Do you guys (whose vehicles were broken into) believe that an alarm system would have been an effective tool?

 

i havent been broken into (knock on wood) but yes it does help,i have a viper alarm and when im in school i hear it go off(i sit by the window in college) and people do pay attention to the alarm especially the security guards they go and see whats going on. what i have seen is that most cars/trucks that get broken into have stickers on the back windshield that tells everyone what they have in their inside their vehicles ex: stereos, amps, speakers, alarms, and accessories but many know that theres even more inside

 

window tint and getting rid of the keyholes has helped me stay theft free, also the out of sight out of mind thing works

95% of the time you are just out of earshot or range anyway, besides noone in america does a damn thing when they hear an alarm anymore

 

Does it count if the whole truck was stolen?

 

1st time: In front of my house, nothing was stolen, they just broke the trim around the steering wheel trying to steal the whole truck
2nd time: in a parking lot that is 10 feet from the bar i was in, took some cd's and an air pump.

Both times were after the lift and tinted window's. And both time they punched the lock out, that's why I haven't fixed yet, I got to fix it so I can ship my truck to Florida.

 

And you live in Hawaii? Seems like an island would be a bad place to steal a car, you ain't going too far with it!

EDIT TO ADD: Mine was broken into in the parking garage at the gym, front row, middle of the afternoon, with a 350-lb. "security guard" sitting in a lawn chair 30 ft. away. They stole my Glock 26. Now I just lock anything important in my toolbox, at least it'll be obvious if someone's up in the bed of my truck wailing on it!

 

Few weeks ago at the gym parking lot, jimmyed my lock, couldn't get in, broke the backdoor window, didn't touch any of my softball equipment, fishing gear or sunglasses, the POS just took 10 bucks cash out of the center console in broad daylight, noonish. I was only in there for 30 minutes. I was called to work early for an emergency. There's even security there but they are worthless. No alarm.

 

I posted without reading your post. It's exactly what happened to me and as a matter of fact a G26 is what I conceal carry and for some reason I left it in my range bag that day. Yes security guards suck!!!

 

hotel parking lot, me and my buddy parked next to one another, i have a 97 f150, he has a 2001. between the two of us they got a sony psp, two pistols, two cordless hammer drills, three nails guns, and a bunch of othe misc. tools. funny thing is i had a garmin gps, my checkbook, and a cd player setting right in plain sight and he never touched any of that.

 

Always thought about getting an alarm and hooking up my train horn to it somehow. Not sure if that is possible and still keep the regular horn for when you lock/unlock the doors but if it is im sure that would ward off anyone and/or attract alot of attention. If I wasnt around it would just honk until the tank ran out since the compressor only comes on with the key.

 

It's possible to have both horns and have it operate normally. A friend installed a Clifford alarm with some train horns to his FX4 after it was broken into. He keeps the horn and compressor under his bed cover. It's hella loud!

 

I have been lucky (knock on wood). Some mo'fo' stole my dad's tailgate though

After that we started locking them.

 

I definitely was quick to to the hose clamp tailgate anti-theft "mod". It'll at least deter someone from spending about 45 extra seconds getting it and needing a screwdriver...

Worst for me -so far- is some kids throwing rocks at it. They were playing a game to see who could make on in the bed. Talk about a bad day.

 

ive had one attempt at my truck, trying prying the handle back like you can with chevies. I have an alarm

 

I was keyed not too long back, they didn't just key one panel, but 3 (both doors and front fender) Makes me wanna cry, can't afford to fix it and don't have comprehensive. :[