car alarms - can the installers come back and break in?

[theanswer]

i've been looking to get an alarm (something 2way like autopage rs-1000 or rs-900) and a few local people have told me to be careful where i go b/c the installers will track you down and come back and break into your car since they know your alarm. how true do you guys think this is?

[shortys408]

its true. they can find out where you live with your plate number. and they know exactly where the alarm module is in your car because they put it in.

[RedViper98]

Being an ex installer for a major electronics chain, I'll agree with the above statement that it is possible for the installer to break into a customer's car; but that's assuming they have a spare remote of the same type of alarm they are installing, or have made a copy of your key to get into the car discreetly. Without a remote, they're no different than any other thief trying to turn the car on...even if they know where the alarm's kill swith is located. Most alarms I've seen require the car's ignition to be on and the kill switch depressed to silence the alarm...the alarm will still sound for about ten seconds trying to get this accomplished WITH the car's keys. So, all in all, IMHO don't go to "the guy around the corner's garage", but definitely ask around as to who the professional car installers are. Hope that's more than clear as mud.

[Heels1010]

i will tell you something u should be more concerned with that hit me friend. He had his civic completely modded out and he brought it to the local flea market to get a stupid blue scanner type thing put on his dash connected to his alarm. His car was stolen 3 days later and found stripped the next day in a near by parkinglot.

Some sketchy places can make a "blacklist" of customer names. The place ended up getting shut down because of the customer complaints. Supposedly the installers trere would make a list of mods that u have (rims, stereo etc) and would hand over your information to the thieves. (license plate numbers, alarm system and mods). Its ridiculous and very annoying!! They would sell your information to other thieves.

[theanswer]

great so right now i only have an intake. i'll get the alarm now before i get anything else and that way i won't attract any attention. i'm still searching for a reputable place to get a 2 way alarm.

[psi101101]

get some people from nico in FL and maybe they will help you out, i got mine installed at my dealership..hope this helps..

[Cali 2 Balti G]

i've been looking to get an alarm (something 2way like autopage rs-1000 or rs-900) and a few local people have told me to be careful where i go b/c the installers will track you down and come back and break into your car since they know your alarm. how true do you guys think this is?

Thats pretty much common sense that alarm the your installer would be able to defeat your alarm. It also makes sense that installers and thieves alike would know how to defeat most alarm systems.

So - as others have said it helps to go somewhere reputable or do it your self if you have or can obtain a friend with skills or local mechanic. I think ultimately a thief can get your car its just a matter of how bad do they want it. Alarms, Clubs etc can slow a thief down or deter lesser criminals. but then again a thief can just come with a tow truck or flatbed and snatch the whole car. If you have the factory alarm and lojack - that is a great start.

Do your research and on this forum (including the stereo section - Dr. Rob offers alot of experience with aftermarket alarms) and research elsewhere and make a decision from there.

Good Luck
Modified by Cali 2 Balti G at 3:30 PM 2/17/2009

[rjdmmfl1]

Being an ex installer for a major electronics chain, I'll agree with the above statement that it is possible for the installer to break into a customer's car; but that's assuming they have a spare remote of the same type of alarm they are installing, or have made a copy of your key to get into the car discreetly. Without a remote, they're no different than any other thief trying to turn the car on...even if they know where the alarm's kill swith is located. Most alarms I've seen require the car's ignition to be on and the kill switch depressed to silence the alarm...the alarm will still sound for about ten seconds trying to get this accomplished WITH the car's keys. So, all in all, IMHO don't go to "the guy around the corner's garage", but definitely ask around as to who the professional car installers are. Hope that's more than clear as mud.

my shop has spare remotes that they definately could program to unlock my car at night if they wanted... so could it happen... absolutely.... with a two way alarm, my remote chirps and flashes anytime someone disarms the alarm... but if I don't hear that, then they would have access to the car without the interuption of my Glock....

there are other ways that arams can be defeated... my local installers shared some of that info with me... but I would NEVER even think about saying what they are on an online forum...

suffice to say, as Cali stated earlier, if they want your car bad enough, NOTHING will keep a skilled enough thief from getting it!

[theanswer]

i had a purse snatched from a friends car (smashed the window and grabbed) and i've had car windows broken on my cars just for the sake of breaking them.

my main concern is installing one of these new double din players and have them take it. not really that concerned about my car getting stolen as that doesn't happen here. i think it's mostly teen thiefs, so no real professionals.

where can i ask about specific alarms? one of the main shops here is asking $450 for a clifford matrix 50.5 (same as viper 5900) installed.

[rjdmmfl1]

i had a purse snatched from a friends car (smashed the window and grabbed) and i've had car windows broken on my cars just for the sake of breaking them.

my main concern is installing one of these new double din players and have them take it. not really that concerned about my car getting stolen as that doesn't happen here. i think it's mostly teen thiefs, so no real professionals.

where can i ask about specific alarms? one of the main shops here is asking $450 for a clifford matrix 50.5 (same as viper 5900) installed.

that price is not bad for that alarm installed... some places will charge 200- 400 just for the install labor..

the thing is, however, the 5900 (50.5X) is a generation old... the newer generation alarms is what most folks want to try and up the anty against more sophisticated crooks... but for the everyday thief, that alarm will do fine.

Just be sure to have a plan when you run up on them and they are still inside your car!... times are hard, the economy sicks, and thieves are more desperate than ever. The realy purpose of a two way pager alarm is so that you will know EXACTLY when they are breaking ino your car... if you;re prepared to run up on someone breaking into your car, be prepared to deal with the possible consequences!