Security Devices

By SRT-Tom · Nov 19, 2021 · ·
Rating:
5/5,
  1. SRT-Tom
    As you know, there has been an ongoing problem concerning the theft of high performance Dodge cars, notably Hellcat and Scat Pack Challengers and Chargers. Security devices are now more important than ever.

    They can be categorized as follows deterrent devices, anti-theft devices and tracking devices.

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    Deterrent Devices

    Alarm System

    Alarm systems are only effective in areas where they will attract immediate attention. And unless the alarm is unique, it will be ignored.

    If you want to add additional security to your vehicle’s OEM alarms, aftermarket alarms can be installed. Passive alarms turn on automatically. They are disarmed when the car is properly unlocked. Active alarms must be armed and disarmed by the driver.

    Several good alarm systems are:

    Viper 5706V
    Pyle Car Alarm Security System
    Python 5706 P Responder LC3 SST
    AVITAL 53033L Security Remote Start System

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    Concern: A troubling development has been thieves’ use of "laptop code grabbers" or "scanner boxes" to open up the car’s doors and disable any alarm system. They can be purchased for less than $100 on the Internet. Even the more expensive systems that claim to have Anti-Scan or Anti-Code Grabbing Technology can still be defeated by high-tech thieves.

    Anti-Theft Locks

    Anti-theft locks can prevent a would-be thief from stealing your vehicle.

    Tire Locks

    Tire locks' high visibility can deter a thief from attempting to steal your vehicle. However, they are bulky and removing and installing them can be a dirty process.

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    Steering Wheel Locks

    A steering wheel lock prevents your steering wheel from turning. One style is a long bar that attaches to its face. The second style attaches to the top of the wheel and extends over the dash.

    Steering wheel locks, such as The Club, are visible from the outside of your car but they are cumbersome to store and install. And the installation and removal can damage the interior of your car.

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    Concern: A car thief, using a hacksaw, can cut through a car's steering wheel and quickly remove The Club. A thief can also spray "freon" into the locking mechanism and shatter it with a hammer. In addition, there is a device called The Club Buster, that will snap it off.

    Brake Pedal Locks

    The installation of a brake pedal lock will prevent a thief from depressing your brake pedal.

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    Concern: A pedal lock can be easily compromised. It is designed to go in between the brake pedal and the floor board of the vehicle making it impossible to apply the brake. Hence, a thief would not steal the vehicle if he could not stop it. A thief can slip it off by hitting the side of the pedal lock just below the brake with a small sledgehammer and denting the floorboard.

    Gear Shift Lock

    A gear shift lock, which attaches to the shift lever, will also prevent the movement of your vehicle.

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    Immobilizing Hardware

    Immobilizing hardware prevents your vehicle from moving by preventing one or more of your vehicle’s components from working properly. Unlike anti-theft devices, immobilizing devices are permanently installed. Here are several types:

    Kill Switches

    Kill switches will interrupt the flow of electricity or fuel to your car's engine. These switches are remotely activated within the interior of the car.

    Fuel Line Shut-off Valves and Battery Disconnect Switches

    Fuel line shut-off valves and battery disconnect switches can also be installed directly in either the fuel line or the battery cable. But because you have to crawl under the car or raise the hood to arm/disarm them, they are not practical.

    Removing the right fuse will prevent your vehicle from starting. But installing a fuse cut-off switch is a more convenient theft-prevention measure. Keep in mind that If a thief is not in a big hurry, it won’t take him long to figure it out.

    Smart Key System

    A smart key system (also known as keyless entry) is technically an immobilizing device.

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    Concern: This anti- theft system is factory installed on almost every new vehicle manufactured today. Most every manufacturer uses this type system. Embedded in the head of the vehicle’s ignition key is a miniature RFID Transponder Chip which contains one of a trillion possible electronic codes. When the key is inserted into the vehicle’s ignition, the transponder sends a signal to a disc shaped antenna surrounding the key cylinder housing behind the shroud on the steering column. The antenna then relays a signal to the control module and if the signal is correctly recognized, the vehicle is allowed to start. If access is attempted without the correct code, critical systems (ignition, starter) remain inoperable. This may sound good, but it is very easy to bypass. Thieves are now using laptop computers with recorded RF codes to bypass them in about 5 seconds.

    Remote Starter Kill

    This device comes with a remote control and a special re-worked starter relay that replaces the factory starter relay in your vehicle's power distribution box. The power distribution box is very easy to access directly under the hood of the vehicle. Also, the remote control on this device can be scanned and bypassed with a scanner box very easily in seconds.

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    Ravelco

    The most time-proven system on the market is the Ravelco. It is much more than a kill switch. It is installed in an easily accessible place under or flush mounted in the dashboard. A removable 16-pin male plug makes all the electronic connections. A hidden armored steel cable protects the wires from the rear of the base on through to the engine compartment where all the connections are made and camouflaged. When the plug is removed from the Ravelco, it is impossible to start the vehicle.

    The circuits interrupted may vary from application to application. Typically, they would include the electronic fuel or injector pump, the ignition circuit, the starter circuit or even the computer. All electrical connections are made in the engine compartment of the vehicle and are connected in and through the factory wiring harnesses. Since there are no exposed wires, a properly-installed Ravelco is virtually impossible to detect and very time consuming to trace because all the wires are the same color (black).

    Ravelco Anti Theft Device

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    Impact-Resistant Windows

    A few vehicles are manufactured with laminated safety glass in every opening. A driver’s side window made with safety glass is more difficult to break than one with standard glass. While this makes it harder for a thief to get inside your car, it also makes it harder for you and your passengers to get out of your car in an emergency.

    Window Etching

    Window etching involves acid etching or engraving a serial number onto the windows, frame and other major components of a vehicle.

    Supposedly, a car thief would see this number and move on, because certain car parts would not be worth as much with this traceable etching on them.

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    Tracking Devices

    Vehicle Tracking System

    What happens if your alarm or anti-theft device didn’t prevent your vehicle from being stolen? Several vehicle tracking systems are available to help you recover it before it becomes a pile of parts.

    If the tracking system transmits data in real-time, it is an active system. A passive system communicates remotely via a wireless connection. Most vehicle tracking systems use both.

    Radio Frequency Identification

    RFID (radio frequency identification) systems use tags mounted on vehicles to communicate with a fixed RFID infrastructure within a short distance. It is convenient for identifying each of a large number of units in a large parking area. However, for tracking a car within a longer distance a GPS is needed.

    GPS

    GPS (global positioning system) systems emit a signal that can connect with police departments and take them to the location of a stolen vehicle. GPS systems, such as LoJack, can also connect to your smartphone.

    Concerns: Although they sound good on paper, these costly systems are not very effective. They come into play only after the car has already been stolen. By the time the victim reports their vehicle stolen, (which is usually the next day) it has already been stripped and dumped.

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    New Dodge Vehicle Theft-Protection Measures

    On August 13, 2021, Dodge announced a series of three new security solutions to help protect Dodge Challenger and Charger owners against criminal theft.

    The first is an “Enhanced Security Valet Mode” that uses a four-digit code in the radio to limit engine power output to less than 3 horsepower, preventing fast getaways.

    The system is available on request at Dodge dealers as a flash software upgrade, free of charge for 2021 model year Challengers and Chargers with 392-cubic-inch HEMI or supercharged Hellcat HEMI engines.

    The second feature is a “Key Programming Lockdown” that prevents thieves from programming new key fobs after breaking into a vehicle. The Lockdown feature rollout will begin in Q1 2022. When fully implemented, Key Programming Lockdown will be available for 2015-to-current model year Challengers and Chargers with any engine option.

    The third solution is a new “Intrusion Module” that activates vehicle alarm systems if it senses glass breakage or vehicle movement. The Intrusion Module will be available on all 2022 model year Chargers and Challengers.

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