Theft protection
 

There are some threads here about theft protection, but I am thinking of some different solutions. In Serbia, car security companies recommend mechanical and electronic protection and OBD displacement or removal.

1. Mechanical protection (steering wheel locks)

There are several companies making basically similar products

a) Zeder

http://files.zeder-lock.sk/img/Zeder01.JPG

http://www.dodaj.rs/f/17/12R/24FfpJMQ/22012011168.jpg

b) Delta Electronic Bolt

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/610/igla.jpg

c) Abloy Protec (Guardian Protec)

http://www.guardianprotec.rs/images/img38647734.jpg

http://www.guardianprotec.rs/images/img38647718.jpg

http://www.guardianprotec.rs/images/img8303500.jpg

This third claims their lock is bump proof and I am not sure about the first two.

But, my question here is does it really help to lock the steering wheel on a car with automatic transmission, specially X5 which is anyhow difficult to steer without running engine? If someone wants to take it with towing truck, this lock wouln't help anyhow, isn't it?

2. Electronic protection (alarms, immobilizers)

Are CAN-bus alarms (Cobra, Meta System) good? I already have factory alarm which is also connected to CAN-bus, so is really aftermarket alarm necessary?

3. OBD II connector displacement or removal

It is possible to displace OBD to secret position, or cut it and connect to different connector with removable adapter. Do you think this is good idea? Is there some lock for OBD to protect it from connecting?

4. Satellite tracking

This is based on GPS-GPRS technology, but it is so easy to jam both GPS and GPRS signals, so I am not sure how good protection this is.

5. Move to Kentucky
... nothing ever happens there.

JK, interesting write up, thanks!

Meh, thats what insurance is for. Been there, done that when I drove a modded Integra GSR. I'm not going to be paranoid about a car anymore.

This is Serbia we are talking about here, any nice whip gets stolen and shipped to Russian big boss in a blink of an eye.

I am asking for technical help here :)

I am not going to move to the US and insurance is insanely expensive here and we are not so related to Russians. :D