Reminder to secure your cars

***DK***

***DK***

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Seeing lots of Audi's being stolen during lockdown (and generally all the time) on the Facebook UK Stolen Cars Group and various Twitter stolen car feeds ('Who Stole My Wheels' and alike).

One went on today with a car pulling up next to a locked S4 Avant B8.5, quick smash of the window, arm in, odbII port connected to a coding machine, immobiliser turned off, new key coded and off in under 45 seconds.

Similar happened to mine last year and others on this forum.

I see lots of new members joining the Audi forums and its not always the first thought to go and buy more security for your new car but its a very good idea to consider.

Admins - Could we sticky this security post? I think it would be a good idea to have one on all model forums too.

Security options (others can chime in too)

- Added immobiliser e.g. Autowatch Ghost, many others available.
- OBD II Port disable / re-route / lock / alarm
- Tracker
- Disable keyless entry via VCDS / OBD Eleven etc.
- Faraday pouch for your keys and hide your keys every day (so many break-ins and keys by the door or in coat pockets/bags.)
- Driveway gates / posts (and use them).
- Battery disconnect / kill switch
- Steering wheel lock
- Pedal lock or lock box
- Wheel clamp
- Tyre deflater
- Driveway alarm / house alarm - could put a PIR in your car overnight

Obviously if someone really wants your car then they will usually find a way but these might slow them down.
 
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Glad this subject came up. Major concern for me as I had a suspicious guy hanging around acting shady, so took photos of him and later of the car that came to pick him up. This was in the day time. Got my keys in a Faraday pouch but will be installing a port lock soon. Other options are also being explored.

[Sent from a mobile device (like you even care)]
 
I use a good ol steering lock https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-security/stoplock-pro-steering-lock-311399.html
Did a bunch or research and it's harder to pick than one that goes round the steering wheel.

Thieves are lazy and the hassle of bringing an angle grinder to the job, when they could just do a bit of keyless entry and forge a key all in a much quieter manner.

It does mean carrying it around in the car and putting it on but I don't mind now days. A year of having the s4 avant which isn't stored in a garage and nothing. Other cars in my area have had windows smashed and lately a bmw 335d touring stolen. Maybe they are less lazy round the country though :fearscream:
 
I always use the Stoplock pro on mine and I have removed the OBD port fuses.
Got OBD port disabled sticker on the drivers window in a hope they may not even bother as I'm aware.
 
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Now that it's been published in the media I can share the video I was talking about. Take no notice of the price, they quote something ridiculous like £46k for this car.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/watch-car-thief-clamber-through-18281489

And not sure if you'll be able to view this as it's on the group that requires approval but this was a car recently with a guy sat in the front cutting off the steering wheel lock with a handheld circular saw in a matter of minutes.

As we've said, deters, but doesn't prevent so good to go with a combination of things if you can.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/794001950679901?view=permalink&id=2835630523183690


Also to add two more security items
- set your car alarm to zero seconds to activate using VCDS or OBDeleven. Default is 15 seconds.https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/index.php?posts/3486670
- CCTV cameras although they're not much use when most are stolen by guys in hoods.
 
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Police drive by 18 seconds in on that video!! I don't see any hazards flashing indicating alarm is should be going off though? (

edit: maybe it wasn't set to zero second, didn't know default was 15!! oh some robbers still aren't that lazy with the angle grinder!!
 
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Personally just have camera's and a steering lock applied if the car's worth stealing (current one certainly isn't), may not be as secure as others but camera's also deter people from the house and pick up stuff on the road for example someone hit a parked car the other day, steering lock can be transferred car to car too so that's another plus, can never be too secure but unfortunately if someone wants something enough they'll get it (circumstance is a little different though as current car is worth next to nothing, used to have an even worse car which the central locking system broke on so just left it unlocked haha).
 
Just realised this is the B8 section so makes sense that you guys have something more to secure than us.
 
***DK*** said:
Now that it's been published in the media I can share the video I was talking about. Take no notice of the price, they quote something ridiculous like £46k for this car.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/watch-car-thief-clamber-through-18281489

And not sure if you'll be able to view this as it's on the group that requires approval but this was a car recently with a guy sat in the front cutting off the steering wheel lock with a handheld circular saw in a matter of minutes.

As we've said, deters, but doesn't prevent so good to go with a combination of things if you can.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/794001950679901?view=permalink&id=2835630523183690


Also to add two more security items
- set your car alarm to zero seconds to activate using VCDS or OBDeleven. Default is 15 seconds.https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/index.php?posts/3486670
- CCTV cameras although they're not much use when most are stolen by guys in hoods.
Click to expand...
Astonishingly, in the Audi clip, it appears a police car drive past as soon as the thieves pulled up alongside the Audi

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Hi all. New to this forum but wanted some advice regarding security if possible. I have an S3, and last month I was attacked for the car. Fortunately I got away with the keys but obviously apprehensive for the future! However regarding security, I know ghost is meant to be the dogs but the car isn't keyless therefore they would need the keys anyway and would they come back in for the code? Who knows!
So the advice - what would you all recommend, I'm looking at physical deterrents like a steering lock but would an OBD port protector etc still be beneficial as it's not keyless?
Thanks in advance
 
Sorry to hear you were attacked for the car and glad you got away still with it and hopefully unhurt.

Keyless doesn't really matter. It just means they need a different means to get in the car which they have plenty of and then odb port to code the new key in the ignition, its the same quick process for both.

Having a ghost will mean that they can still code a new key but the car won't start without the extra code (or they find where it is and put the wiring back which will take some time). An immobilizer is good as well I suppose from the point of view of working away from home quickly, so when you stop the car in a car park, wait a few seconds and it's activated again so you can get out and any key muggers can't start it.

Obviously it's all personal preference but I think anyone would say a combination of deteriant e.g. steering lock plus preventative e.g. ghost and/or disabled odb port/battery kill switch etc.

When I say preventative, obviously everything has it's limits.

And then a tracker so that if it really does still go, you have a chance to find it. Some thrives use cheap gps signal blockers so if you go the cheap end of the tracker scale it can be easily blocked. Other expensive trackers claim to have more signals to keep transmitting on.

I guess all depends on the value of your car and how much you care about it.
 
jdp1962 said:
Autowatch Ghost is a major deterrent.
Click to expand...
Agreed they'd not move it in broad daylight like that with AWG. Total scum though, parts of Brum seem like the wild west.

TX.

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pharmamadz said:
Hi all. New to this forum but wanted some advice regarding security if possible. I have an S3, and last month I was attacked for the car. Fortunately I got away with the keys but obviously apprehensive for the future! However regarding security, I know ghost is meant to be the dogs but the car isn't keyless therefore they would need the keys anyway and would they come back in for the code? Who knows!
So the advice - what would you all recommend, I'm looking at physical deterrents like a steering lock but would an OBD port protector etc still be beneficial as it's not keyless?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
I had Ghost on my RS3 which wasn't a keyless car. All this nonsense about coming back for the code is BS imho, most thieves want to nick the car and bug out; the vast majority will not hang around if the car fails to start.

TX.

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You can remove the fuses (2 off) for the OBD port so they can't code a clone key. They can't refit the fuses as the doors are locked and fuse panel is on the side of the glove box, guarded by the locked door
 
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Booboo said:
You can remove the fuses (2 off) for the OBD port so they can't code a clone key. They can't refit the fuses as the doors are locked and fuse panel is on the side of the glove box, guarded by the locked door
Click to expand...
I presume by removing said fuses it doesn't effect the day to day running of the car, as it only needs to be accessed for fault finding/service etc?

Something I keep meaning to do on my S4 but not sure of which fuses to remove, could someone PM me the location so I can do it please (obviously we don't want to make it general knowledge in case scumbags read this).
 
Yes, I'd like to do the same but wary of prising off a panel only to find the passenger airbag going off!!!
 
Mackenzie49 said:
Yes, I'd like to do the same but wary of prising off a panel only to find the passenger airbag going off!!!
Click to expand...

Audi would never have engineered in any access panels that could cause airbag issues if/when removed, these side covers are purely to cosmetically cover the fuses.
 
Did anyone reply as to which fuses to pull. Does it affect anything day to day having them out?
 
Photo fuse

It doesn't affect anything else. The w fuses with the red dots
 
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Carista have, thanks to yours truly, just added an option to reduce the time delay between door opening and alarm sounding from factory set 15 secs to 0 sec. Look for

"Anti-theft system delay between trying to open door and alarm firing".

You'll need to used the plastic valet key to open the door without disarming the alarm to test. Tested and working!
 
As well as the valet key you can also use the blade from the normal keys. However in both instances, you have to wait 60 secs after locking the car to then use the key in the lock to open the door without disarming the alarm to test.
 
Alarm delay has now been added as a one click app in obdeleven. You can set zero seconds or other values.
2d6507e589742b006f8bb5e1f949ee55.jpg


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Hi all, Could someone enlighten me as to which 2 fuses to remove and where they are situated to disable the obd port on 2015 S4.....thank you
Do these fuses effect a anything else ?
 
Look at my post above.
Open the passenger door and pull off the panel on the side of the dash.
Removal of these affect nothing else
 
I've got my OBD2 fuse removed, although I'm not sure if you could just smash the window and open the car from the inside?

Would a sticker like this be worth getting, or is it just drawing unnecessary attention to the car?

www.ebay.co.uk

5 x Stickers OBD Port Immobilised Security Signs Window Warning Alarm Car Van | eBay

These Stickers are Printed with Specialist. Internal Window to Face Outwards. fade, tear and wash out. ICO for DATA Protection. Easy to apply - simply 'Peel & Stick'. Details can be found under. Quality Professional Products .
www.ebay.co.uk

1629731071072
 
Why not. Bit of a gamble for the sumbags at that point. Might put them off.

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***DK*** said:
Why not. Bit of a gamble for the sumbags at that point. Might put them off.

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Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll get it ordered. I don't have keyless so I'm not even sure if this is an issue.
 
OBD fuse removal is a must!
That coupled with deadlocks (remember one press to lock) means they can’t smash the window then unlock the doors with the obd port, which in turn means they can’t access the fuses!
chicken dinner!
 
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Audidi said:
OBD fuse removal is a must!
That coupled with deadlocks (remember one press to lock) means they can’t smash the window then unlock the doors with the obd port, which in turn means they can’t access the fuses!
chicken dinner!
Click to expand...


That's just what I wanted to hear! Nice one thanks.
 
Audidi said:
OBD fuse removal is a must!
That coupled with deadlocks (remember one press to lock) means they can’t smash the window then unlock the doors with the obd port, which in turn means they can’t access the fuses!
chicken dinner!
Click to expand...

I was at a German marque indy specialist today to book in to check out a possible PCV valve issue and I mentioned that my OBD2 port fuse is disabled, but he said that it wasn't necessary especially as I didn't have keyless. I mentioned about what if someone tried to start/hack in via the OBD2 port and he said there's no point because the steering lock is controlled by the physical action of the key going into the slot.

Can anyone throw anymore light on this as I'm still a little nervous to enable the OBD2 port again.
 
Surely a powered port enables duplicate key programming? I’d still leave it disabled.
 
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