This morning I had my nearside passenger window smashed and the Kenwood radio/cd pinched ! Now the annoying bit, Fabia Elegance 02 with factory fitted alarm, when I returned to the car the alarm wasn't sounding, so should the alarm shut down after so long ? or did it not trigger the alarm at all ? it made no different noises from normal when the alarm was switched off. Is this normal ? as I would have thought that the alarm would keep sounding untill switched off.

worst part about it is that if the alarm did go off they would have had the thing halway out the dash before anyone would have noticed.

All they took was the radio/cd and must have climbed in through the smashed window, and they just prised out the radio with a couple of screwdrivers ! just spent 2 hours cleaning up glass inside all the nooks and crannys, I have a lovely piece of plastic as a side window now !

Manchester again!! Sorry to hear of your plight. Are you going put the standard radio back in now?

I know how you must be feeling. I had my Fabia rear passenger window smashed just two months ago and it's the hassle and mess that is more annoying that just the material cost. Although they took a bag instead of the standard stereo it is still upsetting.

You say it was a Kenwood car stereo. Was it one that required an electronic activation key? If so I presume they didn't have access to that. At least it should be some kind of deterrent to them selling or using the stereo themselves.

had this 2 or three times now on various cars. thieving scum wa***rs :(

The alarm may have sounded but under EU regs I believe that it has to silence itself after 30 seconds and reset. After that it would require someone else to lean in to set it off again.

If it's anything like the alarm in my Fabia, it would only reliably sound if one of the doors, boot or bonnet were opened. You could try increasing the interior sensor sensitivity, but if you want peace of mind, get a Clifford Concept alarm fitted

Btw, the alarm will only sound for 30 seconds, but I believe the indicators continue to flash....

Chris

Could i suggest window security film.

They will batter it as much as they like and not get into the car through the glass.

I saw this fist hand where they had battered the cr*p out of the side window glass and not got through it. I am sure a determined pro would, but an opertunist will hit it, not get in and leg it.

Saves the car full of glass, and also holds glass together in an accident.

:thumbdwn: As far as I know the alarm works by sensing pressure build up as they smash the window and doesn't have ultrasonic sensors, so that means that it WON'T sense anybody climbing in through the broken window Any of the tech lads know if this is correct ?

Isn't the whole point of an alarm to be a deterrent? Surely if the arseholes who stole your stereo broke in, they would have done it no matter which type of alarm was fitted?

Could i suggest window security film.

They will batter it as much as they like and not get into the car through the glass.

I saw this fist hand where they had battered the cr*p out of the side window glass and not got through it. I am sure a determined pro would' date=' but an opertunist will hit it, not get in and leg it.

Saves the car full of glass, and also holds glass together in an accident.[/quote']

Is security film expensive?

I was quoted £200(untinted) to £250(Rear tints) for my octy, and I had two other cars a 306 and a focus estate done for about this figure too.

If you are down south I can recommend two fitters of the stuff in my local area.

Also in my opinion Alarms are only there to warn you if a cretin goes for your car while you are in bed and your car in on the drive. Nobody else cares about alarms going off unfortuanately.

Isn't the whole point of an alarm to be a deterrent? Surely if the arseholes who stole your stereo broke in, they would have done it no matter which type of alarm was fitted?

But if the alarm sounds when the glass breaks, or when someone is near the car then it draws attention to it. I'd also vote for the security film (had mine fitted by some top fitters in Basingstoke ) but be careful about the level of tints you use on the front side windows

Chris

Is it not now no tint on the front sides?

I was only offered tints to rears & clear film on front sides or clear all around this time around

Is it not now no tint on the front sides?

I was only offered tints to rears & clear film on front sides or clear all around this time around

I believe you can legally have a 35% tint on the front windows, but it will depend on the factory tinting as to what tinting on the film you can have.....

Chris

Security film and tinted film are two different things. Security film is much thicker and is transparent (maybe a 2-5% blocking of light) and it needs to be held in place for some time until it dries properly. Tinted film is much thinner and is much easier to apply. Tinted film will fail if a window is smashed :(

But I think to add to the confusion, tinted security film is also available!

Steve

Yes tinted security film is offered

Tinted security film is offered but the cheaper tinted film is often marketed as 'security' film when it is not. It can still fail when a window is smashed. Only way to tell is to check the thickness of the film.

I know, hence I said go and get security film (as offered by toad and fitted by sextons etc).

I have never actually had tinted security films anyway and was just commenting that tints are offered by the fitters non tinted all around was £200 and tinted rears was £250. It is only the side windows that have security film put on them anyway as the front and rear windows are already laminated glass.

Sorry didn't mean that post in a harsh way! I just find it annoying the way they market the cheaper film as some kind of protection available for your windows when all it does is stop a bit of light entering the car.

Sorry didn't mean that post in a harsh way! I just find it annoying the way they market the cheaper film as some kind of protection available for your windows when all it does is stop a bit of light entering the car.

Sorry for slightly grumpy reply Not having a good day, but yeah some of the less reputable places sell it as security film meaning people can't look in as opposed to security will keep windows in one piece.

Is security film expensive?

I'm not sure i'd like unbreakable glass as wouldnt that make it impossible to get out as well as in, not sure of what circumstances the doors and windows would not open but i'd like to know I can kick my way out if I ever find out.

It doesn't make it impossible to get out. The glass breaks and if you are on the inside you can force it out. It also has the useful side effect of stopping you getting covered in broken glass if some twit decides to drive through your drivers door.

First hand experience of that says it's good as my drivers door was very bent after that incident (not my fault just to clarifty).