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Street Crimes Unit LOVES THE RIOT

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am a Police Officer for a large county in South Florida, currently working with the SCU. We just got 3 new R&O (recon & observation) vehicles. Ford Expedition, the new Dodge Journey, and the favorite of my entire unit, the Jeep Patriot.

As of late, the Patriot has only been outfitted with a 5% (maximum legal) tint. Because this vehicle is not a chase car, we are looking for conspicuous ways to disguise its true identity, not performance upgrades. Can anyone help us out with some suggestions? It has the roof cross rails, that was all the department was really willing to give us with the buy. We have $1000 dollars to empty into it in whatever we want, wheels, lights, bumpers... ANY info is helpful. Please help us out, we're semi clueless with this stuff.
 
#3 ·
prank213 said:
you could add the mopar headers and a k&n cold air intake for around $800.. or buy some pro comp wheels and tires from www.4wheelparts.com for around 800-100
Click to expand...
Um, yeah, that would probably defeat: "Because this vehicle is not a chase car, we are looking for conspicuous ways to disguise its true identity, not performance upgrades."

I would suggest a roof basket, and a jeeppatriot.com sticker for sure. Gotta make it look corny enough not to be 5O. And, if you have a big bust, you could throw some criminals on the roof!

Are you planning a strobe system?
 
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#4 ·
There is one electric company around here that uses Patriots. Not sure, but sometimes folks ignore service vehicles, so maybe make up some local power company and add signs, logos, or something.

A roof basket can come in handy. Maybe add some lights up front too, on the bumper.
 
#5 ·
x3

Roof basket and Mopar lights on the front bumper.

A sticker or two on the back window would finish up the look. Get the JeepPatriot.com sticker and the advertisement bumper sticker that Jeep is now sending out.
 
#6 ·
THere are 2 ways to go. THe bling add ons or the Off road add ons depending as to where you want to blend in.

Bling: Chrome accents on the door handles, rear view mirrors and grill inserts. Maybe a stubby antenna and some ground effects lighting.

Off road: Beefier tires, extra fog/driving lights on the bumper with stone/brush guards, Stone guards for tail lights, trailer hitch, tow hooks, roof basket and/or light bar. They also make a front brush guard.
 
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#7 ·
Yea I'd go along with a bit of Chrome, front fog or bumper lights ( That should help at night)--Oh some white lettered tyres may make it look a little " Normal"
 
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#8 · (Edited)
I say leave it alone, that way it just blends into the background. I wouldn't want anything that someone will remember seeing on a recon car. If you show up to multiple locations in a vehicle with a basket on the roof someone might say "I saw that car outside my house, then at the hideout and now here at the big drug deal...hmmmm" Keep it stock rims, no lights, no antennas no chrome. Just a small insignificant Jeep. The 5% tint is good too, you don't want black outs that just screams "snoop"

You could get some personalized plates maybe "XSIV4CE" or "J0NELAW" how about "BACON" better then the "Pubicly Owned" plates. I new a private investigator that had plates that said "WACHNU"
 
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#10 ·
you could lift it as well RRO offers a lift for $359 +s/h.
you can get the jeep roof basket for under $400 from mopar.
you can also get roof lights, mounting brakets and the wiring kit for around 300-400.
why now save some money and take the bigger tires and rims off of a vehicle that has be seized. not like anyone is going to miss them.
 
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#11 ·
I'm with Robi454 on this one. Keep it bone stock with nothing unique about it. If you need to spend the money, pick up a different set of stock wheels/tires (if you've got the 16" steelies, grab a used set of 17" alloys...or vice versa). This way you can switch them out and make it look totally different, yet still remain stock and plain jane.
 
#12 ·
I`m afraid you`ll never be able to look inconspicuous with a Jeep Patriot. It`s not such a common vehicle on the road and it will always stand out from the crowd. Anythying extra you put on it will make it even more memorable. Just leave it stock as it is ... to be inconspicuous you should have gotten the most common vehicle with indistinctive color around your area. Btw what color is the Pat? Red, white or blue will make it noticeable even more :)
 
#13 ·
I work in Trans for the Air Force and I deal with all of the Security Forces (MP) vehicles. From the obvious to the inconspicuous vehicles. The more mods you put on the vehicle the more you need to drive with windows down and/or get out. It is better to leave the vehicle with the tinted windows and maybe throw in some tires...something very little. If you are looking for undercover in South Florida, tinted window's will do just fine.... Also I tint the upper windshield for the cops so it is harder to identify who is in the vehicle. Best of luck!
 
#14 ·
Well if you want to blend in with traffic in Florida, put some 20in rims on that puppy. I know in miami whenever i go down all there undercover cops have rims tinted windows and usually a chrome muffler head. If you want you can always pimp out your PAT with chrome mirrors and handles!!! Thats all you should do. I live in montreal where everyone can smell a cop a mile away. They all drive around in crown vics. With a huge CB radio antenna sticking out of the trunk. And thats what they call there under cover cops. What a joke...
 
#15 ·
I would say leave it well alone. Anything that you do to it will make it more conspicuous. I say use the money at the local bar for you and your colleagues.
 
#16 ·
You could just give the keys to a 15 year old and tell them to go off roading for the weekend and they will bring it back with dents and mud all over it.
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
Wow! I can't even believe I've gotten this much feedback. Thankyou all so much, until recently I haven't replied, but guranteed I've read every post as they arrived. Since posting this, we were granted an additional $4,250.00 giving us a total of $5000+. This vehicle was used all over the county, so we we're not worried with it being recognized. As a result, we decided to theme it in off road, but still street worthy. Many of you suggested adding additional lights, along with many other upgrades.

I also neglected to mention that a large part of the surveilance in this unit is done while mobile. Here is what we finally equipped it with:

2.125" RRO lift kit
Front bumper driving lights
Sirennet.com undercover LED kit
17" Alloy wheels and bigger tires
Chrome door handles
Splash Guards (mud flaps)
Upgraded skid plates for engine, gas tank and transmission
Jeeppatriot.com rear window decal

Ironically, the unit, which was never intended to be a patrol unit, was involuntarily involved in a brief car chase and performed very poorly, and our department ordered some performance upgrades as well. These were unforseen, so I took the advice of "prank213," who was the first to respond to the post.

Mopar cold air intake
Mopar headers
Transmission cooler
Siren / PA system

Needless to say, thi\s Pat looks quite stunning now. Not only that, it is keeping up with our cruisers now, too! In fact, it was the lead car in a chase about a month ago, and hauled ass to help bring down a street racer in a modded Hyundai Genesis two door. And I can't even explain the look on peoples' faces when they see us light people up - it literally stuns them for several minutes. To other law enforcement officials, try to convince your commanders/supervisors/chiefs to get some Patriots, because they do a heck of a great job!

Thanks again for everyone who contributed, from myself and my colleagues.
 
#18 ·
if you know someone who can edit the color maybe you can send us a pic sometime. i understand if its not possiable
 
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#20 ·
Okay, this is an old post, but I missed this the first time around.

Budgetman302479 said:
They all drive around in crown vics. With a huge CB radio antenna sticking out of the trunk. And thats what they call there under cover cops. What a joke...
Click to expand...
Are you quite sure they are trying to be undercover - as opposed to just not in uniform? There is a rather large distinction between the two... ;)
 
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mrb412
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