Security Systems
 

Do any of you guys have alarm/security systems in your FCs? If so what do you use? I just came back from a local brewery and I had left my car in my friends gated apartment complex and found my drivers door open, glovebox open, and the car in the ignition on position. It seems that someone tried to steal it and this isn't the first time I've come back to the car like this. Fortunately they didn't find the master power on. If anyone else has had issues like this I'd really appreciate it if you chimed in with your solutions! (Yes the car was locked)

Thanks,
Derek

First of all, make sure your door locks, hatch release, and ignition all work only with your key. When I got my car, you could open it with a screwdriver. People forget this step, locks do wear out. Get them rekeyed.

No car is impossible to steal, but you can make yours irritating and time consuming enough that potential thieves leave it alone.

It would be irritating to have to find and deactivate an alarm siren (and the loud noise should attract the attention of anyone nearby). It is time consuming to have to find a hidden kill switch. It would be irritating and time consuming to saw through a steering bar.

Most thieves (who aren't simple vandals) are either trying to take the car and sell it for profit, or are out for a joyride. They don't intend to keep it for a prolonged period. So make it so that all the nearby cars are easier to steal, and therefore more appealing. If they are very determined to have your car in particular, they will find a way no matter what.

As for keeping your valuables safe, the only real way is to keep them out of your car. A thief will break the window, steal your things in 15 seconds, and then run away regardless of alarm.

My alarm is by Viper. I like it because it also serves as a remote for my power locks.

Thanks for the reply, I didn't think of testing the locks and wouldn't you know it, the back hatch and drivers door opens with a screwdriver. I'm going to get that taken care of this week. I do have the master battery disconnect but I'll get one of those steering wheel bars. I don't keep anything in the car really, I'm just concerned with keeping the car in the same spot I left it lol.

But seriously thank you, all good information, I'll be looking into one of the alarm systems too

You could hide a switch somewhere in the car to cut power to the fuel or ignition system. Good luck stealing a car that isnt getting fuel or spark with zero idea where in the wiring harness the cutout is.

They'd have to tow it or have the wiring diagrams handy.

I keep the doors of my vert unlocked. If somebody is going to steal something, at least there is no need to cut the top or break the windows.

BIG +1 on this, insurance "replacement" is asinine. Usually they just patch the cut.

If you have a S4, wiring in an alarm is really easy. You can do everything at the factory alarm's harness. Just a get an inexpensive alarm and spend a weekend wiring it up.
S5 is harder, you have to either access the cpu, or just wire everything separately. Still not to hard though.

just leave your keys in there too. No point in them damaging your ignition.

Yes, there is not much point in spending an extra $400 per year for full-coverage insurance on a $1,000 car, especially knowing that the insurance company isn't going to pay for everything, and not to mention the deductible.

It's easy to get to the ignition lock the way I have it. My other RX-7 doesn't even have an ignition lock. Whenever I get around to it I plan to remove the ignition lock from the convertible, too. I leave it up to individuals to decide if it is worth spending 5 years in jail to steal a $1,000 car. If somebody is that pathetic then jail will definitely be an improvement for them.

I had an old boss who had a Ferrari with a silent alarm but if the car was driven off without disabling the silent alarm, he had tazers in the seats that would trigger after a couple of minutes.

the FC is an 80's Japanese car, they didn't have crime in Japan in the 1980's, and so Mazda didn't really understand theft deterrent. as a consequence the FC is basically the easiest car to get into, last time i locked myself out, i used part of the wiper blade to get in.

getting the car started is easy too.

basically if someone really wanted the car, it could be theirs in under a minute, even if it does have an alarm