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Blown632Monte	Hi all, In preparation for our cross-country Prowler trip, I'm considering what security measures can be taken to protect the car from break-ins and (more importantly) vehicle theft when it's parked overnight at hotels and stuff. The car will be covered, so that's one deterrent. I also plan on rigging up a battery disconnect and taking the required hardware with me after the car is parked. That way if someone breaks in, they won't be able to start the car even if they are smart enough to get under the hood and try to reconnect the battery. At this point, the car does not have an alarm. Just the keyless entry, I believe. As a result, there isn't anything that needs to remain powered up and disconnecting the battery entirely shouldn't make a difference. Any other thoughts on precautions to take? This message has been edited by Blown632Monte on 11-22-2010 at 08:52 AM
HScott	I was told by my insurance company that the chance of the prowler being stolen was low due to the fact that it is so unique looking that it would be easy for the police to find. However, they did say that someone may just take it for a short joy ride!
Blown632Monte	quote: Originally posted by HScott: However, they did say that someone may just take it for a short joy ride! My experience when I was a cop was that most of the vehicle thefts ended up being just joy rides. The vast majority of the time they were recovered a short distance away with some damage. Just someone that wanted to take a car for a spin. Not with my Prowler you don't!
lionberger	Unless it has been disabled you should have an alarm, every Prowler came with one. I have a battery disconect on the neg. terminal of the battery not for security but to help keep the battery charged during storage. HScott is right about the joy ride being the likely result of theft.
ALLEY CAT	Check,,,,I think there might be a fuse to the fuel pump in the fuse panel, on the lower driver's side, under the dash? Anyone confirm that? I'd just pull that fuse out,,,since its covered during the nite, I don't think you'll have a problem. If you have a quality 'Club', might also take along.... Borrow a handicap placard,,,,that will usually give you a well lighted, up front, parking spot. Knock on wood,,,,we've traveled 40 to 50K miles, with many overnight stops, and never had a problem.
Blown632Monte	quote: Originally posted by lionberger: Unless it has been disabled you should have an alarm, every Prowler came with one. Interesting. What type of alarm? Like a content theft type of deal? That would be where when the doors are locked and one is opened, the horn honks and maybe the lights flash, but it does not prevent starting the car and driving it away...
StingRay	quote: Originally posted by Blown632Monte: Interesting. What type of alarm? Like a content theft type of deal? That would be where when the doors are locked and one is opened, the horn honks and maybe the lights flash, but it does not prevent starting the car and driving it away... Yes, this would be correct.
idive	I asked about my alarm and was told that it will not go off unless the door is opened when set. I asked about the top being down and someone hopping in to steal it without opening the door and was told that the car would not start, (or may start but then shut right down - I can't remember which exactly anymore). With the battery disconnected you will not be able to use your key fob to unlock or lock the doors. The fuse AC mentioned is actually a fuel pump relay. I'm not sure if it's marked as such or not, and I don't have my side panel off right now. I think its about 1/2" cubed.
ed monahan	With all the trips we have taken collectively I only recall one incident and that was Dave Mills window getting broken to steal his GPS, as I recall. I don't remember hearing about any other incidents. If it is covered, I think you are cutting way down on the chance of it getting broken into overnight. Try to park really close to the office or right out by the street.
Blown632Monte	Okay, I checked with the owner and he confirms it does have the content theft alarm. He originally said it didn't have an alarm at all, but that's because he doesn't consider what Chrysler put in an actual alarm. What I was thinking about doing was installing the disconnect on the main cable, but also putting in a small fused bypass wire that would keep 12V to the cable and to the rest of the car. The fuse on the wire would be like a 2A so as to keep the alarm powered up. But, if someone were to try and start the car, the fuse blows and the car is then totally electrically dead. But, if the Chrysler "alarm" prevents starting also like idive indicates, then I don't need to do that. Has anybody tried it?
fibertop	Taking the fuse out is a great idea. I did that once by mistake and the pick-up would ony run for a second then shut off. I'm pretty sure it was just a regular 10a mini
idive	Trying out the alarm as you want would be difficult to do without hotwireing your own car. Leaving the door closed with the alarm set and trying to start it with the key disables the alarm and allows the car to start without setting off the alarm. I just tried it.
WildCat	quote: Originally posted by ed monahan: With all the trips we have taken collectively I only recall one incident and that was Dave Mills window getting broken to steal his GPS, as I recall. I don't remember hearing about any other incidents. If it is covered, I think you are cutting way down on the chance of it getting broken into overnight. Try to park really close to the office or right out by the street. That was on his dakota, not the prowler on the trailer with the keys in the truck. I no longer leave my spare set of car keys in the truck when hauling it. I use to worry about the car. I try and park out front where it will be on camera and under light or right outside my room so i can see and hear. A club is a good idea, I have one another thing you could do would be get a long security cable (plastic coated) and run thru the wheels and lock it up. When I was on Oahu I seen a lot of cars with cables locking them to poles. ------------------ Larry & Sue Mayes
phil2237	Get a 44 Mag, You won't have any problems !
Blown632Monte	quote: Originally posted by phil2237: Get a 44 Mag, You won't have any problems ! Don't think the thought of taking one of my "friends" with me hasn't crossed my mind. But, if the TSA found it on me while we were headed to our flight out to FL.....nevermind, there's enough of that in the news already...
idive	You can check it. You just have to declare it. Call your airline for details. But if your luggage was "lost"... This message has been edited by idive on 11-22-2010 at 10:57 PM
jjprowler	Joe if you want a club, I will give you one with the bra and you can always mail me one of your friends.
Blown632Monte	quote: Originally posted by jjprowler: Joe if you want a club, I will give you one with the bra and you can always mail me one of your friends. I may check one of them still. Have to get a locked case for it though. Might be a good idea to have one since I'll be in unfamiliar areas with a cute blonde girl and a nice car. I'll have to investigate the club. Jon, would you want me to ship it back to you when I get home or what? We're still on for the evening of December 18th, right? I got a hotel room in Daytona Beach...
jjprowler	Won it at car show and will never use it so keep it.We are still on and I wish you stay the night, that way no hurry for check in time and you can park the kat in the garage. The guest room even has a tanning bed & exercise equipment (yeah right) for your pleasure. In the morning we can go to the beach and get some pictures of your car to show you are the first to drive your kat coast to coast.
Blown632Monte	We really appreciate the offer to stay at your place, but something could go screwy during the day and cause us to be very late. We wouldn't want to come knocking on your door at 2AM or something. We obviously hope everything goes smoothly, but you never know. My schedule shows us driving about 460 miles that day in addition to inspecting and paying for the car, returning the rental car at the airport, stopping to ship the stock Prowler parts home, and stopping to pick up any miscellaneous items we need. I'm hoping to get up your way by dark so we can do some pictures, but I have serious doubts as to whether that will happen. The next morning, my wife wants to go to Disney Orlando for the day since we're there (lucky me) and they will have it all decorated for Christmas. So, we'll probably be up early and take off for that too. I have a feeling I'll need a vacation after this vacation...
StingRay	quote: Originally posted by Blown632Monte: But, if the TSA found it on me while we were headed to our flight out to FL.....nevermind, there's enough of that in the news already... Yeah, and can't even put it down there with your "junk" now either ... thos "aggressive" pat downs would surely give it away ... or simply say "all that touching got you aroused!"
CJ	With all the Prowler trips we've been on, I can't recall any issues. Wasn't it Dave Mills truck that got broken into, not the Prowler? If you talk to the hotel, they may let you park it up front by the door. Park it under the lights. We've even had hotel security make a special effort to camp out right by the Prowler. Enjoy your trip!!
TFischer	When I'm on the road (especially when I'm traveling by myself), I ask the hotel desk if I can park outside the front door and they have always let me. I believe Rich Ware's Prowler was broken into by them slicing open his convertible top and taking his camera.