Protect your stereo from thieves

T

tahoerdr

New member
I posted an ad in the classified section, but I thought I'd share it here. It's cheap, easy to install, and very effective.

Simply replace the 4 screws that fasten your head unit to the dash with hi-security screws. You can only buy these in bulk. $7 gets you the screws & another $5 on amazon.com gets you a kit of bits which include the one needed to screw/unscrew. Button-head so thieves can't force them out.

My inventory is enough for 24 stereos. Fits 3rd gen toyotas, I'm not sure about other years.

$12 is pretty cheap to protect your deck.
 

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great idea. in my opinion, it is a true pain in the butt to get to the radio, had to tear my dash apart a couple of times to replace a couple of lights in my climate control. if a theif wants my radio without a knife to cut my dash, then he is gonna have a tough time getting it out. in my opinion. great idea/find though.


tahoerdr said:
I posted an ad in the classified section, but I thought I'd share it here. It's cheap, easy to install, and very effective.

Simply replace the 4 screws that fasten your head unit to the dash with hi-security screws. You can only buy these in bulk. $7 gets you the screws & another $5 on amazon.com gets you a kit of bits which include the one needed to screw/unscrew. Button-head so thieves can't force them out.

My inventory is enough for 24 stereos.

$12 is pretty cheap to protect your deck.
Click to expand...
 
Correct Screw Size

There are metal threaded inserts that you screw into, so it's critical that you get the correct size and thread pitch. It took me a while to find the correct size and pitch before I placed the order. I checked home depot, lowes, Orchard, and a big Ace hardware for these. Some came close, but this thread pitch is hard to find.

For '96-'02 models, the size you want is M5 x .8 x 16. If anyone can find this size security screw more cheaply, let us all know. It's not my intention to deceive or rip anyone off. If I can still cover my costs to ship + a small profit, I'll gladly match it.
 

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Aren't most HUs the face off style and it seems easier to just remove the face since thieves won't mess with a HU without the faceplate.
 
Head Unit Face removal

That's what my buddy assumed, then he learned the hard way that most thieves assume that you just hide your faceplate within the car somewhere, like the glove box. A $1500 Pioneer AVIC N1 stolen just 3 days after installed. He hid the face plate under his seat but they found it and removed the whole deck as well. I don't know about you, but carrying my faceplate around with me is a real pain and I'm always worried I'll forget it somewhere. They are very expensive to replace!

The screws give peace of mind that if your car gets broken into, they won't be able to get your stereo!
 
It's only a matter of time before thieves get a hold of these bits anyway. You can purchase a 55-bit set off a MAC truck for $20 and it will have the bit to fit that security screw. If you really wanted to get technical, buy 4 different bits and use those. I'd suggest getting the "snake eyes" bit as well because those are not near as common.
product_snakeeye.gif


By no means am I trying to de-bunk you or anything, but generally if a thief wants something, he'll get it.
 
tarheeltp17 said:
By no means am I trying to de-bunk you or anything, but generally if a thief wants something, he'll get it.
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:iagree: or cause more damage in the process trying to steal it. We had an aftermarket deck in our truck years ago. Because it wasn't very snug, we used a piece of plumber tape in the back of the deck and screwed it down to the firewall. The theif couldn't steal the radio, but radio was trashed as well as the dash.
 
No,I don't tote my faceplate around with me but I either lock in in my glovebox or hide it in a less obvious spot but for teh most part my truck is either in the garage or at my work which there I don't have to worry about theives.
 
having considered installing a nav system for months I'm now of the opinion that the only way to prevent a casual thief from breaking a window and trashing the dash to get at the unit is disguise. So I'm planning to take the front off my current lowly Scion unit and figure out a way of attaching it to the nav to make it look like there's still a Scion stereo in there.

I considered removeable faceplates (like the JVC nav unit) but as others have said that will not stop a determined thief if they think the faceplate is either in the car or if they know a new faceplate is only going to be $100 on ebay. Security screws are fine and dandy but by the time a thief gets to them the majority of the damage is done (and frustration could cause them to simply destroy thestereo anyway).

The best way to prevent casual stereo thieves is not to tempt them in the first place. In years of street parking no-one has even tried jacking my Scion stereo (they just decided to steal my emergency kit... bas****s).
 
these are great additions to securing your head unit...however, my brother, who drives a 97 Ltd. JUST like mine, has had two aftermarket stereos stolen in less than two years. Each time, the thieves smashed the window and destroyed the dash ripping, cutting and tearing the head unit out...no screws were even unscrewed. I would ALMOST rather the vermin simply slide a head unit out than chop up the dash, wood finish, plastic panels and all. A new alarm? A removable face? His solution was simple...he moved 30 miles out of the city.
Car stereo thieves don't sit in your vehicle with their precision tools...they are generally in and out in less than two minutes, and from what I've seen, if they can't rip your stereo from your dash, they will smash everything they can out of spite.
I DO like these security-head fasteners for something like a lockbox/gunsafe, though.
 
why hasn't anyone perfected the TASER security system? you know, the one that zaps the thief with a gazillion volts? that would be the BEST.
car_jack1.jpg~original
 
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Just a Thought

These security bolts also work well with everyone's after market roof rack systems. I have thought many times about using security bolts on my ski racks since I have to use risers.With risers the accessory lock on the rack will only prevent the thief from stealing the skis directly outta the rack, but the rack itself is only attached with regular nuts and bolts.. A simple security screw with a sex bolt on the back should do a good job.
 
steanson said:
why hasn't anyone perfected the TASER security system? you know, the one that zaps the thief with a gazillion volts? that would be the BEST.
Click to expand...

When I had a VERY high-dollar system in my last car, and extremely elaborate security system, I spent quite some time trying to figure out how to do something with a taser. It really wouldn't be too hard. The only thing that stopped me from following through with that install was the fear of it accidentally zapping me or my wife while driving 80 mph down the highway. It would be bad enough sitting still in the driveway.

Another thing was if I took it to a repair shop, valet, etc. Even the scumbag thief has rights while stealing something out of your vehicle. If he gets hurt, he may even be able to sue you. I think I'll just keep my .45 or shotgun handy, and use common sense when parking. Obviously that doesn't take care of ALL thieves, which is why I also opted to pay for more coverage on my insurance for electronic add-ons.
 
re: racks and tasers

That is a GREAT idea for the racks...my yak rack has locks on it, but half the accessories on it don't, and those locks are expensive. Before I added the locks, I had nightmares of someone rolling up, and simply unfastening the towers with the bars, basket, accessories, bikes, kayaks, space shuttle, etc...and drive off with a whole package!

As for the taser deal, yeah, I know what you mean...with today's litigious society, even in a BG (bad guy) was to take his lumps, there would be a lawyer TELLING HIM he deserves compensation.
Also, I would be concerned it would fry the vehicles electronics...kinda counter productive. Still, a GIANT RED BLADE SWITCH mounted inside with a blinking (or rotating red strobe?) would both remind me to disable the security AND deter the thieves.

I had a coworker that lived in the bad part of town...the REAL BAD part of town. A former hippie artist, he actually loved his WWII Luger...but told me the best deterrent for the BG's in his neighborhood...SNAKES.
This got me thinking about a few huge rubber snakes on the floor and seat, and maybe a "raising snakes" book on the dash or seat...LMAO
 
jeffrosheen said:
you wouldn't have to worry about your HU if you buy an Eclipse. Built in ESN makes stealing the HU WORTHLESS
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that's great...assuming the punk kid that crowbarred it out of your dash after bashing out your window has any clue it's an Eclipse with some fancy built in ESN. Broken window...thrashed dash...NO MORE STEREO. So the crook gets a brick...that doesn't do ME any good, ya know?
 
I think the "disguise" faceplate is the best idea yet. Not attracting the theif in the first place is the only way to go.

As far as a booby trap goes...disguise it too. Make it look like innocent falty wiring that stung the bad guy, not a planned offense. I hate that our legal system would give ANY pity to an obvious crook. If it ain't yours...don't break the window...and you won't get tased. Simple lesson, with likely effective results.
 
steanson said:
that's great...assuming the punk kid that crowbarred it out of your dash after bashing out your window has any clue it's an Eclipse with some fancy built in ESN. Broken window...thrashed dash...NO MORE STEREO. So the crook gets a brick...that doesn't do ME any good, ya know?
Click to expand...

Actually if you read the Eclipse website, they guarantee their security feature and also have tracking methods that are traceable. Now as far as the broken window.....I am not sure if they cover that. Typically anyone that has a clue about stereos pretty much does not bother with Eclipse units.
 
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