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Question
Mr. Painter,

I recently upgraded my sound system on my car and have invested in my car almost 3k worth of speakers, subs, deck and radar detection. My question is should I get an aftermarket anti-theft device for my car (2004 Lincoln LS) or should I just keep with the basic "anti-theft car alarm" that comes standard with the car? My insurance company told me that if the car was stolen then whatever is permanently attached to the vehicle they will cover in the claims, but I want to know if it's still worth buying an alarm/remote start to since I'll be going to a colder region where it would be nice to have.

Another thing I was going to ask you is, I've heard that by putting decals on your car they will help prevent auto theft...such as a decal from the store in which you got all of your equipment from. Is this true? Also any other tips for theft prevention would be nice to read about too.

Thanks!

Aubre

Answer
Hello,

Very good question. Now, my answer is going to be based on my direct repair of more than 10,000 theft recoveries which I have found the number very conservative figuring that in 17 years, at 5 cars a day, the average for our shop is closer to 40,000 cars that we repaired.

The only reason I a stress this is to give you an idea as to what our experience is in alarms, anti-theft systems, stereos and insurance claims.

Fist---You document everything!!!! Make a folder. Gather your receipts and put them in the folder after copied. Take photographs of all the installed equipment. Contact your insurance agent and ask if you need an endorsement. I have found most of the agents I have dealt with have never asked about endorsements.

An endorsement is where you pay extra money to insure added on options. Endorsements may not be required, but make sure. I recently got insurance on my Suburban. I have $3,000.00 worth of winch, chrome bumper and brush guard. I also have another $2,000.00 in wheels and tires. The agent never asked me about endorsing this stuff! If I had a claim, none of those items would be covered!!



Instead for coverage of this after market stuff, it costs me $90 per year to cover that stuff over and beyond the stock components. I watched the scenario play out all too often in which a custom van was stolen and recovered. The insurance company would not pay for the custom paint, the custom interior. It was put back together as a utility van.

As I stated, you carrier may not require and endorsement, but what if they do and you don't find out until the time of the claim? You need to CYA.

As for installing a s0-called anti-theft system, I would not bother because you have a factory system known as a transponder (chip in key)already in the vehicle. Yes, it can be defeated, but it will keep the kid from taking the car for a joy ride. Besides, you don't need to worry about the theft of this car, because if stolen, your insurance company is most likely not going to pay the claim, because with that system (PATS) according to them, the car is "impossible" to steal.

At that time, you will be contacting our firm to represent you with an attorney.

An alarm is just a noise maker that no one pays attention to. Depending on the state you live in (mine, you are allowed to protect property), you may want to get a paging unit that notifies only you when the car is being broken into, and you may want to reach out and touch someone.

Here are some safety tips and remember, I trust no one! Do not blast the stereo (advertise) in the area you are going to park in.

If I go to a stereo store to have this equipment installed, I will not give them my real address. It was common to see where alarms and stereos were sold at the same place. The installers would go to your home address and steal the stereo equipment. Sometimes there was no forced entry because they made another remote transmitter.

Call me paranoid, but I never give my true address to anyone working on my car.

Call your agent and ask about the endorsements. Give the agent a copy of the receipts and pics.

Alarm decals mean absolutely nothing to a thief, just like the fake L.E.D.. Cars are commonly checked for an alarm, by hitting the car and seeing if anyone comes out.

Now, remote start is nice, but here is your problem: The factory anti-theft system is commonly defeated by the use of a key box and a wire running up to the ignition lock for an antenna. Most of the horrible installations I see is inside the plastic key box under the dash for remote start has a cut and coded ignition key. All the thief has to do is find the box (very easy to do) break it open and he has got a key to drive your car off!!!

Although on occasion, I would see some good alarm installation, it was more common than not to see where the customer paid $500 up for an installation that was a joke. Unfortunately, most in alarm stores have no clue as to how cars are stolen. They put the valet (turn off) switch in an easy to find location. They just slap the alarm module under the dash.

One needs to understand how a specific vehicle is stolen to do a good installation. I have heard these alarm store goofs "well, the thief needs to turn the ignition with a key", no he doesn't!

You may see hot wiring on TV used for car theft. In reality, hot wiring has not been done since 1969!!!!

If the car has remote start, a HIDDEN starter kill switch must be installed!!!

I am concerned that the employees of this stereo system know where you live!!











Good luck!

Rob  

Auto Theft Prevention

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Rob Painter, ASE, CFL, CFEI

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My background in auto theft is extensive. I have been directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft recovered vehicles. I also do insurance investigation as to how a vehicle was last operated. My clients are insurance companies and attorneys. Was featured in the A & E auto theft documentary "Stealing Wheels" July 26, 2000. Has consulted with Daimler Chrysler steering column engineers to make their steering columns harder to defeat. Holds patent # 6,039,140 for 8 different variations to protect air bags from theft.

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ROB PAINTER, ASE, CFL, CFEI Forensic Vehicle Component Analyst Diplomate, Board Certified Forensic Examiner ASE Certified Auto, Collision, Med/Hvy/Duty Truck Technician Certified Forensic Locksmith Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator Certified Forensic Auto Theft Examiner Certified Auto Theft and Fraud Expert http://www.autotheftexpert.com Email-rpainter@wi.rr.com P.O. Box 190 Big Bend, WI 53103 Phone (414) 698-9696 Fax (262) 662-1352 As per federal court rules of evidence (702) (Daubert) my testimony has qualified me as: Auto Theft and Fraud Expert Forensic Vehicle Analyst Fire Origin and Cause Expert In the trial transcript of Holiday vs Progressive Insurance Company (March 12, 2002?Eugene, Oregon) with Holiday being my client-named ?the expert for experts.? BUSINESS EXPERIENCE Founder of the ?Forensic Institute of Auto Theft Analysis? (January 2002). This is the training school that will set the standards in determining the last operation of a reported stolen vehicle-burned or unburned. Much of my testing and procedures have been accepted as the guide for the forensic community. 1986 opened Auto Recovery Specialists Inc., providing exclusive repair of theft recovered and vandalized vehicles. The initial concept of the business was to return vehicles to their original shape before the theft, vandalism or fire. In 1987 bought the rights to the theft deterrent known as the ?Chicago Collar?. Duties include complete component replacement: dash, stereo system, interior, locks and coding, rebuilding steering columns, repairing and installing vehicle security system components (factory and after market), engine components, body repair, glass replacement, repair and service of air conditioning components, brake and suspension repair, and replacement, wiring harnesses etc. to return vehicle to pre-theft condition Complete reconstruction. During the past 17 years directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft-recovered and fire damaged Personally examined and rebuilt thousands of steering columns on both import and domestic vehicles Internationally acknowledged as expert in auto theft including court, consulting with insurance companies, attorneys and law enforcement. Consultant on steering columns, locks, stereo systems and vehicle security for Special Investigation Units for many large insurance carriers during the past eight years. Consulting services include but not limited to: How a vehicle was last operated (with or without keys in burned or unburned vehicles), Origin and Cause of vehicle fires, and vehicle defects. Provides services as a consultant and researcher to attorneys and insurance companies, and private industry throughout the US in cases related to vehicles. Has worked with crime prevention officers throughout the US establishing training programs designed to protect the public from becoming victims of auto theft. PATENT: 3/21/00 issued patent# 6,039,140 for 8 different variations of airbag anti-theft devices. PUBLICATIONS Currently authors articles and test reports on an ongoing basis for SIUs and the forensic/vehicle fire industry. Published author: (1,297 slide training course) Auto Theft/ Fraud Training Course) ?The Modern Forensic Approach to Auto Theft Investigation.? (January, 2001) Author: ?Variables to Be Considered In Vehicle Fire Investigation after Suppression.? (Insurance publication-November 2001) Author: ?Ford Magnesium Steering Columns and the Results to Ignition Components after a Fire?. Article for peer review from the fire and forensic community. (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM VATS.? (Article) (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM PASSLOCK TM? (Article) (November 2001) Author:? Auto Theft Investigation: Hollywood vs. Reality? (Article) (February 2001) For the John Cooke Fraud Report. Published author: (Manual) ?Forensic Vehicle Fire/ Arson and Auto Theft Investigation? (October 2000) Published author: (Article) ?Petty Claims? for the John Cooke Fraud Report (October, 1998) Published author (Manual) ?AUTO THEFT: LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!? (1998) (Previously distributed by Barnes & Nobel) Co-authored the investigation manual, ?Surreptitious Entry & Auto Theft & Burn & the Investigator.? (1999) Authored test questions on the subject of steering columns and vehicle security for CFL designation to be given by the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths. January, 2000 Published author: (Manual) ?Saginaw Steering Columns-What Has Not Been Told? Training manual for fire investigators. (March 2000) Published (Article) ?Beyond The Lock? (May 2000) Published Author: (Article) Fraud Defense Network-August, 2000 Edition-?Melting Steering Column Tests.? http://www.fraudreport.com/index.cfm?month=08&year=2000 Published author: (Test Report) ?Burned Toyota Steering Column Testing to Determine How Last Operated?. Tool marks and procedures. (December 1999) Currently at the FBI Crime Lab in Washington DC and the US Army Crime Lab in Atlanta, GA for peer review. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Defeated the ?unstealable? Ford Securilock transponder system for a court case 10/10/00. They said it could not be done! Primary designer of a state of the art ?bait? car for a police department to catch car thieves. Worked with The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration and discovered a potential fire hazard on a vehicle and determined origin and cause of under hood fires on this type of vehicle. Featured as ?Auto Theft Expert? in the A & E auto theft documentary ?Stealing Wheels? that aired July 26, 2000. Contacted by Sears and Edelman Marketing to be a national spokesman for an anti theft device for vehicles. (November 1999) Invited to provide evaluation and consulting to steering column engineers at Daimler Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, MI (10/19/99-10/22/99). The purpose of this project was to demonstrate how steering column locking mechanisms could be defeated without the use of a key and how to reinforce the columns against theft. Court Qualified as an Auto Theft Expert and my videos of defeating columns were also accepted by a Cleveland, Ohio Court in October 1999 as a valid piece of evidence. Contacted by Disney Touchstone Pictures for technical assistance in making the movie ?Gone in 60 Seconds? (March 1999) CONSULTANT FOR FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS ? Former contributor for The Insurance News Network (Auto theft and prevention) includes heading a forum for the public on how to protect their vehicles for 3+ years. ? Former editor and consultant for the public on matters involving auto theft and prevention 2000-2001 on the web at http://www.autotheft_forum.com. ? The Insurance Career Center (Auto theft and fraud). ? National Association of Investigative Specialists (Auto theft and fraud) ? Expert Find (Auto theft and fraud} TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE ? ASE (National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence) Certified in Auto: brakes, steering and suspension, engine repair, manual drive train and axles, air conditioning. Med/Heavy duty truck: gasoline engine repair, electrical/electronic components. Collision: elec.....

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