I'm MAD as ***** right now!! Just found out my BMX bike was stolen. I had it locked downstairs in front of the bagel shop. It was chained to a sign with a Kryptonite chain-lock. Locked through the frame and everything. Still trying to figure out how they could've stolen the bike just short of knowing my combination. It's out in the open and would take someone with the right tools a WHILE to cut through the chain. The lock was VERY heavy duty, and everything was secured tightly around the sign (which is cemented into the ground of course) and tied around the frame of my bike.

It was a 400 dollar bike with about another 150 in mods. Schwinn Pro Stock, aluminum 6061 frame, 3 piece XS crank, Shimano LX v-brake, Schwinn race-bars, new bearings, new tires, etc. etc. And now, realistically, it's gone and won't be recovered.

Yet somehow, my real concern is still the Lightning. It's parked downstairs right now in an open garage on the first floor in the back of my building. All my neighbors have nice cars (Audi A4, Lexus SC430, Lexus IS300, etc.) and they don't seemed to be worried. But I am!!

I've tried to convince the owners of the building to install cameras in the garage. I would gladly pay an extra parking fee for it. I've even played with the idea of mounting my own camera and having a TV in my place dedicated to my truck downstairs. I know it seems a bit extreme, but I guess you just can't trust anybody these days. Plus I'm seconds from the bars and main drag and it does get pretty rowdy up here sometimes.

So my question is, anybody ever tried anything similar with their trucks? My Lightning's security system has radar (Alpine SEC 150R) and it'll chirp when someone gets near and lingers around. But I need more than that. I thought about a rotating camera inside my truck but that would trip off the security system. Does anyone know where I can get a decent wireless surveilance and TV package? I want to mount it at an angle from the ceiling so I can see exactly how my truck is doing at all times. The signal from the camera has to be strong enough to go through from the first floor's ceiling to my second floor apartment.

If anybody knows any setup like this that won't require me to run wires throughout my building, please let me know!

 

That sucks cyntaxx
Sorry to hear about the Bike
Can't help with the Alarm situation but I know you can pick-up a cordless Surveillance system real cheap these days if you go that route.

 

Come on you have to have seen the X10 camera ads...

They are all over the internet. They used to pop up every 2 seconds. That will do exactly what you wanted cordless video. Trouble is it may not be legal.

Rather that electrify your parking spot and setup cruise missles why dont you just recheck your insurance coverage and if that doesnt give you the warm fuzzy you need - buy a lojack

Doug

 

I wouldn't be worried about whether it's legal or not. Obviously the @$$hole who took his bike wasn't worried about legalities. I'd say wire it up. There's plenty of companies online offering such devices, and I'm sure there's plenty of stores in your area that do also, just ask around.

and I don't care how good my insurance is, I'm never going to have a warm fuzzy feeling about it. I don't care if they buy me two new trucks. If my truck goes missing I'm going to be P!ssed.

good luck...

 

taxx,

$400 bike with nifty accessories locked up outside?

Why?

 

sounds like a job for an "autopc"!

 

cyntaxx;

Bummer!! Sorry about the bike. How far is it to the garage you park in? What about using a wireless baby monitor in the
" L " cab??? Hey, m,ight be a low cost mod idea??? Plus give
some piece of mind to you!! Have I come up with something?

 

Many alarm systems can have have add on pager systems that might help.

Sorry to hear about your bike being stolen.

 

Sorry about the bike. That really sucks! Get LoJack!!!! This way if your truck is stolen You will be able to find it pretty quick, Plus you get a discount on you insurance!!!

 

Sorry to here about your bike.
Doesn't kryptonite have a guarantee?

As far as the L, just make sure your insurance is aware of any mods: take pics, keep all reciepts. I would park it in backwards to make it more difficult to just pull up with a (can't remember the name of the type of Tow Truck) and drive off with it.

Insurance, Insurance, and more Insurance.

 

I have a buddy who when he purchased his home, right outside his garage, on the overhang, he created two enclosures, that to the untrained eye, looks like outdoor speakers. Cleverly hidden in each enclosure is one of those little cameras that pop up thru MSN and Yahoo ads (they're like $79.95 or so each), and you can't see them. He has them wired to a small TV and old VCR in his garage, and he can monitor his driveway AT ALL TIMES.

He can only keep his Sea Doo and wifey's SUV in the garage, so his 5.0 Blown 'Stang has to stay in the driveway.

cool setup for sure

JC

 

I am more afraid of vandals regarding my truck than anything. This campus isn't dangerous to the point where I'm that afraid of someone bypassing both the PATS and my security system in my truck and stealing it, but I am afraid of slashing tires, keying, general vandalization. And this is something a conventional security system nor a Lojack would prevent.

The truck is parked almost directly under me so the range for any monitoring system wouldn't have to be that long at all, just strong enough to penetrate the building.

My bike was left outside because I had just came back from the library after studying for finals and was gonna head back out there after a quick break. It was out there for maybe an hour tops as I ate inside. Again, everything was locked and it never even crossed my mind that it would be gone within that short of a time. Usually I keep it on my balcony for added security but didn't feel like hauling it up and down considering I was going to use it in such a short time.

I've thought about a pager system but didn't want to rush downstairs anytime my alarm started chirping because of a neighbor unloading groceries or something. I'd rather just have my eye on the truck.

As far as legality, I'm not *that* concerned. The camera will be focusing on my truck and my truck only. I rent out 2 parking spaces already so that entire section is mine. People walk through during the day, but it is not an area people expect to have privacy in. I will also make sure the owners of my building are clear about this.

I will look for a cheap system that will do its job. If anyone knows of one for my particular application, please let me know!

As for the bike, I've decided to get a cheap bike for around the campus riding and another good bike for my hobby. The latter will not even need a lock since I'll be on it whenever it leaves my balcony. And if someone has the ***** to climb up onto my balcony which is about 4 ft. from my bed in the middle of the night, I'll have a Louisville Slugger waiting for their pretty little heads.

Thanks for all your kind words guys.

 

GOOD ONE DOUG

Sorry cyntaxx, but that was good

 

The motto for me here is prevention, not covering my a$$ after something happens. Even if my insurance covers a deep scratch on the tailgate or something, I would be pretty pi$$ed seeing it there, and it would be a hassle no matter what.

Again, I'm not looking for some foolproof way to secure my vehicle. Just looking for a greater piece of mind on this college campus with my 30k+ baby.

(Maybe I should just pay/feed a homeless guy to watch over my truck )

 

Hey, I need a job

Sorry about your bike, that a real bitch...........People now a days don't give a rats *** about anybodys belonging

O yeah, go the wireless camera route