ANY car can be easily stolen. Most alarm systems are very easy to disable. Besides, who listens to alarms anyways, unless you hear it yourself, no one is going to come running. Some high end vehicles have better protection, but for the right theif they are nothing.

"The Club" is the #1 theft deterrent device. most criminals take one look at The Club and just move on to the next, more easy target.

 

I understood that unless the key sends the right signal to the ignition system, the engine won't start. Doesn't that mean the thief would need a tow truck?

 

Isn't there a way to hot wire a car so it starts with out a key?

But you are right about the key and having to have the right one, other wise the car will shut off after like 10 seconds.

I did see on a show on discovery channel how two professional theifs did tow a car right out of a driveway.

 

"The Club" can be bypassed in about four seconds. It looks impressive, but there are a couple of tricks. I won't put them here.

 

My local TV news just reported a big increase in carjackings. In the bad old days the crooks cruised the streets and parking lots until they found the desired car and stole it. Just like the Club, door and ignition locks could be circumvented in seconds. Newer cars have to be towed and either used for parts or be retrofitted with new keys and locks. Is it truly progress to go from having your car disappear quietly while you sleep to having a gun shoved down your throat and being dumped by the side of the road?

 

That's one reason I keep my car keys on a separate key chain from the rest of my keys; I figure if I ever get carjacked they can take my car, but I'll still have my house keys and such, and won't have to worry about them coming to break in my house next.

 

I do the same plus if I lock the car key in the ignition I have a spare [non chiped copy that will open the door] on my house keys ring.

 

To prevent loss of car due to Carjacking, hopefully GPS locators become cheaper or standard.

Thiefs would have second thoughts about stealing cars if they knew they could be tracked. (maybe not the dumbest ones)

 

The chip on the ignition key is the only thing that will start the car, try to bypass it by hotwire or a copied key and the pat is disabled indefinitly and must be repaired at the dealer. That will cut down on on the dumb car theifs and the joyriding kids. But the hardcore pro's can get your pat no matter what. The good news is they they aren't inrerested in it yet.

As far as car-jacking is concered: the doors automatically lock when in drive, this is a good feature, don't disable it. It will buy you exacly one second of time before the criminal either breaks the window and/or grabs you. If some thug "tries" to open your door, do not cooperate, he will likely kill you to insure a clean getaway. Your only chance is to kill him using your jeep. Here's how:

Once you are sure you are in danger of a car-jacking, put it in reverse and turn hard right as you lurch backwards. With any luck you'll strike him with your fender and catch him under your driverside front wheel. If he dodges it, even better. Keep going backwards until he is right in front of your jeep. Throw it in drive and try your best to run over him. It should be easy to do no matter what direction he runs. Keep your head low behind the dash in case he has a gun. Quickly leave the area and call the police. He may have a lookout nearby.

I also encourage good citizens to arm themselves in compliance with their state's CCW laws. But that is a very personal decision.

 

Your only chance is to kill him using your jeep. Here's how:

Once you are sure you are in danger of a car-jacking, put it in reverse and turn hard right as you lurch backwards. With any luck you'll strike him with your fender and catch him under your driverside front wheel. If he dodges it, even better. Keep going backwards until he is right in front of your jeep. Throw it in drive and try your best to run over him. It should be easy to do no matter what direction he runs. Keep your head low behind the dash in case he has a gun. Quickly leave the area and call the police. He may have a lookout nearby.

I also encourage good citizens to arm themselves in compliance with their state's CCW laws. But that is a very personal decision.

If 4000 pounds of Jeep won't do it, 230 grains of lead can.

Anyway, on stealing (not jacking)...

The transponder in the key is not able to be copied. It might be theoretically possible to get another one with the same code (does Jeep use rolling codes?), but no thief is going to do that for a $25000 SUV. Maybe an expensive Mercedes or something like that, but not a Jeep. That can, however, be bypassed. There was an article in Wired some months back about a specific series of actions that serves as a back door to the ignition system (involves a series of turning the key to X position, moving the e-brake, and so on- VERY involved). So the transponders aren't foolproof, they just make it harder.

Really, though, the best way to keep somebody from stealing your vehicle is to lock the doors and take the key with you. Many thefts nowadays are from people who left it running in the winter to warm up or folks who left a spare key in the car. If a determined thief REALLY wants your vehicle, he'll take it (that's what insurance is for). However, just make your car a less attractive target (just locking doors will do that), and they'll look for lower hanging fruit.

Auto theft is like the old joke- you don't have to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun your buddy. You don't have to make it completely theft-proof, you just have to make it harder than the next car.

 

I worry more about someone jumping in the passanger seat of my car when I am alone, than it being stolen while I was no where near it.

Then I read or saw on TV that if someone jumps into your car and says "drive" you do drive right into a building where it will create attenetion to you.

 

Then I read or saw on TV that if someone jumps into your car and says "drive" you do drive right into a building where it will create attenetion to you.

dont forget to hit the red button and unclip their seatbelt right before the wall...

Do carjackers wear seatbelts?

 

Yes, "The Club" can be bypassed as with anything else. But "The Club" adds another layer of protection. Each layer means more time it will take the thief to steal the car. Theives don't like that. A multi-layered secuity setup is best. If a thief is set on stealing your car than your screwed, but if it's a theif looking for an easy pic, than you might be okay.

 

If you leave your doors unlocked and keys in it, the club takes a total of two seconds to circumvent. You take a pair of cutters, snip the rim of the steering wheel, and slide the thing right off. Those wheel rims aren't tough at all. If you locked the vehicle and took the key with you, then those simple steps will take far longer to circumvent than The Club.

 

lol - not to mention SENTRY KEY means the engine shouldn't start without the right key in there anyways. Plus, if you're really that worried, get KarrTrack.

 

I am sorry to hear about your trouble. That sucks!!

 

My mercy, as long as I'm not in it, they can have it. I'll be happy to fill out the report. I'm sure not going to great lengths to stop somebody who really wants my vehicle. Stopped, locked, and the keys in my pocket, that's as far as I go.

 

I think having a manual is one more layer of protection. What kid learns to drive a manual anymore?

 

My thoughts exactly

 

Hey Akula
230 grains? Sounds like your a fellow .45 man. Nice work.

 

It might be theoretically possible to get another one with the same code (does Jeep use rolling codes?)

Yes, Jeeps use a rolling code for their keys.

As far as I know, there is not a way to start and drive a Sentry key equipped Chrysler vehicle without a valid key. As stated, the only things they can really do is carjack you, or tow it off and sell it for parts.

230 grains? Sounds like your a fellow .45 man. Nice work.

I prefer 125gr of .357 Magnum at 1440 fps to dissuade a would be carjacker.

 

Yes, Jeeps use a rolling code for their keys.

As far as I know, there is not a way to start and drive a Sentry key equipped Chrysler vehicle without a valid key. As stated, the only things they can really do is carjack you, or tow it off and sell it for parts.

I prefer 125gr of .357 Magnum at 1440 fps to dissuade a would be carjacker.

It really horrifies me that so many people posting to this thread would advocate attempting to shoot or otherwise disable a carjacker. If you are faced with a criminal who has a gun pointed at you, are you really going to try to get to your own weapon? Unless you have the gun in your hand at the moment the criminal accosts you, there is little chance you will survive without being shot first. Even if you have a ccw and the gun is in a holster on your body, the few seconds it would take to draw, point, and shoot the gun are a few seconds more than it takes the criminal to pull the trigger. Do you really want to lose your life over a car? Sounds like pride takes precedent over common sense.

 

I have owned "The Club" but for many years I have used this item instead as it is much more difficult for a thief to disable it as he cannot simply cut the brake pedal and you cannot depress the brake or clutch pedal to start up the car and drive it away without the autolock off. http://www.autolock.com/Unbreakable_Auto_BL.htm NO anti theft device is 100%.LoJacks are helpfull. As to pulling your handgun on an attacker that is a personal decision that one can only make at the time it is happening. I carry all the time and hope I never HAVE to use it but I WILL if my life is threatened by some thug. Just because said thug has the drop on you does NOT mean you are helpless dead meat. Not every carjacker is gun savvy either. Not every carjacker uses a firearm in the commission of a crime. The thug can have the car-my insurance will cover that, but if I have the slightest feeling I'm to be harmed then I'm doing all I can to survive.

 

Do you really want to lose your life over a car? Sounds like pride takes precedent over common sense.

Did you happen to see the little smiley face in my post. It was a simple joke. No need to get bent out of shape about it.

I have auto insurance for a reason, and I am sure as hell not going to jeopardize my life over a car. Take it, I'll get a new one.

Now if a carjacker wants to get in and take me along with him, that's a different story.

 

Yes, I saw the little smiley face and for the life of me I just don't understand why it's funny to joke about shooting someone. I'm not bent out of shape, as you say, but I'm perplexed as to why it's supposed to be funny. I have been the victim of a violent crime where a gun was involved and I can guarantee you that even many years later I don't make myself laugh by thinking of how I would have liked to have shot the guy.

 

If someone tries to car jack me, I will try very hard to kill them. I'm not jokeing. Yes it is worth me risking my life over. There are tactics to employ. To me, it will be my finest hour that I wait very patiently for. Just the type of guy I am.

I carry a 45acp when on duty. When off duty, a simple little PT22. I'm also in training to do some interesting things with my little pocket knife.

 

You are a highly trained law enforcement officer, I am not. As comfortable as I am handling guns I am not qualified to do what you can do, nor are most people. It involves a whole heck of a lot more than pulling a gun and shooting as I'm sure your training has taught you. It's not simply a matter of owning a gun and taking it to the firing range occasionally. Even having a ccw does not necessarily prepare a person to react in a life threatening situation. My cousin used to transport large quantities of cash so he went and took the courses and obtained a ccw. A couple of years later he was robbed by a thug with a knife and pulled his gun. After a brief struggle the thug took the gun and thankfully only pistol whipped my cousin rather than shooting him. He also stole the gun. I've had a gun muzzle pressed into my forehead and the panic I felt would have prevented me from pulling a gun even if I'd had one. I hope everyone saying they would pull a gun and shoot an armed carjacker never has to face that situation because they will never know how they will react until the moment their life is in danger. The adrenaline rush alone would prevent most people from executing a good draw. Joe I hope you are not advocating that everyone with a ccw or those that carry without one act as you would because that would be terribly irresponsible.

 

Believe me, if it's kill or be killed I'll be the one doing the killing. The safety of my family is number one, which is why I sold my Escort and bought a Patriot, and why I carry a Smith and Wesson.

 

on a related note, I have had some dealings with phord's anti theftsystem. A friend of mine has a 99 sable something burnt under the dash, some of the harness and the dash. Man it sooooooo easy to replace the dash in those things. its like 6 easy to get to bolts , dash and wheel come out all in one piece. I replaced the dash and the burnt part of the harness...could never get the fugging thing started. I had the orginal key,steering wheel and everything. They have to take it to the dealer to get it reset.

 

take a look at the autotaser- it works like the club going on the steering wheel but you arm it with a keyfob. when it senses movement, it chirps loudly a wanring and when it touched, it'll shock the **** out of you. you can position it to cover your stero too so it would make it harder to pull out your stereo

 

Back in college I remember seeing a unique way of stealing a car. I was heading into a grocery store and walked past a car being 'repossessed'. There was a guy in a uniform with a clipboard and flatbed tow-truck. He was loading a car out of the parking lot.

On my way out I saw this guy freaking out because his car was gone. He said his car couldn't have been repo'ed because it was paid off!

 

I used to take the coil wire with me. Of course you need to be able to find the distributor. Does the Patriot even have a distributor...new cars :doh:

 

Nope. Most modern vehicles have coil-on-plug ignition. In the 90s they went from distributors to electronic ignition and then to coil-on-plug.

As for armed response, I'd rather drive off. I'd also rather just let them have the thing- I'm insured, they still make them. I'll get another- it's easier than dealing with other legal problems. But if they seem murderous, well, the smallest thing I carry is a .32, and usually a .45. But it's still easier to keep your doors locked and an eye out.

 

A great variety of ideas and theft prevention measures in this thread but even if we look at the precautionary items:

- lock the door
- the club easily defeatable yes but makes your Jeep less attractive then the car parked right next door, adding 5-10-15 seconds to the theft creates a pain in the rear factor for the thief.
- keep your stuff out of site, it might just be "crap" but the thief doesn't know
that until he breaks in and rummages through your stuff

I always thought that most car thieves were drug addicts or juveniles looking for a joyride or similar (anybody in law enforcement out there?).

For the 10% of professional car thieves out there is there really any defence?
Are they really cutting up Patriots and shipping them overseas?

 

For the 10% of professional car thieves out there is there really any defence?

I'd imagine "professional" thieves would be more interested in higher priced vehicles. It's the drug addicts, people who do crimes just for "fun" and such that are more likely to be a problem.

 

Well, Carjacking a Patriot might not be the best idea for a thief, but if you already have one why would you ditch it for a crappier car? Heres an article from the Chicago Tribune, see if anything sticks out to you:

From the Chicago Tribune:

Naperville teen is carjacked
Tribune staff report
November 13, 2008

An 18-year-old was carjacked by three men Wednesday afternoon as he pulled out of his garage in the 1200 block of Chalet Road, Naperville police said.

The suspects were driving a black Jeep Patriot, police said, and one struck the victim in the head with a semiautomatic handgun. The three then took the victim's vehicle, a white 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix, officials said.

Official article from site