Break in or theft

[cbrown1469]

Hi everyone,

Is it just me or do any of you worry about theft or break ins in relation to you Spiders?

We don't often think about it much in our modern cars as immobilisers and high spec security systems take a lot of the worry away nowadays. It wouldn't take much to get into (or steal) a Spider without security in place. This might be the only area of ownership that worries me with my little car.

I'm just trying to think of typical scenarios where you don't want to be checking it's okay every 5 mins, country pub for lunch, parking up in the countryside to go for a walk with partner etc you get my drift!

Not looking for solutions here, I think we all know to be vigilante and security conscious in life ..... just thinking out loud.

What are your thought?

[courtenay]

Tough to prevent a break in with a convertible - top up or down. In terms of theft, a battery cut off switch can be somewhat effective - especially if you're battery is in the trunk.

[TX82FIAT]

Craig, You raise a very good question that some folks have discussed previously. I can only offer my thoughts on this.

Leave the car unlocked. I know this seems contrary to security but if someone wants your stuff the soft top is not going to stop them and the damage to the car will be more expensive. Don't leave anything of value in sight. Vandals will vandalize if locked or unlocked. A thief wants something of value and they usually are not well versed in FIAT parts to pop the hood/bonnet and start dismantling your car. Kids are unpredicable and the locks/alarms would deter them.

Do not have a high price stereo head unit visible. use a detachable face or a cheap stereo. You can have a very good sound system with a less expenseive head unit visible to the outside world. While the ignition is pretty straightforward and a lot of bright people on the street could figure out how to hotwire the car quickly, they would not be able to idetify a kill switch that you install in the location of your liking. Car does not start unless you want it to start.

I use the glove box and trunk to secure anything of any value. Mostly the trunk since it is the most secure part of the car. When I park someplace questionable i have a disconnect knob hooked to the bettery in the trunk. The knob goes in my pocket and the car will not start unless I want it too. it also helps when storing the car so the battery is not being drained slowly by constant on items like the clock.

I try not to park in questionable areas. More specifically, I try not to park overnight in areas that are not well lit and near the road.

[4uall]

Agreed, I also feel (like with any car) it can depend on where you are located with the vehicle. I have never given it a second thought.

[CajunMike]

My spider was broken into before. My locks have been broken for many years so it's just left open. Punks just opened the door and rifled through the glove box. No damage to anything. Had it been locked I'm sure they probably would have just cut the top and had the glove box been locked they would have jammed it with a screwdriver. I've always kept anything of value in the trunk.

Spiders are not a likely candidate for theft. There just isn't enough money there and they are pretty scarce. A police scanner call out for a fiat spider is more likely to get eyes than a silver camry.

[narfire]

I will store anything of value in the trunk, like after a trip to the liquor store. Otherwise the top is down and I put a steering lock bar on. Am thinking of a demobilizer though..perhaps removing the coil lead might be a stop gap for the time being.
Chris

[124cso]

I'm just trying to think of typical scenarios .............................................................
parking up in the countryside to go for a walk with partner etc you get my drift!

What are your thought?

Get a chick with rubber legs and stay in the back seat ! Well, you did ask !
As Courtney says, if your battery is in the boot, get one of those isolater terminals. It goes between battery and car's lead so no wires to cut/damage.

I've seen a ferrari spider years ago where someone had installed a laserbeam detector system that bounced a beam/s around below the doortops level, connected to the alarm. Break the beam and all hell broke loose !

[Zippy]

I suggest an alarm that goes off if the doors or hood are opened. I only set my alarm if I can't see my car. I usually leave the top down and the doors unlocked. However, mine is not a daily driver. I don't leave it in a parking lot unattended all day. Your situation may be different.