Advice for CD Player that keeps being stolen

[sideshow23bob]

I've had my 3rd Car CD Receiver stolen. Of the 3 the last 2 have had the face plate removed, but that hasn't prevented thieves from taking them. I have a 2000 Honda Civic which apparently can be broken into when locked without too much difficulty. My insurance coverage has a $250 deductible so it hasn't been helpful at all in getting me patched up when it happens. Does anybody have any advice so that I can play CDs/Ipod in my car and be able to keep that system around a long time. This is getting ridiculous.

Thanks

 

[Kroze]

get a different car.s

 

[zerocool84]

Did you leave the faceplate in the car? Sorry to say but driving a Honda/Toyota just means you have an insanely high chance to get your car broken into/stolen. Just how it is.

 

[sideshow23bob]

No, the faceplate was with me. Yeah I was trying to think of a clever system to overcome that, without spending too much more.

 

[punjabiplaya]

where are you parking it where it keep getting stolen?

 

[DivideBYZero]

What about a stealth install with an ipod in the glove box? Leave a stock blanking plate where the unit should be.

What about parking somewhere else?

 

[sideshow23bob]

It's been in 3 different states, but street side parking or a parking garage.

Where do I look into how to do a stealth install? Do I need a special unit?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Install the next one in the trunk.

 

[fbrdphreak]

If you have room in the dash, get a cheap head unit that can support an aux input. Hook up a mini-stereo cable to the head unit and use an Mp3 player to provide the music. Stick the cheap head unit as far back in the dash as you can. Then either leave some wires dangling out, screw in a blank plate, or something so they won't be enticed by the head unit.

I guess you could tint your windows to prevent them from seeing in, but that might entice them to see what's inside since it seems to be so easy to break in to.

If you just leave the head unit loose, it would only take a couple minutes to unplug the harness and antenna and take it in with you at night.

 

[kami333]

Buy a cheaper headunit and just be happy that they unlock and unscrew, instead of smash and tear apart your dash.

 

[amdhunter]

Get a boombox. We used to do it back in the day when a friend bought a car with no stereo.

 

[ivan2]

get out of the ghetto

 

[ussfletcher]

Attach several steel cables to the head unit and tie them to the frame.

Or

Put hasps with padlocks on your doors.

 

[kornphlake]

Unless you need a CD player and radio tuner, you could install an amp in the trunk and plug your ipod into the line level inputs using a headphone to RCA adapter. leave a hole in the dash so it looks like your stereo has already been removed.

 

[alevasseur14]

Wow, that sucks the thieves are still taking the head unit without the faceplate. I tried to replace a cracked faceplate once and a new one was more expensive than a whole new unit!

Fortunately when my truck was broken into, they tore everything apart looking for the faceplate but didn't find it (it was with me inside) and gave up...

 

[fleshconsumed]

What fbrdphreak said. Get cheap unit with 3.5mm jack and just use your favorite mp3 player instead of CDs. Seriously, CDs?

Or get radio transmitter for your mp3 player, they are actually surprisingly good.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Car-stereo-stock-radio-fake-out/

 

[Tristicus]

Get a boombox. We used to do it back in the day when a friend bought a car with no stereo.

get out of the ghetto

..

My faceplate hasn't even been stolen out of my Jeep in the mall parking lot (5-9pm) or my school parking lot (in the ghetto), and I leave it hanging off (if it is popped in, sometimes it just randomly comes on).

 

[mmntech]

Do you have an alarm system installed on your car? Might be worth it. I doubt it stops determined thieves but at least its a deterrent.

 

[Vette73]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Car-stereo-stock-radio-fake-out/

Problem is many OEMs radios go for good money now.

 

[Occ]

Buy an old bland stereo that only does cassettes, then use a cassette tape to aux adapter to hook up your ipod or whatever.

 

[StageLeft]

I also agree get out of the ghetto.

 

[fbrdphreak]

..

My faceplate hasn't even been stolen out of my Jeep in the mall parking lot (5-9pm) or my school parking lot (in the ghetto), and I leave it hanging off (if it is popped in, sometimes it just randomly comes on).

You live in relatively rural North Carolina. Since you aren't in Charlotte, Durham, or Fayettenam, you have almost zero concerns about someone breaking into your car. Other places, like South Florida and most of Texas, are infested with scum that seem to believe they are entitled to do whatever the hell they want. Like this scumbag who was running from the cops (likely on a stolen bike, given he didn't know how to drive it) and got his ass whooped in return.

 

[BW86]

What about a stealth install with an ipod in the glove box? Leave a stock blanking plate where the unit should be.

What about parking somewhere else?

this

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I suggest installing the new unit with fish hooks.