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Old 06-14-2004, 05:58 PM   #1
blowbigchunks
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Default how are they breaking into my 02 wrx?

sorry if this has been discussed before, i didn't see anything in the FAQ's so here goes.

twice now, the trunk of my 02 wrx (no security of any sort, no alarm, nothing, please no flames) has been broken into and i've now lost 2 company laptops. the thing is, there is no visible damage to any of the locks, or anywhere else on the car (police could not see any signs of breakage). both times i parked it on the street in the same general area, at night, so i guess it's the same people who know how to get in really easily. does anyone know what's going on? thanks ..
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Old 06-14-2004, 06:09 PM   #2
cnk
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There are very easy ways to break in to the car. . .you really should invest in a security system. Also, I wouldn't keep valuables in the car when you leave it parked. . .especially since they've probably got your car marked now. You should have learned from the first stolen laptop not to leave another one there again.

Also, don't ask people to post up how they broke in to your car as it will just teach others how it was done as well.

Calvin
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Old 06-14-2004, 06:24 PM   #3
blowbigchunks
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ok, thanks for the answer, but what i was really wondering about was not necessarily how, but why my car out of all the cars parked on the street (i was there for about 2 hours, lots of other cars parked there too). i know in general it's easy to break into cars, but i still kind of doubt that someone went and jimmied every car on the block until they found something in my car. so what i'm saying is that this suggests to me that there is something about the wrx that makes it an especially attractive target for theft. i guess i don't need to know how (although i would really like to -- private msg out of the question?), but if it's true that they are targeting the wrx over other cars.

yes, it was stupid to leave the car there again, i thought the first time was a freak thing.
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Old 06-14-2004, 07:42 PM   #4
cnk
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The WRX is very easy to break in to if you know how. You're lucky that they didn't steal your car and only took what was in the trunk. There's been a crime spree here in NJ for the past year or so with tons of WRX's and STi's being stolen. This has been thoroughly discussed on the boards regarding security so if you want to learn more, read through the posts in this forum or run a search and you'll have plenty of reading material.

Calvin
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Old 06-14-2004, 10:46 PM   #5
well_armed
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Hint: It has to do with frameless windows, and a coat hanger.
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Old 06-15-2004, 01:12 PM   #6
strohausii
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Quote:
Originally posted by well_armed
Hint: It has to do with frameless windows, and a coat hanger.
yep. ..or a anorexic arm

Also, there's a lever on the trunk locking mechanism that you toggle to the down position, and it disables the cabin trunk release.... unless they do anything drastic... you GENERALLY need a key to get into the trunk then.

One poor guy actually had their door bent out from the torqueing of the glass (unbroken), and another (or same guy.. I forget) they actually burrowed down from the clock into his dashboard to get his eclipse HU.
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Old 06-15-2004, 01:43 PM   #7
Chewy-WRX
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Quote:
Originally posted by strohausii

One poor guy actually had their door bent out from the torqueing of the glass (unbroken), and another (or same guy.. I forget) they actually burrowed down from the clock into his dashboard to get his eclipse HU.
Another benefit of keeping the stock HU is that thevies will not burrow through your clock.
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Old 06-15-2004, 03:49 PM   #8
SlidewaysSTi
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Man you were cased this has happened twice to you they knew what you had there. and they knew you left it. It would not surprise me if it was a neighbor, co-worker, or someone you know that did it.
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Old 06-15-2004, 06:31 PM   #9
mikkyo
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Park there again and have a friend wait in your trunk. When the cars gets broken into, your friend can ask the guy how he did it.
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Old 06-15-2004, 07:58 PM   #10
shadrool
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Quote:
Originally posted by mikkyo
Park there again and have a friend wait in your trunk. When the cars gets broken into, your friend can ask the guy how he did it.
haha.
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Old 06-15-2004, 08:24 PM   #11
garie
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Quote:
Originally posted by mikkyo
Park there again and have a friend wait in your trunk. When the cars gets broken into, your friend can ask the guy how he did it.
hehe or have ur friend waiting there with a bat or shotgun...
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Old 06-15-2004, 09:52 PM   #12
blowbigchunks
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Quote:
Originally posted by garie
hehe or have ur friend waiting there with a bat or shotgun...
believe me, this has crossed my mind.

pretty sure i wasn't cased, i don't live there (chinatown, nyc), i only go there like once every couple months. no one there knows me.

i had heard about the frameless windows, but still, somehow, i am a little skeptical that it makes it *that* much easier than a slim-jim job, that would make them seemingly target my car. aren't there lots of cars with frameless windows? also, wouldn't there at least be some marks on the trim around the glass where they wiggled something in? some smudges or fingerprints on the window? there was nothing, absolutely nothing that i could see (ha, maybe they wiped up afterwards).

the trunk lock lever is a good point, maybe i'll try that. but i think from now on i'd rather take the stupid laptop with me.

i do have an aftermarket HU, but it's a crappy entry level pioneer. i think the stock HU would be worth more.

anyway, thanks for all the replies.
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Old 06-16-2004, 12:45 AM   #13
aznatama
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slim jim or coat hanger... same thing... if you take off the door skin you can see how easy it really is to unlock the car. how do u think them AAA guys do it when u lock you keys in your car?...

you can always install a security system and wire a solenoid directly to the locking mechanism and get rid of the manual lock completely... but if your battery dies... you're out of luck unless you've got a failsafe device....
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Old 06-16-2004, 12:51 AM   #14
cnk
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The fact that you went to Chinatown, NYC means that you live in the Tri-State area. You are aware of the crime spree going on with stolen WRX/STi's in the past year aren't you? I would never leave my car parked outside overnight anywhere in NNJ or NYC.

Calvin
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Old 06-16-2004, 09:12 AM   #15
strohausii
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..i've had a total of 3 car break ins in my 17 years of driving, and in every case... something was left visible in the car to prompt it (one was even a shizzy pioneer HU). Becareful in NYC, they will even break your window (bums) to get your change if thats visible too (or so my cousin who works in the bronx says whenever we park downtown) no matter the car.
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Old 06-16-2004, 10:48 AM   #16
blowbigchunks
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Quote:
Originally posted by aznatama
slim jim or coat hanger... same thing... if you take off the door skin you can see how easy it really is to unlock the car. how do u think them AAA guys do it when u lock you keys in your car?...
this is exactly my point. i realize slim-jimming any car is pretty easy. but i was parked there for 2, 2.5 hours tops (not overnight, nothing visible inside the car), so this makes me think that they specifically targeted the wrx (and maybe a small handful of other cars) because it's *even easier* to get into than a regular slimjim job. i just don't think these guys are going around the neighborhood slimjimming every car until they found something. there were lots of other cars parked there. it just doesn't seem likely. especially when it happened twice. yes, i'm a schmuck for letting it happen again, but i'm still suspicious. so the frameless window thing was suggested, which i guess i'll have to accept as a possible answer.

also, lots of wrx's being stolen in the tri-state might just mean that people want to steal wrx's, not necessarily because they're an easier target than other cars. but i dunno.
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Old 06-16-2004, 03:53 PM   #17
Dragon7606
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Well to let you know the side windows are very strong and flexible. I had a Pontiac Sunfire (Don't ask, first car) and when I locked my keys in my car and had no other choice. I just pried the drivers side window open and worked my arm down to unlock the door. It was hot out and the sweat on my arm helped get it in. Other than that it was painful getting it in. It also worked on my girlfriends car when she locked her keys in. She was very surprised at how easy it was. Both cars had frames on them so the WRX may be easier since there is no door frame. But since I need the remote to lock the doors I haven't had the problem of locking my keys in the car.
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Old 06-16-2004, 04:20 PM   #18
cnk
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Quote:
Originally posted by blowbigchunks

also, lots of wrx's being stolen in the tri-state might just mean that people want to steal wrx's, not necessarily because they're an easier target than other cars. but i dunno.
That's pretty much what I already stated in my first reply. The WRX is very very easy to steal compared to other cars. Couple that with the fact that it's a fast car and you have the theft problem.

The fact that you left the car for only 2-2.5 hours is meaningless since it only take a few minutes to steal a car. If you're always in NYC, then I would step up your security measures.

Calvin
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Old 06-16-2004, 05:23 PM   #19
blowbigchunks
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Quote:
Originally posted by cnk
The fact that you left the car for only 2-2.5 hours is meaningless since it only take a few minutes to steal a car. If you're always in NYC, then I would step up your security measures.

Calvin
ok, so again, you're saying that the wrx is that much easier to get into than most other cars? and this is because of the frameless windows? i only mention the 2-2.5 hours to show that it was not a random break-in, but a targeted one. i still feel that stats showing many stolen wrx's could mean that people want wrx's, not necessarily that they're easier to get into. they were obviously not interested in stealing the car.

in my case, the police seem to think i'm making the whole thing up or something, because they don't see any forced entry. which is why i asked this question in the first place.

anyway the point is sort of moot, and i thank you for your replies. sorry to drag this on.
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Old 06-16-2004, 07:24 PM   #20
cnk
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I'll say it again. . .maybe this will make it clearer for you: Yes, the WRX is easier to steal then other cars. If you attend a local meet, I'm sure someone can show you how easy it is to break in to the car without any damage whatsoever. If I had to break in to a WRX, I could probably do it and be gone with the car in under 5 minutes and I'm not a car thief. You just have to know what you're doing and be familiar with the car.

Calvin
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Old 06-16-2004, 07:43 PM   #21
JT Clark
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Once again, we do not want to be showing how to break into our cars on the internet. Just ask someone the next time you go to a meet. Far fewer people will see.
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Old 06-16-2004, 08:18 PM   #22
ronaldwrx
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a better solution might be - when in chinatown pay the $10 or so to park in a secure garage.. if you think garages cost more, just keep looking .. there are some less expensive garages around a few blocks away from prime shopping areas .. the peace of mind is worth a couple bux.

maybe you can submit the parking lot fee to your company since you managed to not get the 3rd laptop stolen ..
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Old 06-16-2004, 09:33 PM   #23
mikkyo
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Did you have your laptops in the car when you parked and then put them in the trunk, or were they already locked in the trunk when you parked?

For what it is worth, all cars are easy to break into for a pro, period. Frameless windows, just mean any idiot can get in easier since you don't need a slimjim or a brain.
Lock your trunk release, get a good aftermarket alarm, park in garages, and/or get more insurance.
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Old 06-16-2004, 10:31 PM   #24
duroWRX
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Don't mean to hijack your thread... But seeing how fast and easy it is to remove the middle console in the WRX, if the security module was unplugged from it's harness would that stop the stock car alarm from going off?
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Old 06-17-2004, 04:16 AM   #25
Mirage
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I didn't read the entire thread but doesn't your company have a policy where u can't leave your laptops in the trunk when u leave your vehicle?

Perhaps they got your driver's door open and pull the trunk release.
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