Should I get an alarm installed on my prius?

I guest most people have not used a clifford or Viper 2-Way alarms. They are great if you want to be alerted to the car being tampered with. They are great if you forget to lock the doors also. I have had them in my cars for a while now and I like being able to lock my car or be alerted to the alarm going off all from in the office not even in the line of site.

 

How many minutes it will take you to go to your car in the parking lot from your office desk?
By the time you get there, the valuables would be gone.

 

In other words, don't buy a Prius.

 

No. That goes for any car, common sense.

 

I didn't get an alarm on my II model a few weeks back. I did note, however, on a test in my garage, that the red f.o.b. button does set the horn off - quite loudly I might add. So, there's something. Bart

 

That's not true - breaking into a locked trunk is much much more difficult than breaking a window. Common sense.

 

Exactly. You have to break a window and pull the trunk release - it adds a step.

Tom

 

The best way to prevent break-ins with a car is to have nothing of value in it, and have that fact clearly visible from the outside. It's the same reason that shop owners leave cash drawers open: you want potential thieves to easily see that there is no reason to break in.

Tom

 

This must be a regional thing. I think all the Prius models offered in Canada have an alarm. I wish it were more sensitive, to detect vandalism as well. It needs a teeth-baring GRRR mode, just like my dog, for when non-pack members get too close.

 

I try my best not to park in a high crime areas. That's the best solution. Some of the worst neighborhoods I've been in are upscale college towns like Cambridge.

 

I did say "locked", and with few exceptions, trunk releases are lockable.


The Prius (any hatchback) is at risk on 2 counts:

1) your stuff is visible (thieves don't like to break into something that might be empty).
2) it's easy to get at - just break glass. Getting into a locked trunk takes a lot more time and effort - thieves prefer something they can get into and away from quickly.

And the dumb-nice person argument of "don't leave anything in your car" is the same as saying "don't use the cargo area unless you plan to empty it at each and every destination".

 

Obviously, in a high-crime area where everyone ignores alarms, they're useless - and equally obvious, most of the people asking about alarms aren't asking about that situation.

 

Lots of good info on this thread, so I'll only add that most thieves will bypass a car with tint because its harder for them to do a smash and grab. The tint acts like a lamination like on your windshield. True a determined thieve can still get in with tint windows, but most will just move on to an easier target.

 

Not true. You break the driver side window, open the door and then lift the trunk release and the trunk is open. Not much more difficult then the Prius. Again, common sense is not to leave any valueables in the open. If you plan to leave valueables in the car, cover them. I guess we agree to disagree.

 

Well at least I caught the two people who hit my parked car in the parking lot. One even tried to leave the scene but I got there in time. It is just a warning device. if the car gets broken into then it gets broken into, but losing the car complete is just a pain. I have had my car stolen and what a mess that can become. With a 2 way alarm I am alerted right away and have a much better chance of keeping the criminal from taking my car complete. If they want something inside then hey nothing will stop them but my insurance will replace the stuff I lose.

 

Did you not read the previous posts? Most releases are lockable (and I did say a "locked" trunk). Good luck getting in if the latch is locked - you'll need a crowbar, a utility knife, and 30min to an hour.

Covering valuables is definitely important, I'll agree on that. But hatchbacks are a hell of a lot easier to break into than a trunk.

 

Most people will not go to the trouble to lock a trunk.

 

You're just full of lame excuses, aren't you?

 

This maybe a dumb question but... How do you lock the Hatch/Trunk on the Gen3 prius???? I know that if I unlock my driver door and then unlock the doors the trunk is then unlocked.

 

If can't handle a conversation without trying to offend members, don't bother posting.