Installing a car alarm - How to prevent the theft of a car and parts!

In the 80s and especially in the 90s, car thefts were very common. There weren't as many cars as there are now. Switching the VIN of the cars was relatively easy. Expensive radios and other parts were interesting items to take apart. Many of these reasons are no longer relevant, new reasons are emerging.

Car as a scrap metal object

The main reason for the theft of a car or its individual parts is the repair of emergency vehicles. They are bought by professional gangs and subsequently prepared for sale using stolen parts. Of particular interest are the elements of the front of the car, the windshield and airbags. If the latter have been activated, the crash machine will be especially cheap. Making a practically free car usable is mostly a matter of time and experience. Even though audio systems are now so cheap that stealing them no longer earns rewards, cars remain attractive as auto parts suppliers for emergency vehicles.

Not enough car alarms

The latest trends in thief gangs very brave: well trained and equipped teams thieves Auto Parts can steal all of the car's profitable parts in a matter of minutes. The next morning, the owner finds a gnawed carcass that was once his car. No GPS tracking or similar is useless in this case. There are simply no details. Several solutions make theft impossible.

Retrofit solutions for older vehicles

The car alarm system is included in the standard equipment of the car.

luxury car manufacturers equip cars with an assistance system in case of theft detection. The system connects to a switchboard where the car can be switched off using a remote connection, determine its location and alert the police.

In medium and compact cars standard car alarms are usually acoustic. Their effectiveness is limited. Thieves often know how to disable a car alarm before it goes off.

therefore the basic equipment of the car alarm system must include a GPS transmitter, either permanently active or transmitting a signal when the alarm system is triggered. Finding a stolen car is the only sure way to find it. Retrofit solutions are ideal: the owner can determine where the GPS transmitter should be hidden, which makes it much more difficult for thieves .

Modernization of alarm systems for any budget

The world of modified alarm systems starts with a cheap but otherwise useless device: fake alarm . This is nothing more than a box with a blinking LED that mimics an installed car alarm. Against random thieves, this can be effective. On the other hand, this decision does not stop professional gangs.

Its installation is very easy , since the fake alarm has its own power supply with a built-in solar cell, thanks to which the LED lamp flashes reliably for many years . Simply attach with double sided tape and you're done.

Connected car alarms

Alarm systems connected to the cigarette lighter are especially easy and quick to install. Unlike from fake systems, they actually have a deterrent effect. They react to vibrations, triggering an alarm. . The owner receives an alert via SMS on his smartphone. These systems are available with a built-in camera allowing the owner to see who is tampering with his car. These cameras are only effective for a few seconds. . Every hijacker will immediately remove the system and throw it away . They also respond to vibrations. Some systems are triggered every time a truck passes, making these systems inconvenient.

High quality retrofit solutions

Modern car alarms have many additional features. The annoying, noisy systems of the past are hardly socially acceptable nowadays. Modern car alarms work quietly but effectively. Common additional features that an upgraded alarm system can offer are:

– internal surveillance with radar systems – preventive warning systems – silent alarm for your mobile phone – surveillance with built-in camera – GPS transmitter – switchboard alert

In addition, it must be installed in such a way that it could not be disabled or removed . Only expensive retrofit solutions offer this possibility. The listed additional options are available as separate modules. . The more modules installed, the more expensive the system becomes. Currently upgraded alarm systems are connected via CAN bus and require programming. Therefore, they are not practical as a standalone solution . Professional alarms must be installed by specialists . Starter kits with basic equipment cost approx. EUR 300 (± £265) and installed within 2-3 hours. The total investment is expected to be 500 euro .(± £440). The good news is that modified systems can be removed and installed on a new car.

In addition, a high quality and extensive alarm system adds value to the vehicle. Therefore, if necessary, you can leave it in the car at the time of sale and finance the new system with the proceeds.

Modules and their options

Interior safety with radar sensors available for both convertibles and sedans or station wagons. They respond very reliably to appropriate movements in the cabin. A flying insect is not enough to trigger the radar sensor. As soon as a larger body appears in the cabin, the system detects this and the car owner receives an alert via his smartphone.

The Pre-Warning System emits acoustic and optical signals when someone touches the vehicle, warning: "Hands off, help is coming!" deterring potential thieves .

At present smartphone time is an integral component of the car's security concept, acting as a localization tool, a monitor for the camera and, obviously, a signal receiver for car alarm sensors.

Camera technology offers various options. Partially available cameras, such as a reversing camera, can be integrated into the alarm system. The cameras recording the driver are the only truly effective units in providing potential evidence of gang captures.

GPS transmitter - this is the alpha and omega of any modern video surveillance system that shows the position of the car. The transmitter has its own power supply and starts working when the car starts. Even if the vehicle is on a truck, the GPS transmitter will continue to transmit signals from its position. The upgraded GPS transmitter can be installed in such a way that it will not be easy to find.

Also currently available automatic notification of the emergency switchboard. Most brands have their own individual switchboards that alert the police on their own. Manufacturers in this market have become very accommodating.

Grafting details for tracking

A few years later, it became possible to "graft" individual parts . They are sprayed with an invisible substance containing microparticles . This inoculation is only visible in ultraviolet light . Microparticles have a code that becomes visible under a microscope. The code corresponds to the car and its owner. It does not protect against theft, but may help to find the criminal.