I love the tracking idea. I just can't spend $700 for a Lojack. eek.
I read your story on how you got your backpack back. What the cop said kindof ticks me off (and I'm a Volunteer Sheriff), scolding you! Geez. Interesting though that a thief can break into your private vehicle and take YOUR stuff but you can't go to their private residence to retrieve YOUR stuff when you have a tracking device. I've learned this so much from being with the Sheriff's Dept., we're on our own. You can't depend on the 'law' to do much anymore.
I'm so glad this story had a happy ending. I hope you stick to your guns and prosecute.

 

I guess im blessed with the ability to write software and build electronics.... so i can have cool gadgets without having to pay through the nose for them...... commercially the HVAC system in my house wouldve cost well over $20,000... I built it for 5... and it does MUCH more than the commercial zoned system I was gonna buy....

the law really drives me crazy.... im beginning to wonder if the ONLY reason I got my backpack back was because the luggage tag on the outside of it had my name out in the open..... makes me wonder if that tag wasnt there would the laws have protected the thief even out on the street?

I did a police ride-along several years back and was AMAZED at how careful officers have to be when picking someone up... the "slam them on the ground or against the side of the cruiser" stuff really for the most part is just on TV.... unless an officer's safety is threatened they have to be gentler with a suspect than they do their own child....

that officer then was telling me in some jurisdictions they arent even allowed to randomly type plate numbers into the computer looking for stolen cars... they could only run a plate if the car did something wrong or had a light out, etc....

amazing.... no wonder I never got my impala or Toronado back (both stolen years ago)...
-Christopher

 

Hi,
I was wondering, what about a steel mesh bag/net that you can lock down to your rollbar or something? The closest thing I could come up with is this:

http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php...n=detail&id=11

but i'm sure there are other things that can be repurposed. I think it would only deter the casual "snatch and grab" thief, but might give some peace of mind when combined with a blanket/poncho.

What do you think? worst case is they hacksaw through your whole rollbar just to mess with you

-malloc

 

def go with the tuffy security deck. i bought and installed mine right before putting my soft top on for the summer simply for the reason of knowing some ahole would try to steal my tools and compressor if left unsecured. easily able to remove the cover that goes right up against the back to the rear seat to use the fold down feature for larger items and the cover of the deck is easily removable when the tailgate is open(part of the security feature).

 

I think my mind is made up on the tuffy security deck esp since it looks like I can fit all my doors underneath it which is a plus.. saince id rather not leave them at home on marginal days.... installation looks like its easy to take out the tuffy if i want to haul stuff in the jeep...

Tuffy products have always been top notch.. I had tuffy gloveboxes in my TJs....

-Christopher

 

You have a Droid and an Iphone? I have a 4 year old Razr, I should get with the times...

 

work provides me the iphone.. which I jail-broke so I could run a tracker on it.. the droid is recent. something to play with... writing apps for it for my Home automation is easier than going through apple's crazy closed mindedness to become a developer....

yeah im a geek... attaches is a sample of how I control lighting , HVAC etc in my house.. and also the HVAC system status itself... keeps me and the roomie comfy and slashed the energy bills in half... so id say it works....

oh yeah and I have a Jeep... that eats up all of the $$ I save in energy with the fancy house HVAC...
-Christopher

 

Wow. That is a pretty cool HVAC system. My heating and cooling system makes my Razr seem cutting edge. I have a Fisher Mama Bear woodstove (I think these were banned by the EPA in 1986). I recently added a 6,000 BTU window mounted A/C from Sam's Club. Again, I should get with the times.

 

I have that, and I used it for a while before I bought my Instatrunk. It's was a pain to use for this purpose, and can be easily snipped open with wire cutters, but it's a deterrent to some extent and better than nothing. Mine is the larger Pacsafe 120, which can easily hold my full size 5600 cu. in. backpack or a mid to large size duffle bag. I'm no longer using it, so if you want it talk to me.

 

I have the Tuffy Security Deck. Yes, there is room for OEM speaker and the top folds back fine...not just compltetly below bodywork.