TexasCHLforum.com

seamusTX wrote:I'm not up on what's installed in cars these days. My car has a factory-installed alarm, but maybe that's because it's a higher-end model (Accord EX).

It's ironic that a cop car can be burglarized this way.

- Jim

Yeah, there are some makes/models that do have factory alarm systems in them. The Accord EX alarm was a basic system that looked for doors/trunk/hood being opened and then triggered. There was not a shock or glass break sensor from the factory. I do believe there are some other European makes that have alarms (Audi, Mercedes, BMW), but I know my LT Suburban doesn't have anything other than an anti-theft system.

I can't see any police agency NOT putting in an alarm system in a vehicle when they added the lights and other electrical accessories. A decent system would only cost them at most between $100 -$150 their cost and at least alert the officer to someone messing with the car.

seamusTX wrote:In Pinal County, Arizona, a sheriff's deputy reported the theft of a Colt M-16A1 automatic rifle, Taser X-26 and its loaded cartridge, and a Glock 27 pistol from his agency-owned unmarked car, which was parked outside his house at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/guns/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't bother looking, dude. The rifle probably is in Mexico already.

Doesn't every new car come with a burglar alarm?

- Jim

No, there are not burglar alarms in most cars from the factory. The security system that is there is just a vehicle anti-theft device so if you have no smart-chip key it can't be started, or maybe a security device so the radio can't be used outside of that vehicle without reprogramming it. However, the pro's can get around those pretty easily. For safety, about the only thing you have is a panic button on the remote. A true burglar alarm has sensors for rapid changes in electrical current flow, shocks and/or glass break and even sounds sensors inside the car. I installed one on my 2006 vehicle after it was broken into in my driveway.