There is disclosed an anti-theft system for protecting a vehicle radio or the like, which is manually removably disposed on the instrument panel or dashboard of a vehicle such as an automobile. When not in use, the radio is stored in a container provided with locks, the container being disposed in the vehicle near the rear compartment or trunk which is also provided with a locked cover. Thus, a thief must open not only the trunk cover, but also the container for storing the radio which itself cannot be removed from the trunk.

The present invention relates to an anti-theft system. More particularly, 
the invention relates to an anti-theft system for protecting and 
preventing theft of communication means, such as for example, a stereo, 
radio and tape deck combination as well as other valuables from a vehicle, 
such as for example, an automobile. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Anti-theft devices and mounts for preventing theft of and the destruction 
of valuable automobile accessories such as citizens band radios, stereo 
radios, tape decks, telephones, and the like are known. For example, U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,050,767 Berning, discloses a mount for detachably installing a 
citizens band radio in an automobile so that it may be removed from its 
position of use and stored in the locked trunk of the car. U.S. Pat. 
4,361,355 Wise, on the other hand, discloses a special secure compartment, 
or box, mounted in the truck of a car to receive traffic violations and 
tickets from the outside of the trunk without opening the trunk. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,815 Stoeschek, discloses mounting a radio in an 
automobile rather than in the drives compartment for reasons of storage 
space. U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,069 Burbank, discloses apparatus for protecting 
and preventing theft of dashboard or instrument panel mounted radios which 
include a cover which may be disposed over the operable portions of the 
radio and locked in place. In contrast, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,512 
Tscheulin et al, discloses a theft resistant audio system for a vehicle 
part of which is permanently fixed in the dashboard thereof and includes a 
user interface unit pluggable into and removable from the front of the 
permanently fixed post to render the system unuseable when the interface 
unit is removed. 
However, none of the above discussed patents teach or suggest a system or 
device for the safe containment of a communication means, such as a radio 
or the like, in a container or box integrally secured to a vehicle frame 
or bulkhead inside the vehicle trunk. There exists, therefore, a need for 
such a system or device. The present invention fulfills such a need. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention, there is provided an anti-theft system 
for protecting and preventing theft of communication means for a vehicle 
comprising, in combination, a vehicle having a frame, a vehicle body 
supported on the frame, means for operating the vehicle and an instrument 
panel located in the vehicle body, communication means removably disposed 
for use in the vehicle body at one location, and storage means for 
receiving and storing said communication means. The storage means 
including lock means is permanently fixed to the vehicle at a location 
different from the location of the communication means when the 
communication means is removed from the location where it is used, thereby 
protecting and preventing theft of the communication means. 
In particular, the storage means comprises a permanently attached locked 
box within the trunk. The box is preferably welded in place and therefor 
cannot be removed. 
For the sake of simplicity, the present invention is disclosed here as it 
is applied to automobiles. It is to be understood, however, the inventive 
system can be utilized in aircraft, boats, ships, trucks and other types 
of vehicles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIG. 1, an anti-theft system for protecting and preventing 
theft of valuable automobile accessories according to the present 
invention, comprises a vehicle such as an automobile generally designated 
by numeral 11 having a frame 13, an automobile vehicle body 15 and means 
for operating a vehicle, such as steering apparatus 17 and an instrument 
panel 19, on dashboard, located in the body 15. 
Removably disposed in the instrument panel 19 is an illustrated valuable 
such as a stereo radio, tape deck combination 21. The valuable may be a 
citizen band radio transceiver or any small FM radio, telephone, or other 
communication means removably mounted on the instrument panel 19 or in the 
vicinity of the steering apparatus 17 with a suitable bracket means, such 
as those shown, for example, in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 
4,050,767. 
Mounted in the rear compartment of trunk 23 of the automobile 11 is 
container 25 for receiving and storing the stereo, radio, tape deck 
combination 21, or the like, when it is not in use. Container 25 is 
provided with a cover 27 hinged thereto as with a secure and safe piano 
hinge 29 and is provided with one or more locks 31. The locks may be of 
any conventional type although it is preferred that a strong tamper-proof 
combination lock or safety lock be used. The container 25 may be disposed 
in an upright position or it may be disposed flat on the bottom 33 of the 
trunk 23 in flat condition both as seen in FIG. 2. 
Preferably, the container is arranged so that the lock 31 is close to the 
floor, bulkhead, or other permanent structural element so that it is 
inaccessible to all but the owner using the key or combination tumbler of 
the lock, thereby preventing the lock from being easily picked or pried 
apart by a thief. Container 25 may be attached to the bulkhead 35 of the 
automobile body 15 by welding as shown, or it may be attached, as for 
example to the bottom 33 of the trunk 23 by means of bolts 37. 
In actual use, the anti-theft system for protecting and preventing theft of 
the valuable accessory such as the stereo, radio, tape deck combination 
operates by removing the radio and tape deck from its position on the 
instrument panel when it is not in use and locking it in the container 25, 
after which the trunk lid 39 is closed and locked. The valuable is 
permitted to so remain until it is again to be used and is protected 
against theft. 
Since the lid 39 of the automobile must first be pried open by a thief in 
order to obtain access to container 25 which cannot be removed from the 
trunk since it is permanently fixed to a bulkhead of the body on the 
frame, the thief is thwarted in his desire to make a quick hit and escape. 
Consequently, a thief must first break the lid open, then break the locks 
of the container 25 to gain access to the valuable stored therein. The 
difficulty in gaining access through the trunk and locked container is 
discouraging to the thief. Moreover, the time and effort needed to gain 
access to the unit by breaking the automobile trunk and then the container 
will often be sufficiently long for the thief to be caught in the act. 
In FIG. 3, the interior of the container is illustrated to show that it has 
been separated into a number of smaller compartments 41 and 43. One 
compartment 43 may be sufficiently large to contain major accessories such 
as the radio, tape deck, etc.; another compartment can be sized to receive 
the connecting wires thereof and minor components. Still other 
compartments may be used to contain jewelry and other valuables. The 
division of the container can be predetermined and selected to fit the 
need of the vehicle owner. 
It is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to 
the described embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended 
claims.