Deploy one visible decoy and one hidden primary unit, each with different power sources and antennas. Enable instant movement alerts, ignition notices, and geofenced zones around home and work. Share responder access with a trusted contact. Practice your recovery playbook calmly, involving authorities first. Preparedness transforms location pings into safe, effective, controlled outcomes.
Store key fobs in certified Faraday pouches at night and enable fob sleep mode if available. Disable passive entry when practical. Install a CAN intrusion detector that watches for abnormal door or wake signals. Combined with an immobilizer, these defenses interrupt the exact sequence thieves automate, forcing them into noisy, risky, time-consuming improvisation they hate.
Trackers with internal batteries maintain visibility even when the vehicle battery is pulled. Configure low-power modes for airport weeks, and hide a manual service switch to isolate accessories. Test voltage thresholds seasonally. Reliability lives in details: clean grounds, proper fusing, and careful antenna placement that resists interference without advertising your technology to prying eyes.
Many carriers recognize immobilizers, trackers, and garage parking with meaningful discounts. Provide proof of professional installation and system specifications. Ask how alerts or recovery reports support claims. Maintaining tidy documentation—photos, serial numbers, receipts—turns stressful moments into straightforward conversations, preserving your time while signaling diligence that often influences outcomes in your favor.
Favor OEM accessory harnesses, non-invasive connectors, and modules approved for your platform. Avoid crude splicing, protect CAN lines, and mount hardware with serviceability in mind. Keep a pre-install photo log and stow factory parts. A thoughtful approach prevents finger-pointing during unrelated repairs and lets you roll back changes cleanly if circumstances or ownership change.
Dashcams and trackers bring responsibilities. Learn local expectations around audio recording, signage, and data retention. Share access only with trusted people, and routinely purge sensitive logs. Balance visibility with discretion so deterrence works without broadcasting your exact defenses. Respect for others’ privacy reinforces your credibility if questions arise after an incident in a public garage.