One of my favorites is... No alarm, No steering wheel lock & no ignition cut off.. but you have installed a fuel line cut off [ this simple toggle switch will let the thief start your truck .....but he can only go as far as how much fuel is stored in the carb ].

It is very difficult for theives & repo guys to get to anything that is " boxed in " [ use another vehicle to block access to your vehicle ]

If a pro really wants it... its history... no matter what ya do.

I got more but.... Certain stuff can't be discussed if you are a locksmith.

http://www.answerbag.com/c_view.php/1473

Today's criminals just ain't what they used to be:

EDMONTON, Canada - A teenager had to abandon a car-jacking because he couldn't use the vehicle's manual stick-shift. The young man approached a woman driver in a Toronto parking lot, pulled a knife and told her to get out. But once he got in he was stymied by the manual transmission. After trying unsuccessfully to threaten another person into driving the car for him, he gave up and fled. The suspect was arrested later while trying to hijack yet another car.

Used to be a guy around here that had a pet snake, I think it was a boa or something like that, anyway it was a big ol rascal. Took it with him in his car wherever he went. Nobody ever stole his car or anything in it......

best theaft deturent i ever used cheep rubber snake from dollar store just lay it in the seat and when u return your truck is still there !!!

1. There are silent alarms that will set off just your beeper.

2. Get a kit to install a removable steering wheel like the race cars do. Bring it in at night.

3. Use a reed switch to disable the ignition. They only close when a magnet is real close. It looks like a glass fuse. Look me up, I can send you one. I used them on every window and door of my house when I built it. I installed reedswitches in my door jambs and a small magnet on the lock bolt so I can look at my laptop and tell if the deadbolts are locked! Not to mention the position of every window in the joint.

4. FYI - About the tranny chained in reverse - I once drove my 39 Chevy about 15 miles home in reverse at 2:00AM. I had just got thru blowing up all forward gears.

5. When you go to greet the sob via your silent alarm - don't shoot him in the back - it looks bad.

Jim