Keeping the evil headlight thieves at bay...

[tonydca]

Any practical advice on booby-trapping and/or otherwise protecting L400 headlights? Circumstances force me to park my vehicle outside more often than not, so I'm contemplating installing a shock sensor or ??? I don't think it is practical to physically re-inforce the area.

Part of me senses that I am being paranoid, but it would *really* p!ss me off to find my baby with her eyeballs gouged out by some low-life.

Apparently similar problems used to happen on Acura CLs where the HID headlight assemblies would drop into a Civic.

[Stiful]

I would have them engraved with REGO # or something traceable...

[tonydca]

Funny you should mention "engraving"...

I knew a guy who got sick of his friends borrowing books/mags and not returning them. So he had a big rubber stamp made up that read "**STOLEN*** FROM THE LIBRARY OF JOHN SMITH, and every time he bought a book, he would stamp the inside cover. Mostly for laughs, I think it was more for conversation than an actual deterrent. But it got me thinking.

My wife reminded me that she has a pot of glass-etching cream (hydrofluoric acid or some similarly noxious compund) she got at a hobby store for painting designs on glasses for holidays, gifts, etc. Perhaps (if it were possible) to tastefully yet prominently etch "STOLEN PROPERTY" on the outer surface of the glass - to deter the theft in the first place, and engrave one's own vehicle's VIN# on the plastic housing - to show any cop who enquires why you have "stolen property" on your vehicle...? Hmmm....

Would have to be done in such a way to not compromise the integrity of the glass itself, but presumably a potential thief who knew what he was after would check the lens for the E13 mark, and couldn't help but notice the engraving.

"Course maybe then he'd just get PO'd and bust them out of spite. Sometines you can't win...

[jessef]

The M10 bolts that lock the lens in place.

I use a rounded head bolt with a very unique bit hole pattern.

The likelyhood of a thief carrying this tool is next to nil.

That's my way.

I like the idea of etching the vin corresponding to the vehicle it's on. That's a really good idea.

[wetcoast]

Some dealers are etching "DOT" in their lenses so you might as well etch your name or phone number....

[mdrive]

Some dealers are etching "DOT" in their lenses so you might as well etch your name or phone number....

do you have any proof who is doing it? this is insane ! would be interesting to know who going that extent to sell a vehicle.

[wetcoast]

Yes... Also on another forum I am on there was someone looking for information on how to etch windows to add "DOT". You really have to watch out these days.

[jessef]

Pictures are worth a thousand words.

In the past, I've posted pictures of shady practices by dealers.

It's about time you posted some regarding these headlights.

[EnviroImports.com]

Put a Quality Alarm system on your van with the little light that blinks in VERY plain view, Ive sold several drivers windows now and 2 corner A pillar windows now I have orders for several front grills, and corner lights, on my first big delica the signal light on one side has been pryed out and the grill is broken, the corner marker pole is gone. all in an atempt to steal the headlights,
Get a LOUD Quality Alarm, so if/when someone tries to steal your lights it wont be quiet for them...

Being able to work metal, I've done my own "theft prevention" measures, Try to steal my headlights, and I promise DNA will be left behind...

[Green1]

I knew a guy who got sick of his friends borrowing books/mags and not returning them. So he had a big rubber stamp made up that read "**STOLEN*** FROM THE LIBRARY OF JOHN SMITH, and every time he bought a book, he would stamp the inside cover. Mostly for laughs, I think it was more for conversation than an actual deterrent. But it got me thinking.

I knew someone who had a whole bunch of pens made up for the local scout shop that said "Stolen from the Calgary Scout Shop"... upper managment called her in to their office one day and showed her one of the pens and asked her if she was implying scouts were theives, she simply asked him where he got the pen...

Wetcoast: I'm not entirely sure what to make of your MANY recent posts accusing dealers of some very shady practices, you have made it quite clear in a number of posts that you are including some of the most prominent and "reputable" dealers in your accusations (while avoiding all names).
I'm trying to figure out if you're just trying to scare everyone away from your competition, or if you are legitimately trying to protect the membership.
I think it's about time that you start producing some proof to back up some of your claims, because so far it strikes me more of "fear marketing" than good advice...

[loki]

I think it's about time that you start producing some proof to back up some of your claims, because so far it strikes me more of "fear marketing" than good advice...

Ditto

[wetcoast]

I comment to raise awareness.... not to start a war with dealers. I'm just saying that if you are in the market for an L400, do your due dilligence no matter who the seller is.

[jessef]

Awareness is meaningless if people don't know where/what to look for.

I'll take some time and look for myself.

If I find any of these 'DOT' or lens modifications around the Vancouver area, I will post it.

[Green1]

I comment to raise awareness.... not to start a war with dealers. I'm just saying that if you are in the market for an L400, do your due dilligence no matter who the seller is.

and yet you keep implying that the reputable dealers are doing it... but you refuse to name them...

[loki]

the news channels are just raising awareness too, if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. It's all fear mongering for profit imo and these unsubstantiated claims smack of the same thing, I suppose if it came from a regular user that had nothing to gain than it would be less suspect but it would probably also happen less often. but again it's just my opinion and some think I'm just out to get them, maybe I am? lol