Thread: Stolen from Seattle Roadster Show...

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Lojak brings up an interesting subject. Have any of you used, or are using one on your rod itself? I know the concept, but how expensive is it, can you install it yourself or do they have to do it? How is coverage, are they everywhere, or just major metropolitan areas? How big is the unit?

Don

Don,

I don't have one on any of my cars; but, I can answer a couple of these from the research I have done on them in the past...they are about $700.00 if I remember correctly, and about the size of a deck of cards. Unfortunately, they have to install it. They don't offer a do-it-yourself option as I recall.

As for coverage, I don't remember that one.

Cheers,
Dutch

"......it is already in a container and headed overseas......."

Kind of my thoughts on it's fate. Don't know whether it's just the information age and we hear about it more or if the problem is growing. It used to be that I didn't worry too much about my cars they were so distinctive that they would stick out like a sore thumb. Anymore with the overseas market and prices some of the parts go for I do get concerned.

It's funny, I've spent the last couple of weekends building the security system for my 57 Plymouth getting it ready to go to Tulsa. Basically a few tricks that would make it a bit harder to steal, but a determined thief could still probably get it. Big one this weekend is the inside hood lock to keep someone from opening the hood from the outside.

I think generally the guys who are stealing cars of this calibre are pro's, and they have targeted this car specifically, and have a plan. Could be some drugged up idiot who just needs the next fix, but I don't think so.

Here in SW Florida at least 5 Marinas and Marine Dealers have been hit big time, like $ 250,000.00 to $ 500,000.00 each, and the guys who did it are real pros. They come in over the weekend, disable some pretty sophisticated alarm systems, and steal boxes and boxes of brand new outboard motors.

In several of the robberies, they even disabled the back up alarms on the forklifts so that they wouldn't attract any attention as they used the forklifts to load their truck. In one robbery, they even took the time to sit down and make sandwiches out of the fridge and eat a meal while there. Then they went into the parts room and stole all of the parts needed to make only the engines they had stolen complete, like controls and gauges. Real pro job, and most people think they come in from Miami and take the stuff back and ship them in a container somewhere.

Sad part is, if a true pro wants to get your car, boat, or whatever, they will probably succeed.........all we can do is try to make it so hard for them that they run out of time or choose an easier target. I am putting a quick disconnect on my T steering column so that I can remove the steering wheel. Might look dumb standing in the checkout line at Publix with a steering wheel in my hand, but oh well.


Don

Lojack costs about $600-$700 installed by dealer. I know several people who have it on their daily drivers, but none on a streetrod although I am sure quite a few people do. Not something normally talked about. supposed to work well in all areas, but don't really know outside of major population centers. Probably similar to GPS- works well most places, but not all.

By the way you can also get Lojack for computers too. Every time the thief uses the computer to log on to the internet, Lojack software sends a signal to the Lojack company as to the location of the stolen computer, who inturn send a message to the local police. Pretty neat insurance for $50.

http://www.lojack.com/index.cfm

Explains all of the questions.

Pat

One thing about Lojack is you CAN NOT move it from one car to another.
It has to stay with the car it was issued for so if you sell the car it goes with it
When I sold a daily driver I tried to move the Lojack to my Rambler but they would not let me said I had to buy a new one for the Rambler
They (Lojack) claim that the Department of Justice will not let them move it from car to car........

MM64

Must construction site use a TattleTail wireless alarm system, they have loop protector you run thru holes and make a complete loop. You have to cut or undo the loop to move the equipment, sets off the alarm. They have the rattle that is a wireless mercury switch that goes off if moved 6 degree. Wireless motion sensor all celluar.

That's probably because it is associated with the VIN, when the VIN is reported stolen that automatically activates the Lojak. If you moved it from one car to another that would create an administrative burden on who ever provides that relationship and would have to update the record, probably DoJ. I'm sure that Lojak has to pay the DoJ and I bet the contract states its a one time deal. I've heard that something similar to Lojak is available for computers too. Cost is supposed to be about $50.

Pat

This thread got me thinking so much about this that I sold my 24 foot trailer and
went out and bought a 48 foot with living quarters.
I trailer to all of the shows more than 100 miles away so that's about half the shows during the summer. I've been staying in motels and that means I must have been lucky.
Now if some scum sucking thief wants my baby, they gotta get past me and my .454
Just goes to show it doesn't pay to own anything nice.
Thanks for the heads up....

DT

I've passed this on to a few other sites, good luck on the recovery, I hate thieves.

Two years ago I had two very high $$ custom built bikes at a trade show in Vegas. Now the labor unions are very strong in Vegas and you cannot move anything yourself, the union guys move it all. At the end of the show it is all very hectic as everyone is clamoring to get out of there and someone with a trailer pulled up to the loading dock, and told one of the union riggers to go over to a certain booth and bring a ceratin bike to that trailer.
The rigger did not think anything of it, and went over and started rolling the bike over to the dock. One of the union foremen (who I had met at the start of the show and put in charge of the bikes, no one but him could touch or move the bikes) saw this and stopped him, asking him where he was going with the bike.
So the bike was saved, but by the time we got over to the dock the dude with the trailer was gone. The thief tried to steal the bike right out of the show. Can you believe it?
I was told this kind of thing happens all the time. Needless to say I was furious and rode each bike out of the show over to my trailer. So now when I display bikes, a disc lock goes on each bike, and only I have the key.

Another thing I do, as I trailer high dollar vehicles all the time, I do not display any kind of signage that says what is inside the trailer. having something that says "Hot rod or 32 chevy parking only" or HD stickers is just telling thieves that they should steal this. For all they know, the trailer could be full of household junk. There is no clue that something valuable is in the trailer.
I am also very careful of where I park overnight. Well lit parking areas, close to the door of the hotel, within sight of my room or the front desk. I'll pay extra to stay at a place that meets those requirements.
And my truck is alarmed, parked near my room, so if it goes off, I will hear it. On the way home from NYC last month, I pulled through 4 motels before I found one that had what I needed.
Even if I have a big 32 ft trailer, the rules are the same. One year we had to stay in a place in a bad section of a city, and I pretty much spent the night watching the truck and trailer.
And while on the road, I also try to stay in small towns, away from cities, less crime. if you are staying in a small town there is less chance of professional gangs that look for this sort of thing.
Even at events, I get there a day early, so I can park the truck and trailer, within sight of my room.

Years ago, a certain bike builder went through the same deal, with truck and trailer and bikes being stolen. he had to find a local criminal, who got him in touch the group that stole the bikes and he was able to buy the bikes back. And it happened in a port city. So most likely the bikes were going overseas.

There was an all steel, original 1933 Ford Sedan delivery stolen from a hotel, during the Syracuse nationals this year. right down the road from the fairgrounds.

I've only seen one place where you can get Lojack, and it is through your Ford dealership. I have heard that unless your rod is in a bunker undergroud with about six feet of concrete all around, they will find it. I bet there is more info in line about it.

Here on the Right Coast, getting Lojack does not seem to be a problem. Most dealers handled it and install it and even some specialty shops. I know several people who have had installed on their Honda's and Beemers. If you live and/or drive in an area where car theft maybe a worry, then the price is probably right. I don't have it on any of my cars.. yet. Then again I don't drive what most theives want anyway.

Originally Posted by 289N30A

I've only seen one place where you can get Lojack, and it is through your Ford dealership. I have heard that unless your rod is in a bunker undergroud with about six feet of concrete all around, they will find it. I bet there is more info in line about it.

.....Lojack comes to your house to install it.... just call 'em...