370z sport wheels stolen!!! Help!
 

Hi All,

I am pretty new to posting on this site, and I've done a search for information on this particular topic before starting a new thread, but could find nothing, so here it goes.

Three weeks ago, I walked outside to my Z to go to work just to find the rear half of the car resting up on cinder blocks by the rocker panels and the front half of the car on the driveway pavement with all four 19"s missing. :mad: Now, I've owned this car for a little over a month before this happened (and needless to say, I was devastated). I live in the suburbs of Long Island in a nice area, but I'm 5 minutes away from the LIRR train station and I don't have access to a garage. This whole thing happened between the hours of midnight and 6am. Of course, I didn't have wheel locks on at the time, and I've learned that wheel locks serve as a minimal deterrent anyway. After two weeks of being without my car and $8100 later, I finally have my car back. :tup:

I want to ask for anyone's advice on what I should do to prevent this from happening again. So far, the precautions I've taken are:

-1 set of Nissan 370z flat washer style wheel locks (SKU: 999W2-Z3409)
-1 set of Gorilla Guard spinning wheel locks (Gorilla 12mm x 1.25 Thread Wheel Locks - Set of 4 Standard Mag Seat, Chrome)
-I've installed infrared sensors in the driveway to alert me when someone is snooping around

I've looked into getting an aftermarket alarm and was at the shop to have it installed when I was informed that the "alarm bypass module" for the 370z has not yet been manufactured, and I would therefore have to wait ~1-2 months before I could get an alarm installed. I want an alarm with a pager that has a range of up to 1 mile, tilt sensor, glass break sensor, and possibly a motion sensor (but I've heard the motion sensor is notorious for false alarms).

What alarm system would you recommend? I expect to spend around $600 (price includes installation). And what other precautions, if any, do you recommend? I just don't want this happening again. :shakes head:

Thanks guys!

http://www.the370z.com/members/g35gu...3-img-2159.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/g35gu...2-img-2157.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/g35gu...1-img-2148.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/g35gu...0-img-2151.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/g35gu...9-img-2147.jpg

That sucks, I'm sorry to hear that someone had to go through that.

If someone wants something, it is pretty hard to stop them even with all things accounted for. I'd say your best bet is what you are already looking into: aftermarket alarm and wheel locks.

i would try to get a hidden camera in you driveway. sorry to hear about that

That sucks!

Infrared sensors are good.. I'd also recommend this
http://www.shootershaven.net/MarkPic/SigP220R25.jpg

Knowing my luck, I'd hit my car.

The best part will be when you see some POS car with your wheels on it....

i can't imagine another 370 owner with a base model jacking those wheels so it would have to be some POS

It will most likely be some envious EvoX or STI owner. :ohsnap1:

Seriously, though, as someone who's never shopped for an aftermarket alarm, what do you suggest as a good option for the things I want to go with it (pager, tilt sensor, shock sensor)? Oh, and I also need remote start. :D

And, do any of you guys have an aftermarket alarm yet?

oh boy, now your gonna get it! :icon17:

I don't know if remote start is available due to the whole key fob deal but i would definitely want something with a remote that alerted me if someone bumped the car in anyway. This way you'll know if someone touches your baby while you sleep. I thought Viper had some good ones but I don't know alarms all that well to be perfectly honest.

I'd keep a baseball bat near the front door.. i usually do anyways. I prefer aluminum because well it makes that cool PING noise when it connects, and I like that. It's like a little bonus.

watch Ebay carefully - do you remember how much tread you had on it? if so - it will help... also any distinct marks on the car? any rash (the ONE time curb rash is your friend)?... not too many cars can accommodate those sizes w/out a lot of headache - so might be easier than you think to track it down. Watch craigslist and check internet forums like a fiend... good luck man - ill keep an eye out for ppl trying to sell some OEM wheels here n there...

Thanks, man. Any help I can get at this point would be much appreciated.

There's a remote start kit for the japan market. Just hasn't made it here yet.


Someone posted a link to it that included the Key Fob Protector.

The Fob Protector I'm waiting for - I'm always mashing the buttons on it without realizing it.

Police Report, I imagine?

Call up the pawn shops and let them know. The wheels on a Z are pretty distinct.

that sucks man =(

Quick question though, $8,100 for what? You can get a used set of the 370z sport wheels with tires for 2k or less. You can get brand new volks with high quality tires for 5k or less. I can understand if maybe there was damage beyond just what was stolen, but if that was for the wheels and tires then ouch...

the Gollila locks will slow them down so I suggest an after market alarm with an ajustable shock sensor that you can turn on and off when you need to use it or if the cars near the house add a video camera with low light visibilty that will turn it on if someone gets to close or a dog or security lights or sleep in the car with a 12 gauge and wait for them to come back

His info says Base, so i suppose he bought the sport wheels from someone who upgraded theirs. That might be part of the cost on the $8100. Just a thought....


Maybe

Sport Wheels & Rubber
+
Volks & Rubber
+
Locking Lugs
=
$8100???

Man, that totally sucks, there is nothing in this world worse than a thief. I wish I had some sage advice for you but thiefs typically get what they're after. I just hope for you that it doesn't happen again.

Be careful. I read some where that 7 out 10 places that get burgled, get burgled again after the insurance has replaced the goods.

Yo man... just set up a big box w/ a camera like thing on it... it doesnt have to be a real camera - just make it obvious that someone is watching ....

acceptable in texas (shoot someone who is stealing your car) dont think anywhere else.. i betcha where you live you whack some swine that are stealin your wheels you get charged with manslaughter..

as to the camera.. sure .. cops will take the vid and file it away with all the others..

unfortunately.. its a garage you're needin.. nice car out on the street in many areas is just asking for theft or being keyed etc...

New set of 19" sport wheels + new set of Bridgestone Potenza summer tires + new set of TPMS sensors + new set of rocker panels + Nissan labor + paint labor + all supplies + tow fee + tax = $8100

ouch, ya the rocker panels aren't cheap. did your insurance at least cover you?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that here in NY shooting someone for tampering with my car would surely land me in jail.

I will be sure to look into one of those fake camera things in addition to getting an aftermarket alarm when one becomes available.

Thanks for everyone's advice. FYE, I will post pics of my car after the incident occurred as soon as I get them uploaded to my computer.

My insurance covered everything minus my $500 deductible. So, for those of you who hate paying car insurance, you might want to change your mind. :bowrofl:

good to hear...$500 is not bad for all of that getting replaced.

Out of curiosity, do your new rocker panels paint match better than from the factory? PW side skirts look quite a bit darker than the rest of the car due to the material getting painted, but a paint shop will likely be able to match it must better.

Yes! I actually thought they made a mistake when I first saw them on the car, but then I realized the paint matches the rest of the car better than before.

damn, someone steal my wheels then, it bothers me everytime I look at the car...

Glad to hear everything has been fixed. :iagree: that would've been a nasty bill without insurance..

Glad to hear insurance covered it all.


As for the gun, yeah up here if you shoot someone tampering with your ride, even if on your property, you're probably getting F'ed with jail time. I didn't say you had to actually shoot the purp!

Also keep an eye out on craigslist in your area.

Very sorry to hear... I can't stand people who do stuff like that.

One recommendation, is that you should have the police get fingerprints off your car. Probably way too late by now, but its probably the only way of catching them unless you find them on the internet somewhere.

New Camaro owners are having the same problem right now. Several have reported coming out in the morning to find their car on blocks or on the ground and their cars wheeless. Be sure to watch Craigslist/Ebay for your stuff. These people are the lowest of the low.

Incredible...
Just be on the lock out on the north east for the 370z wheels on a different car!
I'll look out for u!
:D

sorry. i didnt mean to cause any problems. i just wanted them.

but seriously. that sucks. first thing i would of done is call 119.

Alarm is useless. They can disable the battery.

Police won't bother with finger prints. In fact, they won't bother with anything more than filing a police report, because they know the insurance on the car will replace them.

ill say buy a camara then a gun then ammunition...then another gun so you frame the guy who trys to steal your rims again. lol jk

Haha. I will be sure to keep everyone's advice in mind when deciding what exactly I need to do to keep this from happening again. And if it can happen to me, it can happen to you. So keep an eye on your stuff, guys!:twocents: