Aftermarket Security
- Thread starter Davenjo
- Start date
Totally agree re: physical / visual deterrents.
But going back to trackers, presumably these blockers work on any GPS tracker, regardless of initial cost and ongoing subscriptions? Are "insurance approved" trackers as easy to block? If so, and bearing in mind that they are just another tool in the arsenal to offer an extra bit of peace of mind, how do other members feel about the subscription fees some providers are charging? Are the more professional / approved devices using significantly more data? If not, how do they justify charging £4, £5, £10 or more a month? (I don't mean to sound critical - I'm just genuinely curious!)
Technology moves fast these days and it's readily available and getting cheaper so even your local drug addled thief has probably got some kind of tech. Don't get me wrong any security device is better than nothing!
Most thieves do it as they are too lazy to work, so if all they need to do is press a button to steal your vehicle or have to do some hard labour to remove a physical device which do you think they would choose?
Most thieves do it as they are too lazy to work, so if all they need to do is press a button to steal your vehicle or have to do some hard labour to remove a physical device which do you think they would choose?
So I guess what you're saying is, ultimately any GPS tracker is probably not going to stop a determined professional thief? But as you say, any device is better than nothing, so back to my original question: why pay hefty subscription fees for something that you can get for 3p a month?
Yes I bought the TruTrak and I like it. It's the one that goes into the ODB port (it's very flush).
However I jumped the gun a bit and there are cheaper ones out there. Yours seems great value.
Positives are the app is great, customer service good, and the device itself is neat.
Negatives have been mentioned. Not the cheapest and easy to remove.
Should have got the magnetic box one if anything.
Some insurers insist on a tracker that's professionally monitored, as Police are much less likely to respond to reports of vehicle theft in progress when they're reported by members of the public.
That kind of makes sense. Although I still can't help wondering....if even more expensive trackers with subscription services can be blocked, and especially since by the time any "professional" monitoring kicks in, your pride and joy is already gone, are they really worth the monthly fees?
I think I'd consider fitting an expensive insurance approved device, if instead of ongoing monthly subscription fees for doing virtually nothing, they charged a one-off fee for any succesful recovery! Or if the saving in insurance premiums was equal to or greater than the ongoing costs.
I think I'd consider fitting an expensive insurance approved device, if instead of ongoing monthly subscription fees for doing virtually nothing, they charged a one-off fee for any succesful recovery! Or if the saving in insurance premiums was equal to or greater than the ongoing costs.
Yeah, for insurers that insist on a tracker, it's not so much a case of receiving a discount for having one, as it is not getting insurance without one. To me, this speaks of the insurers' confidence in the benefit of having a tracker and that cases of successfully blocking GPS signals are not that prevalent (at least not yet).
Hi all I’ll be getting my van back from converter in a few weeks. I’m worried about break-ins on my street which have been increasing in frequency. I already have the top-rated Disklock steering lock & I plan to fit an integrated immobiliser & tracker as soon as I get it back. But I think the break-ins are low-level opportunists so I’m thinking visual deterrents are key – the disklock is going to do nothing in terms of stopping them breaking in looking for stuff to steal. Is there anything members on here would recommend I install/put on the van to deter these kinds of attempted thefts (& then having to fix the damage they cause when trying to get in)? I have a 6.1 with tailgate & 1 sliding door. Thanks a lot.
On the presumption you don't keep anything valuable in the van, you could always try leaving the doors unlocked - preferably with a very grumpy and territorial Rottweiler inside!
The danger is North Korean agents will break in hoping to steal your plutonium.Years ago when I had a panel van for work I had something like this on the doors:
View attachment 276298
To be fair, I did have radioactive materials on board, and it didn't look like a campervan - but nobody ever touched it, even when I parked it in some dodgy areas
Seeing as you mentioned OBD ports...
Not sure if I've mentioned this before. A very inexpensive but highly effective trick to protect against attack via OBD...
Move a few of the pins about on your OBD port to change the layout/pinout. Make a very careful note of what goes where.
Then get an OBD plug and socket and wire them in such a manner that they work as an adaptor to restore the original pinout.
Johnny Scumbag won't get anywhere if he tries to plug his box of thievery into your OBD port. However, when you need to plug in you first attach your home made adaptor and plug into that. Best not to leave the adaptor casually laying about in the van though.
Got that idea from a guy who'd had several attempts at his Fucus ST and each time it stopped the sheets dead in their tracks, although in the end he got so fed up with their repeated attempts he sold the car.
