Are car alarms a complete waste of time?

Lung · August 3, 2003, 23:29

My wife wants me to get one, but i have never ever seen anyone take notice of them, except to complain about the noise

What do you think? A waste of money? Or a worthwhile investment??

Sava · August 3, 2003, 23:32

Car alarms won't stop professional thieves from stealing your car. But they will stop the average dumbass from cracking your window and trying to steal your ****. What kind of car do you have? Do you have anything valuable in your car, like a custom stereo, speakers, amp, etc?

Alarms sometimes come with things like remote start and remote trunk release which are great.

I own lots of stereo equipment in my car, so I have an alarm. Again, it won't stop the professional thieves, and it isn't a fool-proof anti-theft system; but it will decrease the chances of you getting ripped off. It's a sound investment and helps with the trade in value of a car.

Kuciwalker · August 3, 2003, 23:35

They are, because whenever they go off everyone assumes that a person has just set it off accidentally. It happens quite often.

Sava · August 3, 2003, 23:41

Quote:

Originally posted by skywalker
They are, because whenever they go off everyone assumes that a person has just set it off accidentally. It happens quite often.

aren't you 15?

Kuciwalker · August 3, 2003, 23:46

Yes. I didn't say it happened to me. It's just I hear them go off in parking lots all the time, and don't pay any attention anymore.

Sava · August 3, 2003, 23:49

Quote:

Yes. I didn't say it happened to me. It's just I hear them go off in parking lots all the time, and don't pay any attention anymore.

I didn't mean to say your aren't credible because of your age, it's just that you don't drive, so you lack experience in this area. Even if people don't pay attention, it draws attention to the vehicle. If the alarm goes off, most people, if in sight, will look towards the vehicle. Thieves don't like attention. It also acts as a deterent to amateur thieves or kids looking to bust into cars.

Kuciwalker · August 3, 2003, 23:49

Oh.

Kirnwaffen · August 4, 2003, 01:05

Most definitely not, if only for the deterrent to would be amateur thieves. Personally, I believe a large factor in my car being broken into was the fact that it doesn't look like there would be an alarm in it. With a few dozen far more expensive-looking cars within 100 yards of mine, this is the only reason I can think of that they would have chosen mine. While they didn't take anything of real value, they certainly could have.

In addition, the window they broke cost me $80 for the glass and $50 for the install, so if you get the alarm, make sure you also get a prominent sticker and place it on the window or the windshield.

Btw, a car alarm going off at night in my apartment complex most certainly does draw attention, and can definitely surprise an amateur thief, possibly scaring him off altogether.

badams52 · August 4, 2003, 01:27

Car alarms can also get you a discount with your car insurance at some companies.

BTW, doesn't matter how junky your car is, there are many theives who will steal a car if they think they can and sell the parts. I had my old Datsun 210 broken in an attempt to steel it. It was inside my apartment complex at the time in a locked garage. My brother had his '81 Olds Cutlass broken into a couple of years ago.

Maybe you don't, but I feel safer knowing my car has an alarm. Maybe you might think about how much it's worth to give your wife peace of mind.

Lung · August 4, 2003, 01:39

Thanks for the input

Maybe i'll cough up the extra for the privilege

Skanky Burns · August 4, 2003, 03:28

It provides an incentive for thieves to break into other cars instead. I had an alarm in my car while my parents cars did not. Both of their cars were broken into one night, but mine (parked between theirs) was not touched.

Since my parents installed a flashing red light inside the car (which looks like an alarm light) they have not had any more problems.

FrustratedPoet · August 4, 2003, 04:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Lung
Thanks for the input

Maybe i'll cough up the extra for the privilege

If your car insurer will give you a discount on your premium then it'll pay for itself.

The Viceroy · August 4, 2003, 07:13

Ive not got a car alarm, and if I had, I don't believe it would have alarmed when some bar-steward decided to cut my fuel lines.

Even so, I still agree that it is better to have one, as others have said, it does act as a deterant to amatures (who's first re-action will be to leg it), and it may reduce your premiums.

CerberusIV · August 4, 2003, 07:42

Make sure it is approved by your insurance company so you qualify for a discount. If they don't give a discount change to an insurer who does.

Get it fitted professionally (unless you are a qualified auto-electrician).

You can now get alarms that will call your mobile phone. They are not cheap but at least you will know when it goes off. If your car isn't worth that then at least make sure it is a sufficiently good alarm to reset itself after it is triggered.

rah · August 4, 2003, 08:47

You just need two things to protect your car.
A sticker saying you have an alarm. (no alarm is needed)
AND LOJACK.
Most cars with lojack installed are recovered.

JohnT · August 4, 2003, 09:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
I didn't mean to say your aren't credible because of your age, it's just that you don't drive, so you lack experience in this area. Even if people don't pay attention, it draws attention to the vehicle. If the alarm goes off, most people, if in sight, will look towards the vehicle. Thieves don't like attention. It also acts as a deterent to amateur thieves or kids looking to bust into cars.

Did Sava just make sense?

:faints:

gunkulator · August 4, 2003, 09:11

JohnT, not only did Sava make sense, he actually praised life experience as superior to youth!

:dumbfounded:

JohnT · August 4, 2003, 09:14

And he was (relatively) polite about it!

:dies:

:) Smiley · August 4, 2003, 09:59

Get police stickers. They're also good if you like to speed.

Dis · August 5, 2003, 03:44

I use a car alarm and the club.

the car alarms that disable your ignition are especially good- and will give you insurance discounts.

You guys are saying it will only deter amateur theives. Well guess what!! your car is most likely going to be stolen by an amateur theif. Because amateur thieves are the one's stealing crappy cars for parts. Reall thieves steal good cars.

And I doubt any of you have good cars

st_swithin · August 5, 2003, 03:45

Mr. Bond, I presume?

Solly · August 5, 2003, 13:02

You should be able to make your money back with lower insurance costs.

Japher · August 5, 2003, 13:17

I have an alarm, but I don't like the sound of it so I disconnected the alarm. Yet, the red light still flashes, and I think that is just as good. Plus, I have a kill switch so that it can't be stolen. I never keep anything of value in the car so I am worried about it being broken into, and since it can't be stolen...

Harry Seldon · August 5, 2003, 13:57

What's LOJACK?

Around here, having a car alarm means nothing. People don't usually steal cars, just what's in them. If they're going to steal it they just wait around gas stations and dry cleaners and take the cars of people who leave it running while they drop inside.

Japher · August 5, 2003, 14:00

LOJACK is a system that tracks your car's where abouts. So, if it is stolen you call the service and they can tell you where the car is... I think it is GPS.

Harry Seldon · August 5, 2003, 14:08

Big Brother is watching, eh? I think I'll pass.

Dis · August 5, 2003, 14:20

well it's a private company that runs the tracking system.

I'm sure they are not associated with the goverment in any way...I think

Sava · August 5, 2003, 14:23

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnT
And he was (relatively) polite about it!

:dies:

Harry Seldon · August 5, 2003, 16:27

Quote:

I'm sure they are not associated with the goverment in any way...I think

Heh... I'm sure the government could get access if they wanted, or if they don't already. If they just tell them you're a child molester who's kidnapped a bunch of kids they'd not only give access to the police but they'd probably put a live feed on the news.

Provost Harrison · August 5, 2003, 16:50

Yes, I could do with an alarm in my car, if only for the insurance...I have had my car broken into quite a few times...the problem when two of the places I visit the most are crime-infested hellholes