Security within car

No boot. Wagon

This looks good. Could be handy just being portable as well.

I have also taped a spare credit card to the back of one of my draws in case I lose/have stolen my wallet.

While I agree nothing is totally safe in a car, it is not always possible to remove items every time you get out.

If someone gets into your car (thats not hard) and finds a safe they will get it open even if they have to take the whole car. With the advent of the battery powered angle grinder its now childs play to cut just about anything. If you must leave valuables in the vehicle consider such places as behind draws, in a sock in with your clothes, zip bag in the bottom of the freezer, in the fuse box, you get the idea. I know one person who puts several old credit cards and fifty bucks in an envelope and puts it under the seat. The idea being that once anybody finds that the stop looking elsewhere.

The average crim is an opportunist - if valuables are locked away these sorts will not normally try to get into it as it will take too long - they are generally looking for crash and grab.

Hope you have change the spot where you put that credit card now you have told every one where it is.

Don't have to, only a...holes would take anything and there would not be many, if any, who would frequent this site and even then they have to find me. And if they did and I catch them they will have to deal with a 120kg fighting machine.

Hi Herbal,
I agree, I parked my car down at the beach ( dead end track with a 50 meter walk. The thief came down the beach to see where I was and then went back and smashed the passenger window to steal a loaf of bread. After that I used to leave my car with the windows down so if he wanted to take my bread he just lent in and grabbed it, no broken window. So with your thief and mine he would have baked beans on toast.
As I do not lock my car now, I had a thief a couple of months ago open my car and broke the glove box because it was locked. Nothing in it, but it was locked. Cost me $150 to repair. He didn't take the Hema HM5i or the Sat phone or the tyre pressure monitoring system or the lose change all on the dash. So I wonder why he went for the glove box and not the easy targets in sight.
So leave your car unlocked and they won't even look at what you have inside.

Except if your car gets stolen, your insurance company may give you grief.

Motherhen

No I don't think so, many houses get "broken into" through unlocked doors, many cars also would be my guess. Nothing in my policy says I MUST lock my vehicle.

Cheers

I would say that the insurance companies would add a nice big smartly worded paragraph and a lovely extra fee to cover the "front door left open". I would. Let's face it, they work for their share holders, not the customers.

Even as a general rule isn't there something in law about leaving a car unlocked. Maybe there is something about a house as well. I may have watched too many movies as well.

Phil

Don't think for one minute that by locking the doors will stop a thief form stealing your car.
In 1991 I bought a new Jackaroo and 2 days later locked the keys in it. Rang the dealer and he sent out the yard boy and with a steal rule he had it open in 2 seconds, now a thief would do it in 1 second. A bad thief would just break the window costing the insurance company more money. Saying that it is against the law to leave the keys in the car ignition. I think I save the insurance company money by not having to clam for a broken window.
If someone wants to steal your car it's gone no matter what you do to lock it.
The insurance company will give you a discount if you have a engine immobilizer fitted but a good thief will get past that.

While a determined thief will get your car if he wants it and get into your house despite security, my policies will not honour a claim for a unlocked car being stolen, or for a house if unlocked - there has to be "break" and enter.

It is not uncommon for knowing unscrupulous youths to go down a line of parked cars checking doors and pinching wallets or change left in the cars.

Mh

I just rang the local ACT police. It used to be illegal to leave the car unlocked. Now it isn't. But that may be the ACT only. I reckon the insurance company would be loath to pay out for a lot of things if that was the case.

Phil

Hi Motherhen,
So when they steal your car using a steal rule down the outside of your window leaving no trace of (break) you won't get paid out. As I said it took 2 seconds and he left no trace of opening it. So how would a insurance company determine weather or not is was locked.
Newer cars today do have different ignition systems and immobilizers that stop the common thief stealing your car. I just don't like to pay for a broken window and by the time you have payed the excess it's not worth claiming, but you are out of pocket $600 to $1000 (imo)
The small amount that they can steal from the car (phone , wallets, sat nav, change, etc would not be worth claiming as well. Again this would depend on how much excess you have to pay.

Certainly in NSW is is illegal to leave your car unlocked if away from the car - came about because of thefts at garages - when you have refuelled your car you are required to lock your car before you go and pay if no one else is in the vehicle. Not generally enforced but it is the law.

I should have asked about the servo and locking the car. No worries because I lock mine anyway.

Andy
I don't understand you. If you leave the car open then you making it easier for the petty thief to steal the GPS, any cash or whatever is in the car. Why encourage them mate?

And if your car is stolen you are going to commit fraud by swearing that it was fully locked.Well good on you. I couldn't sleep at night after doing that. I have a little better idea of self worth.

Phil

I have not bothered to check but from memory, (in NSW) if you are more than 3 meters from the car it must be locked.

I agree with Andy. Leave it open and it is less likely to be entered...The mind set of the crook is that if it is open, someone is watching or close by!

There are only 3 reasons a car will be stolen...

1. For the thrill...or joy ride.
2. To use for another crime...or get away car.
3. Parts.

If the first call you make for parts for your car is to Rare Spares...Then you are at risk of No 3.

To avoid No 1 & 2 simply use a steering wheel brace lock, like a Club Lock...It is to much effort for them and they will go to the next car without a brace lock.

As for "attractive items" the crook will ONLY take things they can use or sell with NO way of that item being identified.

The OP question was how to go about installing a safe...and the answer is don't bother. Use the old carpentry trick - If you want to hide something, make a feature of it ;)

A few years ago, I got home from work and started unloading the car. Phone went, I answered it and although I'd finished unloading, forgot that I'd left $700 inside that I'd just been paid. Also forgot that I'd left it unlocked. Lowlifes down the road decided to have a get together whilst mummy and daddy were away that night and just happened to have a passing look inside. Insurance co didn't want to know as I was naïve enough to own up that I'd left it unlocked. Excess was $500 anyway but they took my navman too. Also rang the cops fwiww and really wondered why I bothered. All an absolute freak, really. I would never leave it unlocked and haven't noticed the local charmers around our place before or since. Money was in the glove box.

A real bummer Steve. I sincerly mean that. A very costly lesson.

However, why should I pay for your lack of attention. Unless you have added it to the contract. And then I would be glad to. After all I promised to do so.

You weren't naive. Far, far from it. You were what there should be a lot more of and that is HONEST. And I take my hat off to you. I would feel happy and safe living next to you, mate. Thanks. If more people were hones then just imagine how more enjoyable life would be. I remember when we didn't even lock the house when we went for a walk around the block. Sometimes the windows were open all day. Should be more of it. Thanks.

I always applaud honesty and on the other side deplore to hells gate fraudulent or dishonest activities. It can take real guts to be honest.

A very merry Christmas to you and yours.

Phil

no complaints about the insurance outcome Phil. Quite philosophical about that. Just that a previous post suggested insurance would pay out whether unlocked or not. They assured me no insurance company would, which, tbh, is understandable.

The galling thing was, that I had a customer on the blower, which took my attention completely away, not only the call, but the follow-up info gathering I had to do for him, then dinner ready etc etc.... hence, forgot about the car. Later, the rabble from down the road preceded to kick a ball around the street, up our end, not their's, drinks in hand at the early hours of the morning with associated language at full volume. Never happened before or since but I think it was one of their "guests" who took an interest in the vehicle and there was bugger all I could do about it, even virtually knowing what happened. The coincidence of my leaving it opened and their "party" and curiosity is what really rankles. Never normally see em up our end of the street but the vehicle was a bit of a curiosity too and wouldn't fit in the garage. My current one does though.

Steve

I have pieces of paper all over the house to remind me of things to do. The problem is that I forget which one is for which job.

We have a safe and it's easy to find. It's broken, locked and empty. If we get burgled we are hoping that they take it and nick off. Besides the screaming alarms will encourage them to go. I feel phsically sick near them. What a noise. The car has one in it also. Just a 12 v screamer and under the dash where you can't get your hand. We kept our old TV instead of getting a digital one just because it takes two to carry it. Not necessarily 4WD security but still security.

So we hope that worst a window will be broken.

Catchya

Phil

you forget which one is for which job?

LOL

I forget where I've put the piece of paper or if I do actually clap eyes on it assume it's rubbish and chuck it in the bin - if they knew what I was really like, I'd be uninsurable

Isn't retirement just a long series of different jobs.

I wouldn't know mate - you don't need old timers disease to be forgetful. Just too much to remember helps.

Hi Phil,
I might be a bit out of touch, but their again I do live in either very remote places of very quite towns. When I lived at Wisemans Ferry in the 1970's I glued the key in the ignition so I didn't lose it. I have not lived in major towns and as you know in small towns every one knows who, what and where.
As for them stealing my car they would have to tow it because they won't be able to start it.
And I would tell the insurance company it was unlocked, as I am honest. I have not made a claim all my life and hopefully never will.
When I was in business I have 9 utes full of equipment in plan sight that could of been stolen while I worked around the corner, but lost nothing. Where one of my friends use to lock up all his and was broken into several times.
Cheers Andy

I can relate to that Andy. We only ever locked the front door of the house if we went on holidays, so visitors would now we were away, but always left the back door open in case someone needed to get in. Keys always left in cars.

I still live in a fairly safe rural environment, but a few years ago my workmate's daughter had just collected money from babysitting to use to pay the mechanic for car repairs. After returning to her car and leaving wallet on the seat as sherealised the time she monetarily stepped back across the street "Mum, would you like to come around for lunch?" She was devastated to find her wallet gone. It was later reported that a young teenager on a bike had been seen ridding past (the main street of town) quickly stripping anything obvious like wallets out of the cars. Shame trust has gone in this world.

Mh

A quote: "And I would tell the insurance company it was unlocked, as I am honest."

Excellent. Good to hear that Andy. I was hoping for that response.

We are right on the outskirts of Canberra and have been burgled. Jewelry and a few video/stereo things taken. Bit it's the invasion that is a pain. You lose trust and "wonder" how they knew we were not home. Was it the neighbours. That was hypothetical but they are the thoughts that go through your mind. Noises at night are so much louder.

No wonder we like the bush. Especially at night next to the fire after a good meal. Should we mention that thread! Good input from so many good forumites. There is also a greater sense of trust out there still.

Phil

Hi Motherhen,
I think we are the lucky ones who can still leave our doors open. I remember when I was young the back door was never closed or for that mater had a lock on it, and still remains the same today.
It is nice to live in a community that has honest people around.
Last year when I came up to Lorella Springs I left my front door open and the neighbour closed it when it rained, and even vacuumed the carpet just before I got home.
I think it is called respect for others which is hard to find in big city's.

It is sad that people have to keep everything under lock and key, can long longer let their children walk unaccompanied, and cannot trust the word of the person they are making a private sale with. It is sad that we can no longer afford to trust those around us, when most are honest and respectful. In hard times, society had to pull together. Give me the outback any day, where those you meet care, in the good old fashioned way.

When we moved to a wheat belt town where my husband took a government job soon after we were married, we like others had government housing. When colleagues were going on holidays, my friend was showing me what to water to look after their place while they went away for summer holidays. She then said "I will leave you the back door key do you can water the pot plants." "No need, I'll use mine". She was stunned to learn that she had been locking the house every time she went out, but that every state housing house in town had compatible keys. The way of the country.

It is also true that if you have lots of security showing, it is not just a deterrent to the opportunist with an eye out for easy pickings, but a flag to the career criminal saying "Look here, I have something of value for you to steal".

Mh