Another nicked Minor

[moggiethouable]

Another Minor nicked in the London area.
And still no category that shouts "secure it people"
No front page column that advises on (before buying a Minor) how to help reduce thefts.
All the tired excuses as to why this cant/wont be done are exhausted now, people are having cars stolen because they are not aware of all the options available to them.
Is this a club that promotes ownership or previous ownership.?
Lets rattle some cages please.
As part of the new member package a leaflet should be printed on security measures available.
The club should buy (at a discount) security devices to be sold to members at preferential rates.

Our special relationship with a well known insurer should be exploited to extend to reduced premiums for people who secure their cars.
In future at risk of boring everybody rigid, whenever a car is nicked I will resurrect this diatribe.

[LouiseM]

There's a sticky in the 'cars for sale' forum regarding security: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=54687 plus a link to this message from the 'Thinking of buying a Minor?' sticky to reach those who haven't yet purchased one.

Lets rattle some cages please.
As part of the new member package a leaflet should be printed on security measures available.
The club should buy (at a discount) security devices to be sold to members at preferential rates.

Our special relationship with a well known insurer should be exploited to extend to reduced premiums for people who secure their cars.

Have you submitted these suggestions to the Club office and the insurer? Best thing to do if you want to "rattle a few cages" is to do something positive and put your energy into contacting the relevant people directly rather than keep posting what you describe as a "diatribe" on the messageboard.

And how about designing a leaflet for the new member package, or contacting suppliers to see whether any provide a discount for bulk buying security devices?

[moggiethouable]

There's a sticky in the 'cars for sale' forum regarding security: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=54687 plus a link to this message from the 'Thinking of buying a Minor?' sticky to reach those who haven't yet purchased one.
Have you submitted these suggestions to the Club office and the insurer? Best thing to do if you want to "rattle a few cages" is to do something positive and put your energy into contacting the relevant people directly rather than keep posting what you describe as a "diatribe" on the messageboard.

And how about designing a leaflet for the new member package, or contacting suppliers to see whether any provide a discount for bulk buying security devices?

A sticky is not prominent enough Louise, front page or nothing.
I have posted something very similar on the posting "what do you want from your club"? a long time ago.
That fell on deaf ears, or it was read and ignored.
As for doing something positive I am now a little confused, negative is ignoring posts, that is what the forum is for.
Does the committee not read the posts? Is that what you are saying?
I understand where you are coming from, but the club committee dont pay me a membership fee, the members pay a membership fee, so to ask for design print and addition of a flier is perfectly reasonable, the addition of a prominent security posting on the website even more reasonable.
If no one takes a hapeth of notice of my numerous posts in the relevant sections however, why would designing a leaflet make them sit up? Would they print it? I am beginning to wonder what members are getting for their money Louise?
A security leaflet could be posted with an edition of Minor Matters just once a year at a modest additional cost.
Finally.
I am constantly amazed at the lack of security measures adopted by owners, but criticising anyone when they have just had their pride and joy nicked is simply rubbing salt in the wound,prevention is the very best solution,the club have an opportunity to help the membership slow down the rate at which vehicles are being stolen and are fiddling like Nero.
They are also missing an opportunity to make a little extra cash supplying security products.
Pass this on by all means to anyone who may influence how the security message can be spread.

[LouiseM]

A sticky is not prominent enough Louise, front page or nothing.
I have posted something very similar on the posting "what do you want from your club"? a long time ago.
That fell on deaf ears, or it was read and ignored.

The thread "What do you want from the MMOC website" was raised in order to collate ideas/suggestions for the new updated website. These haven't been ignored, or fallen on deaf ears, but I understand that there have been some problems with the company which was due to undertake the updates so the timeframe has changed. No idea when the update will happen.

I understand where you are coming from, but the club committee dont pay me a membership fee, the members pay a membership fee, so to ask for design print and addition of a flier is perfectly reasonable, the addition of a prominent security posting on the website even more reasonable.

Isn't part of being a club member also about what you can do for your club and fellow members, rather than just about what the club can do for you? Complaining about volunteers not doing something that you have suggested isn't very helpful so why not design a leaflet then send it to the Club, or write something to post on the homepage, or even an article about security for Minor Matters?

[chuffit]

We should all know that devices that are on show i.e. steering wheel locks, handbrake/gearstick/pedal locks are good to deter thieves up to a point. As for electronic devices owner fitted ones are in my opinion the best as they vary in type /position and function. The best imobiliser with loads of wires hanging out of it can only be as good as the wiring on your car and as we all know Minors are very basic and as such in my view would be easy to bypass. Perhaps tracking devices are the way forward. My minor has a home made cut out device which I'm pretty happy with and when not in use for longer periods there are more drastic measures in place.
I personally think security is all our individual problems and too many the same will be quickly overcome.

[tysonn]

Surely a tracking device just makes the stolen car easier to find?

[tysonn]

You could buy an alarm/immobiliser and a steering wheel lock easily with the money saved by using a different insurer!

[bmcecosse]

Advertising how to secure the car just makes interesting reading for the thieves! I sometimes wonder if information gleaned from this site is used by thieves to find cars worth stealing. A 'secret switch' is the main security device I rely on, and many moons ago it did save my then car from being stolen.....there it was, abandoned 100 yds down the road where it had 'broken down'... Other options are many and varied - one I fancy is an extremely loud horn tucked away INSIDE the car, so whenever the Ignition circuits are activated it will blow furiously - making it impossible for anyone to stay inside the car.. A refinement would be to add a locking relay (with a timer attached) to hold the horn on for say 5 minutes after it has been activated...that should make it tricky to steal. It could even have it's own hidden battery - so disconnecting the main battery wouldn't stop it.. But almost nothing will stop the car being towed away or 'lifted' - best locked away out of site in a good garage attached to the house. And be very wary giving too much information of where you live on this (or any other) forum.

[warb21]

I agree that no one wants their P&J to be their ex-P&J.

I've found the best process is to think 'if I'd lost my keys and absolutely definitely needed to get this car home, even if it means breaking something, what would I do?' Then put measures in place to prevent that, as far as practically possible.

Of course the only 100% way to prevent any possession being stolen is not to own it in the first place. So we have to live with the risk and everyone differs in their individual attitude to it.

When discussing this issue on here, remember these posts are open for the whole www to see.

[tysonn]

Better hope you never lose your keys then.

[les]

I wouldn't have thought people need telling to fit some sort of anti theft device. Unless of course they were born yesterday.

[POMMReg]

I wouldn't have thought people need telling to fit some sort of anti theft device. Unless of course they were born yesterday.

Exactly!

...or did NOT attend the Sybil Fawlty School of the blxxxxn' obvious!!

[alexandermclaren]

You could buy an alarm/immobiliser and a steering wheel lock easily with the money saved by using a different insurer!

Never a truer word spoken,,,,,, are we as a club legally tied to this one insurer,,,, no bargains from them ,, I have the quote to prove it

[alexandermclaren]

Advertising how to secure the car just makes interesting reading for the thieves! I sometimes wonder if information gleaned from this site is used by thieves to find cars worth stealing. A 'secret switch' is the main security device I rely on, and many moons ago it did save my then car from being stolen.....there it was, abandoned 100 yds down the road where it had 'broken down'... Other options are many and varied - one I fancy is an extremely loud horn tucked away INSIDE the car, so whenever the Ignition circuits are activated it will blow furiously - making it impossible for anyone to stay inside the car.. A refinement would be to add a locking relay (with a timer attached) to hold the horn on for say 5 minutes after it has been activated...that should make it tricky to steal. It could even have it's own hidden battery - so disconnecting the main battery wouldn't stop it.. But almost nothing will stop the car being towed away or 'lifted' - best locked away out of site in a good garage attached to the house. And be very wary giving too much information of where you live on this (or any other) forum.

positive true words and common sense prevails
well said BMC

[moggiethouable]

A sticky is not prominent enough Louise, front page or nothing.
I have posted something very similar on the posting "what do you want from your club"? a long time ago.
That fell on deaf ears, or it was read and ignored.

The thread "What do you want from the MMOC website" was raised in order to collate ideas/suggestions for the new updated website. These haven't been ignored, or fallen on deaf ears, but I understand that there have been some problems with the company which was due to undertake the updates so the timeframe has changed. No idea when the update will happen.

I understand where you are coming from, but the club committee dont pay me a membership fee, the members pay a membership fee, so to ask for design print and addition of a flier is perfectly reasonable, the addition of a prominent security posting on the website even more reasonable.

Isn't part of being a club member also about what you can do for your club and fellow members, rather than just about what the club can do for you? Complaining about volunteers not doing something that you have suggested isn't very helpful so why not design a leaflet then send it to the Club, or write something to post on the homepage, or even an article about security for Minor Matters?

Well, I read your reply yesterday Louise.
As always its measured and precise, you know theres a but coming dont you?
I could write a page or two, but if as suggested regarding the updates "No idea when the update will happen" there seems little point.
Also, An article in the Minor Matters mag is brief and a one off.
The webpage is permanent, a constant reminder, with new members coming on board all the time that is what is required.
All the possible solutions to reducing theft have been mooted, they are all on the site.
The next Minor to be nicked will (as suggested) re-release this thread like a time worn record, until the website is modified.
Second best of course, but its all we have just now.

[Matt]

MoggieThouable.

Please listen to me

I have given back my mod hat so I have nothing to gain by saying this, but the moderators have done as much as they can ;). Any more needs to be sorted at commitee level. Have you contacted them?

I do agree that theft of minors needs to be highlighted, but until a new redesigned website comes along you will be urinating in to the wind by solely complaining here. The mods have done as much as they can - and remember they don't get paid by the comittee either.