More soft-top slashers

Dr Chris Westinghouse · Post by **Dr Chris Westinghouse** » Tue Feb 19, 2002 9:28 pm

Thought I'd add this report for club information : Last night my silver
baby's rear window was slashed and the car ransacked in Sarsfield Street,
Herne Bay. It must have been some kids because all they took was about $20
of parking change. Everything else was simply thrown in the street, where
my early-rising neighbours picked it all up for me. Luckily we never
leave valuables in the car. The idiots first tried to break through the
front window, probably with a screwdriver, before they got the bright idea
that it might be easier and less noisy to simply cut through the roof...

So much for the miserable news. The good news was I called Allan at Al's
Upholstery straight away and before you could say "Jack Robinson" I had a
brand new and artfully installed new hood at a reasonable price.

Since I won't have a garage for a few months the car will have to continue
to sleep in the street, but the addition of one or two new security
measures should eliminate the need for anybody (except pure vandals) to
take a knife to her again.

Chris Westinghouse

From --------------------

Dr Chris Westinghouse
37 Sarsfield Street
Herne Bay
Auckland 1001
New Zealand
Tel : (09) 376 8924
Mobile : 025 220 9125

Scott Elder · Post by **Scott Elder** » Tue Feb 19, 2002 9:37 pm

No one has any respect for other's property these days, it's really sad.

Chrissy & Tony Hoys · Post by **Chrissy & Tony Hoys** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 6:32 am

I bought some cutesy (did someone say tacky???) little tyre pressure screws
in a lovely blue to match my car, parked her outside of Cooks Gardens for a
few hours in Wanganui - a there you go - they were gone!
Sorry to hear of the roof Chris, not fair!
Chrissy
CUTEMX

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 12:28 pm

maybe we should form a victim support group

--- DPEX <DPEX@free.net.nz> wrote:
[...]

Turner, Phill W · Post by **Turner, Phill W** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 12:33 pm

Is roof slashing a particular NZ phenomenon... to be honest its not really a
topic of discussion here? A reflection of particular social problems ???

From MattGunn@newstalkzb.co.nz Fri Apr 27 16:03:52 2007
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I understand KIWI car thieves usually take the soft option...

MADMXV

chrishoys · Post by **chrishoys** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 12:53 pm

sounds like we already have formed a victim support group - much to someones dislike!

I think it's good to talk about it, we may even come up with good ideas on how to stop or help prevent it!

Chrissy
CUTEMX

[...]

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 1:40 pm

hi everyone. my name is Jeff and there's something I'm really cut up about. Maybe because I'm a soft touch.

heh.

Phil McArthur · Post by **Phil McArthur** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 10:53 pm

I have come to the point of never locking my glove box or compartment between
the seats, figuring if someone wants my sunnies from the $2 shop or burnt CD
copies they can have them; haven't quite made the transition to not locking
the doors and relying on the alarm/ microwave sensor for deterrant value;
presumably leaving the doors unlocked would deter the slashers...if combined
with a removable face stereo maybe this could be the way to go... (although
wiring the steering wheel to 240V mains power is also tempting thought
probably, strictly speaking, illegal...)

Graeme Naisbitt · Post by **Graeme Naisbitt** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 11:13 pm

Same here, only I leave my top down whenever possible, remove the stereo
front and leave the glove box open. If they want my streetmap they're
welcome to it, and the microwave would alarm anyway.

Tricky with the 240VAC though, need a bloody long extension cable. Once
heard about a guy who wired a sparkplug to his petrol tank, probably an
urban myth though, especially when he forgot to disable it...

Graeme
D4NGER

Mark Roberts · Post by **Mark Roberts** » Thu Feb 21, 2002 7:15 am

shop or burnt CD copies they can have them; haven't quite made the
transition to not locking the doors and relying on the alarm/
microwave sensor for deterrant value;

I have never locked the doors of mine. Why bother?

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Thu Feb 21, 2002 11:16 am

those of you with dual-stage sensor capabilities on your alarms should really think about the microwave sensor - if you buy it from Mongoose it's only $50, or $149 fitted. It's pretty easy to install and setup for someone with modest electrical skills (like me ... not that I'm volunteering to do it for you

Dual stage *shock* sensors aren't much use when crims ignore that flashing LED, slash your top, crawl in, look around and leave again without setting anything off...

Mark Roberts <nmr@iprolink.co.nz> wrote:

shop or burnt CD copies they can have them; haven't quite made the
transition to not locking the doors and relying on the alarm/
microwave sensor for deterrant value;

I have never locked the doors of mine. Why bother?

Graeme Naisbitt · Post by **Graeme Naisbitt** » Thu Feb 21, 2002 12:05 pm

Hi,

When I bought my car about 9 months ago, the first thing I did was fit a
microwave alarm. Its a uniden top of the range model (from DSE), the
microwaves cover the entire interior of the car with no problems. My
partner Jo also has a Jellybean and hers is covered by an installed Toad
Alarm, this again has no problems.

It sounds to me like the sensitivity is set too low or your installer is
fobbing you off! All cars have metal in the seats and gearsticks, the whole
car is made of metal! I suppose the other option is where abouts the sensor
is installed. Mine is in the centre console, this covers the interior very
well, Jo's is under the ashtray and likewise the whole car is covered. If
your installer has fitted it in a stupid place, it may miss parts of the
interior...

I would certainly be having a word with him if I was in your position!

Hope this helps
Graeme
D4NGER

Richmond, Colin · Post by **Richmond, Colin** » Thu Feb 21, 2002 12:14 pm

Deanna

This might be the case with Mongoose, however I have a black widow system
fitted with microwave sensor, and the alarm goes off when I put my arm
through the open window with top up. If I leave the car with top down (I
don't like doing that by the way - at least normally honest people aren't
tempted) and anything flies in, it too can set it off, and if the wind is
particularly strong, same outcome.

In other words, it must either be a feature of Mongoose (hard to believe),
or your advisor is unable to get them to work on any car. If that is the
case then go somewhere else for advice or help. At the end of the day it
may only be a function of the location of the sensor, or a mulfunctioning
sensor unit. I would ask for a demo in another vehicle.

Good luck
Colin R

Deanna Bell wrote:

[...]

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I start my car up and some alarms go off. If some one can get in , and
it might be just me but it would seem something is wrong.

cheers

MADMAV..

Mark Roberts · Post by **Mark Roberts** » Thu Feb 21, 2002 1:27 pm

would, and the alarm never went off. I took it back to the shop and
they told me that because my seats had metal in them and my
gear stick is metal it disrupts the microwave so there are blind
patches throughout the car.

Rubbish. Mine works fine...

Richmond, Colin · Post by **Richmond, Colin** » Thu Feb 21, 2002 2:37 pm

Sorry, can't advise on black widow cost - was with the car when
purchased, but I think it was similar to your purchase price with the
power door locks etc.

Also have experience with Uniden though in MX5 and have had no trouble
with that system, microwave sensor and all (no power door locks though).

You should not accept the dealer's incompetence in installation - did
they get an apprentice or learner to install it? For such an expense
you should not have to debug their install - didn't they test it before
handing it back in the first place. Is there a warranty, from previous
emails I recall that you can't have had it in for long. Get them to fix
it an prove that it works.

Colin

Deanna Bell wrote:

[...]

Mark Roberts · Post by **Mark Roberts** » Thu Feb 21, 2002 2:40 pm

My sensor

is embedded in the carpet area above the console, is this a good
place?? De

Works fine for me.

BTW when they installed mine I discovered that the radar runs
constantly while you are driving the vehicle. Lord knows why. I got
him to install a cutoff so that I wasn't being irradiated as I drove.

DPEX · Post by **DPEX** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 8:25 am

Having owned it for just ten days, and proud as a new parent, I had my
little red Electric Rat parked behind my unit, right under my bedroom window
when, at 5am, I discovered some hairy youth had slashed through the the roof
and was busy trying the remove my radio. Me and my baseball bat missed the
little bugger by a hair's breadth.

Given this is a block of units without garaging my soultion was to hire a
large shipping container. My MX5 fits perfectly with plenty of room to get
my somewhat rotund self in and out. Now I sleep peacefully knowing the
nasties can't get at my car.

Sadly, I can never go into town at night and leave it either on the
road-side or in a parking building, for fear of having some other twerp
attack it. So I catch cabs instead. The upside being, I can drink as much as
I want.:--))

Also. Have you been quoted outrageous sums for a set of spark-plug leads?
Yesterday, I got a set from Segedins, in Dominion Rd, for $98!

Cheers
David Peppiatt.

Deanna Bell · Post by **Deanna Bell** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:42 pm

I always leave my doors unlocked after I have suffered 4 soft top
slashes in 3 years. I got a new alarm installed that has an
immobilizer and a microwave, but I have a question about this that
someone might be able to help with.
When I was shopping for a new alarm I wanted something that
would enable me to leave the soft top down and still have the car
protected if someone lent in to grab something. The shop guys
told me a microwave was the answer. I got a mongoose MX40
Series II with a microwave and central locking mechanisms
installed into both doors at a cost of nearly $1000. One day a
friend jumped into the front seat while the top was down (and the
alarm was on) and mimicked taking out the stereo like a thief
would, and the alarm never went off. I took it back to the shop and
they told me that because my seats had metal in them and my
gear stick is metal it disrupts the microwave so there are blind
patches throughout the car. In fact, I tested it out and the
microwave really only protects a small area above the console
between the seats. They told me nothing can be done about this
and that perhaps I shouldn't leave anything in the car - geniuses! I
think this is a rip off because I bought the alarm with all the extras
thinking that I had more protection that i do. Even with the top up
and the windows down someone can put there whole top
half into the window and the alarm stays silent?? Is this normal,
do I have a faulty alarm or hasn't it been installed properly???

Deanna

Deanna Bell · Post by **Deanna Bell** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:42 pm

How much was the black widow alarm? and does anybody else out
there have this same type of Mongoose alarm as me? My sensor
is embedded in the carpet area above the console, is this a good place??
De

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