Securing an Elise for a week - how to?

[swistun]

Let's say hypothetically that my friend was going away for a week, and let's further say hypothetically that his Elise would have to sleep for that week in a public garage. What's the best way to prevent it from being messed with / stolen? Here was his plan:

- Locked, windows up, roof OFF, and absolutely nothing to steal within sight inside;
- Inetria switch off (non-driveable)
- his wife's car effectively blocking it in, between itself and the wall.

Someone also suggested taking out the spark plugs... good idea?
One issue is, he has the Braille battery now, so the alarm will only last 3-4 days... he thought of throwing the stock batttery into the trunk for that week and plugging the car to it.

He brings this up because apparently he lives in an area (literally, the neighborhood) with one of the highest car theft rates in the country. A Saab was jacked from an adjacent parking garage from his, 3 weeks ago.

Any other ideas please?
luke

[AgentTripleX]

Can he just store at the local dealer? We do that for customers occasionally.

[swistun]

Originally Posted by AgentTripleX

Can he just store at the local dealer? We do that for customers occasionally.

You're very nice. He didn't think of that. Something to consider, though his particular local dealer (and the only local dealer) will probably tell him to piss off, since after much debate, he did not buy the car from them...

Good call though.

[fastliz]

No way would I leave the roof off.

Mike

[fishguy]

roof on for sure. my good freind used to live in S.F. cal. i mentioned the homelss guy that lived at the step off his building when i visited, something like"what a drag to have to deal with this guy every time you come/leave your building."
he said everyone liked the guy, and fed him etc., that he was like a talking guard dog. never had any crime in the building, and anything that didnt look right, this guy saw.
maybe you could "employ" a homeless watchdog of your very own? give him a few bucks before the job starts, and then allot more when you come back to your car as it was when it was left. A human alarm system. he could just camp near the car instead of his stairway or whatever.
just an idea inspired by painpills(after finger surgery) , and a (1) beer.
LOL at myself

[Allan Gibbs]

I was going to mention the dealer. Is he do for an oil change? Alternatively, maybe a friends house and offer to compensate them?

I don't think the current place is going to work. Even if nothing happens, your friend will always be worrying.

[swistun]

Originally Posted by fishguyAZ

roof on for sure. my good freind used to live in S.F. cal. i mentioned the homelss guy that lived at the step off his building when i visited, something like"what a drag to have to deal with this guy every time you come/leave your building."
he said everyone liked the guy, and fed him etc., that he was like a talking guard dog. never had any crime in the building, and anything that didnt look right, this guy saw.
maybe you could "employ" a homeless watchdog of your very own? give him a few bucks before the job starts, and then allot more when you come back to your car as it was when it was left. A human alarm system. he could just camp near the car instead of his stairway or whatever.
just an idea inspired by painpills(after finger surgery) , and a (1) beer.
LOL at myself

Yea, I know Vicodin and beer go great together ... not from experience, but my patients tell me so .

This FRIEND OF MINE does not have a homeless guy around his place, but he does have a friend who is a cop (SDPD) who went to town on his Elise last night after he waxed it, breaking laws that were not even created yet. Crazy drive, but he was very good (owns a suped up EVO himself), and said, if he got caught here, he could get out of pretty much anything, since this was his neighborhood. Anyway, he could potentially look after the car, especially if MY FRIEND told him to take his girl out to dinner in it some time...

[swistun]

Originally Posted by fastliz

No way would I leave the roof off.

Mike

The roof OFF idea had actually proven itself many times over, as most crime (99%) is petty theft from inside the cars - laptops, car stereos, even a folder full of paperwork, can trigger a broken window or a knife through your soft top.
If you take away the curiosity and expose the interior, nothing happens. Worked 100% so far.

[swistun]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

I don't think the current place is going to work. Even if nothing happens, your friend will always be worrying.

You're completely right... they play psychological warfare out there. Can ruin a good vacation for sure.

[fastliz]

Originally Posted by swistun

The roof OFF idea had actually proven itself many times over, as most crime (99%) is petty theft from inside the cars - laptops, car stereos, even a folder full of paperwork, can trigger a broken window or a knife through your soft top.
If you take away the curiosity and expose the interior, nothing happens. Worked 100% so far.

Instead, they'll piss, spit, and throw garbage in it. As for the theft theory... I'm not buying it. The same logic would dictate we leave the doors and windows to our homes wide open. Furthermore, it is my position that if they want to break in, I'd rather make them WORK for it.

Mike

[Allan Gibbs]

Yeah, I agree. Thief versus vandalism. You have to worry about both.

[Hayseed]

Luke,

Store it in my shop. The tractor can sit out for a week, and your Elise can keep mine company at night.

If you can get it to Ramona, I'll store it. You can take the keys with you if you want.

Mike

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by fastliz

The same logic would dictate we leave the doors and windows to our homes wide open.

Not exactly the same thing. The car is a convertible with nothing more than a thin piece of cloth sealing off the roof. That can be defeated in just a few seconds with a pocket knife. Then, instead of just having whatever other the thief does to your car, you now have to spend $1,500 or so for a new roof too.

I tend to leave my convertibles unlocked with nothing of value inside.

Furthermore, it is my position that if they want to break in, I'd rather make them WORK for it.

Again, they don't have to work very hard - all they have to have is a $2 pocket knife. To carry your analogy farther - consider that you live in a house with paper walls. Would locking the doors provide any added security? How much more would it cost to replace your paper walls after a minor break-in?

[fastliz]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

Not exactly the same thing. The car is a convertible with nothing more than a thin piece of cloth sealing off the roof. That can be defeated in just a few seconds with a pocket knife. Then, instead of just having whatever other the thief does to your car, you now have to spend $1,500 or so for a new roof too.

I tend to leave my convertibles unlocked with nothing of value inside.

Again, they don't have to work very hard - all they have to have is a $2 pocket knife. To carry your analogy farther - consider that you live in a house with paper walls. Would locking the doors provide any added security? How much more would it cost to replace your paper walls after a minor break-in?

It may not be much more "work," but it's definitely more CONSPICUOUS when you're ripping into a ragtop with a knife vs. simply walking by and reaching into the car unobstructed.

I've always locked and I've never been broken into. But, this is my first soft top and I don't park it in "bad areas."

Mike

[MattG]

The car's not going to be easy to steal with the integrated immobilizer! To be safe though, I'd pull a couple fuses (like ECU). Then just cover it with a car cover, use a cheap cable lock to lock the car cover. Keep the car's top on.

[ntouched]

This is too easy.......Take it to the home of another ET member. Members, help this guy out........

[RacyTracy]

I drive mine to work whenever the weather is nice. I leave it in a Chicago public parking garage from about 3:10AM until noon. I leave the top off, windows down, nothing in the car, no alarm and a car cover on it. No one has touched it yet.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by swistun

You're very nice. He didn't think of that. Something to consider, though his particular local dealer (and the only local dealer) will probably tell him to piss off, since after much debate, he did not buy the car from them...

Good call though.

Try the local Lamborghini or Ferrari dealerships - most offer storage and don't publicize it.

[Boosted2.0]

Originally Posted by MattG

The car's not going to be easy to steal with the integrated immobilizer! To be safe though, I'd pull a couple fuses (like ECU). Then just cover it with a car cover, use a cheap cable lock to lock the car cover. Keep the car's top on.

The elise is super easy to steal - it weighs nothing and you could have one on the back of a flatbed in 30 seconds. Immobilizers stop joyriders not serious car theifs