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Hate to say this, but colleges in good areas are the most hit from what I hear. 9 out of 10 times the people on forums were hit "at school". Young people are the best targets, college kids generally have nicer stuff than high school kids, so there you have it... like a recipe for thieving success.

It would be great if I had a garage... but I don't even have a driveway. Hopefully I'll be moving soon.

I understand your point (gonz) about people not doing shit once they hear an alarm go off, but I think it's more of a mental game with the thief. I know I'd sure as hell be a lot more comfortable breaking into a car without a flashing LED inside, than a car I knew had an alarm.

Certainly, regardless of the bystanders, the heart rate of a thief is gonna speed up relative to the length of time the backup siren is going off!

All that aside, I forced myself to spend the extra money on a 2way. It doesn't help me at school, it doesn't help me at the mall, or if I'm at some sort of event, concert, sports, etc. But at home, friends' house, restaurants, virtually anything that isn't a HUGE complex, I feel secure.

Now in schools/big cities/big events/malls? I have my windows tinted, I have stock 15" Honda rims, that's it. My little blinking LED is as pimped out as my car gets lol. The only other way I keep safe is by not being a dipshit. The tunes go down a mile from the hot spot, and are turned all the way down once in the parking lot etc.

Aside from all that, I'm still not ignorant, I know if they really want my stuff they will get it, my hope is just that they have no idea/interest. My current project is relocating my HU to my glove box

Turning down the tunes is always an excellent idea. At home, school, mall, wherever you leave your car unattended.

I'm torn on the LED idea though...
I can't decide whats better, surprise them with an alarm, or give them a heads up that its there, by way of blinking LED.

Same here. The last few alarms of my own I've put in I've left out the LEDs. I guess I'm garanteeing I'll loose a window, but hopefully it helps ensure I keep my equipment. I can't stand parimiter sensors either. Every cloud, cat and strong wind gust seems to set the damn things off. I like multiple shock sensors.

that is the best thing about a sq car, the sound stays in the car, even if I roll down the windows, you can't tell unless I really have it cranked up to maximum

ok a few realities about alarms:
the LED and the alarm are both deterrants, not guarantees.
The purpose of the LED is to ward off potential amateur thieves. They will gravitate toward easy (read:unalarmed) targets. If they see the LED, and you have an impact sensor, that's enough to scare off most of the kids.
The alarm itself, once it's set off isn't there to scare off a thief. It's there to attract looks from people around the car, which it does. People look over, and if someone is breaking into a car, they get IDed and reported when police do arrive, or better yet the alarm gets YOUR attention at night outside your house, and a porch light scares off whomever is breaking into the car.

Any step toward better security is one more chance of saving your car and belongings, be that an alarm, a secure garage, a stealthily installed system, or whatever.