At least one in five Engadget staffers can attest:
car stereo crime was all the rage in the 1990s, and needless to say, we were all on the losing end of the deal. These days, however, larceny cases involving in-dash head units has dropped dramatically, and we've generally got no one but the auto makers to thank. Back in the day, factory stereos were downright laughable, and considering that most 1- and 2-DIN aftermarket decks could be installed in almost any car, the street value for those puppies was pretty high. Now, it's tough to find a vehicle without a marginally decent player already in it, which has led to a 50 percent decline in reported car stereo thefts over the past 15 years. If we had a gun to our head, we'd guess these folks
have all moved on to
swiping iPods.
[Via
Fark, image courtesy of
Notla]
posted Mar 25th 2009 7:41AM
And this is the reason why I would never buy a car that didn't come with stock Navigation radio's and bluetooth to phone connections already built in. I don't want to have to add anything into my car - and if anyone steals it, it won't work. My friend's Red Charger got broken into because someone thought he had a GPS device and an ipod in the car. Now he has tinted windows. I never tinted the windows on my Benz and its never been broken into because its nearly impossible to steal the radio and LCD displays.
The only thing easy to steal nowadays is sideview mirrors.
I never knew why someone would want tinted windows, always thought it was to be "gangsta", but that's a really good reason. Front tinted windows are illegal in my state as far as I know, also it's annoying when you're flagging someone to go and they can't see you :P
You are right, when tech comes with a car it is impossible to steal. But COME ON, to get a GPS option you may pay $1,500-$2,000 K while you can buy a nice after market for $150-$250, see the difference?
Also many audio systems are made by some obscure companies who work with automakers because they can provide he lowest price. After market you can get a great Sony system for 300-500. While i understand NOT getting an after market audio, i will never understand why anyone would pay 2K for a GPS when you can get one after market for a few hundred bucks. Plus if you in car GPS stops functioning...............so will most electronics because they work thru the navi system, which will cost you THOUSANDS to replace.
In these economic times why not save?
@NewJew my men you should check closely to the law, i know if you tint your windows to at least 40 percent you should be in the safe side here in my state anything less then 32% is illegal, im no lawyer or know it all, but is worth checking with your local DMV.
I always find it weird when people are so biased against tinting windows.
In Florida almost everyone gets their windows tinted.
Quantumphysics, you are arguing that having the automakers stereo detains theft from your car (because it won't work in other cars). The article is arguing a different point, which is: because most every car already comes from factory with a decent audio system, there is no big demand for second hand (stolen, etc) car stereos. By this last line of reason, you shouldn't be so worried about having the factory audio system in your car, because you are benefitting from the trend even if you go to another route.
In Florida its a must to have tinted windows. It gets to hot without them.
@Sea Urchin: It's because of system integration as well as piece of mind- with the GPS built in, the gps receiver NEVER loses reception unlike the 3rd party ones I've seen, also having control of everything in the same spot while driving is very important to me.
Also, if I had a 3rd party system, since my car is so popular with thieves anyway, plus it's bright red.. I don't need anything extra to make the car stand out and be stolen.
just wrap some c4 and add a mercury switch to your stereo.
@NeoJew What planet are you from where tint is "gangsta" move to a place where the inside of your car hits 120 in the afternoon 7 months out of the year.
Funny, I would never blow my money on the latest new car with a $2000 built-in Nav system that's obsolete before the car even ships and an overpriced name-brand stereo that isn't half as good as it should be.
... and yet I've never had my cars broken into, either the ones with aftermarket or stock stereos.
NeoJew @ Mar 25th 2009 7:52AM
"I never knew why someone would want tinted windows, always thought it was to be "gangsta", but that's a really good reason. Front tinted windows are illegal in my state as far as I know, also it's annoying when you're flagging someone to go and they can't see you :P"
Well buddy, try living in Texas during the summer without tinted windows. It's not fun.
Move to Arizona, you'll see why you need tinted windows :P
My car stereo just got ripped off last week in the parking lot of my workplace. No tunes for a while :[ Mabye That huge stimulus package will help me get my Stereo Back. ( not )
@kingtaz0
I understand the reason for getting tinted windows in a hot state like Florida but I don't don't get it when people get it in places like The Bronx in NY where it doesn't get that hot except for a few weeks at the most. It's almost guarenteed that any little wannabe thug will have their car windows tinted. And when I write tinted I mean illegal tinted where you practically need to press your face against the glass to see in.
Both my wife and I have made the mistake of leaving our iPods in our cars and we can attest to your last statement. Of course I also had my stereo stolen in the 90s, so I'm a walking demographic for your article.
If this is a dying crime why was i the victim of one just last week? its a standard 100 dollar kenwood deck from best buy... the window i had to replace cost more than the stereo... ridiculous!
I experienced something similar although my deck was $60 refurbished, and the 12" woofers in the back not only made it thru the robbery :), but rendered the CD player in the deck useless due to the constant vibration. Good news was I found a front window for $40 at the junk yard, and put christmas tree branches in the hole where my deck used to be. Never had any problems after that.
...I think most people break into cars now for the electronic goodies. Quick easy swipe and no tools required.
I just had my stero stolen... yesterday
Dying does not equal dead. The crime rate has dropped, but it's not zero.
I am holding your stereos to ransom. If you want them back, just ask and I'll supply you with my PayPal details...
it's tricky to steal most new car audio systems due to the fact they are pretty much spread all over the whole dash now and wouldn't fit in another vehicle even if you glued all the bits together.
You've got the volume control near your ankles, the tuner dial on the sunroof, the display on a pop up screen, the presets hiding behind the climate control ...
'tis true. This is good and bad IMO - It certainly deters theft but at the same time these crazy custom designs make it impossible to install aftermarket stereos in many new vehicles. I think auto makers should move towards standardized equipment mounts again but with integrated theft prevention systems. Some sort of vehicle/device pairing system?
I agree with all the comments about integrated vs aftermarket nav systems - it's ridiculous the prices auto makers charge for these things. Unfortunately for that reason I won't be holding my breath for standard aftermarket nav mounts.
This is why you NEVER leave anything on the seat of your car.
-GPS mounts, they know you have a GPS stashed away on the glove compartment/Pantry
-Chocolate bars (crack heads)
-bags
-I dont care if they take the crap, its just that they smash your window and you have to eat the cost because reporting vadnalism on your car will cost you more money than paying for it yourself.
-I received a free stereo for my car, but since my MP3 Player worked so well with an FM transmitter, there was no point in Chopping up the dash. And I was too lazy to do it, And I have no intention of paying anyone to do such an easy job. You might as well pay some joker to install memory in your computer.
-Perhaps instead of stealing these bumbs can try.. oh I dont know... GETTING JOBS LIKE THE REST OF US LAW ABIDING CITIZNS?
Your iPhone didn't protect your car?
:o!
"THE REST OF US"
Are you suggesting that you actually have a job?
Do you work at McDonalds, or do they accept your lack of spelling/writing skills at work as a mental disability?
This has actually been proven. Leaving ANYTHING in view from the outside, even a baseball cap dramatically increases the likelihood of having your car broken into and vandalized.
*can't seem to find the link to the study atm*
Its just common sense. if you want to keep it, don't flaunt it.
Cops over hear report there is a trend in punks just breaking the window for fun, not to mention setting cars on fire for fun because they are bored.
If its a falling crime then why was my 100 dollar kenwood deck stolen last week.... I mean the window cost more to replace than the stereo did retail. This is retarded. Yes I am planning on tinting my windows and yes I am going to get another deck in the car because who wants to roll around in a corolla with a stock radio?
Who wants to roll around in a Corolla?
Hey, my mom takes offense to that!
i had my ipod and aftermarket headunit stolen afew years back, both were tucked away in the glovebox but it didn't protect them well enough, theiving scum
I'm guessing the decline has more to do with people targeting the expensive stuff left on the seat than the fact that most newer cars have a halfway decent radio
A couple years ago someone actually broke into my car to steal my radar detector of all things in the world. Apparently Ebay pays!
Just do what I do and ziptie some carpet-cutter blades to the cables.
Hard to steal a headunit when your flexor tendons have all been severed and the blood loss is making you dizzy.
Just make sure you take them off when you sell the car and make double sure you let your installer know they are there.
I bet you own a gun
Nope.
Everyone should own one. ;)
Clean up must be fun.
Pashaw... That's the wimpy way of protecting your stereo. I've mounted mine in a bear trap. Can't steal it if you don't have your hands!
Although it pains me to ask this, if someone did break into your vehicle and was injured by the blades, wouldn't you now be responsible and most likely get sued by the thief?
It would be worth it to get sued since you're teaching the a valuable lesson. Every time they look at their mangled hands they'll remember that crime doesn't pay :P
@B
I honestly don't get how they can sue you for that.. if you broke the law then you're not in much of a position to accuse other people are you?...
That's like convicting someone of assault for using baseball bats/guns/fists to ward off robbers (and where I live, too many people have been arrested for defending themselves and their property.. it's pathetic)
That's also like suing the military for putting up electric fences and landmines around their bases...
If you breach the rights of others, you've already given up your own rights.
@B: Yes Derek can be sued for this. And yes thieves have won in the past. Derek is most likely joking or is not in the know.
@Sirius: It's basically like this. You and a thief are conducting an economic transaction, not by money, but by bartering. The thief takes your t.v. and in exchange, you take his life. Most people would not find this trade equitable. In this case, Derek is saying the cost of a car radio is worth a funtional hand. Most people will find this trade inequitable too, but not Derek.
My Evo IX and I disagree strongly It was just recently broken into robbed for everything including the seats, so much damage was cause that it was totaled. The cops here in Fairfax insist that since the economy is in the can car stereo theft is at an all time high.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/3384241467_262b4d6496.jpg?v=0
That sucks man I hope they gave you enough to pick up a new one.
Ya, unfortunately it looks like my parking lot is being targeted, this was the third such break in in the last 6 months, so until I move somewhere else I gotta hold off or risk it happening again
You'd be surprised. I doubt it's your parking lot being targeted as much as it's someone living next door that's too lazy to go to another location.
Many years ago I had a new car that came with a pull-out deck as standard. Well, I didn't want to carry the whole deck around, so I used to just leave it under the front passenger seat. That was stupid - the prick who broke into my car not only took the deck, but ripped the bracket out as well (pull-out deck is useless without the bracket) causing damage to the console. In the end I realised that those pull-out decks were useless - no one carried them around (if you did you looked like a tool) and most thieves know after seeing the hole in the console you just hid it in the car, so they just broke in anyway on the chance you left it somewhere. After I got it replaced by my insurance company with another pull-out deck (hey, they just replaced what was originally there) I never took it out again - and for the next 10 years I owned it no one ever tried to break in.
Whilst those new sound systems are great for preventing theft, the problem is that they can't be upgraded easily in some circumstances - I can't connect my iPod to my Astra because somehow the deck doesn't have any decent auxiliary ports to connect an iPod deck. If the car companies could only install systems that had upgrade capability that would be nice.