I live in brooklyn, NY, and when I get my car it will be spending nights on the open street in front of my apartment building. I live in one of the nicest neighborhoods in brooklyn and have always felt safe here, the car I have right now has never been touched, but I am a little concerned about the safety of my future car. I have a few questions regarding the Nav system and the stereo in particular:

1. I know the stereo is an anti-theft system, but it does not have a removable face. What I wonder, is how a burglar would know that the stereo won't work in another car? What's to stop he/she from smashing my window and taking it anyway?

2. If I get the nav, would that just be another incentive to break in? I've already been warned about airbags. Does anyone know if the nav would be something that people could/would want to steal?

Oppinions as well as facts are greatly appreciated in this matter.
Thanks guys!

_________________
I get the feeling a second British Invasion is on it's way!

 

I'm not sure I'd leave my MINI on the street on a regular basis if I lived in any major city. The jury still seems to be out about the theft rate of MINIs, but with all of those airbags, a nav system, a radio, seats, etc....I'd think it'll make a ripe target. Particularly as there get to be a few more MINIs on the road and the demand for illegally procured parts increases. Right now, the thieves would mostly be going for whole cars (rather rare actually); but soon they'll be stealing them for parts...and that will increase the theft rate.

And you know, any bonehead who makes it a habit to steal radios will smash your window and take it...and then find out later if it works or not (most thieves are not exactly role models for good judgement )

If I were you, and couldn't swing a garage space, I'd at least go for an alarm and Lojack. You may still lose your radio and some windows, but at least you'll probably keep the whole car.

 

P.S.
you think the car cover would deter vandals or draw them closer?
And about the rally lights, how easily detachable are they?

 

I agree with Jsun....an alarm and lojack would probably be a good idea.....
Also, if you were thinking of maybe getting vanity plates, I would go ahead and do that, too. A car thief is actually less likely to take a car with personalized tags because it's easier to spot. :smile:

I didn't get a car cover for just that reason....I wasn't sure what effect it would have. (I live in the city too although not as much in the city as you do.) I think it could really go either way.

_________________
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Smaller is better!
<a href="mailto:l.mini@northamericanmotoring.com ">l.mini@northamericanmotoring.com</a>

 

Oh L.mini that's good to know! Now I have a reason to get them without my boyfriend thinking I'm a total freak.

I will surely get the alarm system, and my trusty club will carry over to the mini. What's a Lojack though?

 

It's like a tracking system for your Mini in case it gets stolen.....
The website will be able to answer ALOT more questions than I can....
http://www.lojack.com

:smile:

 

I can't substantiate this, but my source is relatively reliable:

I was told that the police can track any vehicle with a GPS NAV system. If it is stolen and the GPS is not disabled, they should be able to find it.

Doesn't help with the radio situation though.

 

Wow, I don't envey you having to park your new MINI on a city street at night... that does stink.

I don't think a car cover or alarm will do you much good. The old saying... "if someone wants your stuff bad enough, they will get it."

I don't have any experience with a lojack. I guess that would help if your car was stolen... but then, if it was stolen would you want it back? I surely wouldn't!

So, I would just use common sense. Don't leave anything in your car at night that stands out to a burgler. Maybe changing your stereo to an aftermarket one with removable faceplate would work? I would think rally light would be easy to steal as well.

It just kind of stinks that you can't own something nice anymore without having to worry about some jerk stealing or damaging it!

 

This may make you feel a bit better, I lived in Crooklyn for about 7 years, (E. 48th between Beverly and Clarendon) and during that time I parked various new vehicles on the street (overnight), including a Lexus GS300, Jaguar XJ6 and a '96 Impala SS. I never had a problem with vandalism or theft in all that time or in visiting since, my sister still lives there and the only reason I will not take the MINI back to NY City is the condition of the roads. Good luck when you get your MINI.

X2

 

Thanks guys, you've helped a lot!
I posted this same thread at mini2, and from both places I've seemed to get a lot of different reponses.
People here seem to mostly be concerned with the whole car being stolen, which actually doesn't worry me all that much. At Mini2, people where primarily concerned with the zenon lights, wheels, nav and airbags. But the common trian of thought was that these things are soooooo primarily mini, that they wouldn't fit or work right in any other car. And what Mini owner out there is really going to want stolen merchendise? You guys are already taking such good care of your cars, and don't see the market for stolen goods. I like to think something like that is just below a mini owner anyway. I mean we've obviously got class right!

 

I actually agree with the statement about just the pieces being removed from your car....a friend of mine lives in Queens and someone took the grill of the front of his VW....but just the grill. Nothing else. It was weird.

Katie...I'm sure your Mini will be just fine. Bad things can happen to a car anyplace and I don't think you need to worry about it any more than any other motorist does. Earlier this year I moved into the city from the county and my mom was all freaked out about me getting a new car and everything.....but my Honda got broken into right in front of her house....in the county....in a nice neighborhood....and we had a driveway. Everything will be fine....just take the precautions that YOU feel are necessary and I'm sure it will all work out for you!

Cheers!!

L.

 

In my experience, car thieves like things that are in high demand and parts that move fast on the market.(ie Honda, Toyota , Acura). For this reason I don't think the MINI will be too attractive to pros. I think stealing one of the most 'stand-out' cars will not be poplular for pro car thiefs. I drove Saabs(yes, I'm quirky) for years and no one ever touched one here in Hollywood, though my friends' Acuras etc. dissappear all the time.

I think your biggest worry is kids stealing the cool stuff, xenons, lights, etc. In CA I expect the MINI to become popular on the Fast and Furious street racing circuit. So again...kids might be looking for spare MINI parts.

As a former New Yorker, I think the better neighborhoods of Park Slope, Brooklyn Hts, etc are also not a worry. The problem will be when you take her out clubbing in Manhattan in the Meat Packing district. So don't do that, okay?

My advice, Katie is to worry most about your own safety and let the little MINI's general good karma ( and yours) take care of the car.

_________________
Chili Red Cooper S with Black Mane, leather,NAV, Prem, Sport , and Cold Weather Pkgs. Arrived CA 9/21 en route to HI. Stranded by Dockworkers strike..Aarrgh!

<img src= http://home.earthlink.net/~jdelarosa...Blacksmall.jpg >

 

Katie,
Don't forget that a lot of breakins are by amateurs. I have the
Mini alarm, which is visual, but I also keep a club on the car
primarily because it is a visual deterrent to make the amateurs
think twice. A junkie sees an alarm flashing and a club, he walks
to the next car. BTW always put the Club on with the lock facing
the dash although even that is not much use if the thief has
a Sawzall. If a pro wants your car, not much you can do to stop
them unless you sleep in your car with a shotgun, which I advise
against. As far as a garage, I haven't lived in Brooklyn for awhile,
but a friend in Manhattan pays more for his garage spot than I
did for my last houses mortgage payment, and I imagine parts
of Brooklyn are the same. Best bet is replacement coverage on
your auto policy... I used to live in Prospect Park South aka
Flatbush....

Florida Mini Owners

 

[clip]
>>I don't have any experience with a lojack. I guess that would help if your car was stolen... but then, if it was stolen would you want it back? I surely wouldn't!
>>
>[clip]

I know that this thread is taking a somewhat different turn from the origin, but in ref to whether or not you'd want your stolen car back, I think it's worth noting that unless the stolen car is totaled (wrecked, chopped, etc.), you may HAVE to take it back. This often happens after a car has been stolen for joyriding -- not an unlikely outcome for a MINI. Well, with a Lojack (and an alarm to give you a warning when your car is being driven away) you hopefully can get your car back before too much damage is done. That's the idea at least.

I once had a friend who had his Tercel (hummm) stolen in Brooklyn and it turned up about 3 days later up to the top if its wheelwells in a drainage ditch. His insurance co refused to total the car and he had to take it back. That was a real mess.

 

Here's what I say. Is your car insured? What's that you say? It is? Well then, let those scumbags do what they want to your Mini as your insurance company will do what you are paying them for.

I am as attached to my Mini as the next guy, but I am not going to spend an arm and a leg or stay up at night to make sure my car is still in one piece the next time I need it.

That's just my opinion.

 

You guys are all raising valid points here, that are really good to hear. I'm not going to be pulling my hair out over the matter, I think I'm just really battling myself over the 'to get the nav or not to get the nav,' delemma.

For all you ex-brooklynites, it is Park Sloap that I live in, right on the border of Windsor Terrace, so there's actuall neighborhoods and people who own their houses around me. Lot's of families, yet hardly any teens. So I really am not that worried. I think I will look into a parking garage though, because I am worried about the salt/rust in the winter factor anyway.
And I really don't plan on ever driving in manhattan, it just seems too anti-motorish over there. My mini is intended more as a ticket out of this city, on the weekends when I get too fed up with New York life(being from Ca originally, that happens a lot).

 

I can't understanding having a Nav system in a car. I've got one on my boat but still try to figure out where I am going before I get there.

 

>>I was told that the police can track any vehicle with a GPS NAV system. If it is stolen and the GPS is not disabled, they should be able to find it.
>>
>>Doesn't help with the radio situation though.


Maybe NYPD and some really big departments have that capability, but 99% of police departments don't have the equipment or personnel to do it.
I always thought the anti-theft thing on the stereo was useless, because thieves are going to break in and take it anyway, not knowing any better.

Metro Nashville PD

 

Katiedidmini,

I've lived in Jersey City all my life. I've never had a problem with theft (thank God!!!). However, I do keep a club on the car (with the lock facing the dash) and I have an alarm.

Most of the problems I've had have been because of kids :evil: :evil:
Some of them like to sit on the car and I even caught one RUNNING ACROSS THE TOP OF MY CAR (I blacked out that day. Not a pretty sight). They play ball in the street and you find dings and scratches...

Anyway, right now I park in a lot with a high fence (my current apt. has one) and I have not had a problem.

While I think the MINI will get looks, it's not a potential "rice mobile" and the parts do not fit into any other car (unlike Acura headlights which fit into Accords). So not to worry. Club it up and get an alarm for it.

And remember, you can't start it without the key (electronic do-hickie) so the only way it can be taken (without the key) is on a flatbed truck.