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"Use a steering wheel lock, which will also work as a visual deterrent." For years, my friends and spouse derided my use of "the Club." After all, there are s

"Use a steering wheel lock, which will also work as a visual deterrent." For years, my friends and spouse derided my use of "the Club." After all, there are so many more technically sophisticated mechanisms to deter and prevent theft. Now, the irony is that the technology is redeployed in the service of the criminal rather than the owner! Does the pendulum swing back the other way? In a world where all mechanisms of security are digital and criminals look for digital surfaces to attack, the ultimate trump card is a physical obstacle?

edot 5y ago
I have read that brake pedal locks are actually more effective. Those steering wheel clubs are easier to cut off, compared to trying to get a saw down in the footwell to cut off something under the brake pedal. Without being able to depress the brakes, one cannot shift the car from park into drive.
elzbardico 5y ago
When I bought my first car, during months my usual routine when parking it for an extended period of time was opening the engine compartment and removing either a fuse or a relay from a essential circuit like starter, ignition or fuel pump. After some six months of endless ridicule from friends and dirty fingers I eventually relaxed.
lmilcin 5y ago
The way the club works is by telling the potential thief "The owner is determined enough to make his own life a little bit more difficult. You don't know what else might be there, just go along and find an easier target." The best way to secure your car is to think like a thief. Look at it and ask yourself, "Is this a good target?" Thieves evaluate the car through risk / reward but mostly risk. The cost of being caught is very high and opportunity cost is very low -- there is a lot of other cars available so there is almost never a reason to steal this particular one. So naturally if they see any warning signs that this might be risky (even something like an out of place pulsing light) they might want to skip it for something else. Thus, the best way to not have your car stolen is: 1) Do not drive expensive car (low reward) 2) Display something in your car that tells the thief you are determined owner and you will make the thief's life difficult (high risk) 3) Remove absolutely everything from your car that can be stolen. When I go on vacation (ie. car with foreign license plates more likely to have valuables in the trunk) I even removed the shelf above the trunk so that a thief can look and see the trunk is empty. (no easy, risk-free, alternative payoff) 4) Have an actual safety like a concealed switch that prevents the car from being started. Do not ever use anything that has visible elements -- the thief must try to start the car, see that it does not start and see that it is not easily possible to identify the mechanism that prevents starting. This should deter potential thief to try any further.
tonyedgecombe 5y ago
A friend of mine used to take the rotor arm out of his Ferrari when he left it for any time. I can't imagine any thieves coming along with a spare.

edot 5y ago

I have read that brake pedal locks are actually more effective. Those steering wheel clubs are easier to cut off, compared to trying to get a saw down in the footwell to cut off something under the brake pedal. Without being able to depress the brakes, one cannot shift the car from park into drive.

elzbardico 5y ago

When I bought my first car, during months my usual routine when parking it for an extended period of time was opening the engine compartment and removing either a fuse or a relay from a essential circuit like starter, ignition or fuel pump. After some six months of endless ridicule from friends and dirty fingers I eventually relaxed.

lmilcin 5y ago

The way the club works is by telling the potential thief "The owner is determined enough to make his own life a little bit more difficult. You don't know what else might be there, just go along and find an easier target." The best way to secure your car is to think like a thief. Look at it and ask yourself, "Is this a good target?" Thieves evaluate the car through risk / reward but mostly risk. The cost of being caught is very high and opportunity cost is very low -- there is a lot of other cars available so there is almost never a reason to steal this particular one. So naturally if they see any warning signs that this might be risky (even something like an out of place pulsing light) they might want to skip it for something else. Thus, the best way to not have your car stolen is: 1) Do not drive expensive car (low reward) 2) Display something in your car that tells the thief you are determined owner and you will make the thief's life difficult (high risk) 3) Remove absolutely everything from your car that can be stolen. When I go on vacation (ie. car with foreign license plates more likely to have valuables in the trunk) I even removed the shelf above the trunk so that a thief can look and see the trunk is empty. (no easy, risk-free, alternative payoff) 4) Have an actual safety like a concealed switch that prevents the car from being started. Do not ever use anything that has visible elements -- the thief must try to start the car, see that it does not start and see that it is not easily possible to identify the mechanism that prevents starting. This should deter potential thief to try any further.

tonyedgecombe 5y ago

A friend of mine used to take the rotor arm out of his Ferrari when he left it for any time. I can't imagine any thieves coming along with a spare.