>I was referred to you by fellow vanagon list member Joel Walker (found >your address throughout the archives which I have been studying). He >saw my post about security in NYC as follows: > ><<Hello all, > >First a general thanks for being who you are, good-willed, bus people. >I'm about to purchase my second Westfalia, a clean white '88. As I live >in New York City, I'm in need of information about vanagon westfalia >vehicle security. I found a few threads of relevance but not much >general info regarding how to keep vandals out of the vehicle. >Obviously, nothing of value should be in sight, leave the glove box and >other cabinets open and as empty as possible (all national and state

Do not leave your glovebox or cabinets open.

>parks recommend this at remote parking lots.) >If the only weak points are the wing-vents and the sliding westy >windows, are there ways to make them more secure? Do these wing-vent >pry-in preventors work and where can they be bought?

I use the pry-in preventors and they work until someone prys their way in and breaks your wing vent.

>After 10 years in NYC with my '72 Campmobile, it has been ransacked >about a dozen times. I have never bothered to fix the passenger >wing-vent which was the first point of entry a few months after moving >to the village in '88. Basically, it seems leaving this as a weak point

I had a '72 campmobile in the city for about 15 years and it got broken into about once every 18 months.

>(and never installing another radio) has prevented any glass from ever >being broken. I finally mounted a hasp and locked the engine >compartment after my battery was stolen for the 3rd or 4th time. I >can't bear the thought of these violations taking place on the '88.

I parked my syncro westfalia vanagons on the street (83rd & Columbus) for 10 years and was broken into only once when I left too many pillows in the van and it looked like it might have some good stuff in it.

Basically, the Vanagon Camper looks too weird for thieves who are more comfortable breaking into an older style bus. You will be safer with the Vanagon camper than the 72 and have fewer break ins.

>Has anyone installed an anti-theft device (no audible alarms, please) >with electrical cut-offs? I know this won't deter the ransacking. Are >vanagon westys targets for theft anyway? I heard the punks that steal >cars can't drive sticks. Any stats out there?

I installed a silent radio beeper. When they break in, beepers go off in my apartment so I can run down and...uh...fight them?

Also: a standard alarm (disable the too-easy-to-set-off shock sensor and allow the door pins to set it off) and a Kryptonite steering wheel lock, and of course, a slide removeable radio.

>Thanks and regards, >David Bogle >'72 2.0l Brooklyn Campmobile >Soon to be owner of '88 Vanagon Westfalia>> > >So that's my story. Btw I live in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. What about >you? I don't know how much it matters which neighborhood. I don't >know of any attempts to steal my '72. There's never been any tampering >with the ignition. This may change with the '88. I'm also looking for >a garage to share with a motorcyling neighbor, but it will be on the >street plenty also. > >Regards, >David

Generally speaking, my experience applies only to Manhattan. I have so many years parking on the street that I've got a pretty good feel for it. ________________________________________________________ Derek Drew New York, NY & Washington, DC drew@interport.net '90 Syncro Westfalia... ...seen off-road at http://www.tiu.net/~des/vw/drew/index.html

Also seen at: http://www.pipeline.com/~tforhan/swrange.htm http://4wd.sofcom.com/VW/snow.html http://www.pipeline.com/~tforhan/swmassn.htm http://4wd.sofcom.com/VW/Campers/Campers.html

Note: most valuable Vanagon sites on the planet (for owners) are: http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon ftp://gerry.vanagon.com/pub/