Today my car was broken into for the fourth time since I moved here a year and a half ago. I am seriously pissed and would like to prevent future break-ins rather than pay the $250 deductible every time this happens. Unfortunately, I know nothing about car alarms and most of the internetting I’ve tried usually turns up product placements rather than actual information. What I’d like to know is where can I get one (in Canada), what features I should look for and what I can expect to pay.
IMHO opinion Car alarms are worthless except for for one minor part. The flashing LED is the ONLY thing that keeps the bad guy out of your car. The horn? Worthless, nobody pays any attention to them. I once had a car alarm go off on a test drive, and passes a couple of cops. They just looked at me funny and waved. Anyway with a $2 pair of wire cutters, you can shut the horn off.
So my suggestion is by the cheapest alarm with the brightest LED you can find.
If you are into do it yourself, I can give you a circuit for a flashing LED that will come on anytime you shut the key off. Depending on how much parts cost in your neck of the woods you can build it for maybe $20.
Many years ago in NYC I took to simply leaving the car unlocked. At least they didn’t break the window. Of course that was before air bags, which are an expensive pita to replace. Why (and how) are they breaking into your car? What damage is done?
As to why they keep breaking in, I live near a popular park for crackheads and my car is the first one next to the street in my apartment’s parking area. I have no idea what they expect to find, but it sure doesn’t stop them from trying. I’m hesitant to just keep it unlocked as friends of mine have found bums sleeping in their unlocked cars when the weather gets too cold.
I think I’ll just put one of those little lights in. Do they sell premade blinky circuits, or do you have to wire one up yourself?
Oh yeah, they’re breaking in by prying the door handles out of the door, putting screwdrivers in the locks AND prying out the door handles or just plain ol’ smashing the windows.
Should the alarm on my truck activate, I’ll be the individual who deals with an offendor long before police arrive. An aftermarket CrimeStopper system was fairly easy to install, and offers factory convenience features for less than $150.
My dad’s 1994 Ford Explorer and 2000 BMW Z3 both have flashy lights, but no alarms.
My 2003 Honda Accord had a flashy light, but no alarm. My 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a flashy light, but no alarm. The same goes for most of my friends with new cars that decided not to spring for the alarm.