Rep Power: 311

I'm about to install a new stereo in my '02 EX coupe that has a detachable face. I have the factory alarm installed. I know that the factory alarm isnt the best, but it'll do for now.

If a thief see's that there isnt a complete stereo do you think they'd move on to someone elses car instead? In other words, do thieves steal stereos with the face missing? Thanks for any input, appreciate it.

 
Rep Power: 321

If they want something, they'll find a way to get it.
Most likely the faceplate is under the seat, in the glove box, door pockets, or the pockets behind the seats.
Or you could have it with you 24/7.
Even if they dont steal it they will damage your car trying.

 
Rep Power: 0

it's less attractive, but it won't deter theives...they'll get whatever else you have inside your car.

 
Rep Power: 311

So whats better then, leaving the stock stereo in or swap it out with my detachable face?

 
Rep Power: 432

get headuint. sounds 100x better than pos stock cd player. i currently dont have security system. but my cd player is detchable so its fine .eventually i will get security system installed [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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ive heard that a faceplate is like over 130 bucks, so i dont think it would be worth it for them to steal

 
Rep Power: 417

it mainly depends on your area.. and what else do you have in your car. think like a theif... i know if i saw a car with their face off, i wouldnt even try cause i dont know if its a $100 or $1000 deck. BUT if i knew which one they had or if i knew they had a system(by hearing them thump while they park) then i'd probably jack you. but ya i think its worth it. i didnt even have a CD player, just a cassette so..

 
Rep Power: 351

Ok, so that means if you live by VNlilMAN make sure and set your alarm!! j/k I have never had a H/U stolen unless I left the face on....now that I think about it, that is about a b*tch! But yeah, I've had stuff jacked many times. I agree with VNlilMAN, if someone hears you when you park, thats a tipoff that you have something in there. But as far as just your h/u, I wouldn't worry, if someone wants to break into your car, they are going to, whether the see a face on it or not. Just get a good alarm....and don't leave the face on it!

 
Rep Power: 417

even alarms arent very helpful. it will deter people like me [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG] but not other theives. all someone has to do is disconnect the power to the siren and thats it. and its not like your always going to hear it. most of the time you wont. those pager things might help tho. but ya main thing to do is know where you park. if i park in a ghetto place like my neighborhood, i always take off the face and take it WITH me. if its a fairly rich place like beverly hills, i usually dont worry about it. n the stoopidest thing you could do is bump infront of a crowd and park... i always turn it down a block before my destination. well when i had my system... hopefully i'll get one soon

 
Rep Power: 311

My EX is just a week old tomorrow and all stock. I like the stock HU, but would rather have my MP3 player instead. Not sure if the stock HU is worth even stealing, but ya never know I guess. Thanks for the advice about turning down the volume, I'll have to try and do that if I get a decent sytem installed. Thanks again everybody.

 
Rep Power: 0

leave nothing in the car and leave the doors unlocked, I lived in NYC for years and that was the only way- the immobilizer should keep your car from going anywhere, if they wanted to steal the car itself, trust me, they have the tools to open the door in seconds, or at best, you'll just have a broken window over nothing. Just my humble opinion on the matter. Or, get a paging unit, but if your car is broken into, the damage will already be done, you;ll just know about it sooner.

 
Rep Power: 0

dont our cars automatically lock its doors when left without key in the ignition?

it did once on me, boy was I glad I had the passenger side window rolled down
[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

is there a way to keep the stock HU and install aftermarket HU elsewhere away from the dash? maybe there's a selector switch available?

 
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our cars do not automatically lock, but if you have an aftermarket alarm like i do, passive arming may be programmed to automatically lock 30 seconds after the last door has closed.

 
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its true, if you have remote entry, our doors lock automatically. to test it out, just press the unlock button and get in your car, dont put the key into ignition and wait for like 20 seconds or so and the doors will lock.

 
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If someone did want to steal your HU, they would need that face to use it obviously. In order to replace that face, usually you need to show proof of purchase and registration of that HU to the manufacturer before you can get one. That's my experience though.

 
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also, just unlock your door with the remote & even if you don't open the doors it will lock after a few seconds.


Another point, my car was broken into this past weekend and all they took of my hu was the face plate...figure that out. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]

 
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They did the same thing to me. $1400 worth of damage for a freakin faceplate. Cost 67 bucks to order from pioneer.

 
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If I were to take the chance of going to jail for stealing a stereo, I would brake into a car that had the face attached. I wouldn't waste my time with a HU that has no face unless I knew the exact HU you had so that I knew what face to steal or buy, so that I could use or sell the HU. Just take off the face and carry it with you...

 
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you obviously havent broken into very many cars there =)

 
Rep Power: 316

If a thief wants anything in your car, he'll get it. We've all seen the tv shows highlighting how easy it is for a professional thief to rob you blind. I doubt not having the faceplate would deter many of them. Most radios with a removeable faceplate are the more expensive models, i.e. more desirable, anyway and would probably make the thief more likely to try to steal it. Not having the faceplate would probably not deter them since they probably know where to get them cheap. After all, if they're a pro, they've done it many times.

My suggestion is to keep a cheap am/fm radio in the normal place and stealth install a nice stereo in the area around the lighter, like many on this forum have done. A radio down low would be hard to spot by a thief, especially with tinted windows. But if he saw the am/fm cheapo in the top of the dash, he might move on...unless he heard you earlier.

I'm hoping someone eventually makes a kit to put the radio down there. They'd sell a ton of 'em on this forum alone. Seems like every week someone asks how to do that.

If anyone actually wants to put an am/fm radio in the stock position, you'll probably find many DX owners who'll sell you one. My DX came with it...no cassette and no cd player. Talk about no options! (it did have 4 speakers though)

 
Rep Power: 316

Yeah! Check out this bad boy! I can tell you're all drooling to have it. I'll start the bidding at $100...heheh

 
Rep Power: 0

To be exact, I have never broken into a car... I wouldn't steal from someone since I know how it is to have something stolen from me. Everything I have I work for...[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]