Theft

[Icehawk]

My car was stolen from my driveway Friday, it seems these are just as easy to steal as my '99 Si was. I may buy another one, I've seen "IGLA" mentioned a lot on FB as an immobilizer but open to any other suggestions. I do not want something like Lo-Jack, I've gotten stolen cars back and generally I'd prefer to just get a payout and replace it than deal with the joy riding damage. Working on improving the security of my current parking but I can only do so much.

Current count of stolen Civics from me? 7. Yup, seven damn cars. I feel like Honda owes me here.

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[Clark_Kent]

First, I'm really sorry to hear this. You were in that first wave of us to get an FL5 back in late 2022/early 2023, and I remember how excited you were to finally get your hands on one. Seeing it end this way is gut-wrenching.

Seven stolen Civics is just unbelievable. At that point it's not bad luck; it's a reminder of how desirable Hondas have become to thieves. Unfortunately, I don't think this problem is going away. Cars like the FL5 are low-production, highly sought after, and as they age, replacement parts become scarcer and more valuable. Whether they're being stolen to export, part out, or for other criminal activity, I suspect they'll remain attractive targets for years to come, perhaps even more so as clean examples become harder to find.

If you decide to get another one, I'd strongly recommend spending some time in the security threads before taking delivery. Not to foment fear, but I don't think many owners fully appreciate just how quickly and easily these cars can be stolen. In many cases, a quick trip into a grocery store for five or ten minutes is all the opportunity a thief needs. There has been a lot of good discussion around layered protection and what's actually proving effective in the real world. Nothing is completely theft-proof, but making the car significantly harder to steal than the one parked next to it is the goal. I've been following these thefts closely, and one common thread is that many owners didn't fully appreciate just how vulnerable the FL5 is until after experiencing a theft.

Really hope this one works out in your favor, whatever direction you decide to go.

 

[zymmer4]

My car was stolen from my driveway Friday, it seems these are just as easy to steal as my '99 Si was. I may buy another one, I've seen "IGLA" mentioned a lot on FB as an immobilizer but open to any other suggestions. I do not want something like Lo-Jack, I've gotten stolen cars back and generally I'd prefer to just get a payout and replace it than deal with the joy riding damage. Working on improving the security of my current parking but I can only do so much.

Current count of stolen Civics from me? 7. Yup, seven damn cars. I feel like Honda owes me here.

welcome to Florida..Sorry about your loss, but there is a mobile criminal element in Miami that is ahead of law enforcement in terms of enforcement. I agree..get the payout..start over.

 

[zymmer4]

First, I'm really sorry to hear this. You were in that first wave of us to get an FL5 back in late 2022/early 2023, and I remember how excited you were to finally get your hands on one. Seeing it end this way is gut-wrenching.

Seven stolen Civics is just unbelievable. At that point it's not bad luck; it's a reminder of how desirable Hondas have become to thieves. Unfortunately, I don't think this problem is going away. Cars like the FL5 are low-production, highly sought after, and as they age, replacement parts become scarcer and more valuable. Whether they're being stolen to export, part out, or for other criminal activity, I suspect they'll remain attractive targets for years to come, perhaps even more so as clean examples become harder to find.

If you decide to get another one, I'd strongly recommend spending some time in the security threads before taking delivery. Not to foment fear, but I don't think many owners fully appreciate just how quickly and easily these cars can be stolen. In many cases, a quick trip into a grocery store for five or ten minutes is all the opportunity a thief needs. There has been a lot of good discussion around layered protection and what's actually proving effective in the real world. Nothing is completely theft-proof, but making the car significantly harder to steal than the one parked next to it is the goal. I've been following these thefts closely, and one common thread is that many owners didn't fully appreciate just how vulnerable the FL5 is until after experiencing a theft.

Really hope this one works out in your favor, whatever direction you decide to go.

It isn't just fl5..it is anything with a keyfob..

 

[furyousgeorge]

damn man, I'm sorry to hear that man. I just followed your build for the speakers and installed the CDT tweeters and front door speakers this weekend. I currently have a kill switch and hope that's enough to keep my car around

 

[Clark_Kent]

It isn't just fl5..it is anything with a keyfob..

That's not entirely correct. But anyway, I'm not concerned with other cars, the FL5 is germane to this discussion because...the OP had his FL5 stolen.

 

[Chilly613]

Damn, that really sucks. I'm so sorry.

NGL, been a little on the paranoid side recently since a couple cars have been stolen recently in my area and one of them was an FL5, so I had a kill switch installed over the weekend.

 

[Cueyo]

Really sorry this happened to you. Is this the 7th time in the same location? Easier said than done, but at this point I would just move if that were the case, clearly people where you live don't respect other people's property. Sucks that it's happened so much

 

[Bat1]

Buy a JQWERKS steering wheel set up, remove the steering wheel and take it with you, no one can steal the car. Easy peasy

 

[Websitesdown]

Buy a JQWERKS steering wheel set up, remove the steering wheel and take it with you, no one can steal the car. Easy peasy

They'll tow it away. Criminals will find a way if they want it bad enough.

 

[Sporky McGeuschky]

Working on improving the security of my current parking but I can only do so much.

Man I'm sorry to hear about your car getting stolen. I hope that you can get a full payout.
Seems like if this has happened so many times though, I may have to agree with @Cueyo on finding a different place to live. I know it's not that simple for most people though, since we are all in different situations.

Either way, I hope you get the best outcome possible for you.

 

[Icehawk]

The first 4 thefts were back in the early '00s in MA/CT, then two more in FL around 2012. I also knew dozens of other Si owners who had their stolen back then, it was super easy (the method they use on Kias).

I wish it was as easy as snapping my fingers to move somewhere secure but that doesn't really exist - one of the times my car was stolen it was from a condominium's gated garage. I joke about hiring a security guard for the damn car.

 

[zumbooruk]

I am still researching options to lessen the chance of flatbed/tow truck heist.

GPS for tracking and recovery after the fact will not work if the thieves use a cheap GPS jammer, which they will probably have.

Most people will ignore a blaring alarm.

My current thought is a tilt sensor hooked up to two flare guns (optimally two anti-tank missiles once I get some), front and back, firing the one pointed at the cab of the truck, or both, just in case...

 

[Websitesdown]

I am still researching options to lessen the chance of flatbed/tow truck heist.

GPS for tracking and recovery after the fact will not work if the thieves use a cheap GPS jammer, which they will probably have.

Most people will ignore a blaring alarm.

My current thought is a tilt sensor hooked up to two flare guns (optimally two anti-tank missiles once I get some), front and back, firing the one pointed at the cab of the truck, or both, just in case...

IED research time.

 

[Nikw91]

As someone who works on the law enforcement side in South Florida. Whatever trackers you put in the car are usually found in a lot or lake some where in East Broward with the last signal being hours before we get the stolen vehicle call from you.

However, re-vins have been on the rise.

FOR EXAMPLE: i can run a clear as day black 2025 Dodge Challenger Hellcats tag and it’ll come back to just a black 2025 Dodge Challenger.

The vins on the windshield, engine and door match the ones assigned to the tag, everything seems to be ok to most non-car guy cops. But as soon as you plug in a OB2 reader into that black Dodge Challenger and the real VIN pops up on the reader, you run that one and it comes back stolen.

That’s multiple times everyday in South Florida and probably most big cities.

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