Hood Reinforcement as Theft Deterrent

A friend of mine just sent me this thread from a 4Runner forum he's on, and it really got me thinking about adding some metal reinforcement to the underside of the hood, right above the battery. Anyone here done anything like this?

 

If they're going to cut a hole in the hood, they really want your shit. You don't need metal reinforcing, you need to reconsider where you park your truck.

 

I agree and that was my first thought, but for someone who already has an alarm that doesn't offer battery backup, I see this as a much easier solution than a whole new alarm.

 

That's just naive; no matter where you park you have to worry about theft if you don't have a secure garage to park in.

I live on 3 acres in a house that is completely hidden by trees down a long driveway and not visible from the road. My best friend is a LEO in the city I live in and gets called to reports of car prowlers frequently, and I am in an area where I am surrounded by multi-million dollar homes. Unfortunately the house I live in is old and doesn't have a garage, only carport, so we do have to worry regardless of how upscale the area is.

There is no better place I could park my vehicles without a secure garage.

 

Not really, that's pretty excessive damage just to steal a stereo and not something that could have been done quickly and quietly. Motion lights help deter people from lingering around cars if you're in the boonies and window tint to stop people from being able to just look in and see what you've got to steal.

I guess my point was, if someone's going to try that hard to steal something, they're pretty dedicated and are going to get what they're after. When it comes down to it, that's what insurance is for. Even if they didn't take the stereo, I'll bet that's still over $1,000 worth of damage there. The reinforcing plate might make them try harder and do even more body damage, like cut in from the side.

 

I have both motion lights and dark tint. The OP went on to say that the perp unscrewed the lights on the side of his house.

 

i think thats a once in a lifetime chance that would happen to you...

i would kill.

 

Whoa... yeah, not much you can do about that. Someone knew exactly what was in that truck and how to get it.

 

That was an inside job guaranteed. Probably a friend of a friend or a neighbor across the street.