They know how to start your car once they're in it.

It depends on the neighborhood but I normally just roll my windows up and use the red clip I got from pelican parts. I think I paid like $5 for it and its a nice feature being able to enable the motion sensor

That's actually a very interesting prospect you brought up. I would go try it now but my car is currently on stands with the battery disconnected. That's how I imagine a thief would go about obtaining the headlights.

So you're implying that we're dealing with a professional here? I really don't have a lot of knowledge on the subject, but doesn't somebody capable of starting a car without a key generally not have a lot of trouble getting into the car in the first place? If they're capable of starting the car it's a whole new ball game---the headlights become just one small piece of a much bigger package.


And of course the other matter I didn't mention earlier (but should have) is this: Even if the frunk of a locked Boxster does open when the lever is pulled (not established---I'm bettin' it won't), you'd also have a situation where the intended crook is fiddling around with pulling headlights while they are flashing wildly and the horn's blaring. Although I'm sure there are exceptions, in general I can't imagine too many bad guys sticking around under those conditions. If they were willing to deal with 10 or 15 seconds of noise and lights, I guess somebody who knew what he was doing could disable the alarm---maybe as easily as just pulling a fuse?

KB, I'd go out and test my electronic release disabled theory for you but it's a little early in the morning to deal with the racket of the alarm. Later, for sure...

I do not.:)

In cars with manual frunk/trunk levers(mine), once you lock the car, the levers are locked until you unlock it. ;)

Well calling them professionals is quiet flattering to them but the 986 is not a very modern car from a security standpoint. They don't need to fire up up the engine they just need to get the juice going to disarm and open the trunk. Yes, you are correct getting in is not difficult either. Top down just makes it more appetizing, like a big eclair on a silver platter. But the risks and penalties of burglarizing your car vs pulling off grand theft are two different matters. One can get you time in jail the other time in prison. Your Porsche would have to have a pretty high 'hot value' (a big discount over trade-in) to make it a worthwhile risk for a gainfully employed theif. The risk/reward of a quick $1,000 for your headlights is the better deal. And of course there are always the meth/crack heads to consider. They love elcairs.

It is online how to open the front trunk of a later 986 (owners manual)
All you need to do s reach in the drivers footwell and pull off the fuse box cover .

I have not tried , but I reckon I could have my headlights out in less than a minute with my car locked and no key ....

One further question before I start looking to purchase this "red clip" ...

What happens if you reach over the screen and simply pull it out ?
Does that render the alarm back to doors only ?

I'm thinking it may be easier and better to just wire in a switch in one of the spare spots in the horseshoe ....

Once the car is locked, removing the red clip without first deactivating the immobilizer/alarm with the key would have the same effect as picking the door lock and opening the door, or opening the console lid - the alarm is activated.

Brad

I could be wrong, but I swear I've read studies more or less establishing that bad guys don't really think about the type or severity of punishment for one action vs another, related-but-different offense. I made my comment based on your observation that they "know how to start your car once they're in it." Me? That's exactly what I would do. If I only wanted your headlights but was also capable of starting the car, I'd drive it to the back corner of the nearest Walmart parking lot and heist those lights in a much more relaxed manner. (No offense to the poster intended, but I for one find it difficult to believe that, as was suggested, they could be removed from a locked car in "less than a minute", unless you were okay with destroying them in the process. What? They're held in place by duct tape??)

But you could be right on the other stuff, PL...who doesn't like eclairs? And---who am I to argue with someone who once detailed a rental car?? :cheers:

Thanks brad .
That will be today's ebay purchase :D

Frodo ,
No they are not held in with duct-tape .
They are held in with the tool you keep in the trunk waiting for them :D

here are the steps :

Jump in car
Pull off fuse box cover
Pull out positive clip and attach 12v and the hood pops
Jump out of car and open hood
Pull back carpets and remove rubber bungs
Insert headlight tool and do a quarter turn
Do another quarter turn on other headlight .

Viola !!!

Maybe my one minute estimate was a little low ?
Maybe ill grab a motorcycle battery and headlight tool and time myself ?

I figured it took me 30 seconds to pop my hood when the battery was flat and it takes me around 30 seconds to remove a headlight so in a rush both could be gone in a minute ....

I just checked my local porsche dealer ...
I get it cheaper using them :D

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps0719e8e3.jpg

That's largely true. I spent many years working with Federal LE and it became clear that there are two types of criminals: successful and unsuccessful. The former are not many. The latter inundate the jails for low crimes and are back out again to prey on the innocent and unsuspecting eventually over reaching almost alway on a drug offense. State Courts were largely responsible for this revolving door, the Federal system was severe in comparison. I once ran what you would know as a rap sheet on a guy who had finally committed a Federal crime after decades of breaking state laws, largely burglaries. Well it took so long to print his record (old dot matrix printers at the time) that the length of it was something like 20 feet. He'd never done more a couple of years in jail at one time. I have to wonder how many crimes he did get away with.
A career criminal would love the idea of stealing Porsche headlights from an area known to have many Porsches (like So Cal bars/malls). A career criminal is also a specialist, he's not doing random crimes. He knows how to do one thing well and he knows how to evaluate when the window of oppourtunity is most open. One of these trained in car theft and burglarizing could absolutely get at your headlights in less time that it takes you to raise your top and lock up. If I recall correctly the crew that were stealing Litronics a few years back in CA hit many cars in a very short period of time. That means they were in and out fast. Which also tells me there were probably 2-3 guys involved per theft. I could see one guy disarming the car and opening the hood, another removing the headlights with tool already in hand and maybe even a third in a van or tall SUV partially blocking the view. Lickety split.

p.s.
That rental car was a red Mustang. It deserved better even if it turned like a truck.

I have an idea for those worried about it ....

Rather than making holes In The metal to fix a cover instead of the rubber bungs (my first idea)
You can search out something like this that fits in the hole ....

Allthough it is by no means a way to stop headlight theft , They won't be expecting to see a nut and there's a good chance they'll simply abort ;)

Rawlnut and Rubber Nuts,Top Hat Type, Metric : Fastfix Direct : Tools Fasteners and Fixings

I currenlty work in Federal LE, and what you say is true. I maintain that almost no Federal inmates are incarcerated for their first crime. The Feds also have something like a 98% success rate for convictions because they don't indite until they KNOW what has been going on. Basically if you ever get indited on Fed charges, make the deal, they are going to get you.

Never mind the rap sheet, take a look at a Federal inmates Pre-Sentencing Investigation Report (PSI). There is a section for criminal history, and most times there are numerous charges that were "dismissed in the furtherance of justice".

Apologies in advance if this is a stupid question - I found this thread searching for security system answers. I am a new owner of a 986. I purchased the red clip, but engaging the security system seems to involve gremlins and a full moon. Am I missing something? I read my manual, it makes it sound pretty straightforward, but in practice, not so much.

I usually park, remove the key, then lock the door with the key in lock (my key's buttons don't work). Sometimes I see the red light blinking on the dash, sometimes not. I've tried engaging the door locks with the dash button before turning off the car, then "double pull" exiting the drivers side door, re-lock with key, inconsistent whether alarm engages. Any tips?

I'll be honest, I don't leave anything in the car, really I just want to be sure the trunks are secured in case I'm out shopping and left some new shoes in there...

Not sure what your problem is as if properly locked, your headlights should flash a couple of times and the red interior activation light should keep flashing until it is unlocked. If one of your microswitches is sporadically failing (for the top or doors or console lid) I suppose that could be the gremlin.

Brad

I've not heard of many problems w/ headlight theft around here, but I'll quickly acknowledge something everyone here already knows: there's a huge difference between NE Ohio and, say, southern California. I can see how a team of 2 or 3 guys who've scoped out areas ripe for the picking could do very well in a few hours. There's like a gazillion more Porsches in California than Ohio.

Back to the original question...I may have to re-think my security protocol. Drove the Box today (finally no rain after, literally, 2 weeks of precip) and played around with things after I got home, parked and locked, top down. May or may not be true for others, but this is what I observed:

The good:

Reaching in and trying to open either trunk w/ the electronic lever was unsuccessful.

The bad:

The action of reaching in and trying to unlock the trunks did not set off the alarm system. I swung my arm/hand around over the driver's seat with no alarm response. I did the same thing below the mirror (ie close to where I believe the motion sensor is located) and eventually (after maybe 10 sec) the alarm was triggered.

As was suggested earlier, I tried simply reaching in and pulling the red clip...nothing happened! (Nor when I re-inserted it!)

In the interests of establishing repeatability, I'll try these again soon and post any changes in results. But, from what I'm seeing I'm not inclined to leave anything worth more than an inexpensive pair of shades in the car if the top's down, w/ or w/o the red clip.


Hey Coffin! If you're in LE you really need to get this right: Indict. INDICT! :)