My car was stolen and stripped in 2005 so I know all the pain and emotions that goes from dealing with that. I rebuilt the car and got it painted, stealth installed an alarm and have been fine.

I have however never put another set of rims on the car. I have rocked 14" steelies without wheelcovers for years now. I have been sick of the way they look and wanted another set of rims but was scared to do so as rims make the car appetizing to a thief and catches attention..good and bad. This past friday I came across a great deal on 15" LS Mesh wheels with tires and bought them. There now on the car and I love em.

I live in a house back in the woods so theft doesn't even concern me when I am at home. There are certain places I will not drive my car to, like malls, theaters, etc. When I am at places like Wal-Mart I am usually in and out in under 10 mins so I am not to to overly concerned there although it does bother me.

My concern now is Work...my home away from home I guess you would say. With my job I park my car at the shop..and leave for 10 to 12 hours in a company truck and then come back and leave.

There are other companies around but alot of times there's not a whole lot of people out and about right in the parking lot.

I have been parking on the side of my building all the way up against the brick wall. A tow truck can't get my car from the front so they gotta drag it out from the back or move the car to get to the front and get past the alarm. There is a highway that is out front and to the side..with my car parked here no one on that highway can see my car. The only way to see the car is if you enter the parking lot so I like that..as it may not get scoped out as easily.

My question is, do I continue to park here where it is a harder to find my car but once someone does its not right out in the open per say and they could have an easier time dealing with my alarm, or do I go for option B and park out front on the edge of the grass. Here, anyone can see the car easily from the highway, etc, it would be easily accessible with a tow truck/roll back. Only plus is they would be out in the open when trying to steal it.

I am just alot more nervous now that I got a set of rims on the car. Rims are easy money for a thief.

 

Get full replacement insurance coverage, keep parking where you are, [less likely a crook will see it in the first place], if you can get a coworker to park behind you. 94

 

fcm, thanks for the reply man. I'll keep parking where I have been. I was planning on talking to my insurance company tomorrow and see what I can work out.

 

What's your parking situation like at home? Is the car in a garage, or a gated yard or driveway? If you car is secure at home, and you have some money to burn, you can get a cheap beater to use when commuting to work.

As for insurance, I made the mistake of assuming 'full coverage' covers any aftermarket parts added to the car, provided you have receipts. I furnished quite a few receipts after one of my cars was stolen but insurance didn't even cover those parts. I believe that you have to itemize each aftermarket part with your insurance and tell them you want that part covered so that in the event of theft you will be reimbursed for those parts.

 

I normaly valet park my car or I park my car in valet parking if the attendent can not drive it. Most of the time that parking is secured or right up front. Theives do not want to be seen. Or caught in the act. But I hate trying to find parking so its valet for me all day. Never park in dim light or far from were there are no people or traffic. As in traffic I mean foot traffic. If there is a camera. Try to park in front of that. If not just by a beater to drive.

 

I would highly recommend investing in wheel locks..

 

Where to park from a Security standpoint? Your own garage, guarded by professionally wielded firearms. Other than that, not much you can do. There should be no need to concern yourself with strategic parking. Sure it sucks to get a car stolen but if you live in a state of constant paranoia then why even bother owning the car? Just park the damn thing and go about your business. The best security system is a good insurance policy. If it gets stolen you get paid. End of story.

 

False

 

Parking up-front is a no no, in this time and age even if a daily commuters manages to see a thief in the act of stealing your car. The most they will probably do is say "that sucks" or act as if nothing is wrong. Your best bet is doing what your doing now, keep a tight security system and hope for the best or a good samaritan. Also I'd recommend investing in a gps tracking unit, best protection hands down.

 

gps tracking mobile iq makes a good one..

 

Yeah, um... no. I think I was pretty much correct in saying that. If you need to park strategically so that a thief can't get to your car, you're worrying about the wrong things. There's a reason for car insurance. If my car gets stolen I'm getting paid for every cent I've invested into the car. I've made sure of it by speaking with my agent and paying a bit extra for a rider on the policy. With that kind of coverage, why would I ever give two ***** if my car is stolen?

 

I'd keep parking where you are... Def make sure about that insurance though. I had an eg coupe with about $12k in receipts for upgrades. (those were just the receipts i managed to save). I paid $357 a month for full coverage thinking I was good. WRONG!!! They gave me book value for my car, reimbursed for CDs, gave me like $200 bc I had new tires, and I think $400 for new paint, bc tires and paint "added" to the value of the car, where as nothing else I had done did. Not even a new motor. I got a check for $3300. I think Im going to go cry myself to sleep again now...

 

So, trying to park strategically so as to make it hard for a thief to not be able to get to your ride is a complete waste of time & you shouldn't even be concerned with it?.. 'Yeah, um... no.' I know I am correct in saying that!

That's all well & good, but what about the others without & can't afford comprehensive rider insurance if the car or contents in it get stolen?

Possibly the aggravation of having to go through the whole ordeal.

* It seems like you have a no care attitude about car theft & a 'just let them have it because I am covered by insurance' outlook which is sad Mike There are many ways to properly go about vehicle security to successfully stop the bastards from taking our rides & 1 has to do with proper strategic parking to begin with.

 

^^^^^
Some people are hard headed, Anybody with common sence kknows that if you park in a dark spot were noneone is your car is more likely to get stolen. Vs parking in the front were there are alot of people are.

 

And some just want to test to see if you will stick up to your beliefs & convictions.. then others want confrontation. It takes them all