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How to make vulnerable Camrys less prone to theft...
I was just cruising around on the internet earlier today, and I found my way into this webpage that reported that, according to the CCC Information Services in 2002, Toyotas and Hondas were the most stolen cars. In particular, gen. 2 Camrys!
Since this is a Camry forum, and since many of our Camrys have been supped up in one form or another, the last thing we want is for them to be stolen, whether it be for thrill-seekers, or in most cases, parts; parts that we worked our butts off for.
Now I know that if a thief really wants a car, there's no stopping him. I like to sum this up using a quote from the page in which I found a lot of this info on: "Anything man creates, man can defeat."
However, in the battle against crooks, one's best defense is to make it so that it takes much longer for a criminal to steal your car than it would otherwise. Afterall, if a cop was only 5 seconds away from catching the thief, then every second counted.
So in this thread, let's post some ways we can make our Camrys more secure. Whether it be recommending security systems, or mods, it's all welcome. Now yes, there is a chance that thieves will read this post, but in most cases, it'll be read with the intention of learning how to secure YOUR car. Afterall, you've put all that time, money, and effort into your car, so it pays to be informed.
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It's not what car you have, it's what you do with it that matters.
Packing your lunch in a paper bag-$5.00
Eating your lunch you bought on an airplane-$50.00
Losing your lunch from the airplane's cuisine, but not having a paper bag-Priceless
For everything else, there's paper bags!
First off, the individuals that are stealing the highly prized Gen2's aren't looking for the "souped-up" ones. The Gen2 are prized because the OEM parts are easy to sell on the black market do to the sheer popularity of Camrys in general. Camry's have been the number 1 selling vehicle in N. Amer. for years now.
As for protecting your car - don't bring attention to your car and it's valuables. Avoid advertising your audio and just stay low-key. Once you've diverted unwanted attention from your car, you can invest in a seurity system consisting of an alarm, immobilzers, kill-switches.
In addition, park in well lit areas, preferably beside a luxury car...again, the theif is gonna notice a Benz before a Camry.
For you stereo guys, don't bump where you live. Don't flaunt it to people you don't know.
Do your own alarm install if you know how. Hide the alarm's brain, use multiple self-powered sirens (under hood, maybe under back bumper? Something like that...) Ignition kill switches and fuel pump shutoffs are fun too, if they wanna take the whole car. So are tilt sensors (if they wanna just flatbed it or jack the wheels).
Keep loose items out of sight. People will smash your window out for a couple of CD's or a couple of dollars worth of spare change.
Most importantly? Have good insurance. No matter how much you think it won't happen to you, sooner or later you're likely gonna get jacked somehow.
sleep inside your car with a gun by your side.
Video recording cameras are nice also, if someone decides to jack your stuff when its outside your house, somehow gets past the locks, and alarms, then video tape will not tell a lie. Mabey have it rigged up to transmit to a tape recorder inside your house or a tape recorder secretly located inside the vehicle. Place alarm horns inside your car way up under the dash, My friend had done this to his car, along with diffrent strobes. When I got in his car, he turned it on for me OMG! I could not see, nor hear anything for a good 2 mins.
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1991 Lexus ES250, 2006 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE
Last edited by Camry_rider; 08-05-2003 at 03:40 PM.
sounds terrible, looks worse, i don't even have mats in my car, just cut up old carpet
my hood looks like shit, mis matched paint for rust repair, dings everywhere, my car would never get stolen, i leave the windows down unless i think its gonna rain
i got an anti theft key, but i haven't taken it out in months
Kam's advice is right on the mark. Having a good (or perhaps I should say less evil) insurance company, may be the most important thing you can do, other than not making your car stick out like a nun in a brothel.
Many years ago, around the small town where I grew up (in New Hampshire), a relatively new 'Vette got stolen. Being a small college town (then about 5000 folks, minus the students), most people know each other, and the unfortunate owner was a friend of a friend. Justice was swift in this case, as the miscreant who took the car drove it into the woods, OD-ed, and died, right there in the driver's seat. Had it been winter in NH, everything would have been OK, as this guy would have quickly converted into an easy-to-dispose-of human shaped ice block. But no, it was summer, and they didn't find him for several days. Another family friend worked for what we now call EMS. I'll never forget hearing his description of how he tried to pull the ripe corpse from the car, but failed at first, since its arm pulled off like the leg on an overdone chicken . Anyway, to the point: shortly thereafter, the insurance adjuster walked up to the car, got one whiff of the interior, and totalled it on the spot. From my experience, I'm sure that the adjuster from a crappier company would have sprayed a can of Glade into the car, returned it, and then sent a letter to the owner, reminding that "he's in good hands. . . "
Spend a few bucks more and get good insurance 'cause you just never know what's going to happen. . .
Originally posted by Phi First off, the individuals that are stealing the highly prized Gen2's aren't looking for the "souped-up" ones. The Gen2 are prized because the OEM parts are easy to sell on the black market do to the sheer popularity of Camrys in general. Camry's have been the number 1 selling vehicle in N. Amer. for years now.
As for protecting your car - don't bring attention to your car and it's valuables. Avoid advertising your audio and just stay low-key. Once you've diverted unwanted attention from your car, you can invest in a seurity system consisting of an alarm, immobilzers, kill-switches.
In addition, park in well lit areas, preferably beside a luxury car...again, the theif is gonna notice a Benz before a Camry.
the camry lost its number 1 last year, but made it back.. With 14% fleet sales, Camry would not have been number one to retail customers the last 10 years, the Accord with 2% fleet sales would have been number 1.
Don't put those 19 inch chrome wheels on your car, don't keep radar detectors on your car, don't blast your stereo, etc etc....
Ok, if you park next to a luxury car like an S500 or Audi A8 a common thief won't steal the S500 or A8 and leave your Camry alone. NO WAY IN HELL. He'd rather steal the "easier to steal" camry than the S500. Plus luxury cars attract attention. Camrys are everyday cars. They don't really attract attention.
The best way is to insure the hell out of your Camry. They'll tow it if they really want it. No immobilizer or loud alarm is going to stop them.
Originally posted by Daffunda Like everyone said, low key.
Don't put those 19 inch chrome wheels on your car, don't keep radar detectors on your car, don't blast your stereo, etc etc....
Ok, if you park next to a luxury car like an S500 or Audi A8 a common thief won't steal the S500 or A8 and leave your Camry alone. NO WAY IN HELL. He'd rather steal the "easier to steal" camry than the S500. Plus luxury cars attract attention. Camrys are everyday cars. They don't really attract attention.
The best way is to insure the hell out of your Camry. They'll tow it if they really want it. No immobilizer or loud alarm is going to stop them.
Wanna bet? Get some 4 inch cable and run it through your rims, run it around the rims of other cars next to yours. LETS SEE EM TRY THAT!
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1991 Lexus ES250, 2006 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE
A company named Sherlock offer for $200 Cdn to engrave a unique number on 50 car parts. This make the car less attractive cause valuable parts are more easy to trace.
Don't know if it's efficient but i think it worth the try.
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. Anyway, to the point: shortly thereafter, the insurance adjuster walked up to the car, got one whiff of the interior, and totalled it on the spot. From my experience, I'm sure that the adjuster from a crappier company would have sprayed a can of Glade into the car, returned it, and then sent a letter to the owner, reminding that "he's in good hands. . . " 
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