Thieves Get In Easily

[DHerbeck]

Anyone had their 3rd Gen trucks broken into? I have an '06 quad cab Laramie. Some thieves thought they needed my aftermarket radio worse than I did. I was amazed at how easily they got the drivers door open.



Just under where you would put the key in to unlock the door, they rammed some metal device, made a hole a bit smaller than a dime just under the black handle and the door came right open. I guess nothing that a steel shield around the whole black handle, about a foot square, riveted to the door wouldn't prevent next time. Maybe some diamond plate for beauty?



Makes me sick.



Dave

 

[16919]

Never had a truck stolen but when I was at my last dyno day a guy locked his keys in his truck and someone else's key-less entry opened his truck. This was on a new one(03 or 04). That is a little scary... . but his key itself would not open the door or start it.

 

[DHerbeck]

After posting this, I searched this site and found all kinds of info on theft. Jimmi Jammer was mentioned as a deterrent. I went to their web site and it was amazing, the break-in on my truck is as common as ever. DC and the manufacturers should be more responsible in how easy these doors are to jimmie.

 

[Grizzly]

What a bummer. That would just make me sick. The Jimmi Jammer sounds like a good thing. Do you have a web site or a toll free number for them?

 

[WUnderwood]

how about a good alarm, or maybe just a LED on the inside that blinks occasionally?

 

[Spooled-up]

Do you have a web site or a toll free number for them?

Here you go:



http://www.jimmijammer.com/index.html

 

[CDonaldson]

I installed the JimmiJammers on all 4 doors. Also installed the Ravelco unit, takes hot wiring out of the picture. Also installed the factory security module. If they break in, the factory alarm will keep them busy for a few minutes, hopefully long enough to draw attention. Since most passers-by will generally ignor the alarm AND also ignor the thief who will have some lame excuse to get rid of them, at least they will not be able to start the truck. So, unless they bring a flatbed, things should generally be as best as they can be.



CD

 

[betterthanstock]

I don't see how a jiimy jammer will make it any less costly to repair the damage the next time. If they have to hit it harder to get it open, they will cause more damage, not less. The least damage is if you leave it unlocked, with key in the ignition, but with an alarm, and a safety device that will make it impossible to start it.



By the way, the device they used is a flat screwdriver, hit with a hammer. Put a rubber plug in, so the next time they don't cause any bigger damage.

 

[DHerbeck]

Thanks for all the response guys.



I do have a quality aftermarket alarm, there is a blinking blue LED on the A-pillar, it did go off, honking the horn also. They had to have been in and out in seconds, pried the center dash cover off, damaging the dash cap and the center section, yanked the radio out, cut a few wires and yanked the rest due to seeing connectors pulled apart. Didn't touch another thing in the truck. They got what they were after. Sad for them, the head unit will not work without the brains that are hidden.



Here are my thoughts, minimize damage to the truck doors next time. Been to JimmieJammers web site, ordered a full set. In addition, I am crafting an aluminum overlay to go over the door handle, to keep them from getting in next time. Or at least cause them to tear up the diamond plate instead of my door. It will be harder to Jimmie, the alarm will be sounding, hopefully enough harder to get in to deter them.



Here is the kicker, I found a smoke machine. As soon as the alarm goes off, this fogger fills the entire cab with smoke at a very high velocity. That alone should deter them. If they do get in, they would have to open both doors and clear the smoke, something I do not believe they will take the time to do. I lke the thought of this deterrent.



So, my thought it to minimize damage next time, try to keep them from getting the door open, if they do, deter them. That way I keep mine what is mine.



What was my first thought? As soon as they get in and pop the center dash open, I squirt amonia in their face from behind the dash, also from the a-pillar. A tank, pump and solution with distribution hoses and outlets could be easily installed. Unfortunately, if they are breaking into my truck and I hurt them, I go to jail, go figure. I even thought of mounting a taser at the back of the cab on the roof to hit them in the back of the head as soon as they pop the dash. As you can tell, I am still pretty upset over this.



By the way, the smoke generator creates dense smoke, actually a fog that will not damage even sensitive electronics, so no damage to the truck, just keeps them from entering.



What do you all think?



Dave

 

[CarlsonR]

Once they try and fail with the jimmy jammer door guards, they then just smack your door glass with the screwdriver and the whole sheet of glass crumbles to sparkly little diamonds. takes about 5 seconds. there's no way to keep them out, all you can do is try to keep them from getting it started via various electrical swithes and circuts. Here in Tucson it's a only 60 miles miles to mexico which is their final destination,Theres normaly 10-15 trucks stolen every day 365 days a year

 

[DHerbeck]

Yeah, I know you can't keep them out. My hope is do draw enough attention as soon as the alarm goes off or as soon as they would open a door. Huge volumes of smoke inside, strobes flashing to blind them.



I think the first thing they will try is a screwdriver on the door, which sets off the alarm instantly before they get in..... smoke, strobes, maybe even amonia squirting in their face from the jamb. I honestly think I can keep them out once the alarm sets off. maybe I am dreaming, I don't know, but I am still on my war path!! LOL



Dave

 

[DZink24]

I do like the ammonia idea, although you will get slapped with a lawsuit so fast your head will spin. And with the top-notch legal system in this country, you will end up paying out more than your truck is worth.



Ironically, I only lock my doors when around friends, i. e- at their houses, at work (which, by the way is inside a barbed wire locked fence), at the firehouse, ect. . so they can't do all the "immature" crap we have all done- grease on the steering wheel, turning volume all the way up on the radio, rolling all the windows down in bad weather, ect. .



Let's face it, crooks are gonna get in whether you like it or not- I will allow them to get in with as little exterior cosmetic damage as possible.

 

[Spooled-up]

I like the idea of smoke in the cab. That would draw more attention than the alarm sounding and with the doors open would look like a fire in the truck. That would get some people's attention!

 

[CBrahs]

I did an install last week for a guy with an 05 CTD and they managed to get the truck out of his driveway and ended up being dumb and burnt the starter up in the process of trying to take it. He got it back from the dealer and called me to install the Ravelco. He took off work that day and when I got to his house, he had it chained to his tree in his yard to the rear axle. They did quit a bit of damange to the column and I saw the new harness that the dealer installed. One of the local ford dealers here in town set up a bait truck (powerstroke) and installed hidden video cameras and GPS system, parked it in a favorable location and they took it in broad day light (430 in the afternoon) and it only took them 49 seconds (and it is on video!) to get in, start it and drive off. Pretty scary to think that it can be taken so fast.

 

[DHerbeck]

It is a sorry state of affairs if I can't hurt someone who is damaging my property. I DO understand though. OK, it will just be high pressure water, but a deterrent.



I too want to minimize damage to my truck and deter. As agreed above, smoke will get attention, I think a strobe flashing inside will light it up and cause even more attention. Mount the strobes in the dash to blind them if they get that far. As high a decibel siren as I can find going off in their ear. All deterrents. I really think it will work. The smoke is so dense they wont be able to see inside the truck. The water will at least scare them. The strobes blinding them... . I will have to think about that one. Don't want to light it up enough for them to see through the smoke. But it is so dense, a light will just reflect and make it harder to see.



Yes, I am still upset.



Let me ask this, has anyone ever had to use the key to open their door? My aftermarket alarm will remote unlock, my key will remote unlock. I will probably install a third battery. So, why not install a metal guide over the key lock? I will post some pictures of the diamond plate I put around the door handle.



Dave

 

[JMichelson]

Jimmie Jammers

I installed Jimmie Jammers on my 2006 quad cab. It was an easy project, less than an hour for all four doors. I also put the Club on. Nothing will stop some thief who really wants your truck. The Jimmie Jammers come with little stickers to tell the thief that the truck may be a little more of a challenge.

I'm hoping maybe they will go somewhere else if they don't see the truck as an easy mark. If nothing else the Jimmie Jammers and the Club will slow them down enough to maybe get caught. I am considering installing a Revelco. I just read that in Seattle and Portland that you have to get caught at least seven times stealing a car before you get jail time. Stealing a stereo might get you a slap on the wrist. Kinda sad. Jeff

 

[Axion]

Hey Dave;



I know how you feel. I had my truck broken into last June while in Arkansas for work. The truck was only about six months old. My thieves didn't even bother with jimmying the lock, they busted the window right off the bat. I'm still finding little pieces of glass 8 months later.



Some people say its my own fault, I had left some stuff in the truck overnight in the hotel parking lot. Now I don't leave anything behind, even in the console. And when I'm at a hotel I try to park in the lobby! :-laf



I guess it comes down to "Is the glass half empty or half full?". Put lots of deterrents on and hope someone notices once they start the break in, or don't leave anything visible that may entice them to break in in the first place. I'm hoping the latter works for me. I hope anything you do works for you as well. If they decide they want to steal my truck, my insurance will get me a replacement. Since I don't leave anything of value in it, it won't be hard to restock once I get the new machine.

 

[JDerrick]

Sooooooooooo Cool

SMOKE, ELETRICITY, NOXIOUS CHEMICALS , HELLFIRE AND BRIMSTONE I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oo. Several moons ago I had an 84' ford 3/4 ton extra cab with the non turbo charged 6. 9L corn binder, that was broken into this way. ( well kinda, the jerks used a cordless drill around the lock cylinder) They didnt make off with very much , a first aid bag ( of all things) and some papers from work. But still I was mad. I didnt install much on my 99' CTD when I lived in Vegas other than an aftermarket alarm system. Now on my 06' the "jimmiejammers" look interesting, especially for the supposed ease of installation. What is a Revelco? Also there was mention below of an OEM module available from DC for our trucks what does it do ??? On the 1st and 2nd gen trucks you could place an inline switch on a lead for the injector pump to keep the truck from starting, have any of you played with this option to deter theft of the truck. or with the new computer stuff is it even possible ?? Luckily living here in North Eastern NV there isnt a huge vehicle theft problem, however a little money to help protect a large investment is well spent.





Smoke, electricity, chemicals im still all fuzzy inside



Jim D

 

[RJOL]

I don't see how a jiimy jammer will make it any less costly to repair the damage the next time. If they have to hit it harder to get it open, they will cause more damage, not less. The least damage is if you leave it unlocked, with key in the ignition, but with an alarm, and a safety device that will make it impossible to start it.

Nothing will stop a thief from getting into your truck, if he wants to. The Jimmi Jammers are just a deterrent. They come with a warning sticker that tells the thief that this isn't just a punch and run job, like factory stock trucks. Thieves will generally pick on the easiest target they can find. Jimmi Jammers, alarms, and other devices just make it harder to break in and may make him move on to another target...

 

[betterthanstock]

Here is the kicker, I found a smoke machine. As soon as the alarm goes off, this fogger fills the entire cab with smoke at a very high velocity. That alone should deter them. If they do get in, they would have to open both doors and clear the smoke, something I do not believe they will take the time to do. I lke the thought of this deterrent.



Dave

I think disabling 3 or 4 injectors, filling the cab with smoke, and filling the engine compartment and the exhaust with smoke would be a real deterrent.