Stolen stag

[Guest]

Thanks - sounds sensible, simple and affordable.

[Guest]

Various replies ref stolen stag

Thanks for the various responses - appreciated. As you can see I'm yet to get the hang of this forum format but that will come.

Cheers.

[DJT]

The gear lever - handbrake locks are a lot more effective on a manual-overdrive Stag than on most cars. On most cars, you can easily unscrew the gear knob. On a Man-O/d Stag, you have to use a spanner to undo the nut below the gear-knob, and that is protected by the lock. I wouldn't say it is complete protection, but it helps more than on most cars.

Dave,

The Autolock one I have had for years came with a steel collar which is fitted around the stem of the lever with an Allen key grub screw. The lock fits around this so it cannot be removed even if the knob is taken off. It is equally effective on an auto Stag.

Admittedly the handbrake can be overcome with the use of wire cutters, but the car would still be in gear.

[davidf]

Dave,

The Autolock one I have had for years came with a steel collar which is fitted around the stem of the lever with an Allen key grub screw. The lock fits around this so it cannot be removed even if the knob is taken off. It is equally effective on an auto Stag.

Admittedly the handbrake can be overcome with the use of wire cutters, but the car would still be in gear.

Yes, you are right - I remember now because we fitted on to my daughter's Herald. The benefit on the Mo/d is that you don't need this ring.

[Bysshe777]

Fitting a Tracker system would help I'm sure....

[Goldstar]

Fitting a Tracker system would help I'm sure....

Only if you fit a dual band one according to the Grand Theft Auto UK programme I watched last night on Ch5. Standard trackers seem to be easy to jam if the thieves have the right equipment

[KOY 23]

I will try to catch up that programme. My initial thoughts are that you have to be careful with the terminology. Satellite tracking systems have two radio links. The link from satellite to tracking system is a preset number of channels. The GSM/GPRS link from tracking system to your mobile uses one or more of the 4 GSM bands, If one band is jammed it could switch to another, so there is a possibility of getting the signal out, which I think out what they are saying. As well as dual band you can also buy quad band tracking systems.

You can buy GSM jammers to block the mobile phone systems either specific or all bands.

This all sounds good except that GPS jammers sold on e-bay jam the satellite link, so the dual or quad band GSM systems are no more effective than a single band.

I suggest not to forewarn the scumbags by advertising that you have a tracker fitted.

Nothing is 100% but you can increase the odds in your favour.

[Goldstar]

All good info John.

The scumbags can 'find' a tracker using a fairly rudimentary voltage detector according to the programme

[David Lloyd]

Dare I say...fit 2, one that is easy to find and a cheapy; a second that is more comprehensive. Hopefully after finding the 1st they will think, job done!

[Woodgatestag]

Sorry to read this.

I hope the car resurfaces and is returned to its rightful owner soon!

[Lingen]

I am pretty sure that it was a remark made on a Top Gear programme many years ago by Quentin Willson. It became quite an issue with the Club's insurers, and Steve Kiefer contacted the BBC to find out what facts they had to make such a statement. They said "Nothing concrete, but it was what they had heard". Steve expressed his views strongly, and explained the insurance implications. No apology was forthcoming-what a surprise-but I wonder if it had anything to do with Willsons derogatory remarks about the Stag in the recent TV programme on the Bond cars?
Mike.

[geordie tiler]

I feel sick loosing your pride and joy absolute arseholes.

[Lingen]

Hi sartfel (?) That remarkably stupid remark was made by Quentin Willson on a programme he used to host on a BBC channel. The Club wrote to him personally, asking with what authority he had made the announcement. He eventually had to admit that it was "What he had heard". Fortunately the insurers did not "Up" the premiums as a result. I think the low cost of insuring our Stags these days shows that they are not a liability as far as the underwriters are concerned.
It certainly isn't a major problem, or even a minor one if it is properly secured.
Mike.

[jleyton]

Hi Mike,

I'm not sure whether you noticed it or not but sartfel posted his comment way back in August 2014 - in fact his last activity on here was only three days after that post, which was his first - so I don't expect he'll see your comments.

However it is really interesting to read what you say so thanks for posting it. It's good to hear that the Club can take action like this when necessary.

Cheers

Julian