Is there a car security system that can deter window break and snatch?

My friend has a Toyota 4-runner SUV and keeps getting it broken into
and stuff stolen from it.

The scenario is always the same.  one of the passenger side windows is
smashed and the thief just grabs whatever bag or briefcase he can
reach.  They usually only make off with a gym bag full of unwashed
clothes, a box of old but beloved running shoes, or a briefcase fill
of paperwork, but the losses and glass replacement changes are
building.

He just has a simple alarm system made by KARR, and it hasn?t seemed
to help deter anyone.  He isn?t even sure if it goes off when glass is
broken. It might only work when a door is opened.

He likes to keep his gym bag, shoes, and a few other things in the car
and not have to carry things in and out everyday.  She also hates
tinted windows.

Is there some kind of security system that would deter a smashing in
of windows to snatch stuff?

thanx in advnce

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 21 Jun 2005 05:58 PDT

Sounds like your friend needs something called a 'field distrubance
sensor' --- one of those incredibly obnoxious alarms that detects when
something moves close to the car, and chirps or talks a warning
message:


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009ILFU2/102-5833998-9384952?v=glance


Is it really worth it, though...?

Systems such as -> http://www.remus-sicherheit.de/glasschutzfolie/ 
(german)) are based on thin layers of silicon foil. They are thin
enough that you can see easily through them, yet strong enough thaty
ou would have to hit about 200 times for them to break. They are
usually plastered onto the window and then left there. BMW does this
by default for their top-of the line models. Siimply research for such
foils in youir area.,

Your friend, 'he' or 'she' (you changed the sex) is profoundly dim.

Never leave anything interesting in public view in a parked car.

An alarm is of little use, people ignore them, and anyway the thief
factors that into the equation before commencing incursion.

If this keeps happening in the same place, then the chances are that
it is the same set of people breaking in.

Perhaps something enticing, heavily laced with laxitive, will turn
them into model citizens.

The 'legal' approach is to scatter the car seats with empty pizza
boxes and hamburger containers. Used tissues on the dashboard and an
open ashtray full of cigarette ends (filters only in a pile of ash)

Car alarms are not much use.

There isn't a car security system that can avoid window break but you
could change window's glass. Same window's glasses resist more than
other..
I know also of a car system which consist in applicate a plastic sheet
with same special glue to the windows (glue is invisible) so when they
try to broken your window's glass the small pieces of glass remain
glue, but the glass must be changed...
The better way is to never let's something impotant like telephone,
keys ,ext. in your car..

A "glass breakage sensor" can be added to most alarm systems; it uses
a microphone to detect the signature sound of a window breaking.  It
won't do anything to prevent the breakage, though; only respond after
the damage is done.

If the alarm has a flashing LED when it's armed, make sure it's in a
location that's easily visible to anyone looking in the window.

Where can I buy this?  Can it be added to existing car windows or do i
need to get new windows?

Both field (radar) sensors and microphone-based audio (glass-breakage)
sensors are prone to false trigger.  Indeed, these two sensors give
car alarms a bad name by tripping the siren at all hours, driving your
neighbors nuts.

Get an ultrasonic sensor to detect glass breakage and sound an alert
only when a real theft is taking place.  Good ultrasonic sensors act
like a field sensor and audio sensor combined, but without the false
alarms.  The ultrasonic will not extend outside your vehicle, but that
is what prevents it from false triggering!

You can read more about these kind of sensors at: http://visionsecurity.jp/en/