Do DeLoreans get stolen?

[Rich]

I've never heard of a DeLorean theft.

Surely a few have been heisted over the years.

Any stories to share? Preferring first-hand accounts; that is, was YOUR DeLorean ever stolen or was an attempt made to steal it? I mean the whole car, not bits and pieces of it...

Also, no need to suggest anti-theft measures (Lo-Jak, The Club, alarms, etc.) that apply to any car.

I'm not finding any such "stolen D" thread titles in this forum.

[Silverbullet]

I would guess unless you put it in a cargo container, out of site, and shipped it out of the country, stealing it to drive would be a dumb idea... Way too easy for cops to spot. That's why people steal Hondas or Toyotas...

Craig

[Henrik]

I thought the same as I parked my D in a mall parking lot earlier today.

[JohnZ]

I think that the VIN and everything, as long as the support of local clubs, would make life hard for thieves!

Anyway it would be the only situation in which a door locking issue would be promoted! :biggrin:

[WelmoedJ]

I thought the same as I parked my D in a mall parking lot earlier today.

Some get stolen - recently one in Sweden - but turn up later with the IGN lock broken.

To make sure it's more difficult to steal your car, do lock each time you leave the car, wherever.
Park your car if possible always in a guarded area when away from home.
If there's no guarded parking, park it in plain view (it gets fingered though).

If you want more security, get a good alarm system (e.g. Cliffords).
Our cars - if equipped with an alarmsystem - is a hard nut to crack:
battery and alarm unit both reside inside the secured interior.
No easy way to disconnect power to the alarm unit.

[jawn101]

So I don't have any evidence to support this, but I think mine was at least broken in to at some point in its life. I noticed the drop glass on the driver's side has a different logo etched into it than all the other glass. It's still DMC glass, but it doesn't match the others. Also, when I removed all my carpet to shampoo them and install Dynamat, I found one or two small pieces of glass under there.

Again, no evidence, nothing on the vehicle history report - the glass could just have broken for some other reason, or maybe it's original and just has a different logo from a different batch.

[beernpizzalover]

I was curious if anyone here has used a RFID chip/tag to monitor the location of their vehicles, should they be stolen? I believe that similar technology is used quite prevalently by the rental car industry - mainly to charge you extra should you drive out of state.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Our cars have a built in theft deterrent. They are such a pain to maintain, and costly, that eventually the would be thief will beg you to take it back.:wink:

[Rich]

Thanks for the input so far. Less interest in why they are seldom stolen, just curious about whether or how often they ARE stolen.

Update after just a few posts today:

Regarding thefts of a DeLorean:
a. One second-hand report of a D stolen in Sweden recently.
b.

Regarding known but unsuccessful attempts to steal a DeLorean:
a.



Refreshing the question:
Surely a few have been heisted over the years.

Any stories to share? Preferring first-hand accounts; that is, was YOUR DeLorean ever stolen or was an attempt made to steal it? I mean the whole car, not bits and pieces of it...

Also, no need to suggest anti-theft measures (Lo-Jak, The Club, alarms, etc.) that apply to any car.

[refugeefromcalif]

With the Hot Start issue many of our cars have, My guess is that a thief would give up after a few minutes of trying to start it... :rolleyes:

George

[DMCMW Dave]

The only reason to steal one would be to part it out, and can you imagine the crapstorm awaiting someone who steals one and then starts ebaying off the parts, or trying to sell them to a vendor? This happens with other cars all the time, but nobody notices another Honda Accord being parted on eBay.

[chris williams]

We had one stolen in the UK this year: http://www.deloreans.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4732&hilit=stolen and dumped but damaged in the process.

Chris

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the input so far. Less interest in why they are seldom stolen, just curious about whether or how often they ARE stolen.

Update after just a few posts today:

Regarding thefts of a DeLorean:
a. One second-hand report of a D stolen in Sweden recently.
b.

Regarding known but unsuccessful attempts to steal a DeLorean:
a.



Refreshing the question:
Surely a few have been heisted over the years.

Any stories to share? Preferring first-hand accounts; that is, was YOUR DeLorean ever stolen or was an attempt made to steal it? I mean the whole car, not bits and pieces of it...

Also, no need to suggest anti-theft measures (Lo-Jak, The Club, alarms, etc.) that apply to any car.



I know what you are getting at and I tried to do the same thing on the subject of failed TABs. The results were about the same. 1 maybe 2 cases known or assumed to have caused it, but very little actual documented cases of cars that had TABs suddenly fail and wind up with the car upside down flattened beside the road.

My guess would be that if a thief knew enough to target a DeLorean, he wouldn't for the reasons above. If it were stolen, it would be the local joy ride type that are just out for fun and maybe they just leave it ditched beside the road at some point. I doubt either happen very often, partly because most D owners I know don't leave them in places where theft is likely.

[rothsean]

I've never heard of a DeLorean theft.

Surely a few have been heisted over the years.

Any stories to share? Preferring first-hand accounts; that is, was YOUR DeLorean ever stolen or was an attempt made to steal it? I mean the whole car, not bits and pieces of it...

Also, no need to suggest anti-theft measures (Lo-Jak, The Club, alarms, etc.) that apply to any car.

I'm not finding any such "stolen D" thread titles in this forum.



Well, one time there was this guy named Biff. He was old and he stole the DeLorean and went back to 1955 to tell himself about a sports almanac. He was caught eventually and was stuck buffing cars well into retirement.

[Dangermouse]

In the 5 years I've been here I only recall the one in Sweden last year and the one in the UK this year.

I read that there was on in the NW (Seattle maybe) that was heisted off the street. Recovered and the owner put a Stage II in it. I think the member is on here, but don't recall the name.

The 4th one was Chad/Lord Vadus who thought there was an attempt to take his. A few years back.

No first hand account though, sorry (but thankful also).

[martydmc12]

I recall a story about a stolen D a couple of years back on the DML. If memory serves me correct, it was in the Seattle area? The car was gone for a few days, but was eventually located in a parking structure. Only some minor damage was done; the seats were ripped (or knifed), and I think they took the radio.

I once spoke with an owner who had his DMC grill emblem stolen.

I'm still waiting for the day when some idiot(s) do steal a D and tries to strip it down, especially the stainless steel panels. Anyone who's ever dealt with those panels knows that they can be extremely sharp around the inside edges. If they're dumb enough to steal one and start stripping it, they're more than likely dumb enough to cut themselves quite badly on the stainless.

The only way I can ever see one getting stolen and never found, is that it most likely would end up in Saudi Arabia or somewhere like that, as this is usually the case with exotic and classic cars. Anything else is probably teenagers just looking for a joyride, or like I said, some idiot carjacker that doesn't know what he's getting into (a rookie mistake).

Best protection; keep it locked, put a club on it, disconnect the battery when not in use (or a battery disconnect switch). The more deterrents you have on the car, the less likely it will get stolen; and that goes for any type of automobile.

[louielouie2000]

I was at a car show in Raleigh 10+ years ago (I can't remember if it was my DeLorean, or if I was with Darren Decker), but there was a rather skeezy looking guy holding his young daughter and telling her about how he'd once stolen a DeLorean in Miami and taken it for an afternoon joyride. :rolleyes1:

[OverlandMan]

I was at a car show in Raleigh 10+ years ago (I can't remember if it was my DeLorean, or if I was with Darren Decker), but there was a rather skeezy looking guy holding his young daughter and telling her about how he'd once stolen a DeLorean in Miami and taken it for an afternoon joyride. :rolleyes1:

WTF!?! Another parent setting a good example for his kid(s), regardless of there being truth to his comment or not. :what_the:

[topcop66]

Best theft deterrent, IMO, is getting a battery disconnect switch. Switch it off and you're all set. Since the majority of folks know little to nothing about the car, its a safe bet no one outside the community knows about the location of the battery.
In the years I have been an owner and have been to countless shows....maybe 2 people have noticed, and asked, where the battery was.
Some one looking for just a joy/thrill ride for a few hours would be unable to start the car.

[Ryan King]

Best theft deterrent, IMO, is getting a battery disconnect switch. Switch it off and you're all set. Since the majority of folks know little to nothing about the car, its a safe bet no one outside the community knows about the location of the battery.
In the years I have been an owner and have been to countless shows....maybe 2 people have noticed, and asked, where the battery was.
Some one looking for just a joy/thrill ride for a few hours would be unable to start the car.

Only downside to that is you can't engage your alarm system.... :/
So its either, A. Turn on your alarm and hope you hear it if it goes off or B. Battery Shut off

[JMLaux]

Our cars have a built in theft deterrent. They are such a pain to maintain, and costly, that eventually the would be thief will beg you to take it back.:wink:

And I thought you were going to say inertia switch, just kick the floorboard before you get out of the car every time. :D

[Bikercmbc]

The inertia switch is what I use if I park my car where someone might think of taking it for a ride. quick, easy, and only delorean owners know where it is and what it does, plus the plunger is small and cant really be seen. plus you can keep the battery hooked up and alarm set.

[Domi]

That's a good idea :aniclap:

[Ryan King]

The inertia switch is what I use if I park my car where someone might think of taking it for a ride. quick, easy, and only delorean owners know where it is and what it does, plus the plunger is small and cant really be seen. plus you can keep the battery hooked up and alarm set.

I dont know why I never thought about that......

[jawn101]

Agreed, this is genius. Exactly like the kill switches I paid someone good money to install in my cars in the 90s. Never thought of it either.

[Jonathan]

And I thought you were going to say inertia switch, just kick the floorboard before you get out of the car every time. :D


The inertia switch is what I use if I park my car where someone might think of taking it for a ride. quick, easy, and only delorean owners know where it is and what it does, plus the plunger is small and cant really be seen. plus you can keep the battery hooked up and alarm set.


Agreed, this is genius. Exactly like the kill switches I paid someone good money to install in my cars in the 90s. Never thought of it either.

Only limitation with setting off the inertia switch is you also can't be using your power door locks feature. Triggering the inertia switch will force the door locks open and keep them open.

Might defeat the purpose of a theft deterrant system... the thief can't steal your car, but he could get in it and take a nap if he wanted ;)

[Rich]

Surely a few have been heisted over the years.

Any stories to share? Preferring first-hand accounts; that is, was YOUR DeLorean ever stolen or was an attempt made to steal it? I mean the whole car, not bits and pieces of it...

Also, no need to suggest anti-theft measures (Lo-Jak, The Club, alarms, etc.) that apply to any car......

Okay, after nearly a week on the board here is the tally of incidents by report type and with paraphrasing:

1. "My own DeLorean was stolen" - none
2. "We heard about a DeLorean that was stolen -
a. in Sweden last year, recovered with busted ignition lock"
b. in the UK this year, recovered with damage to exterior"
c. in Seattle USA a few years ago, recovered with damage to interior"


Am leaving aside the "maybe somebody tried to break in" stories. Thinking later about that part of the question a break-in could be a shot at pulling out something valuable and not stealing the car vs. breaking in with intent to steal the car.

The frank answer to my question is "Yes, DeLoreans DO get stolen". And the non-statistical follow-up answer is "But not very often."

May the theft stats and the insurance rates for these cars always reflect that last part.

Thanks for the input.

[jwrayth]

Well I can update you; Somebody tried to steal my DeLorean in the UK this week! Drivers side door is scratched all around the lock and the lock itself has been decimated. They weren't able to open it as they just destroyed the innards of the lock, but still.

I keep it indoors in secure parking with 24 hour CCTV so here's hoping I catch the fucker, but removed the battery and some other bits for now to be safe in case they decide to come back and try again.

[Domi]

Sorry to read such a story.
Fortunately the thief doesn't succeed, hope you'll be able to catch him someday.

[rdarlington]

I was curious if anyone here has used a RFID chip/tag to monitor the location of their vehicles, should they be stolen? I believe that similar technology is used quite prevalently by the rental car industry - mainly to charge you extra should you drive out of state.

As a ham radio operator, I will be installing an APRS beacon in mine. These are basically a radio, say 5 watt walkie talkie type, a gps, and an interface between them that converts the NMEA data out of the gps into digital audio signals that get transmitted out. There are repeaters and internet gateways all across the USA (and much of the world) that would pretty much ensure that the location of my car gets into a database online where I can track it.

Of course, this works both ways so I won't be advertising all the details needed to find my car!

-Bob, N3XKB

[SS Spoiler]

If memory serves me right, Rad Dad had his amp, radio stolen.

[dmcerik]

The first two parts cars I ever bought were theft recovery cars. both stolen in 1984 from the car lot. 1 was trapped around a tree and the other set on fire. Based on the year they were stolen I wouldn't rule out foul play by the car lot, but thats just my opinion.