Vehicle security systems. Do you hide the fact you have one?

[Footy Shorts Shane]

Not trying to turn this into a showroom thread, or a poll, and if it's in the wrong spot, Mods please move. But it definatly is a marketing research type of question.

Most people I've spoken to with GPS trackers hide them. They don't want anyone to know they have them fitted on their vehicle. Why?

If you were to fit one (and for those who have) would you make it public notice that it is there? With a small window sticker, 'This vehicle is protected with a GPS tracking device' for eg?

Every person so far I've asked, have said they would not. They don't want anyone to know it's there. None have given me a valid reason as to why though

Reason I ask, is I'm looking to have some tyre covers made. Yes, they are for advertising and yes, a deal sweetener, but also, I believe a massive theft deterant.
I reckon if I was a junky looking for quick cash for the weekends smack fix, and saw a camper with a cover advertising that is is fitted with GPS tracking device, I'd leave it and knock off the trailer that's in the next street over, that's just as easy to pinch, and going to fetch the same amount of smack. To me that tyre cover = risk of being caught.

So, if you had a tracking device fitted, would you,
Make it aware it was there?
Hide the fact it's there, or
Be a real tight arse and try to buy the tyre cover without a tracking device?

Personally, I think it's the same as a flashing LED in the dash. Yet most people have those 

Thanks, Shane.

[chester ver2.0]

Most people dont advertise cause if you did and i really wanted to steal your car or van i would rip it out first then leave it on your driveway with a thanks for informing me note

But yes in most cases of purerly opportunistic theft it would be a deternent if advertised

[kylarama]

A mate had his 60K skid steer plus truck nicked from outside his house 3 years ago.  Got the truck back, but not the machine, caused him a heap of grief and lost income while insurance was sorted.  The new machine has 2 gps units fitted, 1 is on the easy side of hard to find and the other needs a bit of surgery to find.  Both truck and machine are plastered with warning stickers as a deterrent.
Better to have it not pinched, rather than tracking it down after.

[shrek4]

I have a tracker fitted and I have a sticker advertising the fact on either side of the drawbar.

I would rather not have to track my camper after it is stolen. I'd rather not have it stolen in the first place.

I also have a wheel clamp and large ABUS chain and locked to the concrete slab. Also deterrents.

This, after we had our 1st camper trailer stolen a18 months ago.

[ako]

Guess it depends on whether you plan to get robbed by professional thieves or by smack heads. 

[Mace]

Frankly, if I had a tracker fitted to a car, ct, earthmover, etc, I would hide the fact.

If you advertise it, it only gives the scumbags an opportunity to recce it and find it/destroy it once taken.

Don't give them a warning, let them be taken by surprise.

If you don't have one fitted, put a sticker or tyre cover on it claiming you do for a deterrent.

[GeoffA]

........
If you don't have one fitted, put a sticker or tyre cover on it claiming you do for a deterrent.
........

...that'll keep 'em busy Al. Drive 'em nuts looking for it....

[edz]

Reminds me of a bloke who spent huge amounts of dollars on his Commodore, best of everything including anti theft devices and warning stickers too... Some one tried to take it and couldnt, So they thoroughly trashed it inside and out one night as a thank you for not letting it be stolen easily .
It didnt get stolen, but he still lost it as a write off anyway, Guess it realy depends on who is trying to knick it as to whether its a deterent or not .

[kylarama]

As said if they really want it, they'll find a way to take it, but why not reduce the risk?  Probably majority of thieves will walk away if it's too hard, or if it's parked somewhere where there is no time to go searching for a GPS without being disturbed.

Since my mate has fitted the GPS to his machine, he's left it on building sites over night.  In that time another truck and machine has been nicked on the same site.  Did they take it because it was a better, newer machine and a better truck than his?  Maybe, or did the GPS deter them? dunno.

As for the bloke with the Commodore.  That really sucks and if it was me I would have been devastated, but in worst case, I'd rather find it trashed than the scumbag winning and making off with it.
   

[Bird]

Both truck and machine are plastered with warning stickers as a deterrent.
Better to have it not pinched, rather than tracking it down after.

Couldn't agree more.. Very well said.

Neighbours car gone in driveway done 2 nights ago.. they had used his stolen cards before 11pm..
he was home, with lights on until after midnight... He didn't hear Shit

[DaveCQ]

If it's me, I would advertise. 

[Footy Shorts Shane]

As said if they really want it, they'll find a way to take it, but why not reduce the risk?  Probably majority of thieves will walk away if it's too hard, or if it's parked somewhere where there is no time to go searching for a GPS without being disturbed.

Couldn't agree more. From the research we've done, most vehicle thefts are joy riders, smash n grabs and or transport whilst on a crime spree, then usually abandoned. If they can't pinch it in 1 minute, they don't bother.

Thanks all for your comments,
Shane.

[KieranR]

would one of these be sufficient?

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=LA9011

[ken2m]

would one of these be sufficient?

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=LA9011

It's what I will be fitting when the re-wire happens. already purchased the gps tracker and the system will be fitted in a sealed pvc box on the underside of the camper behind the main electrical box. Fixed solar panel to trickle charge the battery. tracker has internal battery which lasts for a couple of days after power has been removed. amaysim has a casual plan that until used costs nothing.
Ken.

I will not be advertising that a tracker is fitted. Would like to just surprise the theives with a visit from the police 

[KingBilly]

With house/building alarms, advertising the fact an alarm is installed is a major deterrent to break ins.  Thieves will look at the neighbours before thinking of busting into yours.  However if there is something attractive for them on open display inside the house (say a wallet on a table), or the house is hidden from neighbours and/or the road (giving them some cover and possible chance of escape), they will still take the chance knowing that any response to an alarm (that is if you have a monitored alarm) is probably at least 15 to 20 minutes away.  Longer if relying on the police to get there.  But your losses will generally be reduced if they do take a chance of busting in with an alarm installed.  They won't be hanging around for too long.  Second biggest deterrent is having the alarm connected to an audible horn/siren.  Once they set that off, they know they have been detected, have a chance of being seen and maybe caught.  They will either abandon the break in or quickly grab something and go.  Doesn't always work like this, particularly in industrial areas on non-work days or with cars because people have become a bit belligerent to car alarms going off.

Dick Smith used to sell a metal siren box (nothing inside), blue strobe light (again false) and a pack of alarm stickers to make it look like your house had a monitored alarm.  Pretty good deterrent I thought.

Now to the tracker question.  Little bit of a different scenario to the house alarm.  Lots of imported and expensive cars are stolen to order and are not random acts.  Same could be assumed about expensive camper/caravan thefts.  Your neighbourhood junkie doesn't steal campers and caravans.  IMHO advertising the installation of a tracker will not deter nor prevent a camper theft.  A trackers main purpose is to get the item back after it has been stolen or in the case of a vehicle, remotely disable the vehicle so it can't be driven any further.  Letting a thief know the camper has a tracker installed will not stop them nicking it if that is what they really want.  Again IMHO they will still take the CT on the chance they will have time to find the tracker and remove/disable it before they are caught.  Once the tracker is disabled, they can relocate the camper until it has been "re-birthed".  Removing/disabling the tracker is probably the last thing you want the thieves do.  You want to keep the tracker operational as long as possible to increase your chances of recovery (main reason) and maybe catching the thieves with it (secondary).  So, from my professional experience, I would say no to advertising the fact a tracker is installed.

Having a movement sensor connected to a siren/horn, and importantly the siren/horn being located separately and independent to, the tracker may be a deterrent.  A CT being towed away, or winched onto a trailer/flat bed, with a screaming siren/horn will attract some attention.  That is if there is any attention to attract.  May not be as effective in a remote bush camp but then again your chances of having it nicked in such a location are far less.  The siren sounding may just be enough for the thieves to abandon their theft.

Anyways, just my random thoughts.

KB

[KingBilly]

Couldn't agree more. From the research we've done, most vehicle thefts are joy riders, smash n grabs and or transport whilst on a crime spree, then usually abandoned. If they can't pinch it in 1 minute, they don't bother.

Thanks all for your comments,
Shane.

Just re-read this thread.  Don't think you can compare vehicle theft with camper/caravan theft.  Very different criminal and motives.  The majority of stolen cars show up within a few days unless they are rare and/or expensive and have been stolen to order, then you'll never see them again.  But very few campers/caravans are ever recovered.

KB

[Barry G]

Just re-read this thread.  Don't think you can compare vehicle theft with camper/caravan theft.  Very different criminal and motives.  The majority of stolen cars show up within a few days unless they are rare and/or expensive and have been stolen to order, then you'll never see them again.  But very few campers/caravans are ever recovered.

KB

Agree, so therefore should we advertise or not???

[KingBilly]

Agree, so therefore should we advertise or not???

Definite no. Read my previous posts for my justification 

KB

[D4D]

Having a movement sensor connected to a siren/horn, and importantly the siren/horn being located separately and independent to, the tracker may be a deterrent.  A CT being towed away, or winched onto a trailer/flat bed, with a screaming siren/horn will attract some attention. 

There used to be the Cuda alarm you could buy for this but they seem to have close up shop.

[Footy Shorts Shane]

Thanks again for your input peoples.

Shane.

[speewa158]

Shane since you asked , can l just ask where you park it at night 

[Footy Shorts Shane]

Shane since you asked , can l just ask where you park it at night 

Ute is on the road in front of the house. Camper in open carport. Also a boat and EH sedan in full view from street. No front fence or gate.
As soon as any are 200m from home, myself and the wife receive a text message.

Shane.