VK Calais Break-in protection

[sarrge2001]

My son's VK Calais got broken into today - stereo/cd's/tools/torch all nicked. And trashed the dash around the stereo.

Only the lock on the gear shift stopped it from being driven away i think (although they did bend the selector and trash the console trying to force it)

Question - can anyone recommend a decent alarm/immobiliser system. Also, the key lock on the drivers door will open with just about anything - are new lock barrels available and is there any mods you can do inside the door to make it harder to access.

Any help would be appreciated

Ta

[Shifty1]

alright.. change ya locks.. get solex PROPERLY installed.. the lock on the shifter, steering lock, black widow (i think) alarm.. and just try n not make it look appealing to break into.. keep expensive stuff out of site.. also remove the bootrelease from glvoebox..

[vkberlina]

Personally I dont see the point in the solex locks, all you do is jam a screw driver in the lock and give it a good twist and it bends the tags in the door just like a normal lock. Even if a theif get beaten by that they will put a brick through a window.
The padlock on the T-bar is a good visual deterant although the T bar can be bent towards the drivers side away from the shift selection guides and be driven away.
I would go for a good car alarm, something black wired so it would be harder to trace. Maybe fit a couple of cutout switches.

Your not going to stop a potentical theif breaking into the car its just too easy to get into, but you need to make it not as appealing to break into it. As whitevc says lock ont he shifter, on the wteering wheel, alarm etc, it will be such a pain to try and flog it they will go looking elsewhere unless its very desirable to steal.
Since it would either be an EFI 6 or a 5L, remove the fuel pump relay from the fuse box, they arent really that common and the car wont go without it.

Also you could invest in a wheel clamp available from trailer & boat places, the car wont go far with one fitted.

cheers
Scott

[craigvk]

I can't believe people still have these VB-VK's without alarms. I might sound nasty and flame me for it but you get what's coming. Ask the cops. They will tell you they get nicked all the time.
Solex locks are bullshit from reading thread after thread about them. Just as vkberlina says.
Any alarm will do really. Even the $50 ones on ebay. Or if you have a pocket full of cash to WASTE, go to Autobarn and get them to install a Viper or similar for about $400.

[craigvk]

Oh yeah, if the locks are a bugger to break in, there is no stopping the theif smashing the quarter window glass. That's been done a hundred times. But if you have an alarm with a bright flashing LED, I reckon' that is a big detterent.

[sarrge2001]

Thanks for the info guys - been reading up on the solex locks and there seems to be a fair few people against them - maybe just go for some new GM door locks (and ignition because that is apparently buggered as well - now it starts without the key).

Already has a dirty great lock around the selector with the base bolted to the floor under the console (which is why he needs a new console now cos they trashed the surround on that trying to remove it - and bent the top of the gear lever trying to pull the lock apart!)

New locks and an alarm should do him.....and maybe an electric fence unit wired to the outside of the car!!!!!!!! (joking - well - sort of...........hmmm)

[Mr Robbo - The General]

Some people are shaving door locks, as in, removing em and boging over the holes and usuing a keyless entry remote to gain access to the car. its on another thread somewhere on this forum. In this case though u have to have some release for the door locks in the boot, so u can access the car with a key... but these bastard crooks dont know that. Plus most wannbe crooks will go for the VK next to it with door locks on it. But definatly use an alarm, even with the locks shaved, i mean... windows break easily and quietly to if they want in. It really makes u feel horrable knowing som1 is listening to the stereo you bought with your hard earned. Mine is garaged every night. I dont leave it out of sight when its parked publically, but im paranoid . Sorry to hear about the break in. bloody pricks...

[Pub247]

I think Vkberlina's idea with the relay is good hard to know whats wrong as it'll turn over but not start. I was going to put a kill switch in the fuel pump power line just outside under the the driver's door. so if they did steal they'd wouldn't get far before it's runs out of petty. also go to the wreckers and see if you get a whole matching set of locks and steering column bit on which the lock still works. I got a whole set for a $100 for my old vk.

[darkmoon]

I think its a bit harsh to say that VB-VL owners deserve their rides stolen because they havn't immobilised it, after all they are the victims of complete a**holes. I understand the necessity though and I use a padlock on my auto shift. I am lucky to live where I do and its not a huge concern but I have had attemped break-ins even here and its not a nice feeling.
Spend the $$ and protect your cars ppl
Kain

[308vkcalais]

Mine has Keyless Ent, an Alarm & Immobiliser + I use the old steam powered steering wheel lock.Highly visual.My flashing LED on my dash lights up the whole drivers seat.The visual deterrent value is sometimes just enuf.

[Shifty1]

i didnt used to have an alarm.. only a steering lock.. one night (not long ago, with the vc) someone tried to get in.. lucky the drivers lock is buggered.. they couldnt do it n the dog scared em off..

put an alarm in her n nothing since then.. they do deter alot of would-be theifs..

[electric_monk]

I've always thought of maybe putting a SHOCKING deterrent, maybe an inverter hooked up to some conductive pads which will come into contact to somewhere the would be thief is going to touch, nothing over a half an amp (don't wanna kill em) , but a hell of a lot of AC voltage. Kind of like a cattle prod for those animals that would break into another mans vehicle.

Otherwise I suggest replacing the mechanical fuel pump with an electric one and put a basic kill switch on it. The best kill switch is one that can't be found, use a reed switch to turn it on or off - that way you can put the sensor behind some plastic in the dash and when you get into the car you just put a small magnet near the sensor and the killswitch is disabled, anybody who doesn't know about your set up won't be able to turn it off. If the bugger tries to nick off with your car without the fuel pump he won't get very far.

Other ideas, hmmm put a few LARGE airhorns in that can't be seen too easily but are aimed at the bugger, nothing will stop a thief better than a couple of hundred decibels blasting right next to you. It definately stops them from taking the stereo if your car is parked near anyone.

I have shaved my locks in the past but the only thing that does is force them to break a window (then again a window at a wrecker only costs 30 bucks and is easy to install, how much trouble is it to fix up a damaged panel because someone pried out a lock and damaged it?) Killswitches on the ignition switch do nothing if the bonnet can be opened and the thief has some electrical knowhow. As someone else has said disable your boot opening switch and you can relocate it to somewhere a bit more covert, that way they won't steal your tools again.

If you have the dosh, a decent three point immobiliser should be installed as well, but get it installed by a reputable place, you should never get someone you don't trust to install your security system. for obvious reasons.

It all depends on the value you place on your VK and the work you want to put into it, but they really are thief magnets. Kids just want to have a joyride and see an easy target.

Check about in the local cash converters and pawn shops, they might have your audio gear and a description of the sellers.

[electric_monk]

i didnt used to have an alarm.. only a steering lock.. one night (not long ago, with the vc) someone tried to get in.. lucky the drivers lock is buggered.. they couldnt do it n the dog scared em off..

put an alarm in her n nothing since then.. they do deter alot of would-be theifs..

hehe my door locks weren't working either. I disabled the entire locking system and just used central locking with a dual battery set up so the battery wouldn't die and leave me locked out. Buggers were too stupid to use a slim jim so they smashed a window, and for good measure decided to smash a bit of the dash as well. Wish I had a dog to scare em off.

[Shifty1]

haha.. this is the best bit.. the dog was a pomeranian.. GOLD.. but she was going spastic.. trying to push the gate down..

[darkmoon]

lmao @ pomeranian. There is some (fairly expensive) immobilisers on the market that are kitted with central locking and dead locks (like VS + locks).
Wont stop them smashing windows though.
Kain

[electric_monk]

We could get bulletproof, unbreakable windows like the popemobile? Might be going a bit far, plus if you had an accident and the seatbelt failed you'd make an ugly stain glass window, but I'd love to see how they get in then.

[V3N0M]

i currently live in the middle of noware atm.. but where i do live is full off a$$holes.. was worried bout my vb getting broken into and things nicked while im still building it.. could i use the ideas above on my car? like central locking and stuff? is it expencive to get it all professionaly installed?

[85berlina]

Hi guys,

In reference to the kill switches:

Of course getting a full feature immobiliser/alarm is going to be the better solution but if you don't want to pay for an alarm and want to put a kill switch in, then you must find a discreet location for the switch. The reed switch was a great idea but another idea that I used before I got an immobiliser was to use one of the spare touch switches above the radio (VK only).
These are a momentary tactile switch and this can be used to trigger a relay that switches the starter motor solonoid or it can be used to trigger a circuit with a relay output that will stay on when the button is pressed. This can be used on the fuel pump or other immobilisation point that must be on while the motor is running.
This switch location allows for a discreet switch that doesn't look out of place and it actually worked for me. I don't know how stupid the thief was but they didn't get very far.

[haloeight]

the solex locks are a great deterrant to 16yo kids...my VK used to get done every 2 weeks out the back of my house until i put them on...and i dont live in shit suburb, so for me they were well worth the investment. the deadlocking on them is another good feature.
the last time mine got done (the day before i retired the damn thing...not happy rob), they just went for a quarter window instead of jamming a screwdriver in the locks, which was great, quarter window = $7, new set of locks $40+, simple maths

id recommend them to anybody as a deterrant along with an immobiliser at least, or if you are tight, "salsbree immobiliser" - just remove the coil lead and rotor, it will stop the average thief, no pro thief steals VK's anymore

[synoptica]

Personally I dont see the point in the solex locks, all you do is jam a screw driver in the lock and give it a good twist and it bends the tags in the door just like a normal lock.

Found this out the hard way. I'd get them anyway - there's 15yo punks out there that run around with a couple of Holden keys that'll break in using that -but have no clue on how to do it any other way. So Solex locks provide protection against that at the very least.

You can do everything to try and thief-proof a car but if they REALLY want something that's in there they'll just break a window.

- Chris.

[STEALTHY™]

If you have a wagon, you can get rid of the locks all together, and not have to worry about the battery going flat on your central locking, cause you can just get in thru the boot.