[bctz123]

Hello,

I live in a part of Europe where people steal cars, and I was also checking out a lot of complains with this issue in London, UK.

As a solution to this problem I have found the following:

1. Marking the VIN on the front, back and sides window so that way it makes the car thieves to chose another car because it’s super hard to replace all windows, normally they change the VIN of the car so it loses trace.

2. Faraday pouch for the key, so that they can’t get the signal from the key, and copy it.

3. GPS Tracker unit put inside the car.

4. Checking the door after closing the car by pulling it.

What are some of your solutions and how do you manage this situation, as I find it something very scary and I am a bit worried.

Also had you had any bad experiences? What have you learned?

Can’t wait to read your messages! Thanks!

[clee1982]

I set my side view mirror to fold when lock, so I use that as visual cue to make sure I did lock

[saporitj]

Originally Posted by clee1982

I set my side view mirror to fold when lock, so I use that as visual cue to make sure I did lock

I also use mirrors as a good visual cue that doors are locked. Also tell cat to automatically lock all doors when you get out just in case you forget.
The dealer add a invisible serial number to all the exterior body arts to help recovery but will not help to discourage original theft. Guess you can put steering wheel lock but not attractive looking.

[wknddrivr]

Keep my keys in a faraday pouch.

[mobilejo]

I can't speak for Romania, but here in the UK, the things that best prevent the theft are only the things that actually make it harder to steal in the first place. The thieves are extremely brazen, car jacking people in broad daylight and kicking off front doors and demanding keys, so marking the VIN on the windows is unlikely to discourage them. Also most cars are going straight to chop shops to be used for parts, so VINs on the windows is not a big problem for them.

A tracker is good for recovery but won't prevent theft and thieves expect the more expensive cars to have trackers anyway but they continue stealing them anyway.

Faraday pouch is great but the wave of keyless thefts has slowed down and thieves are breaking in to houses to take keys or car-jacking people more.

A steering lock is a good deterrent, but if they have broken in for the keys it won't matter.

My car was stolen in last year. I got it back quickly luckily. I had my keys in a faraday pouch but they broke in while we were asleep and took the keys so my pouch made no difference. I have CCTV and the footage shows they never even tried to use a keyless theft tool - they came straight to the door and broke in.

I realised that all I could do was combine all of the anti-theft measures and hope that when they're all in place, each separate layer of security combines to make it too much work overall for a thief.

My advice - get better house locks that cannot be snapped off. Get a house alarm. Get CCTV. Get flood lights. Use a steering lock. Use a faraday pouch. Do not keep your keys easily accessible - keep them hidden and put a fake key (I bought a BMW key that looks like mine but doesn't work on ebay) out on display so they will take that and head back to the car; the time they waste finding out that the key doesn't work will have bought you time and in the meantime, they are standing on the driveway faffing about with a dead key.

With your house alarm going off full blast and your floodlights on them, along with being able to see them on CCTV, you can call the police and also be better prepared to defend yourself if they come back in, but if you are lucky they will abandon the attempt and leave because they won't know what to expect if they re-enter the house for the second time.

[beanbaguk]

Following this, I've just bought a faraday pouch for my keys.

I do like the fake key idea. I may give that one a go, but having said that, I have a monitored alarm system and also recently installed, a smoke system to confused would-be thieves.

[CLABRO]

Wow, didn't realize car jacking was so common that people literally have multiple deterrents (i.e the fake key, marking the VIN on windows, GPS tracker installed on car, CCTV, faraday pouch, etc).

Here, most people don't even have an upgraded alarm on their car.

With that said, it would be cool if there was an app that notified you when your car was being unlocked and engine turning on that way you could then disable the car from your phone and the thieves would have to abandon it. It could have settings that would allow the user to program it to only notify them if the car is being unlocked and engine being turned on, say from, 11pm - 5am (or whenever you think thieves would be most likely to try and take the vehicle). That way you don't get a notification every time you unlock and start your vehicle. If you go on a vacation for 2 weeks, you could set the time parameters for that 2 week block and have the app notify you if at any time your car is being unlocked and/or engine being started so you can disable it.

[saporitj]

First off Holy Crap what happened to the UK!!!
Sometimes we forget to lock our cars in the driveway but don't really worry about it gettin stolen. Maybe just that kids might steal something inside. Guess that 2nd Amendment in US might be a deterrent especially to people breaking into houses.
Second, I like fake key idea. That's cleaver thinking.
Third, like app idea but take it a step further. BMW could allow you to set a schedule so car doesn't start during that time period unless overridden. Something like you can set on home router.
Fourth, second line of deterring home invasion. 100 lbs of German Shepherd.

[bctz123]

Crazy world we live in.. thanks for all the tips. Please share more if you have!

[Warp Ten]

There is a nearby thread on a Faraday bag that did not seem to work with the BMW key fob, bought on Amazon. Are there particular brands some of you are using that are proven to work with the BMW FOB frequencies? Thanks--Bob

[bctz123]

I bought one and will test it out and let you know.

[saporitj]

Originally Posted by Warp Ten

There is a nearby thread on a Faraday bag that did not seem to work with the BMW key fob, bought on Amazon. Are there particular brands some of you are using that are proven to work with the BMW FOB frequencies? Thanks--Bob

A good Faraday bag should work with all frequenters but a cheap one will just hold your keys for you.

[bctz123]

I got this one and it works. It's double the size of the key, but it works, looks good and it's cheap. - https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07881YB1W

[reesch]

I'm no rocket scientist, but wouldn't aluminum (tin) foil accomplish the same job as a faraday pouch, minus the style aspects?

[saporitj]

Originally Posted by reesch

I'm no rocket scientist, but wouldn't aluminum (tin) foil accomplish the same job as a faraday pouch, minus the style aspects?

Aluminum foil is used to protect you from space aliens. Putting it on and off each night is a little annoying not to mention have to change it. Foil might be ok for spare key if put in safe.

[bctz123]

Originally Posted by reesch

I'm no rocket scientist, but wouldn't aluminum (tin) foil accomplish the same job as a faraday pouch, minus the style aspects?

Haven't tested that but I don't feel like walking with aluminum foil in my pocket for a $80k car

[en1gma]

Originally Posted by reesch

I'm no rocket scientist, but wouldn't aluminum (tin) foil accomplish the same job as a faraday pouch, minus the style aspects?

Putting the keys in any metal container should do the trick. Apparently a microwave is a good place!

I bought a Faraday bag off amazon and it works fine; although the one I have is quite large as it's meant for mobile phones...

[530iDriver]

How sad that London has turned into Londonistan.

[devil84]

Check this video out...

[Phas]

Originally Posted by devil84

Check this video out...

Very impressive, however, can the solution be a tad cheaper?
By my calculation (and I maybe incorrect) the cost is 14,500 Eur which converts to $16,000 US.
I wish to correct and amend the above. When I search "amazon uk" they list it for 144.00 British Pounds which converts to $189.582 USD.
Sorry for any misunderstanding ... me bad.
Cheers

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by Phas

Very impressive, however, can the solution be a tad cheaper?
By my calculation (and I maybe incorrect) the cost is 14,500 Eur which converts to $16,000 US.
I wish to correct and amend the above. When I search "amazon uk" they list it for 144.00 British Pounds which converts to $189.582 USD.
Sorry for any misunderstanding ... me bad.
Cheers

G30 (and other BMW) keys from Apr 2018 have motion sensing - the keyless entry turns off after 3 minutes.

I tested this and it is true. My car is a 2017 but I had all new keys after the theft in Oct 2018. I got the motion sensing key.

[devil84]

Originally Posted by mobilejo

G30 (and other BMW) keys from Apr 2018 have motion sensing - the keyless entry turns off after 3 minutes.

I tested this and it is true. My car is a 2017 but I had all new keys after the theft in Oct 2018. I got the motion sensing key.

My car is a July 2018 production and it does not turn a off after 3 'minutes. Is it definitely after 2018 april