Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Soft Top Security Issues

11K views 72 replies 43 participants last post by  chcg12 
#1 ·
I just ordered a 2013 JKUR with the premium soft top. I am completely opposed to the idea of the hard top. I personaly don't like the look and I don't like the difficulty of removing and putting it back.

That being said, I know that the soft top significantly comprimises my security. So my question is what can I do to make the soft top as secure as possible.

Any reccomended alarm systems? Or anything else that may help?
 
#2 ·
Check out the Tuffy Security Enclosure Deck to add lockable trunk space to your Jeep. They also have other products that add additional lockable space throughout the rig.

I wouldn't bother with an alarm system. Your JKUR already has one.
 
#4 ·
Maybe flamethrowers controlled by a proximity alarm? Trained chimpanzee to provide overwatch?

A soft top is inherently insecure and most alarms are pretty useless. Any dirtbag can slice your top and make off with whatever he wants before anyone looks out their window to do something about it.
The best deterrent is leave nothing in the cabin for someone to have a reason to break into your Jeep. Hell, I once left a hockey stick and some CDs in my old ZJ and some asshole tried to punch out both my locks to get at it. Leave nothing in the open and no one will have a reason to break into your Jeep.
 
#6 ·
Alarm w/Proximity Sensor

When we had our aftermarket alarm installed, we opted for the addition of a Proximity Sensor with the unit. It has sensitivity adjustment, that I can get to. Before I re-adjusted, after dealer installed, it would detect motion/precence on either side of the passenger side, driver side or rear tailgate, and give warning beeps from the siren, if you got too close. Even kids playing on sidewalk directly behind Jeep would set it off. I re-adjusted, so that I actually have to stick my arm thru windown and down into seat before it goes off now. It also reacts from center of rear cargo area. It does significantly draw from battery if left on all the time. I had a switch installed, where I can only use it as needed. It will go about 4-5 days, if the Jeep is not started, before it draws battery down to a dangerously low level..I found out the hard way ! Works great and keeps the curious away. We feel more secure, with doors off, tops off, windows down with that sensor engaged... The warning turns into a full alarm condition, with siren if you maintain precence in protected zone for longer than about 5 seconds or so...
 
#9 ·
I re-adjusted, so that I actually have to stick my arm thru windown and down into seat before it goes off now. It also reacts from center of rear cargo area.
Lets say Im some degenerate dirtbag walking the street and I see your Jeep with its windows down or doors off. You go to lunch parked on the street and you turn your proximity alarm on. I see this open vehicle with a cell phone or purse or wallet sitting on the seat or wherever. I just stick my arm in and walk off with it. The alarm may go off, but by the time anyone does anything about it, Im long gone. If you are at least going to have a proximity alarm in the thing, dont let someone be able to stick their hand in before it goes off! Whats the difference between hands in and hands all the way in to grab something? 4-6 inches? If said dirtbag is quick, it may just chirp for a second and not even go off.
 
#45 ·
I wished the read hardtop didnt look too 'blocky', then it wouldn't be so bad having on it.
You get use to it, especialy when the snow starts flying.
 
#16 ·
Does anyone else here hate car alarms? All they seem to do is piss off the people around you. I have never once called the police when hearing a car alarm, has anyone else? I have certainly never seen the police come running. Also-the constant "blip blip" as doors get locked and unlocked...even worse. At least you can turn this off on the Jeep.

(A proximity sensor that would snap a pic of the thief might be a nice touch though.)

Anyway, this is my third soft top Jeep- and my standing solution was always to leave it unlocked. I do feel less secure about this in the JK since more of these Jeeps would conceivably have some spendier toys inside- iphones,ipad, etc and may be a higher profile taret than a shopworn old TJ.

Keep stuff out of sight. Center console doesn't count, they will pry that open in a flash. If I were looking to make a nice secure spot, I'd start with that hidden compartment in the cargo area.

I don't know- Insure it, park smart, enjoy the daylights out of it.
 
#18 ·
I have a 2013 JKU with the premium softtop, only. Feel as you do and another poster about the "block " look of the the hardtop and the pain it is to take it on and off twice a year; to say nothing of the storage.

I'd be very interested in an enhanced security system, but I'd worry about the potential for false alarms. My vehicle is garaged and I avoid taking it to crummy areas. Burns my wife up that we use her car more than mine, but I haven't changed how I treat my vehicles since I started driving 45 yrs ago and ain't gonna change now.:thumb:
 
#19 ·
cctriesch said:
Leave your doors open so they don't cut your windows like they did on mine..
Stupid crooks. Just unzip the damn windows don't cut the f'ing window. Damn!

A guy I knew who owned a soft top replacement company said just leave the doors unlocked and don't leave anything in there that is valuable. Pretty good advice IMHO!

OR:



Dog Mammal Vertebrate Dog breed Canidae


Bad photo but it's the best one I had of her in the Jeep. NOBODY GOES TOO CLOSE TO "HER" JEEP. LOL
 
#20 ·
I still don’t get criminals and Jeep tops. It is just as easy to unzip the rear window to gain access to the vehicle if your intention is to gain access. If your intention is to just be a douchebag and cut the windows just for the hell of it, then that is that and not much you can do.

But seriously doesn’t it look less obvious to just simply unzip a window to crawl in? If I saw someone unzipping a window, I would be more inclined to think it was the actual owner than a thief. Depends on the situation of course…

That said I did purchase a proximity sensor and plan to install/piggyback to the factory alarm sort of like ezmount did with installing a switch inside of the center console. That way I can trigger it off if I have the HT on or if I simply don’t want it on. I have the switch ready to go. Just waiting for warmer weather so I can map put the trigger wire and placement of the sensor.

I’m going to set mine up so it runs off of the tailgate signal for the alarm and use that as the input for the sensor. I will also use a relay so that when I start the Jeep, it will turn power off to that sensor off so I don’t get the “Tailgate Open” message on the EVIC. Using the tailgate trigger wire will trip the EVIC without that turned off. Pretty easy work around. The trigger from the tailgate and the input on the sensor are negative terminals so no power going to the sensor will eliminate that.
 
#21 ·
Don't leave your doors unlocked (this just invites handle jigglers), don't leave anything in the Jeep unless it's in a hidden security box, don't park in dark empty areas.

My window was cut once because I had a drawstring bag in the back. They made off with a pair of sweatpants.
 
#22 ·
When parking in any city near me I plan to not leave "anything" in sight. Thieves, usually kids on bikes will smash out the windows to grab any sort of bag they see. They don't even care if people are around. I imagine soft top Jeeps would an easy target for them, but seeing how they don't care about getting caught I'd imagine they'd target luxury cars 1st for the potential of finding higher value stuff.
 
#23 ·
Don't leave anything in your vehicle you value. This is rule of thumb whether it is a Jeep or not.

I have lived in many places with only a soft top installed on my Jeeps (cities, suburbs, beach towns). Never had anything stolen, but you have to play the odds. If I was going to park some where at night, it was in a well lit area. Also I always removed my faceplate on my head unit.
 
#24 ·
I rock a hard top for added security, but will hopefully go to a soft top or spidershade this summer. So with that said, I've added some equipment to make the Jeep a bit more secure come warm weather.

*Rampage Locking Hood Catch (Obvious lock.....much harder to quietly get to the battery/alarm)
*Gorilla Spline Lugs
*Tuffy Underseat Lockbox
*Tuffy Rear Trunk Enclosure

Honestly, a Jeep will never be totally secure...but you don't want to make it easy.
 
#25 ·
Just checked out the Tuffy Security Deck and it looks good enough for me. Only problem i could see is i plan on installing aftermarket subs. I wonder if it will stiffle the sound.

But on the other hand, I definitely want to protect those. Damn catch 22.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Just checked out the Tuffy Security Deck and it looks good enough for me. Only problem i could see is i plan on installing aftermarket subs. I wonder if it will stiffle the sound.

But on the other hand, I definitely want to protect those. Damn catch 22.
It does not really impact the bass (of the stock sub) at all. However, if you are talking aftermarket, you will probably be looking at a lot of rattle. Keep in mind that too much "thunder" is going to draw attention to your ride as well.

-------
The Tuffy stuff is nice. It clearly isn't "theft proof"...but it eliminates a lot of the "opportunity or smash and grab" thefts.
 
#37 ·
I did this mod which utilizes a motion sensor as a deterrent. Obviously, this mod is just a deterrent and won't fully protect you but it has been very useful to my jeep thus far....it's just an idea for you to consider or something like it. I personally don't lock my doors due to the experience I had with my TJ being ripped to shreds (lesson learned) when I locked them. I just never keep anything valuable in there to steal.

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f33/best-35-alarm-mod-ever-165958.html
 
#38 ·
I did this mod which utilizes a motion sensor as a deterrent. Obviously, this mod is just a deterrent and won't fully protect you but it has been very useful to my jeep thus far....it's just an idea for you to consider or something like it. I personally don't lock my doors due to the experience I had with my TJ being ripped to shreds (lesson learned) when I locked them. I just never keep anything valuable in there to steal.

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f33/best-35-alarm-mod-ever-165958.html
Thanks that was a really easy to follow project. Whether i use your setup or a different one, I think I will definitely have a proximity/motion sensor alarm on my JK.
 
#39 ·
I have a 2013 premium soft top, and my biggest fear is having some douchebag cut the windows trying to steal something from my Jeep. Therefore I leave it unlocked, however now that my Jeep is easily accessible I was wondering how easy is it to actually steal the whole thing? Is that even possible? I heard with newer cars its harder and harder to hot wire them.
 
#42 · (Edited by Moderator)
Meant to look this up and this got me to:
You can add a tracking device to anything for $149.
The car tracker is $119 or $149. Way less than I thought it would be. And a steal compared to what Chrysler charges when you buy your Jeep. I recall my insurance agent telling me I'd get a discount for Lo-jack. It wouldn't take much for this to pay for itself. Might be adding one to the Jeep...

I would like to add one to my sub- easy to add in the enclosure but I am certain the bass would probably kill it. My sub. locks into my rear sear- which I've decided I want to leave out. Which means the sub is sitting out there waiting to be stolen. I don't think the bike lock is much of a deterrent.
I am a magnet for car thieves. Every single vehicle I've ever owned has been broken into- except my 1998 TJ. Still- I figure its only a matter of time.

Update: just ordered this to replace the bike lock/cable on the sub. bracket.

Cheaper than the bike lock was.....
 
#60 ·
Meant to look this up and this got me to:
You can add a tracking device to anything for $149.
The car tracker is $119 or $149. Way less than I thought it would be. And a steal compared to what Chrysler charges when you buy your Jeep. I recall my insurance agent telling me I'd get a discount for Lo-jack. It wouldn't take much for this to pay for itself. Might be adding one to the Jeep...
Spark Nano 3.0 GPS Tracking Device | Our Best Selling GPS Tracker
I like this one from the link you posted - TrackPort GPS Vehicle Tracker-Real Time GPS Trackers-GPS Tracking

However, check out the monthly fees on these things - $30 a month to use it. If there was a one time expense I would go for it, but this is too much.
 
#44 ·
Blastek said:
you can't simply hotwire the jeep. Your key has an encrypted chip in it that must be inserted to keep the jeep running. Even if you have a key cut, the jeep shuts off after a couple seconds without a programmed key. You can't even drive it off when it's remote started without the key.

The jeep is also pretty heavy, so it's relatively hard to tow out. Probably a lot easier to break into your house and steal your key.

not that i'm an expert in thievery or anything.
Hmm so remind us how you got your Jeep? hahaha just messin :)
 
#49 ·
The best things you can do to protect your Jeep and valuables is to drop your comprehensive insurance deductible to $0. It costs very little (12/yr for me) and when/if anything is damaged or taken, it is replaced for free. If someone slashes your windows and steals your sound, you pay nothing for replacement. You're covered for vandalism, fire, theft, broken windshields (rocks), damage from hunting without a rifle (deer). You get the point.

Always lock your doors. It keeps honest people honest.
 
#54 ·
MrPiff said:
the point isn't to have the police called it's to a. let you know somethings going on if youre in the area or b. scare a would be theif off.
Exactly. A motion sensor alarm scares someone off not to mention when I park my jeep doorless and topless in my driveway it would wake me up. I think it's worth the $250
 
#55 ·
R4D4R said:
Lets say Im some degenerate dirtbag walking the street and I see your Jeep with its windows down or doors off. You go to lunch parked on the street and you turn your proximity alarm on. I see this open vehicle with a cell phone or purse or wallet sitting on the seat or wherever. I just stick my arm in and walk off with it. The alarm may go off, but by the time anyone does anything about it, Im long gone. If you are at least going to have a proximity alarm in the thing, dont let someone be able to stick their hand in before it goes off! Whats the difference between hands in and hands all the way in to grab something? 4-6 inches? If said dirtbag is quick, it may just chirp for a second and not even go off.
I agree with not leaving your wallet in the seat, etc
With the doors off I don't want someone just hopping in the jeep and having all day to Hotwire it, or rip out the radio, or take a crowbar to the locked glovebox (u get the idea)

Is there a good alarm for this? Need names.

I know Nothing can stop a smash-and-grab and therefore I wouldn't want to sink a lot of money into it either
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top