From: holowczk@rwja.umdnj.edu (Richard Holowczak)
Newsgroups: alt.locksmithing
Subject: Re: interest in car alarm group?
Date: 19 Nov 92 15:44:38 GMT
Organization: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway NJ

ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder) writes:

>In article <1992Nov13.030057.4263@newshub.sdsu.edu> dunster@sdsu.edu (mark dunster) writes:
>>In article <1992Nov12.085402.4517@csusac.csus.edu>, chenh@neptune.ecs.csus.edu (H. Philip Chen) writes:
>>> Having a rec.(car-alarm) will probably attract a whole bunch 
>>> of flames from people who just hate those things.  
>>
>>Who cares? If they hate them, they don't have to read the newsgroup. I hate
>>having my car stolen!  ):^(

>Yes, but an alarm isn't going to do squat to help you.  My dad had his Jeep
>stolen in broad daylight in a crowded mall parking lot.  No one payed any
>attention to the alarm howling.

    Hmmmm.   If a thief has targeted your car, there is nothing you can
    do to stop them.  However, you must agree that a car without an 
    alarm is a more attractive target than a car with an alarm.  Did he
    leave any valuables in plain view? Did he have a nice sound system?
    Maybe he left his door unlocked or it could be his model jeep is
    inherently easy to break in to.  Many things contribute.


>I can tell you why.  I live in a condominium, and every time we have a
>windy night, I am awakened many times by different car alarms trying to
>outdo each other with the obnoxiousness of their blasts.  I hate to say

    In many areas you can be fined if you have such an alarm.  I 
    suggest you get together with your condiminuim association and
    form some rules and regulations.  Try to educate the alarm owners.
    Perhaps some of them will disable sensors or have their systems
    adjusted.  It is amazing how accountable people become when they
    are faced with paying up some money in fines vs. paying a few
    extra $$ for a better alarm system.

>this, but it's true... I never even bother looking out the window when
>I hear one of these alarms.  Chances are 99% that it's a false alarm, but
>if it is a thief and he can successfully remove one of these disruptive
>noisemakers, there will be one less nuisance false alarm to endure
>tomorrow night.

    I would think that these people who have cheap alarms that false
    all the time are uninformed in general about alarms. As I have
    written in my FAQ, many people buy an alarm based on price
    alone + the slimy dealer's sales pitch.  They have no idea that
    some sensors are prone to false, etc.  If we form
    an accessable group for car alarm information, there may be a
    few less people out there who install alarms with poor
    sensors.   This would alleviate some of the "noise polution" 
    right away.   I think this is the goal of the new group.

    Yes there are other groups which carry bits and pieces from
    time to time.  If there is one group available, then all
    comments will show up in one place accessable to most everyone.


>If you want to protect your car, get a silent alarm with a pager, a Lo-Jack,
>or an armed guard.  We have enough noise pollution, thank you.

    I agree with you about the noise polution.  Please read my FAQ about
    Lo-Jack and other alarm features so you too can make and informed
    decision about automobile security.

   And . . .   Try to get a good night's sleep. 

   Rich H.



>-- 

>Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
>                             Computer Services
>ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764