"the club" ???

[futuresurgeon]

can i buy "a club" (the car security device) down on the island or should i bring one from the states?

thanks


seems like this can help with the car theft that we keep hearing about

[AUCMD2006]

you not only can buy it but you should....

[aucguy]

I bought one when I was down on the island - didn't want to lug one all the way from the states - but I know people who brought them too. The club will protect your car from being stolen, but your trunk and car can still be broken into - so never leave anything of major value in the car, and for godsakes, if you do, not in plain view!

[anencephalic]

Bought me a "Master Lock" club for my car at NAPA in Cole Bay...$39.

Aloha,

[beach bum]

My cousin is an AUC Alumni and I check one other SXM site sometimes and this issue was discussed.

It is my understanding that car THEFT is virtually non-existent, because it is an island. These people, including the car rental place I used, all essentially told me “It’s an island! Where are they gonna go?”

The big problem is stealing things from the car. The consensus I’ve gotten is this-
'Don’t leave anything of value in your car and NEVER lock your car." ( These were the exact words of my car rental guy) People seem to have no problem breaking a window to look around, so it’s better just to let them open the door and look around and find nothing.

My cousin said she rarely locked her car and one of the times she did, the window got smashed in. Nothing got stolen, because nothing was there, but she still got stuck paying for a window. Or should I say -got stuck driving around with a plastic bag over her window for three weeks as she waited for a window to get shipped down...

[anencephalic]

One week on the island and I can't begin to tell you how many cars I have seen with windows smashed or missing...I still lock my car though...maybe I better stop. :?

Aloha,

[AUCMD2006]

it is like everywhere else. i haven't heard of any violent crime but break ins are as common here as in chicago! just last weekend my neighbor caught some local teen trying to get in his car. common sense don't drive a pimp car and don't leave good stuff in your car....

[tRmedic21]

I know of several thefts of vehicles, but break-ins are much more common. For one thing, being an island, the more non-descript your car is, the more likely it is to get stolen. In other words, if you drive a silver Hyundai Accent..... well... watch out! :P

Some people advocate the 'leave it open and empty' theory. I personally leave it empty and locked. Maybe that's not a good idea, I dunno. It's worked for me so far, but when I end up replacing a window, I prolly won't be so glib about it. :roll:

[anencephalic]

...I left the car unlocked today in P'burg while I was signing the rental/lease docs for my Beacon Hill mansion (all right...it's a 1BR :oops: ) and guess what...nothing got stolen! Then again, all they would've got was an empty Subway sandwich wrapper and a half-empty (and warm, to boot :D ) diet coke....can't wait 'til high season when the locals can start targeting those hapless tourists instead of the starving med students... :twisted:

Aloha,

[Art Vandelay]

I know of several thefts of vehicles, but break-ins are much more common. For one thing, being an island, the more non-descript your car is, the more likely it is to get stolen. In other words, if you drive a silver Hyundai Accent..... well... watch out! :P

Some people advocate the 'leave it open and empty' theory. I personally leave it empty and locked. Maybe that's not a good idea, I dunno. It's worked for me so far, but when I end up replacing a window, I prolly won't be so glib about it. :roll:
It has been said that some thefts on the island can break into those silver Hyundai Accent rentals very easily. For some reason they have a key that can open those trunks. When I was there 2 years ago I witnessed my friend's car being broken-in in Front Street at around 5-6pm while we were drinking right across the opposite side of the road. We ran towards the guy and he took off with my friend's wallet... there's a great lesson to be learn here!!

[teratos]

Back when i was there cars (especially rental cars) got stolen all the time. It was often said that the rental companies would rent you a car, then steal it and collect on the insurance (tht you paid for!!!) Not sure if it is true, but it might be. G

[tRmedic21]

Back when i was there cars (especially rental cars) got stolen all the time. It was often said that the rental companies would rent you a car, then steal it and collect on the insurance (tht you paid for!!!) Not sure if it is true, but it might be. G

We have a strong suspicion this is what happened to my friend John back in November. Some of you might remember him, he and his wife came down several months early for the January class, but had all kinds of problems once they got here, including having their rental stolen. The car was 'found' a week or two later just parked on the street somewhere, but there were no windows broken, no locks broken, steering column intact, etc....odd how a car could be stolen and driven like that with now damage. :roll:

Well, long story short, they basically tried to rip John into paying a $500 'finder's fee' to the person who found the car, but would never tell him who this person was, or where it was found, nothing about this 'finder's fee' in his contract, etc. He told them where to go and cancelled his credit card, so they couldn't charge him later, I think that was the end of it. Oh, and if you're wondering, this was Budget Rent a Car. Just a heads'-up. :)

You know us.... always looking to help. :wink: