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Someone broke in - anti theft question?

14K views 40 replies 30 participants last post by  Old Dogger 
#1 ·
On Monday, someone broke into my locked 2016 JKU. When I got back to the Jeep I hit the unlock button on the remote and it beeped 3 times. I thought that was odd, but didn't immediately think someone got in. When I realized I had been robbed and someone had been inside, I walked around the Jeep to find out how they got in. No broken windows (hard top on), no broken door.. and then I saw it.

They stuck something in the door lock.



My question: how did they bypass the anti theft? I put a key in one time when it was locked and it beeped like crazy. I mean, they were clearly professionals since whatever tool they used to get in didn't damage anything but the lock cylinder. It's getting repaired today and so far the dealer said it looks like just the cylinder is damaged.

I'm really angry about the whole thing, but glad they didn't take the whole truck and glad I wasn't there when it happened. It still sucks, especially since there were no witnesses and no cameras where it happened - the police don't expect to find out who did it. :(
 
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#4 ·
Totally a guess but I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't bypass anything. Looks like they just used a screwdriver to open your door, let the horn go off but were in and out in a few seconds. The horn shuts off automatically after a certain amount of time (I believe its a noise pollution requirement). I suspect that's why you got the 3 beeps to notify you that you had a break-in.

I don't think it requires professionals for this type of theft. Unfortunately, it happens all the time.
 
#5 ·
That really sucks but glad nothing serious was damaged and like you said you were not there. Not that it helps now but maybe for the future -I installed the bestop under seat boxes in my JKU and love them, i try to keep anything i would miss in them or on my person and 99% of the time don't lock the Jeep.
 
#8 ·
As a locksmith, I agree and most likely they damaged the door skin some under the lock face.

BTW, they were NOT Professional in any manner. Pros have the tools to open without damage to the lock but it might take them just a little longer.

Common criminals nowadays could give a ratsass about your property or they won't be busting in to steal it to begin with.

Pros know what you have, when you have it; and how they'll get to it when and where they want.
 
#9 ·
So frustrating! It happened in the parking lot of a somewhat crowded park (it was a holiday on Monday) and people were walking their dogs fairly close to where it happened. I was parked on an end spot really close to the actual park and the lot isn't that big. That's why I was wondering if they were able to shut off the beeping somehow - maybe it did beep for a while and no one noticed (or cared). :(

It's at the dealer getting fixed - about $310 to repair ($110 for the cylinder and the rest in labor). They said it looks like it's just the cylinder, but they had to order it so it won't be done until tomorrow.

The police think someone watched me get out of the Jeep with just my dog and figured I must have left something behind, so they broke in to check. With no cameras or witnesses, looks like they'll get away with it too. :(
 
#13 ·
So frustrating! It happened in the parking lot of a somewhat crowded park (it was a holiday on Monday) and people were walking their dogs fairly close to where it happened. I was parked on an end spot really close to the actual park and the lot isn't that big. That's why I was wondering if they were able to shut off the beeping somehow - maybe it did beep for a while and no one noticed (or cared). :(

It's at the dealer getting fixed - about $310 to repair ($110 for the cylinder and the rest in labor). They said it looks like it's just the cylinder, but they had to order it so it won't be done until tomorrow.

The police think someone watched me get out of the Jeep with just my dog and figured I must have left something behind, so they broke in to check. With no cameras or witnesses, looks like they'll get away with it too. :(
So they may have just eluded to the fact that you're not the first one reporting a break-in there.
 
#10 ·
Unless you have a hood lock, they could have opened the hood and disconnected the battery to avoid the alarm. I was surprised when I disconnected my battery to install a CB, the horn doesn't go off when the battery is reconnected like it does on my 4Runner and Accord.
 
#11 ·
But it also wouldn't beep 3 times when he engaged the fob if they had.
 
#16 ·
Probably just a screwdriver forced in the lock.

BTW, thieves love breaking into my Jeep.

This is the first time. They shoved a screwdriver into the side of the lock. Damaged the door and costs the insurance about $800 to repair.



This is the second time.



This is the third time. They use a screwdriver and pry against the window and door frame. They weren't able to break the rear driver side window but was able to shatter the front driver side window...





The most they ever took was a $10 backup camera still in the yellow USPS shipping package. After that, they never took anything else. Not even the $300 box of tools, $200 cordless impact, the $100 torque wrench, or the $150 set of impact sockets.
 
#17 ·
I hate to admit it, but I've experienced having a vehicle I've owned broken into more than 20 times in the last 34 years I've been driving (yes I live in an area with a lot of auto crime, and #20 was when I just stopped counting).

Sometimes they broke in to take installed equipment, sometimes to steal parts, and sadly most of those times when nothing of value was in plain sight (or worse yet nothing of value was inside the vehicle at all). A few of those were attempts to steal the vehicle itself. Most theft from auto criminals are opportunists, many are prone to doing rampages of multiple vehicles in an area where they've had good luck in the past, and many are out of their minds on drugs. I've even caught a few "in the act" because you get hyper sensitive to your vehicle after its been broken into the first few times and pay more attention to it when left someplace less than secure. Many of these thieves are pretty brazen and not above palming a screwdriver to discreetly punch your door lock in plain sight of others where it looks like it could have been a key, and they'll even do a little song and dance to pretend they have accidentally set of the alarm on their own vehicle...some of them have strong enough social engineering skills that will make you believe it too. I was stuck in traffic downtown one night and watched a guy walk up to car confidently like he owned it, pop the door lock, hacksaw through the steering wheel to remove The Club, punch the ignition lock and calmly pull into traffic with the vehicle, all in about 3 minutes.

I leave nothing of value in my vehicle anymore- a lesson learned after having soft tops cut multiple times on vehicles left unlocked, and windows broken for the purpose of rummaging through the glove box and ashtray on the chance there may be a pay-off in there for the thief's taking. On my last soft topped sports car, I went as far as leaving a note saying "nothing of value in vehicle" on both door glass with doors left unlocked, glove box and console left wide open and people still felt the need to do damage to get in and go for a treasure hunt. So many people leave things like iPods, expensive sunglasses, change, tools, parcels, expensive clothing, CD's, garage door openers combined with insurance papers announcing the address of said garage, that if an opportunity thief hits 10 vehicles in a row the odds are good that at least 8 of those vehicles will yield something to reward him for the few minutes he took to break in. Very frustrating. Any security measure or measures you take won't eliminate 100% of the risk, but will make the next guy's vehicle look like just a little softer a target.

While an alarm is a measure of security, it is not perfect, and in urban areas alarm sirens going off and horns honking are so common now that many people tune them out or don't give them much thought. Alarms work best when combined with other good security measures- parking in well-lit areas, removal of any valuables in plain sight, use of security fasteners for installed aftermarket equipment to make taking things more time intensive than the average opportunity thief is willing to invest, and "safe parking" skills...have an aftermarket audio system? Don't bump it all the way to your destination and advertise its existence. I know people who do just that, and are surprised when they get followed home and wake up to a break-in.

/end rant
 
#18 ·
I've heard from too many friends who have had tops slit open, windows smashed, locks broken, etc.

Most of the year, my doors and top are off. I never leave anything visible nor anything of value. I do have a Tuffy security enclosure for the back if I am out shopping. If the doors and soft top are on, I never lock the doors. I would prefer they open the door, look in and see nothing than break in and cause hundreds of $$ in damage only to find nothing worth stealing. I do have an overhead mount CB and ham radio. Both are potential targets but I picked up the CB at a yard sale for $10 and the ham is a Chinese knock-off. If they disappear, at least I've made it easy for them!
 
#19 ·
We used to live in a pretty decent inner city neighborhood here in the People's Republic of Portland. I parked my Jeep Cherokee out on the street. It was broken into three times over three summers. Every time, it was the same thing: break the wing window, unlock the door, yank out my crummy little CD/Radio that i paid like $150 for, leaving cut wires dangling over the bent up dashboard plate.

It got to be a routine. Sweep up the glass on the street. Then vacuum up the glass in the vehicle. Replace wing window ($75). Replace the dashboard plate ($100). Replace the crummy little CD/Radio ($150). Took about a week for the dashboard plate to come in, so I'd have to drive it with a big hole in the dashboard with the wires dangling, constantly reminding me that my car had been broken into and I was out of pocket $325. And starting with the first wing window replacement, they never could get the seal good enough so the wind whistled as I drove on the highway, another constant reminder.

I considered leaving a note on the dashboard asking the thief to please knock on my door and I would give him $50 crack money to leave my car alone.

We moved to the 'burbs a couple of years ago. I call it "Cracker Land." Not much going on here. Crime practically non-existent. Or so I thought. I forgot that at least some bad guys have (probably stolen) cars, will travel.

The day after last Thanksgiving, appropriately known as "Black Friday," my Wrangler was stolen out of my garage--while I was home. In golden hindsight, I did two things that were really stupid: I left the garage door open, and, even worse, I left my keys on the console. I thought I was only going to be home for a few minutes. It turned into a couple of hours. Walked out, no Jeep.

Recovered 10 days later, minus some property but plus some damage. Gone were four of five tires (the jokes on them because they took the spare, which didn't match the set), my prescription sunglasses (needed new ones anyway), my fall coat (hated that coat), owners manual and all the stickers, vanity plates and tire cover. It was up on blocks in the back with all but the front passenger tire gone. They were one lug nut away from getting that tire off when they were rudely interrupted by the folks who lived in the house where the thieves were stripping it. Inside was a bunch of presumably stolen property, probably swiped off porches, maybe 50 plastic coat hangers (?), lots of garbage, a broken piece of mirror taped via electrical tape to the passenger side visor so Sally Meth Head could pop her meth sores while they cruised around stealing packages. The interior was frickin filthy dirty and stunk of beer and cigarettes.

So I had what was left of my beloved Wrangler towed to my local dealer and traded it in plus plunked down the insurance settlement on a new one. Which will have a tracking device, alarm, hood lock and locking lug nuts before I drive it off the lot.

And I close my garage door now every time, even if I'm only going to be home for a single second. Keys go in pocket. I'm not going to go through this again.

But in a way, the guy did me a favor. That '07 Wrangler was 10 years old with 114,000 miles. I took really good care of it but it was starting to show its age. Between the trade-in and the settlement, I'm able to plunk down a large down payment and keep my payments low. And a new Wrangler built just the way I want it and with zero miles is going to be very cool. Still, if I could find the guy who took my '07, I'd be going to jail and a bloody baseball bat would be going into the police evidence room. Until my trial, when I'm sure no jury would convict me. And give me back my bat.
 
#20 ·
had mine gone through in my driveway. it was a summer night and had the top down. even caught him on my IP camera. went though my console and glove box looking for change. didn't find any and left. Posted the video on my neighborhoods Facebook page and keep my jeep with the top down in the garage at night.

If you dont have a remote start, I would recommend the fortin one with the long range 2 way remote (or pay for the compustar 2 way lot of $$$ though) because the receiver has a big bright blue LED that blinks. I would also recommend getting the hood lock for your wrangler. You can also get a Dash cam that has a shock sensor that will start recording when triggered.

PM me if you want the details if what to get.
 
#22 ·
Need a torx screw driver to do that and they are pretty heavy. only seen one case on the forums and I think that guy lived in Chicago.
 
#26 ·
Well, reading this thread has me really doubting my decision to have recently ordered a 2017 JKWW with half doors and a soft top!! I live in San Francisco...in a good neighborhood, but not immune from transients causing trouble.

I understand leaving the doors unlocked with nothing inside. But I'm equally worried about someone deciding to "move in" for the evening...even though it'll be parked in my driveway. Any suggestions to prevent this kind of thing? Maybe an alarm with a motion sensor (no power door locks)?

I hope no one convinces me to buy a hard top instead...I really love the look of a 2-door with the half doors and hope I won't regret it.
 
#27 ·
Well, reading this thread has me really doubting my decision to have recently ordered a 2017 JKWW with half doors and a soft top!! I live in San Francisco...in a good neighborhood, but not immune from transients causing trouble.

I understand leaving the doors unlocked with nothing inside. But I'm equally worried about someone deciding to "move in" for the evening...even though it'll be parked in my driveway. Any suggestions to prevent this kind of thing? Maybe an alarm with a motion sensor (no power door locks)?

I hope no one convinces me to buy a hard top instead...I really love the look of a 2-door with the half doors and hope I won't regret it.
Motion light in your driveway? Or maybe just a good bright light on all the time.
 
#30 ·
My current Wrangler has not (yet) been broken into,. It my previous '09 one was. Had a soft top and they just tore out one of the rear quarter windows. Luckily just the zipper was torn a bit so the window was still usable.

I didn't have much in there except for a GPS they took from the glovebox. Today, I have a Tuffy security truck in the back, and a bestop lock box under the driver's seat. Anything of value is locked in one of those and they aren't getting in them unless they steal the entire Jeep.
 
#31 ·
I am considering getting the hood locks, just in case. I had the lock cylinder fixed over the weekend and with labor, it was $310. Dealer said it didn't look like they messed with anything else, so they probably just got in with a screwdriver, grabbed my stuff and left.

After the lock cylinder was repaired, I locked it with the key fob and then put the key in the lock to see what would happen when you try to open it when it's locked. No beeping. No nothing. So that's probably why no one at the park noticed anything weird was happening. The Jeep didn't make a sound.

One of the things they took was my hot pink Victoria's Secret beach blanket. I mean, eye blindingly hot pink. lol I was like oh - good luck with that. It's covered in dog drool and dog hair and was free with a purchase...But hey, have fun.

I'm still pretty mad about the whole thing, but there's nothing else I can do except move on. :rant:
 
#34 ·
Explained to me by the Local Police. This is how its done, they take a blank key and weld it to a dent puller, they ram the door usually results in a slight door dent and pops the lock open. Popular thing in Oregon beware if your in a rest stop esp in the Columbia gorge at the falls. Had all the key access removed from all my vehicles. When was the last time anyone used a key to open a door?
 
#35 ·
Another reason to have a hood lock, the "disconnect the battery to silence the alarm" thing...

My former Dodge Charger got busted in once. They broke the driver's side window, popped the hood and tore out and stole a whole bunch of breakers from the breaker box. Aside from the window (and glass everywhere) nothing else was broken, and aside from the breakers nothing was taken. Very odd; the net effect was that I couldn't go anywhere until I got the replacement breakers (or a tow).
 
#36 ·
Theft of auto is way down, about half of twenty years ago.

Theft from auto is way up. The reported police stats are way up and in most jurisdictions the cops actively discourage reporting by telling you that you don't need a police report for most claims. In my jurisdiction they will not dust for prints, don't want to see your security footage, etc
 
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