My Anti THEFT idea for £5! Am I a genius or a moron with a metal box?

[joemorgan2000]

Sometimes, my genius is almost frightening.

The OBD port is cause for lots of thefts, and people run fake ports etc but i thought, what if i just actually remove the port.

So, i bought a solid steel lock box used for keys on the outside of houses, used a hacksaw to slowly make a hole enough to poke the wire through and locked the OBD port inside.
Only way to get it is either by snipping the cord, or angle grinding a LOT - best part is the box cant be pulled out as the cable is too short so the dash would have to be stripped off to even get access to put an angle grinder on it. Has a code lock so i can take off whenever i need the port.

cost me £5 for this box 2nd hand on eBay.

and yes, the drawer still closes.
Let me know your thoughts!

 

[dhminer]

I like the creativity. Here in the United States, the only antitheft device we need is a manual transmission

 

[rallytaff]

I have hidden kill switches on both my cars. Installed for $65 each on Mission Rd in E. LA. It helps to live in a relatively safe area too.

 

[Downsy]

I've thought about kill switches. On my old Jeeps that would be super simple. Not sure how involved it is on the FiST or the Rabbit, but I haven't really got a fire under my butt to do so. Everything is in a barn at night at home and at work we have a 7 foot high chainlink fence topped with barbed wire. I know when I've parked in parking areas at airports when traveling I usually pull one of the relays and toss it in the back somewhere usually down by the spare tire. Not super secure but makes it a little harder to steal if they wanted.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Are there many residents of the UK still able to drive manuals, unlike here in the states??

Like dhminer said above, there are very, very few still able to drive manuals on this side of the pond, and almost no new cars with a manual gearbox are even offered as an option.

I know there was an ongoing problem with the numerous thefts of the Escort Cossie RSes back when they were around in any sort of volume, for use in reckless joy rides and then storefront 'smash and grab' robberies.

But I am guessing that even there, with at least some small cars still in demand and being offered by manufacturers (unlike here where within 5 years one will ONLY be able to buy an SUV/CUV due to them becoming the 'go-to' standard for all of the U.S. driving populace), that both sub compact/'hot hatches', and manual gearbox vehicles are waning in demand.

 

[joemorgan2000]

I have hidden kill switches on both my cars. Installed for $65 each on Mission Rd in E. LA. It helps to live in a relatively safe area too.

Yes that is a good solution too! Was gonna get one of those but reviews here are mixed and seemed like a bit of a faff if you do a lot of driving.

 

[joemorgan2000]

Are there many residents of the UK still able to drive manuals, unlike here in the states??

Like dhminer said above, there are very, very few still able to drive manuals on this side of the pond, and almost no new cars with a manual gearbox are even offered as an option.

I know there was an ongoing problem with the numerous thefts of the Escort Cossie RSes back when they were around in any sort of volume, for use in reckless joy rides and then storefront 'smash and grab' robberies.

But I am guessing that even there, with at least some small cars still in demand and being offered by manufacturers (unlike here where within 5 years one will ONLY be able to buy an SUV/CUV due to them becoming the 'go-to' standard for all of the U.S. driving populace), that both sub compact/'hot hatches', and manual gearbox vehicles are waning in demand.

In the UK absolutely everyone drives manual, its how we’re taught, so its actually extremely rare to meet someone who doesn’t know how! So for us unfortunately that wont help! Feel a bit sorry for americans who may never know the joy of manual because they were never taught so just stay automatic.

 

[Silfister]

My manual tranny is good enough for me, but my neighbor's BMW has the Ravelco system; according to him the company's been around for 48 years and has installed over 9 mil units . . . and has never had a vehicle stolen by defeating the device. Of course, it's big bucks to install (~$800) and if you're prone to misplacing things, your vehicle won't start without the removable plug. Wear and tear over time could cause plug issues as well (eventually will have to be replaced) . . . but your vehicle won't be stolen.

 

[rallytaff]

Yes that is a good solution too! Was gonna get one of those but reviews here are mixed and seemed like a bit of a faff if you do a lot of driving.

You have one wire going through the bulkhead going to the switch wherever you want it located. When I'm done for the day, flick the switch and that's it. Sometimes I use it when shopping in an area known for cars being stolen. Have never had a problem with it. It's been on the car for about 8 years!