Date:         Thu, 15 Apr 2004 20:19:27 -0700
Reply-To:     Mark Seifert <theburnvictims@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Seifert <theburnvictims@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: how do you break into a vanagon?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

I think if someone really wants to break into your van, they'll get in one
way or another. Whether they know how to unlock the doors from the outside
or they have to smash the windows. I could post a long list of ways to break
into a Bug, but all the thieves out there already know them. You can get
into a Bug just by looking at it a certain way. I had a girlfriend a few
years ago who had 3 stereos stolen, and one time they broke the rear wing
window and took the entire speaker board behind the back seat. Each time,
they would either destroy the locks with a screwdriver or just shatter the
windows, and they always left the doors wide open, and a big mess on the
ground. So don't worry about this information getting out to the public. If
someone is desperate enough, they'll figure out  a way to get in.

>From: Eric Zeno <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
>Reply-To: Eric Zeno <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: how do you break into a vanagon?
>Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 19:28:07 -0400
>
>It think this is a good thread to make public.  This way we can secure
>our vanagons better.
>
>        Try the sliding windows.  These are easy to get in, if
>you have done, any thing to fix them after years of where.
>
>             Eric                   86-VW4x4
>             vw4x4@fyi.net          86-SS Syncro
>             Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
>                                    92-Jetta GWC
>             www.fyi.net/~vw4x4/vw4x4.htm
>
>On Thu, 15 Apr 2004, Jeff Oxroad wrote:
>
> > I don't know a good way. But I would sure like to suggest that this
>thread is
> > responded to privately rather than on the list.
> >
> > Having easy ways to break into a vanagon in the archives, and having it
>pop
> > up when someone searches either Google or the archives with "break in
>vanagon"
> > makes me a little nervous. Getting into a vehicle cleanly gives a theif
>plenty
> > of time to steal it as no one passing by is alerted by a shattered
>window or
> > anything suspicious. It looks like a guy sitting in "his" (or her to be
>fair)
> > car. And I'm tired of going to the Cop shop to fill out Police reports
>for my
> > car getting broken into. My bus has actually not been broken into,
>although my
> > Fox has twice and the hubcaps have been stolen once.
> >
> > I don't know if this is a common method and/or if it would work on the
> > Vanagon, but they got into my Fox by smashing the window. It was pretty
>effective.
> >
> > Incidentlally a kid pulled up in my neighborhood in an 85 Toyota with my
>Fox
> > hubcaps on his car the day after they were stolen. After a short talk he
> > helped me put them back on my car. As for the busted windows, I'm still
>picking
> > glass out of the inside of the car and will be forever.
> >
> > My buddy in Burbank this weekend had his mostly mint 87 Toyato stolen
>and run
> > into a tree and totaled. The theives got about a 1/2 mile before
>totalling
> > the car. Some places, and this is one of them, we have to worry about
>educating
> > theives in the art of wrong doing..
> >
> > And as far as the break ins to my car, I finally got smart. I park "NY
>style"
> > with the glove box open and empty and the ashtray the same way. Lst time
>they
> > stole the ashtray change. The bus empty and the cabinets are all open.
> >
> > I've never minded being poor. I just hate living with poor people.
> >
> > Best
> > Jeff
> > 83.5 Westfalia
> > LA,CA
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 4/15/2004 1:32:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > theburnvictims@HOTMAIL.COM writes:
> >
> >
> > > i've locked my keys in my vanagon one time, and i tried to break in
>with a
> > > slim-jim, but couldnt do it. luckily i had a spare key available. does
> > > anyone know a good way to break in without damaging anything?
> > >
> > >
> >

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