Just a brief background: I lived in a crappy neighborhood where I had my car windows smashed and my stereo stolen on several different occasions. We moved to a better neighborhood and I got a jeep wangler (soft top). I never keep anything of value in it and I don't even lock the doors (i don't want people cutting my windows open). but yet somebody keeps getting in there and go thought my stuff (never taking anything). It happened three times this year and its been the same every time... the center console & glove box will be open and everything in it (sunglasses, insurance paper, random junk) will be scattered all over the inside, but since nothing is of value they don't take anything..

Today (or rather, last night) they got in and broke my satellite receiver dock (little thing that suction cups to the windshield). it looks like they tried to take it (why i'm not sure... it doesn't do anything with out the radio...) and then realized the wires ran under the hood and would have taken some time to get out. but in thier rage they didn't take the time to release the suction cup (has a little pull tab) and just ripped the unit off the window! now its broke! little SOB's...


Here's the part where I could use your help!

Need Surveillance Software: I have two CC camera's and a monitor (power source of cameras, switches image - only shows one at a time) and a capture card for my PC. I've looked at software before but don't know whats best.. I'd like something that will only record motion but doesn't count the image switching between cameras. I'm willing to buy it if its good.

Need an Alarm: I'd like to put a cheap alarm on my jeep that will go off when somebody opens the door. Nothing fancy, easy install (so i can do it myself) would be nice. I want something LOUD very loud. I was wonder if its cheaper to buy parts and make something (not sure what I need) or to buy one.

I was thinking all you need to do is wire a big horn to the little triggers on the doors that turn on the dome light, but I don't know how you would disarm it.. remote would be nice.



Any ideas???

I'm wondering if you couldn't figure out a way to hook up a cattle prod to a tempting object that you could conveniently leave on the seat? On their next visit....ZAPPPP!



If you've read the "Legend of Red" (my title for his fine work of literature, not his) in Samuraijack's plog, you'd immediately know that he has some "experience" with this type of stuff. I'd check with him if I were you. I'm sure he'll have a few ideas for ya!



Good luck catching the little $%^&ards!

Do you know my neighbor?? he recommended we hook 20,000 volts to the door handles and/or glue razors under them. while both ideas would work, i'd rather not kill myself when i'm half sleep leaving for work. I have a bad felling I'd forget to unhook it and i'd ZAP myself!




I followed SJ's story very closely and was on the edge of my seat the whole time! (he should write a book, if i read real books, i'd buy it )

Ive had my Wrangler "broken" into at least 8 times in the past year and a half. I say "broken" because I too do not lock my doors since my windows were slashed once already. Whomever the bastard is, they dont touch any of my stereo equipment, they only take loose change, clothing and cigarettes if left in there.
This last time (4 nights ago) they actually stole my ashtray which is of course where I keep my spare change... which is stupid for them because now they wont get any money next time they do it! The freakin idiots!
I've tried to think of many things to do also. Most of them come down to wanting to catch him in the act and beating him till his eyes bleed. Though I try not to think about that since it makes my heart beat out of my chest everytime I do.
Funny thing is, one night my girlfriend and I were at Friendly's getting ice cream when this skeevy-looking guy walks in wearing a fleece with my company logo on it and an obviously stolen credit card trying to buy a cup coffee. Now since only 13 of these fleece's were made and mine just so happened to be stolen the night my windows were originally slashed, it was safe to assume that this did not belong to the gentleman.
So did I beat the crap out of him and take it back? ...no, I figured he needed it more than I did... It was freaking cold out! Besides, we were in a public place and I didnt want to cause a scene. Though that doenst mean if I ever catch him breaking in to my Jeep again that he wont be seein the bottom of my boot!! I know of several other people that would like to get their hands on him as well.
Let me know if you ever find a successful way to prevent your breakins

You have to be careful boby traping your car. If the person gets hurt you will be arrested and probably get sued. Not fair, but its the way the law works.

Digi-Watcher is a great little program for doing what you want.

Yea, I don't plan to hurt anybody with my car (maybe with a metal bat, or a good kick to the nuts...)



i was just reading the digi-watcher site! $40 doesn't sound too bad if it works good. I'm just worried it picks up the camera swaps as motion and saves false movements..

I use it and it works very well.

You can set the time it needs to see motion before it decides to record. That should take care of camera swap.

They do have instructions on there site for using multiple cameras in a swap camera system. They even list a card should you need one.

Anybody know anything about car alarms? All i want is something loud that goes off when the door is opened. I'd like to be able to monitor the 2 side doors and maybe the hood and tail gate.

While I assure you that us Wrangler owners (yup, I own one too) don't really want to booby trap our vehicles to inflict severe pain and suffering upon those who wish to steal from us, you must afford us the right to dream.



My most recent loss was my suglasses case! What the hell is someone going to do with the case to my sunglasses? Especially considering that the sunglasses weren't in there!!!



And for those who slash our windows, don't they know about that bit of new fangled technology called....what is it now....thinking....OH YEAH....ZIPPERS!!!! We could probably catch the whole lot of these @#$%ing idiot Wrangler vandals just by checking the zippers on their pants....because they certainly don't know how to use them!



Thank you kindly for allowing me to vent....I feel much better now.

xiopod,

Thats a sad story... don't hook up an extention cord to your car and let it be "hot" until a thief comes.

Although, very effective it is very illegal. There might just be a chance that you would have a body to get

rid of too.

I once lived in a neighborhood that had a car bomb explode, 2 bombs explode and random gang thievery.

Hook up some fake cameras and or booby traps. The military surplus can sell you quite an arsenal

that will be dummy filled, but look convinceing none the less. A thief who does not care about the law, will

cease if he sees what appears to be his victim not caring about the law with dummy claymores riggged up to

his vehicle.

extention cord? nah, We were just going to short a few car batteries or something



2 car bombs!! that sucks dude..

I've got the whole camera thing figured out thanks to shotfire321's recommendation. Now I just have to mount my cameras and run the wiring...

now back on the topic of getting an alarm... anybody heard of a 'microwave sensor'? whats the best solution for putting an alarm on a jeep??

DIY Network has a quick installation guide on a TJ with a motion sensor alarm.

Here

Theres a video on the bottom right of the page

Good luck resolving your problem; it sounds like homeless people are rummaging through your car to me. They used to break into my roommates car in the same fashion and would steal things that it seems only homeless people would want. Ashtray and change. They even started sleeping in his car...

i've started running the wires for my camera's. its taking longer then i hoped but they should be well hidden when i'm done. once i have everything up and running i'm going to tape $0.37 to a note that say "hope it was worth it, i have you on tape!" and put it in my center console.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Mine turned out to be a little different than yours.
My best theft deterrent for any car is a simple bright flashing light. I had this one that was bright and you could really see it at night. It went off when the car was on and it would last forever. I moved this in and out of three seperate cars and never had a problem with it. I think it cost me 12.00...

You are probably better to set up a passive system. We have had a case or two where a perp was hurt trying to do something like B&E. Subsequent lawsuits leaned towards their favor.

Another thing you can do is rig a motion activated flood light...
People who steal are not interested in being seen and standing in a big pool of light that just came on is generally condusive to either running or peeing your pants. Give it a long delay and they will grow tired of waiting and move on to another target. Good thieves play the odds. Give them a better option somewhere else...

You want to be careful about the cameras.
If they are rookies, they may spook and try to destroy the cameras, or worse follow the camera lines to their source in an effort to get the recording. Then you have dumb, scared rookies trashing the place looking for recorders. They may also rise to it as a challenge and give you a little more attention than you desire. Record them and see if you establish a pattern, then use the pattern as you see fit. Police love easy captures...

I have always found that stupidity and being scared are often the two things that manifest just before someone gets hurt...Try not to spook them not matter how tempting.

Use their instincts against them and keep them as far away from you as possible.

In the end your patience will reward you with minimal danger and peace of mind...

SJ

Door sensor, hidden tree mounted speaker, theater gun squibs.

Voice: I got you now, SUCKA!
*rifle sound*
*squib fires*
Voice: Now GIT!!

Trench, TIE Fighter, Darth Vader mask.

Voice: I have you now!
*Laser blast sound*
*YEEEEHAAA!*
Voice: WHAAA!?

LOL pure awesomeness

you got me thinking... we have one of those Halloween screaming door mats. maybe i'll put it under the floor mat on the passengers side

SWEET!

Well...If you are going to approach it that way, you might as well go all out and build a burmese tiger trap next to the drivers side door...

Now we're talkin'. They'd be like and then like

MOTHER F*&^ER!! make that 4 times this year... someone got in my jeep again last night. This time they stole a few quarters and broke my glove box open (now it doesn't lock). man i wish i would have had my cameras up.. SOB

Time to incubate a few raptor eggs and pen them in around your jeep!

That might actually work.

I think it is time to make it apparent that you're hardcore. Go buy some green beret stickers and put them

on your jeep's windows. Ya know "Mess with the Best Die like the Rest", Fort Brag N.C. graduate,Airborne

unit #, ect. The motion sensors will probably work. When our family had someone stealing our christmas

lights, we would set up the camera and put it on a tripod and nightshot then record through the blinds.

As long as you post the warning " BURMESE TIGER TRAP" / " HIGH VOLTAGE" ETC. you should be well within your rights. you should check your own states laws.................Out in the boondocks we just put the bodies in a drum with a couple bottles of Tide and a bag of lime.........