| Author |
Message |
    
elh
Citizen
Username: Elh
Post Number: 14
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 7:50 am: | 
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Hi there,
I have been living in South Orange since April of 2002 and have had my car stolen once, and attempted stolen twice (recovered with 13k damage). The first time it was stolen from in front of our house on a Saturday afternoon on Mayhew. The second time it was at the train station in South Orange (broad daylight, again). The third time it was at Motion fitness in Millburn (yes, middle of the day, again). I give up. So, we’re planning on trading in the car (it is a 5 year old audi a4). I have read the threads and seen what cars do get stolen, but I would like to know which of the newer cars do not get stolen.
Thank you
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jeffl
Citizen
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 348
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:22 am: |
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Is it a stick? That helps. If it is a stick private line me. I may be interested. |
barbara wilhelm
Citizen
Username: Bartist
Post Number: 144
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:28 am: |
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Yugos!
Seriously I have lived in Maplewood for 10 years and have had 2 friends cars stolen from my driveway. So elh I feel your pain. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4634
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:36 am: |
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http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/200 3/03-9186.htm
The above is interesting but be warned that the year of the car isn't included and, obviously, the more cars of a make and model on the road the more likely they are to be stolen. I think following the News Record auto thefts would give you a better idea on what is popular with thieves locally.
Can I interest you in a 1939 Chevy Business Coupe?
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steven
Citizen
Username: Steven
Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:36 am: |
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1989 Peugeot 405S.
Been parking at the train for several years. Stopped locking it about 5 years ago. Considering leaving the ignition key lately. Need to decide if the burden of carrying the key is offset by the potential loss in value of the car. |
tjohn
Citizen
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 2259
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:53 am: |
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1989 Peugeot 405S, is it?
Reminds me faintly of a story I once heard on NPR.
An accordion player was relating a tragic tale of breaking and entering. He had parked his car in a dark alleyway and left his family heirloom accordion on the front seat in full view. He was just returning to his car when he heard the sound of breaking glass and then the somebody running away. He rushed back to his car, but he was too late. The front window had been smashed with a brick and somebody had placed a second accordion in his car. |
Soda
Citizen
Username: Soda
Post Number: 1192
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:30 am: |
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1980 Volvo DL Wagon. Had its original radio and, later, the replacement Blaupunkt radio stolen while parked in front of our W. 80th Street brownstone in Manhattan, but nobody tried to take the car... Kept it unlocked since moving to S.O., but over the years it became such an eyesore that even my daughter's roughest gangsta friends were embarrassed to be seen in it. Drove good. Looked bad. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1939
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:45 am: |
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Soda- did we talk about this already about W 80th street? THat's where I used to live - near the Amsterdam corner drug hangout back in the early 80's!! HAHA we had NYC's notorioulsy worst landlord - Pablo Lorrente. He'd chase people with lead pipes - HAHA and broke into our apartment once. Loved that apartment!!!
As for cars, I don't think car thieves are too interested in old minivans.
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Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 220
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:46 am: |
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I would suggest a Saab. I would also suggest that you use a club or something like it, unless they really really want your exact car it will deter them and they will go after a car that does not have one. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 374
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:01 am: |
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I once heard a cop say that the best anti-theft device is a stick shift car of any make/model. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1940
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:20 am: |
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yeah, except our standard Honda once had an attempted theft - and it was parked all the way at the back of our driveway. They messed up the ignition and were unsuccessful, but still... |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 911
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:28 am: |
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This makes me a little more nervous as my wife has a 5 year old Audi A4. Someone tried to steal it this past summer while parked at the train station. Aren't there routine patrols around the train stations especially since MWPD is literally a couple hundred yards from the train station.
Elh you have my sympathy as I've gone through this twice myself. It is sad that rather than cracking down on the theives (not you, but society, the police) you are forced to consider purchasing another car. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4637
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:28 am: |
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I would suggest the following bumper sticker which is very popular in Texas and other Southern states:
THIS VEHICLE PROTECTED BY SMITH AND WESSON |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2120
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:52 am: |
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ajc has a reposession business and has given tips. I bet you can read plenty on theft prevention. ajc says a fuel cutoff helps a lot, but it only starts working once the thief is already in your car. It would be nice to prevent even that.
My Saab has thwarted two jimmy attempts. They bent the door slightly but mildly enough that I haven't had it fixed properly.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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lude
Citizen
Username: Lude
Post Number: 56
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:53 am: |
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Beware of cars with xenon lights I have had my stolen three times in Maplewood (more so with 2002/3 Nissan maxima's) |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 914
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 11:32 am: |
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lude - may I ask where they were stolen from? This makes me very nervous as supposedly they are very easy to steal from my car. |
xavier67
Citizen
Username: Xavier67
Post Number: 348
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 11:45 am: |
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I'd postd this elsewhere, but here it is again:
"Cars are mainly stolen for 4 reasons:
1. for economic gain (headed to chop shops, to foreign shores);
2. for personal thrill, like doing donuts at intersections at 3AM;
3. to be used to commit other crimes (street crimes like robbery and burglaries, to steal other cars, etc.);
4. and because it's so easy.
Obviously, there is good mount of overlap of reasons, but there is a discernable pattern in Essex County. High-end cars (like Audis of all stripes) tend to get stolen for reasons 1 & 2. More non-descript cars, as such as older domestic models (including minivans), tend to get stolen for reason 3 (and for parts). Many older model Japanese models (esp. Hondas) get ripped off b/c they are so easy to steal (and for parts). Young car thieves start off on these cars (and practice on them) before they move onto more "difficult" cars (like newer Mercedes, which are practically impossible to steal b/c of their security system).
The single best way to deter car thieves is to install a kill switch. Relatively cheap and very effective.
P.S.--All this info is courtesy of the head of ATTF (Auto-Theft Task Force) of Newark PD. "
The single best way to deter car thieves is to install a kill switch. Relatively cheap and very effective. |
Paddy
Citizen
Username: Paddy
Post Number: 152
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 11:49 am: |
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If you're not too vain, Saturns are great. They have a very low theft rate, aren't stolen for parts -- and because of all this have a low rate to insure. We don't have a whole lot of miles on ours but it has not required any maintenance over the past four years.
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peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 466
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 1:13 pm: |
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I did find some stats on the web. But most are are misleading since they don't control for vehicle make/model sales. (in otherwords, since Toyota Camey's are the most sold car, makes sense its the most stolen!).
I think this comes closest to a brand/make analysis --
PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH HIGHEST THEFT CLAIM FREQUENCIES, 1999-2001 MODELS
Make/series Size/type FREQUENCY
(claims per 1,000 insured vehicle yrs.)
Acura Integra 21.7
Jeep Wrangler 8.5
Jeep Cherokee 6.6
Honda Prelude 6.4
Mitsubishi Mirage 6.2
Chrysler 300M Large 5.9
Hyundai Tiburon Small 5.5
Dodge Intrepid Large 5.1
Mitsubishi Mirage Small 5.1
Chrysler LHS Large 5.0
This is ( I think) the wrong way to look at it -- but any car on this list will have a higher liklihood of being stolen --
Most *commonly* stolen cars
1. Toyota Camry
2. Honda Accord
3. Honda Civic
4. Oldsmobile Cutlass/Supreme/Ciera
5. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
6. Chevrolet full-size C/K Pickup
7. Toyota Corolla
8. Ford Taurus
9. Chevrolet Caprice
10. Ford F150 Pickup
according to the latest report:
· Toyota and Honda models comprised 20 of the top 25 most-stolen vehicles. The Honda Accord is the most stolen vehicle regardless of model year and the 1987 Toyota Camry is the oldest car to make the top100 list, coming in at No. 25.
· Of the four domestic vehicles to make the top 25 list, all are trucks. The 1994 Chevrolet C1500 4X2, 1997 Ford F150 4X2, 2001 Ford F150 4x2 and 1997 Chevrolet C1500 4x2. And, Chevrolet continues to lead as the most-stolen make regardless of model, comprising more than 14 percent of total theft volume.
· Minivans and sport utility vehicles continue to gain the attention of thieves, reflecting their continued growth in popularity, as 2002 marked a 10 percent increase in thefts since 2000.
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xavier67
Citizen
Username: Xavier67
Post Number: 349
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 1:46 pm: |
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I assume these are nation-wide figures? If so, you have to account for regional and local trends.
For instance, Ford F-150 and Chevy pickups are highly sought after by thieves in the Mid-West and the West, but would hardly interest a 15-year old from Newark looking for a joyride. Unfortunately for folks like Elh and Sportsnut, the local thieves LOVE Audis (and Jeep Cherokees). If you own an Audi in Maplewood & SO, my suggestion is to install a kill switch AND garage it. (Or move to Westfield, where they have a rock-bottom car theft rate.)
Regarding other brands, I haven't heard of Volvos being targeted locally. (But I'm sure someone will now post an experience that says otherwise!)
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lude
Citizen
Username: Lude
Post Number: 57
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 1:51 pm: |
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Sportsnut, of the three times once in my driveway and the other two times in the street outside my house with people watching. It took all of 30 seconds to do it. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 915
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 2:37 pm: |
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In front of the house and in the driveway? I guess I need to do something about my wife's car.
See how easy it really is to steal those headlights.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7688586.htm
Funny, I can verify that they probably don't want Volvos. My wife inadvertantly left the door wide open on our Volvo while it was parked on the street. The police stopped by after a neighbor reported seeing some kids poking around in it. Sad thing is that I half wished someone would have taken it. |
jrbell
Citizen
Username: Jrbell
Post Number: 49
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 4:11 pm: |
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We have an Acura Legend and recently moved to MW... we took the car in for some schedule service and the folks there strongly recommended that we have a kill switch installed, which we did.
How do thieves know there is a kill switch? There is now an LED that lights up when the alarm/kill switch is activated, but no other indication.
Is this enough to keep them from trying or does it just prevent them from making off with the car? Also wonder if thieves are more likely to trash a car if they get into it and then can't get away with it.... |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6379
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 4:22 pm: |
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I have an Acura too and understand that there's a computer chip in the key without which the car can't start. |
jrbell
Citizen
Username: Jrbell
Post Number: 50
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 4:34 pm: |
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Mine's a 1995... remember back then? It was a much simpler time when the chips people talked about were used for things like guacamole and bean dip. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1992
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 6:05 pm: |
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Pros know which cars have kill switches; my 2002 Passat was vandalized in my driveway last summer. Some kids tried to get it open & failed. It has a kill switch as a standard feature, so even if they'd gotten the door open, they wouldn't have been able to go anywhere. A pro who wanted the car would've come with a flatbed & towed it away. I would think that this would be more likely to happen in a parking lot during the day than a neighborhood driveway at night, but who knows.
Moral of the story - put your car in the garage. The $1000 damage that the kids did to the door & lock mechanism was still aggravating, even tho they didn't get the car. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1993
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 6:08 pm: |
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BTW - in terms of which models are "least stolen":
when I took my Passat in to have the door damage repaired, I told the guy that I was going to get a Hyundai (2nd theft issue that month). He told me that they'd just gotten a Hyundai into the shop that morning that had been stolen, trashed and recovered.
Face it; we live in the car theft capitol of the world. If you fool-proof something, you can bet that along will come a better fool.
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bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4646
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 4:23 am: |
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The police blotter in yesterdays News Record is a litinay of stolen and damaged Audis and Jeeps, not to mention stolen Maxima headlights.  |
elh
Citizen
Username: Elh
Post Number: 15
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 8:09 am: |
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Wow, and thanks for all of your input. You have all been very generous with your time and your information.
I guess the real kicker is that our other car is a Jeep Cherokee. It looks like it is just a matter of time with the jeep. I will install a kill switch in it, though. Also, we routinely put the club on the Audi, but my husband was at the gym for 45 minutes midday on a Sunday. In addition there was a car patrol in the lot that day. So, if they really want it, they will take the risk.
I think I have to sell the Audi. I hate to because I think it is a great car, but the hassles and expense (claiming the damage with the insurance would have had major repercussions) aren't worth it.
Anyone moving out of the area interested in an automatic Audi A4 with low miles? But, who would want to buy a car that has been stolen? If you have any further suggestion on how to sell this car in good faith, let me know.
Thank you so much
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mikecappy
Citizen
Username: Mikecappy
Post Number: 83
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 8:24 am: |
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The best way to not get a car stolen in Maplewood is to park it in another town. |
court07040
Citizen
Username: Court07040
Post Number: 39
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 8:34 am: |
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I had a 2003 dodge intrepid stoled from my driveway last year. I later learned that it's an easy car to steal. I got the intrepid after my lease expired on a 2000 Honda Accord because I felt the accord was high risk for theft. Ironic, isn't it? Good news (if it can be looked at in this light) is that the intrepid is a company car so at least i didn't have to shell out thousands of my own money for repairs. |
Paddy
Citizen
Username: Paddy
Post Number: 153
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 8:37 am: |
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Other than my saturn, we have a Jeep which was broken into twice and finally stolen the third time. It was recovered. Since then we've used an anti-theft device (we use The Club) and no attempts since. These devices are only so good (a good thief can cut through a Club in minutes), but it's just enough of a deterrent to convince a thief to go elsewhere, since there are so many other cars without these things. Kill switch is good too, but the thief is already in you car and done at least $1500 worth of damage to your door and ignition, plus whatever they steal in your car. |
xavier67
Citizen
Username: Xavier67
Post Number: 353
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:19 am: |
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Elh: You have an Audi AND a Jeep? Oh my...
I had a friend who installed an ingenious alarm system. He had tinted windows on his BMW, and he rigged his alarm system so that when someone tried to break into his car it would play back a recording of a vicious dog barking mixed with sound of paws knocking against a window!
Maybe you should try this system on your cars.
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jbirchby
Citizen
Username: Jbirchby
Post Number: 32
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 11:07 am: |
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Saabs are just as likely to get stolen (or at least attempted stealings). I have a 2001 stick 9-3 and my husband has a 2001 automatic 9-3. We woke up on a sunday morning this December to hear 3 guys trying to steal BOTH our cars. Fortunately they weren't successful but both of us have lovely holes cut into our doors to remember the occasion by. The cops did tell us that Saabs are becomming more trendy to steal... |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 918
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 11:16 am: |
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Just out of curiosity what section are these attempted break-ins occurring? Or doesn't it matter? |
mikecappy
Citizen
Username: Mikecappy
Post Number: 84
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 3:15 pm: |
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Whatever section my driveway is in. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4659
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 3:20 pm: |
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Gosh Court I was just going to say the Intrepids and Concordes have low theft rates.
If I was going to buy a new vehicle simply for its low theft potential I think I would go for a Dodge Caravan or a Ford Windstar (although I think they changed the name). No self respecting 15 year old wants to be seen within ten feet of one of those. |
Liz
Citizen
Username: Mschiquita
Post Number: 78
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 7:31 pm: |
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We moved here last summer from 12 years in Manhattan, parking our car on the street every single day...when we bought a new car 6 years ago I did tons of research and came up with one answer: Saturn (station wagon). Low insurance, no parts to hawk, not great pick up - thus killing the joy ride concept, rated the least stolen car in the US (or was back then). We club it when out and about, and certainly every second it was parked in NYC. Although an econo car and domestic, and not cool or intellectual, it has proven to be very dependable, low on maintance costs (we have almost 100K on it and have spent very little above and beyond reg. schedule maint.), and best of` all NOT DESIRABLE FOR STEALING.
SO, I humbly second the above vote for Saturn. (Esp. if you already have the very cool Jeep Cherokee as your other vehicle...my dream car no longer, alas).
Another thought is to do what the previous owners of our home did - install motion sensor lights all over the driveway and garage area (only helps with nighttime theft, of course), and alarm the garage too for that matter... which helps us with our other car, an Accord LX, safely tucked away out of sights at all times...
GOOD LUCK!!! |
Arnomation
Citizen
Username: Arnomation
Post Number: 122
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 10:52 pm: |
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Try a Subaru Outback with cracker crumbs all over the back seat, a broken cup holder, some muddy kids clothes, a chipped right front headlight and a few scratches and you'll probably be good :-) |
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