>  I will either fix it so it is very hard to extract, or very very easy,
> so they don't tear up my car again.  The more expensive your radio, the
> more of a target it is.

So true.

I used to do car alarms for a living. Not the pre-packaged things, but
custom systems.  I had a number of people after me to put systems in their
convertibles, which I refused to do.

If it looks expensive, it's a target.
If it looks easy to get to, it's a target.
Locking a convertible is silly, and will just cost you a new top.
Locking a hardtop is slightly less silly, and will cost you a new window.

If they start in, and can't finish the job because you made it too hard,
then they will likely take out their frustrations on the rest of your interior.

>I will also hide a nice amplifier inside the dash somewhere, to pump good
>sound into the speakers.

Good idea. What they can't see, they aren't tempted by.

>I've considered a fake alarm system, an LED that blinks on the dashboard
>every ten seconds or so, with an ominous looking box labeled Car ALArm.

Labels not needed, and would detract from the effect.
The blinking led is probably 80% of the effectiveness of the system.

Use a remote disarm, and NO entry delay. You don't want them to get halfway
through the job before the alarm goes off.

I would be tempted to use a field disturbance sensor with some sort of
quiet alerting like LEDs, or a small beeper, to indicate "I see you" when
someone approaches closer than a couple feet.

The thing you need to do, is encourage him to pick another target.
Risk/benefit is what you're trying to maximize, in his mind, which is not
the same as your mind.  He dosen't care if he destroys $2-3k of your car to
get a stereo that will net him $50, if he thinks he's highly likely to get
away with it.

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body