Security - how much more can you do?

[Celia Vanchez]

A woman in my yoga class has recently come back from a ski holiday in northern Italy near the Swiss border, unfortunately she had her two year old Cali stolen from the supermarket carpark they had stopped at to get provisions. They were gone 45 minutes. She said that they had a steering wheel lock attached (“being the cautious types”). They think they could have been followed being foreign reg plates and that it could have been transported away. Unfortunately the supermarkets CCTV was not working.

Aside from one staying in the van while the other shops i guess there’s not much you can do?

Anyone have any comments on extra security they use?

 

[Flower Power]

I have installed a mechanical blockade making a DSG transmission shifter not movable. Look into it....Bear Lock !! I trust it !

 

[WelshGas]

A woman in my yoga class has recently come back from a ski holiday in northern Italy near the Swiss border, unfortunately she had her two year old Cali stolen from the supermarket carpark they had stopped at to get provisions. They were gone 45 minutes. She said that they had a steering wheel lock attached (“being the cautious types”). They think they could have been followed being foreign reg plates and that it could have been transported away. Unfortunately the supermarkets CCTV was not working.

Aside from one staying in the van while the other shops i guess there’s not much you can do?

Anyone have any comments on extra security they use?

I have installed a mechanical blockade making a DSG transmission shifter not movable. Look into it....Bear Lock !! I trust it !

If towed away then a Bearlock is of no use whatsoever.

Only of use if the thieves have access to the ignition key AND the Bearlock key is kept separately.
If the Bearlock key is kept with the ignition key then of no use as additional security.

 

[dspuk]

A woman in my yoga class has recently come back from a ski holiday in northern Italy near the Swiss border, unfortunately she had her two year old Cali stolen from the supermarket carpark they had stopped at to get provisions. They were gone 45 minutes. She said that they had a steering wheel lock attached (“being the cautious types”). They think they could have been followed being foreign reg plates and that it could have been transported away. Unfortunately the supermarkets CCTV was not working.

Aside from one staying in the van while the other shops i guess there’s not much you can do?

Anyone have any comments on extra security they use?

There is only two ways they could have stolen it. Towing it or by stealing her key. Which was it? You say transported away? If so, not much you could ever do apart from a tracker. She is a very unfortunate edge case and I personally would not worry about it.

 

[Flower Power]

Sure, there is no 100% defence but one can do several additional steps while parking your van, as I do.
For instance,
1.Parking the "Head" first very close to the wall/barrier, hedge, if possible. Makes opening the hood and manipulating engine area more difficult.
2. Turning front wheels to the max when between other cars or next to the wall, curb,, lantern, etc. so pulling the van straight out to tow it away is more difficult or even not possible.
3. While shopping at the store as the unfortunate example above....Parki in a visible, hight traffic area with emergency blinkers on even if it is not completely legal. It will deter a thief and a possibility of a parking ticket of 10 or 20 euros in Germany when one is uncertain about safety is a small cost of "doing business". I have done this often and never had a police after me. Of course do not park in a handicapped place or by the fire hydrant, etc.
4. Many more creative ways possible to reduce the risk and if several of them are employed at the same time the better. (like while shopping in the food store, occasionally trigger the alarm with your remote. Circling thief will be warned.... hehehe.

I also always travel with two large dogs... one very vocal and I am sure that it helps too.... so get a doberman!

 

[Mehdime]

3. While shopping at the store as the unfortunate example above....Parki in a visible, hight traffic area with emergency blinkers on even if it is not completely legal. It will deter a thief

Are you seriously suggesting to park illegally with the blinkers on while you’re going shopping because of paranoia about getting your van stolen ? That does explain a lot of the weird stuff I see out there in the street mind you.

Ironically, doing this, at least in Dublin, will actually *increase* the chances of your van getting towed away (and no-one thinking twice of it) instead of decreasing it.

 

[Celia Vanchez]

There is only two ways they could have stolen it. Towing it or by stealing her key. Which was it? You say transported away? If so, not much you could ever do apart from a tracker. She is a very unfortunate edge case and I personally would not worry about it.

From what she said it must have been towed

 

[Celia Vanchez]

Sure, there is no 100% defence but one can do several additional steps while parking your van, as I do.
For instance,
1.Parking the "Head" first very close to the wall/barrier, hedge, if possible. Makes opening the hood and manipulating engine area more difficult.
2. Turning front wheels to the max when between other cars or next to the wall, curb,, lantern, etc. so pulling the van straight out to tow it away is more difficult or even not possible.
3. While shopping at the store as the unfortunate example above....Parki in a visible, hight traffic area with emergency blinkers on even if it is not completely legal. It will deter a thief and a possibility of a parking ticket of 10 or 20 euros in Germany when one is uncertain about safety is a small cost of "doing business". I have done this often and never had a police after me. Of course do not park in a handicapped place or by the fire hydrant, etc.
4. Many more creative ways possible to reduce the risk and if several of them are employed at the same time the better. (like while shopping in the food store, occasionally trigger the alarm with your remote. Circling thief will be warned.... hehehe.

I also always travel with two large dogs... one very vocal and I am sure that it helps too.... so get a doberman!

I do like your first two suggestions. I’d never thought of those yet so simple to implement

 

[acer]

I also always travel with two large dogs... one very vocal and I am sure that it helps too.... so get a doberman!

My wife serves the same purpose

 

[Flower Power]

Yers, I do that occasionally but/when my shopping is not 45 but 5 minutes, usually grab milk, bread, pay cash and go. I never stop at big 'supermarche" or "i'per markets", just shop in small stores. I have done this in the northern Italy by Como and Swiss border just last week and I am glad I did. it is not a paranoia. My Alfa Romeo Stelvio can be stollen in less than 2 minutes, yes that is true, thieves can use a "game boy" and get access to the car right away, start it and drive away. It is scary what is going on... be glad that in Dublin you do not have to be "paranoid." Otherwise be prepared...

 

[dspuk]

Yers, I do that occasionally but/when my shopping is not 45 but 5 minutes, usually grab milk, bread, pay cash and go. I never stop at big 'supermarche" or "i'per markets", just shop in small stores. I have done this in the northern Italy by Como and Swiss border just last week and I am glad I did. it is not a paranoia. My Alfa Romeo Stelvio can be stollen in less than 2 minutes, yes that is true, thieves can use a "game boy" and get access to the car right away, start it and drive away. It is scary what is going on... be glad that in Dublin you do not have to be "paranoid." Otherwise be prepared...

A friend of a friend of a friends Cali was stolen, I heard, using a tube of Pringles and a digital watch.

I decided to just lock my van and secure the key making sure my insurance was up to date rather than stay awake at night worrying about it.

 

[acer]

Agree with that, but I’m desperate for the Pringles and digital watch to be ‘a thing’

 

[Calimili]

what's a bit odd, a RHD van is not really a top target in the continent...

 

[dspuk]

Agree with that, but I’m desperate for the Pringles and digital watch to be ‘a thing’

Your wish is my AI prompt

 

[Lost Boy]

Ghost Immobiliser (cant go anywhere even with a key) and if you are really paranoid a tracker too.

 

[Emsworth_Cali]

Yers, I do that occasionally but/when my shopping is not 45 but 5 minutes, usually grab milk, bread, pay cash and go. I never stop at big 'supermarche" or "i'per markets", just shop in small stores. I have done this in the northern Italy by Como and Swiss border just last week and I am glad I did. it is not a paranoia. My Alfa Romeo Stelvio can be stollen in less than 2 minutes, yes that is true, thieves can use a "game boy" and get access to the car right away, start it and drive away. It is scary what is going on... be glad that in Dublin you do not have to be "paranoid." Otherwise be prepared...

Have you had many vehicles stolen? I think if I was this concerned about my California being nicked it would take much of the fun out of owning it. I do get a bit precious about where I park, but that's more to do with other people's doors taking chunks out of it.

 

[WelshGas]

Ghost Immobiliser (cant go anywhere even with a key) and if you are really paranoid a tracker too.

According to the OP vehicle was towed away. Ghost would have been of no use whatsoever.

 

[Celia Vanchez]

I have installed a mechanical blockade making a DSG transmission shifter not movable. Look into it....Bear Lock !! I trust it !

Been onto their website. Not intrusive and not a wild price either. How long did installation take?

 

[Flower Power]

Have you had many vehicles stolen? I think if I was this concerned about my California being nicked it would take much of the fun out of owning it. I do get a bit precious about where I park, but that's more to do with other people's doors taking chunks out of it.

No, I have not lost a car. And yes, sometimes I change plans because I do not feel safe about parking and leaving my car or van in a particular spot. It is the pain, but less than loosing dogs.... yes car I can replace but my dogs no. I live in a safe German Alpine village. I am lucky. So when home I am relaxed.

 

[Flower Power]

Been onto their website. Not intrusive and not a wild price either. How long did installation take?

My selling dealer installed it in 1.5-2 hrs. I paid short of 700 euros two years ago. This is probably the best protection available. The factory which developed and make Bear Locks is near Poznan, Poland and they will do the job for less than half the German price... any day by appointment. I thought about going there but could not fit in the travel plans.

 

[Kayleigh]

My selling dealer installed it in 1.5-2 hrs. I paid short of 700 euros two years ago. This is probably the best protection available. The factory which developed and make Bear Locks is near Poznan, Poland and they will do the job for less than half the German price... any day by appointment. I thought about going there but could not fit in the travel plans.

If going to Poznan I would recommend a stay at the City Park hotel

 

[Kayleigh]

A woman in my yoga class has recently come back from a ski holiday in northern Italy near the Swiss border, unfortunately she had her two year old Cali stolen from the supermarket carpark they had stopped at to get provisions. They were gone 45 minutes. She said that they had a steering wheel lock attached (“being the cautious types”). They think they could have been followed being foreign reg plates and that it could have been transported away. Unfortunately the supermarkets CCTV was not working.

Aside from one staying in the van while the other shops i guess there’s not much you can do?

Anyone have any comments on extra security they use?

Extra security options may not make too much difference is the van is being towed away. The main options you have are:

Bear Lock - Won't stop it being towed, but is an effective physical deterrent if someone has broken into the van to steal it, unless they have the ignition and bear lock keys.

Ghost Immobiliser - As above except it cannot be stolen even if a thief has your ignition key.

Tracker - won’t stop a theft but often thieves will leave the vehicle in another location to see if it’s being tracked. So there is a chance of recovery once stolen.

Front and rear dash cams - Again, they won’t prevent a theft, but if footage is being uploaded to the cloud, you may have crucial evidence to aid recovery.

I do like the simple ideas mentioned above of parking head first in a bay against a wall or another vehicle and turning the steering to full lock. Another simple idea is to turn the drivers seat as it cannot be rotated back without the door being opened; hard to do with deadlocks.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

…... Another simple idea is to turn the drivers seat as it cannot be rotated back without the door being opened; hard to do with deadlocks.

On a T6.1 it is possible to rotate the driver’s seat (UK - RHD) without opening the doors. I do it quite often. I understand this is not the case on a T6 due to different door lining.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Another deterrent (not for tow-away though) is:

Post in thread 'Steering locks advice please'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/steering-locks-advice-please.53211/post-694316

The above OBD comes with two discrete stickers for windows and I added these:

Platinum Place 5 x Stickers OBD... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N8TYFHE?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[BeeBee]

We have a steering wheel lock and I use it at every supermarket shop and a tyre lock when home driveway parked but if it’s been targetted they’re sure to have it. Good insurance offers a better nights sleep.