This morning, 01/11/2013, I went to Old Federal Secretariat at Area 1, Garki, here in Abuja, for an official assignment. Few minutes later on arrival, people started shouting, gathering at the Secretariat Car Park, opposite Federal Ministry of Interior Blocks. What was the noise all about? Someone's car has just been stolen! Whose car? A name was mentioned. What! Someone I know. Not just someone I know I know, but we served together (NYSC) in the same department, the same year, the same Batch. A very quiet one. I couldn't believe he was the victim. I knew how he suffered after NYSC, got a job and eventually bought a Honda Accord (model withheld). And now the car has been stolen. What a sad day!

I left an hour later. This same evening, I met someone who was there at the Ministry when the sad thing happened. He told me that few hours after I left, a woman came to that same car park and started shouting, crying, that her Honda Accord (model withheld) has been stolen where she parked the car, in the same car park, after the first incident. It was unbelievable! Two Car robbery, the same brand, the same car park, the same day.

The guy went on, telling me that I am a lucky guy for driving Peugeot. That it was there that he learnt from people discussing, that Peugeot cars cannot be started without their original keys, no matter how good or techy the thief is. All I could do was smile, but remained silent. It wasn't a moment to gloat or "I told you so". That's something other brands cant take away from Peugeot: Always coming back to meet your Lion wherever you park it, as long as its BSI controlled. Topic for another day.

Anyway, I started this thread to remind or inform us of what it takes to own certain brand of cars. Please, if you have a Toyota, Honda or any Car brand that attracts car thieves, try and get a comprehensive insurance, if you can afford it. Also, get a tracking device installed in your car. And finally, get a good car security installed in your car. Don't rely on all these pedal/steering lock, those thieves have master keys that unlock them. Also, no matter how modern your Japs are, those thieves find it very easy bypass those electronic securities in them and carryout their act.

Then Peugeot owners with BSI system, you do not need to install aftermarket security system. Your BSI unit may see it as an unwanted program and send alert signal to your engine ECU and the engine ECU will lock itself up. And trust me, heaven and Earth will come down before that ECU will unlock. The key, BSI unit & ECU are coded together. Once the BSI receives a wrong or unknown code from any device other than the key , it will lock the engine ECU, such that no matter how you crank the engine, it will never start, even when you have reverted the system to factory. The same thing is applicable when you try to start a BSI Peugeot with wrong key, the BSI will sense a wrong code, signal alert code to engine Ecu, which will lock itself up. Then the BSI will immediately immobilize the car, such that both the BSI and ECu will be locked and wont communicate with each other. Even when you insert the right key, the car remain immobilized and ecu remain locked, until heaven comes down, before the 3 components will start seeing each other again. So don't play with your BSI. Am not sure suggesting one shouldn't install tracking device Is there to secure your car. Am not saying Peugeot owners with BSI systems should not install tracking system, but be careful. You may have to take it to Peugeot dealership to do that. Anyway, house members in peugeot thread already know this. I just wanted to enlighten peugeot owners who don't visit the house.

Ikenna.

Hmmmm, this is horrific, imagin cruising a car that is the topchoice of carthieves! Wahala dey o.
Are you very sure about the steering/pedal lock masterkey?? Unfortunately thats the final/topmost line of defence for many of us

same way a toyota camry pencil was taken away in front of a Redeemed church while the owner was inside worshiping....only to come out to find an empty space......

It has become so bad that for people who leave their cars @ d car wash, that strangers will come n give the phone to the attendant to speak with the supposed owner who then authorizes the attendant to release the car to the stranger....you can imagine the rest when the real owner comes back....

On another note.

Last week Thursday, i drove to Garki II, in my SV D9, to inspect a tokunbo 406 V6 someone was interested to buy. I parked the car in the Automated Car Wash compound, which it shares with Garki Super Market. I left to inspect the car and came back two hours later, jumped in, started the car and drove out. I didn't drive the car the next day. The 2nd day, Saturday, i decided to wash the car. I always start the washing from the windscreen. As i pulled the wiper blade, i was shocked at what i saw. " No, this can't be it", i muttered. I stepped back, looked well at the car, to be sure it was my SV D9. Of course, it was. I looked back at the wiper blade and couldn't believe it. The wiper blade on that screen wasn't mine!

When I got the car, the wiper blade was no longer doing a good job. So decided to change it. I tried those plastic wiper blades people carry about everywhere. The noise from it was terrible. I couldn't bear it. So i looked for proper 406 wiper blade and bought one, Valeo. I bought the set 1k. The noise was no more and the cleaning job was good.

So how come what i had on my windscreen that morning was now that nonsense plastic wiper blades i rejected long ago? It became clear to me that i was robbed, at that moment. The only place i could think of was that place i parked the car that Thursday evening at Garki II. But then, who could remove a genuine wiper blades from someone's car and replaced them with fake ones? So if caught and beaten to death by people, what would he tell his maker? That he was killed because he stole wiper blade that doesn't cost more than 1k? Common wiper blade kwa!

I tried to use the fake one the anumpama put on my windscreen, but the noise was unbearable and it was wiping off water well. Worst case, it was scratching the screen. I immediately went and bought another genuine Peugeot 406 wiper blades two days ago. This time, i bought Cogefa brand (with deflector), unlike the Valeo that didn't have deflector. I bought them 2k. I got home, remove the fake ones, put the cogefa ones ad tested the wiping. Wow! The noise was gone. The wiping is smoothless and soundless now.

My point is, becareful where you park your car. You may come back and not meet you car or meet it vandalised.

Ikenna.

dgitrader: Hmmmm, this is horrific, imagin cruising a car that is the topchoice of carthieves! Wahala dey o.
Are you very sure about the steering/pedal lock masterkey?? Unfortunately thats the final/topmost line of defence for many of us

If I were you, I would look for "Akpuruka". I mean the blacksmith locally made pedals/steering lock. Don't rely on all these Chin Chin Yeon that have floaded our market.

Ikenna.

supported!

Ikenna351:

If I were you, I would look for "Akpuruka". I mean the blacksmith locally made pedals/steering lock. Don't rely on all these Chin Chin Yeon that have floaded our market.

Ikenna.

Ikenna,how effective are these vehicle trackers

This piece reminds me of an incident where the so called steering wheel lock of my uncle's 2008 Toyota corolla had an issue. We'd just finished at the burial ceremony of my grandpa & it had been previously decided that we all leave the reception venue together. Then the moment came. My uncle got to his car only to find out that the key to the steering lock had become worn after so many attempt to unlock the stuff. While we were contemplating on what to do next, a guy who overheard the content of our travail just came around with a small hack saw and lo and behold, my uncle supposed security contraption was sawed off in just 3 minute. You need to see the look on the face of my uncle.

2 way remote system will solve that problem

baconline: 2 way remote system will solve that problem

Can you explain this system please?

2way remote system, the car communicates with the remote when the car is touched,opened or started.It tells you the status of you car live.eg if someone opens the car door,the remote will either ring like a phone or vibrates and displays on the screen that the door has being opened,it has a range of up to 1000m from the car depending on the type .so even if your car is not in sight you will know what happens to it immediately