Do you take your radar detector down?

[stevo1569]

I know most everyone on here is a RD enthusiast and have your RDs hardwired. I wanted to hear from everyone and find out if you take your devices down and tuck them away when you get out of your cars.

I live in a pretty nice area and don't have to worry about theft but I still take mine down every time I get out of my car and put it back up when I drive away. I do this because I know people who have had theirs stolen and I also know people who have stolen other peoples so it kind of scared me into taking it down.

[BlinderGuy]

I know most everyone on here is a RD enthusiast and have your RDs hardwired. I wanted to hear from everyone and find out if you take your devices down and tuck them away when you get out of your cars.

I live in a pretty nice area and don't have to worry about theft but I still take mine down every time I get out of my car and put it back up when I drive away. I do this because I know people who have had theirs stolen and I also know people who have stolen other peoples so it kind of scared me into taking it down.

Mine is hardwired but i still unplug and hide it when I'm away from my car..Better safe then sorry!

[doddy37]

my STi is hardwired and hidden pretty well but i still unplug it and take it with me everytime. I know that one time i leave it some punk will see it and take it dont need that.


Brandon

[xlx]

I do.

I live in a nice area too but I so far have 3 three RDs stolen out of my car. Regular folks don't know the difference between $50 RDs to $500 and up ones but that ends when families with teenagers who's into hot car move in.... + all the punks who hangs out with them.... that's been my guess...

[dirtfreak250r]

I don't but probably should, I always lock my doors and keep my windows rolled up though. But the cord dangling down from the top of my windshield is a dead giveaway.

[xlx]

I once suspected a mechanic at the car dealer who worked on my car. Back then I just left my 8500 mounted on the winshield all the time except when I'm in the city or rough area. I locked my car door but only the 8500 and the smart cord disappeared a few days after I brought my car in for some work to the dealer. I had over $20 in singles and $5s in the retractable cup holder but that wasn't touched. I had many other stuff any "general" thief would have taken weren't touched. My car door was left locked in the morning... but just RD and cord missing... I had the Escort hard case under my seat but that wasn't touched... I guess the person didn't know.

Don't mechanics have or can get master keys pretty easily? I was just speculating though... but odd. I now simply take the 9500ix with me or if I valet it and don't have room on me to take it with me I lock it in the glove compartment and give the non-master key to the valet.

[ActiveKAjam]

I always take it down even if I'm at my house where I don't have to worry about theifs I'm just mostly paranoid about heat damage.

[stevo1569]

I always take it down even if I'm at my house where I don't have to worry about theifs I'm just mostly paranoid about heat damage.

Yep, I do it because of the heat too. Even though my friend has had their 940 for 2 years and no heat damage, I still take it down. She doesn't take hers off the Windshield.

[jdong]

I take it down whenever I leave the car. Whether it's for a 5-minute shopping spree or parked in my garage -- these are $300-500 gadgets hanging off windshields on removable clips -- a sitting duck target for thieves. I'll take the loss of convenience over a loss of a detector any day, not to mention the inconvenience of dealing with the aftermath of a smashed windshield, etc.

[zr1]

My V995 in the car is mounted high and not visible from the outside. I never take it down, even in the AZ heat. However, the bike's V955 gets dismounted each and every time.

[statusquo]

Mine's clipped to the visor and pretty much resides there. It's wrapped with an old tube sock thing with the ends open at each end. It matches the visor fabric too. I'll take it down when at the car wash or in for service. It's in plain view at work and in the garage at night.

I bought one of those detector hider visor things but it isn't the greatest thing made and the plastic stiffener made the GPS lock take about 10 minutes to lock and would drop out at times.

The one on the motorcycle is bolted to an aluminum plate from underneath into the stock three screw holes. It pretty much stays on the motorcycle although I can remove it via a Garmin quick-mount if needed. The bike has a proximity alarm (Scorpio) and anyone who gets close to it begins chirping and then goes into full siren mode if the stay too close. The GPS also stays bolted to the brackets as well. So far so good, although I will remove it if away from it if needed (out of range or overnight). Only thing I've had ripped off the bike were some gloves I left on the seat. Go figger.

sq~

[corkguykev]

my V1 is impossible to see from outside the car so i leave it up unless its a sunny day (when we actually get one here :rolleyes:).

thieves wouldnt be the main priority here as RDs are illegal so it had to be a stealthy install but i would worry about heat damage so i always take it down to be safe ;)

[An0nym0us]

I'm living at a University so I park my car in the parking garage that is very well-lit area with cameras in every 20 yd on each floor. Sometime, my car will parked against the wall so that means Thieves can't see unless they had to be walking by and squat down looking at back of my car which seems like they won't do it. I also have alarm system in it so I should be OK leaving it there except if my car is not parked against the wall. Its up high and hardwired by the way.

[boatboy]

I always left my old 8500 on the windshield and never had a problem...HOWEVER, since I got my 9500ix, it comes down everytime I get out of the car.

I look at it this way... would you leave 5 $100 bills laying on your dash for everyone to see?

[KaPro]

I take em down each and every time I leave my vehicle. Heat and freezing aren't good and thieves suck. I had two 980's stolen in a 3 week period when I lived in Vancouver, WA. That burned.:mad:

[focalcivic]

Out of sight out of mind that is what I say.

[xlx]

When my RDs were stolen I was P'ed and thought of reporting to local police... but then I thought.... RADAR DETECTORS??.... maybe not :o :D

[stevo1569]

When my RDs were stolen I was P'ed and thought of reporting to local police... but then I thought.... RADAR DETECTORS??.... maybe not :o :D

Yea, I don't think the police would give you any help with that one. :D

[supercar]

Me too I always take it down when I leave the car

[statusquo]

When my RDs were stolen I was P'ed and thought of reporting to local police... but then I thought.... RADAR DETECTORS??.... maybe not :o :D

LOL!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

sq~

[Jarus187]

I always take it down. Having one in plain sight is asking for your windows to be broken and having your sh*t taken. It's not worth the heartache. Taking it down and AT LEAST hiding it in ur glove compartment (if not taking it with you) takes 5 seconds.

5 secs vs. hundreds in damage??

Hmm...Do the math.

[Jon996]

I never take my hardwired V1 down, but I am really careful where I park.

[BreakfastPirate]

I often wonder if would-be criminals are smart enough to see a hardwire cord or two suction cups on the window and try breaking in to check the glovebox. I see both of these things on parked cars all the time and I'd bet 9 times out of 10 there is a RD in the glovebox. Maybe the risk isn't worth it when there's no guarantee you'll find one though.

[Zapple]

I often wonder if would-be criminals are smart enough to see a hardwire cord or two suction cups on the window and try breaking in to check the glovebox. I see both of these things on parked cars all the time and I'd bet 9 times out of 10 there is a RD in the glovebox. Maybe the risk isn't worth it when there's no guarantee you'll find one though.

They probably want to seem as normal as possible by just walking by cars for clearly visible items on the windshield. If they walked up to cars and looked up high for hardwired RDs it would look very suspicious. I've thought about this as well.

[jdong]

I often wonder if would-be criminals are smart enough to see a hardwire cord or two suction cups on the window and try breaking in to check the glovebox. I see both of these things on parked cars all the time and I'd bet 9 times out of 10 there is a RD in the glovebox. Maybe the risk isn't worth it when there's no guarantee you'll find one though.

In our (fairly affluent) neighborhood, there was a report of an escalade hybrid broken into. The owner reports that he left an iPod dock USB cable next to the shift lever in the center console. The window was smashed, gloveboxes and other storage compartments were overturned, the thieves left with nothing (there was no iPod in the car) but the car was sure damaged.

[boatboy]

In our (fairly affluent) neighborhood, there was a report of an escalade hybrid broken into. The owner reports that he left an iPod dock USB cable next to the shift lever in the center console. The window was smashed, gloveboxes and other storage compartments were overturned, the thieves left with nothing (there was no iPod in the car) but the car was sure damaged.
May sound like a stupid question, but don't they put factory (or aftermarket) alarms on high dollar vehicles anymore?

[jdong]

May sound like a stupid question, but don't they put factory (or aftermarket) alarms on high dollar vehicles anymore?

I don't really know of any OEM alarm system that trips on window breakage... And even if it did, what are you going to do, bolt out with a garden shovel to defend yourself against a $500 deductible?

[boatboy]

I don't really know of any OEM alarm system that trips on window breakage... And even if it did, what are you going to do, bolt out with a garden shovel to defend yourself against a $500 deductible?
I was assuming that since you said "gloveboxes and other storage compartments were overturned", they would have entered the vehicle thru a door. With all the various storage/glove boxes in an Escalade, it just seemed as if it would have been necessary to have entered in order to reach all of them.

As for a garden shovel, I have one, but it stays outside in my building. I would prefer my .357 Magnum or 12 gauge for these such situations. They may not be good for gardening, but they are very effective for other things and have better range. :D

[jdong]

I was assuming that since you said "gloveboxes and other storage compartments were overturned", they would have entered the vehicle thru a door. With all the various storage/glove boxes in an Escalade, it just seemed as if it would have been necessary to have entered in order to reach all of them.

Somehow I'd expect thieves to know what they're doing. Probably 10 minutes of googling beforehands would tell you how to properly break into a car and disable the alarm.



As for a garden shovel, I have one, but it stays outside in my building. I would prefer my .357 Magnum or 12 gauge for these such situations. They may not be good for gardening, but they are very effective for other things and have better range. :D
Haha, I'd personally rather let someone steal my car and/or its contents than risk my life defending it. That's just me...

[corkguykev]

As for a garden shovel, I have one, but it stays outside in my building. I would prefer my .357 Magnum or 12 gauge for these such situations. They may not be good for gardening, but they are very effective for other things and have better range. :D

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: LMAO :D

[focalcivic]

Somehow I'd expect thieves to know what they're doing. Probably 10 minutes of googling beforehands would tell you how to properly break into a car and disable the alarm.


Haha, I'd personally rather let someone steal my car and/or its contents than risk my life defending it. That's just me...

Many V1 zombies would think otherwise lol

[kw79]

I always take it down (hot or cold days) unless its in the garage. I take it down at work too and put it in a case for a portable notebook hard drive.

The suction cups are behind the tint, so they can't be seen easily but I don't want to take the chance.

[Paperlantern]

once upon a time i had a cheap car and a cheap detector. 1989 toyota camry and a uniden LRD6299. It was stolen right out from in fornt of my apartment building at the time, but I also had a rockford fosgate punch 55 amp and 2 JL audio 10W0's in it at the time, my guess is THAT was what they were after, not just the detector. Insurance gave me almost $400 to replace all the equipment, which, at the time was nearly 7 years old, street value on ALL of it might have been $200, I made out like a bandit on that one. One year and one speeding ticket later i replaced the LRD6299 with an LRD6399 off of ebay for $25. I liked them, I wasnt a serious driver at the time with a 1989 camry that could barely go 80 without shaking so it did the job.

Wouldnt you know it, not 6 months later, window smashed, radar detector gone. Nohting else this time since all of it was stolen in the previous break in. I was PISSED, and detectorless. A few months later i was complaining to my brother and he sent me the LRD937 he got at best buy a few years earlier for $30 on sale. It actually was virtually the same detector as my old ones, same sounds and seemed like performance as well, just not as nice of a readout. No signal strength meter. Still had 10+ saves before i ended up on this board and deep sixed the Uniden for a Vector 955. i took that down EVERY time and put it in the glove box on the logic that no one would break in on the off chance there might be a detector.

Now with a V1 on the windshield it comes down and goes with me. No chance someones getting that even if they DO break in. Been burned too many times, i dont have any skin left to graft.

[stevo1569]

Now with a V1 on the windshield it comes down and goes with me. No chance someones getting that even if they DO break in. Been burned too many times, i dont have any skin left to graft.

What happens when you go to work? Do you take it regardless?

[Paperlantern]

What happens when you go to work? Do you take it regardless?

Yeah i bring it into work with me. It sits on my desk. No one will take it from my desk at work, I work at a law firm. :D

[stevo1569]

Yeah i bring it into work with me. It sits on my desk. No one will take it from my desk at work, I work at a law firm. :D

Cool! I just got back on a regular schedule at my part-time job and hope I can get the V1 right after Christmas! I can't w8

[Paperlantern]

Cool! I just got back on a regular schedule at my part-time job and hope I can get the V1 right after Christmas! I can't w8

So far its treating me extremely well, had about 3 saves on the 1450 mile round trip to MA and back. Plus its really wierd to see how the V1 interprets all your false locations over say your Bel 955. I have a recent save posted over in the real experiences section too with it, I love it.

[kempobmx1]

I take mine down. I life on a good side of town but the other side of town is basically slums and my side isn't all that nice. I leave the windsheild mount up but put the detector in the glovebox and lock the doors.

[RadarGhost]

I use to always take it down when radar detector were very expensive but I have gotten lazy and detectors are common in car windows now so don't do it anymore. Shame on me. :)

[FortyTillFive]

I take mine down. But I just got the thing so who knows if I will always take it down in the future, when I start to take it for granted.

[fire65]

Very seldom, maybe when out of town at a motel or something. What all would you remove. I have scanner, CB, GPS, X50 and V1 all mounted, and I see people with lots more than that. Then what to do with it. More than likely if it is still in the vehicle and not locked in the trunk it is gone anyway. I think most thieves will goto the glove box and under your seats.

[kempobmx1]

I just take my X50 out of the car entirely. Leave the smart cable and windsheild mount but take the detector itself.

[ronsc1985]

The only time I take it down is to switch it between cars. I have a hardwired hookup taped off the self dimming mirror in both cars I drive the most.

The problem with taking it down on regular basis is you will probably have forgotten to put it up on the day you speed right past the local radar trap.

[category4]

I rarely if ever take mine down. I do leave the alarm system visible though. I leave the Glock's empty holster on the dash so they know the owner is packing and may be back any second.

[Zapple]

I rarely if ever take mine down. I do leave the alarm system visible though. I leave the Glock's empty holster on the dash so they know the owner is packing and may be back any second.

Lmao, I swear I've seen you say this almost as hockey says to turn POP off :D :tongue:

Just messin' with ya.

[category4]

Lmao, I swear I've seen you say this almost as hockey says to turn POP off :D :tongue:

Just messin' with ya.

It works!!!

[ipod]

i rarely drive. but when if i go and visit relatives or friends more than 30 miles away i always bring my radar detector, gps if needed, xm radio. in front of their houses they stay mounted and doors unlocked. but if i go shopping these devices are placed under the seat, the detector hidden in the console covered with a towel. with the new 9500ix, that will may go in the house or with me until i get lazy which would be after a few times of use.

local driving, i dont carry or mount.

[MetalFlame]

I never take it down and many times I don't even lock my car.In my Country 30 years in prison is maximum sentence so that gives you an idea of how much crimes we have here.

[ryansrt4]

i take mine down but leave it in the car. so its kinda pointless