Do caterhams get nicked?

[rhubarb]

I had my garage broken into last night, ride on lawn mower bikes power tools all nicked (thieving b*stds), but they left the caterham. Now I know if they'd tried to start it (not that there are any keys in the garage) we would have heard, but wondering whether now they've seen it they'll be back for it? At the moment its just in the garage, its imobilised but I guess someone could very easily wheel it out - but there's not too many of them around so I can't think it would be that easy to get rid of one?

Anyway I guess I should secure it with something a little more - well preventative - wheel clamp, steering wheel locky thing? What do any of you do?

[fergus]

rhubarb said:

I had my garage broken into last night, ride on lawn mower bikes power tools all nicked (thieving b*stds), but they left the caterham. Now I know if they'd tried to start it (not that there are any keys in the garage) we would have heard, but wondering whether now they've seen it they'll be back for it? At the moment its just in the garage, its imobilised but I guess someone could very easily wheel it out - but there's not too many of them around so I can't think it would be that easy to get rid of one?

Anyway I guess I should secure it with something a little more - well preventative - wheel clamp, steering wheel locky thing? What do any of you do?

You can either physically immobilise it or prevent it from being started

1) remove steering wheel
2) either disconnect main HT lead or remove ECU
3) If fitted with Master switch, don't keep key in car
4) Wheel clamp
5) possibly consider locking it to a ground anchor, as per the treatment of a bike?

Very hard to get rid of. If it was stolen, I'd let all the trackday companies know in case it was wheeled out on to track, rather than put to use on the road.

Try and beef up your garage security as well. How did they get in? Main door folded back, broken lock on personnel door?

[rhubarb]

fergus said:

How did they get in? Main door folded back, broken lock on personnel door?

Thanks for the suggestions fergus. Looks like they got a big screwdriver down the side an d gave it a good old yank. The catches on the bottom are all bent out of shape so they've done it with some force.

So off to halfords now to buy a big chain and a ground bolt - should have thought of that really, failing that a wheel clamp. Then its get some more secure garage doors I think

Cheers

Giles

[fergus]

rhubarb said:

fergus said:

How did they get in? Main door folded back, broken lock on personnel door?

Thanks for the suggestions fergus. Looks like they got a big screwdriver down the side an d gave it a good old yank. The catches on the bottom are all bent out of shape so they've done it with some force.

So off to halfords now to buy a big chain and a ground bolt - should have thought of that really, failing that a wheel clamp. Then its get some more secure garage doors I think

Park another car or two in front of the garage until you get the additional security in place.

[Nerra]

The lengths that thieves will go to in order to steel a bike is insane. A mate of a a mate went on holiday and had his bike chained at the back of his garage with his car driven close up to it. He had a fairly hefty garage door but still parked his wife's car up against it. They ended up breaking in through the roof and lifting the bike out!!

Have a quick read on any bike forum and you will see similar crazy stories.

I think Caterhams are a little safer as they can't easily be put in the back of a van and as has been said, they would be harder to sell on. The other big factor is that chavs just haven't taken a liking to them... yet. You never see chavs ragging a caterham around an estate or on a field.

Edited by Nerra on Tuesday 27th October 10:41

[randlemarcus]

As a biker, I'd recommend avoiding Halfrauds chains etc like the plague, and heading straight to Almax. Excellent kit, at not a lot more. Have a search around on Biker Banter, I'm 99% certain that a PH discount is there for the asking.

Their stuff is thief resistant up to petrol grinders and gas axes

[rhubarb]

Thanks guys, garage a little more secure tonight, albeit with one garage door screwed to its frame top and bottom until we get a replacement. Thought about putting a car in front, but seeing what damage they did to get in I'd rather not have them smash something else up. That said caterham now securely chained (not halfords) to the floor of the garage. Didn't realise concrete weas so flamin hard though - burnt a couple of drills out in the process. Thanks for the tips.

[groomi]

Interesting topic. Any ideas what to do in a rented garage where a ground bolt isn't an option?

[Tango7]

When I left a car at a friend's place that was being sold and empty, I bought some very good quality chains/padlocks from a motorcycle accessories place and locked at least one front and one rear wheel (on the diagonal) to the chassis with the chain passing through the wishbone on the front. This will hopefully prevent anyone dragging the car about and means they will have to physically lift it out of the garage to steal it. Otherwise, remove steering wheel and remove the fuse to the ecu to stop it firing or something similar.

T

[Finchy172]

As they are so rare and the owners no so much about each car they are very hard to sell on or rebadge for track day cars etc.

Personally rather than the chains etc, just jack it up and stick it on axle stands and remove the the master key simple as.

[Nerra]

At the end of the day, if they want it they will take it. You can only slow them down slightly by using chains etc. Luckily they don't seem to be attractive to thieves and so I wouldn't worry too much.

[yosamite sam]

i would advise just remove anything of value thats easy to remove - specially the steering wheel if it comes off.

take the coil lead off

one wheel if its in a garage thats not too secure

park a car in front

a simple PIR alarm is enuff as as deterent if its hard to get at without setting it off

[mickrick]

How about fitting an alarm in the garage?
I had my house and shed robbed last winter. I wasn't living in the house, as we where doing a reform. So I had a lot of tools taken from the shed, and the house.
I've just fitted an "Infinite Prime" system (Electronics Line 3000 Ltd)
Excellent system!
Alarm box outside which only needs a power supply from the transformer, (Also a good visible deterent) and a control panel for inside, which also needs a power supply. Both have backup batteries in case of power failure. Everything else is wireless, and everything has tamper switches.
There are door/window sensors available as well as the PIR units, again all wireless.
I have a PIR in the shed 20 meters away from the house, and it works perfectly.
If the alarm is activated, as well as a REEEAAALLLLY load siren from the ouside box, and inside from the control panel, the system will ring a land line, or, with an optional cellular comunications module, send a message to your mobile.
You can also arm/dissarm the system from your mobile wherever you are.
There's also an optional home automation module which will turn on devices in your home, so you could set it up to put the garage lights on at certain times, or even a radio in the garage, to make believe you're in there working.
A quick search on google should find it.

Another thing thieves don't like is light. You can buy halogen lamps with motion detectors. I have a 1000W one fitted at the entrance to my property, when it's activated, it lights up the whole garden! They're cheap as chips too!

If you make it as difficult for the scum as possible, they may leave you alone, and pick on an easier target.