Just wondering what others use to secure their minis. I know how easy they are to break into so I'd like to be able to do work when I'm at the office when I take the mini instead of stressing that it won't be there when I get back to the carpark.

I always chuck a steering wheel lock on it but then a steering wheel change is pretty easy on a mini has anyone used a handbrake to shifter lock eg:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/271214459426 ... 1423.l2649

or any other recommendations?

a hidden switch on the electric fuel pump helps if you have one

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Too many cars, and too little time.

You can lock or isolate a lot of things but these days I think some sort of tracker is a good idea.

tracker & pay as you go simcard can pick them up off ebay for $20, finding a good spot to hide it is another story

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Didn't realise the GPS trackers had got so cheap. Do you guys with trackers recommend a particular brand? Also which prepaid plan are you using for the sim?

nothing personal, but I just hate that idea - reason being that they'll get around the corner before it conks out, giving them time to either smash it up or find the switch. No bystanders would question them if the car rolled to a stop and they got out to "fix it"

I much prefer a hidden switch to the 12v coil supply, that way the car won't start at all.

You could get clever and hide it in plain sight too, instead of using a switch, how about using a socket that you plug something into that links the power supply. When you want to disable the car you pull the plug out. It could be a USB socket or similar that wouldn't look out of place on or under the dash with nothing plugged into it.

But then my normal approach to saving my Cooper from being stolen is to keep it looking like it's not worth stealing

oh, and I have a handbrake combination lock on it

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Beat me to it.

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Might be a bit of a hassle having to go under the bonnet but removing coil wires or the dizzy rotor (and taking it with you) is effective.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

When they tried to steal my clubby it was looking pretty bad - hadn't been polished in years ... didn't deter them....
they'd broken into about a dozen cars and only tried to take mine...
(they even used my multimeter to assist in hotwiring !)

What stopped them (other than some work colleagues) was
- the fly off handbrake which they couldn't release (they then just kicked it to pieces)
- the lack of idle - it kept stalling - it was a knack to keep that engine running.

I had the hidden fuel pump switch but they only got 2m out of the parking spot - so it never played a part.

After that I removed the rotor button when parking all day at work.... and have bought a GPS tracker - but never got to getting it all setup.
I got an AMAYSIM card as was cheap and doesn't expire - but you have to top up every 3 months ...
(may just use it in a mobile - has a cool number with "1275" in it )

My overall plan is the 4 simple electrical ones - switches for : the fuel pump, the coil and the ignition (starter) and a battery disconnect.

As they say nothing will stop them if they are really after it - but should stop the opportunists...

No comment on any of this....(as I have said before) why give any low-life thieving bastard help (assuming they learnt to read)

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"Show me the Mini!"

Yes it's a toss up between whether the visual features steering wheel, handbrake locks etc are a suitable deterrent and put people off to whether the trackers are required for the criminals that are gonna take your car at all costs. Might be good to do a combo of an obvious lock, hidden switch and the tracker.

Has anyone used the handbrake to shifter type locks I posted? Or where can the conbination type handbrake locks be purchased?

Thanks for all the input anyway guys.

Going with multiple options is a good thing.

Remember don't tell anyone what you have because there are car thieves reading this forum.

Your best anti theft device is you, never let it out of your sight. But failing that, visual deterents are best, stop them before they even try.

1. steering wheel/club lock
2. steering lock it's self
3. stickers i.e. 'this vehicle fitted with gps tracking system' (whether fitted or not)
4. avoid bad areas, railway c/parks, back streets, unsecure parking stn's etc

The majority of car thieves are just after items in the car, some will take advantage of joy riding in it if not secure (you don't see many new cars stolen by everyday car thieves) old cars are easy targets. Some arn't happy with just your stuff or just a spin round the block, they usually burn it to remove evidence.
The problem of 'proffesional' thieves is a bit harder to combat, they come equiped with all the gear. And some even use tow trucks, posing as 'breakdown' recovery or reposession agents. The only way to 'fight' these guy's are using high tech stuff, GPS trackers (well hidden AND secured), glass etching, data dots, etc. Imobilisers don't work, locks won't stop them and insurance is usually the only way you won't be out of pocket.
Unfortunately these scum bags aren't going away and the only way is to stay one step ahead of them.

remove your locks & weld up the holes & install keyless entry is another, and the smoothed look is great.

amaysim are good as a pay as you go simcard, i have a spare mobile phone that i use it in & the phone only gets used once a month to keep it active its for my daughter to take on school trips to use in an emergancy

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One weak spot as I found out is the windows. We lost our stereo a while back, and the thief was actually pretty considerate. They popped out the rear windows from the Estate, nicked the stereo but left the glass on the lawn so they wouldn't be damaged. Annoying but heartwarming as well, in an odd sort of way.