Anti-theft precautions?

Spending a week in Quebec this summer, and I was thinking about spending a few days in Montreal.

If possible, I'd love to drive up my 22 TRD Pro. It's comfortable for road trips, and it's >10years newer than my other car (a Prius), so it has Adaptive Cruise Control, Carplay, etc.

There's no shortage of horror stories of both US tourists and locals having their cars stolen in Montreal. It seems that there's a preference for Toyota/Lexus SUVs, and while 4Runners don't make the top lists like RAV4s, Highlanders, and RX vehicles (probably due to sales volume), they are definitely a popular by organized crime that ship the cars overseas. (E.g., 4Runner ads on Nigerian marketplace site.)

With all that said, I know it's a target, so ultimately, my backup option is to take my second car (typically reserved for my daily city driving), which I'm pretty confident that no one would bother with.

However, I'd like to at least think about what it'd take to secure the 4Runner.

---

Some things I'm considering (that I'd use together):

• (Cheap/easy) Club/steering wheel lock as a visible deterrent
• (Cheap/easy) RFID blocking bag/box for keys to reduce risk of key fob relay attack
• (Cheap/easy) Airtag or two stashed somewhere in the car - not designed for this purpose, and they alert third parties as an anti-stalking measure
• (Free/a little annoying) Pulling a fuse (e.g., fuel injector relay or something else?)
• (Some cost/maybe DIY) - Installing a kill switch like 41.22 (this one seems to be DIY and doesn't permanently modify wiring)
• (Moderate cost/requires installation) OBD lock, although I'm not sure how much this helps
• (Expensive/requires installation) Maybe getting Lojack or IGLA installed?

Will any of these, especially the easier/cheaper options help at all?

Any other suggestions?

I'm particularly interested in pulling a relay. This would definitely be overkill as a regular thing, but I wouldn't mind doing it for a week at max. My worry is that the car might still get trashed (smashed windows, cut wires) if they think a theft is possible.

---


I know for many of you, this sounds hyper paranoid. And for my daily life in a major US city in the northeast, it is; this isn't something I've really thought about. But I've read enough anecdotes of tourists getting their cars stolen within hours of arriving in Montreal, that I think there's a non-negligible degree of risk.

 

I’d just fly and rent a car. More expense but at least you won’t be stressing about your 4R.

 

I personally do the first three things on your list; club, faraday box and air tag. Having an air tag to track your stolen vehicle in Canada will not be effective since you won’t be able to confront the thieves with a weapon like I could here in Texas. I agree that flying in and renting a car would be the best plan. Either way, safe travels.

 

pull the EFI relay or rent a car.

 

https://41twentytwo.com/product/veh..._ngzoZn-orzvMQmKY1IcSOO1YWdmveOHePVSR5S0qESwp

 

Rent a 4runner while you're in Montreal

Maybe even a 6 gen so it comes with a review at the end of your trip!?

Remember: rental cars are basically race cars

 

Leave the transfer case in Neutral.

 

there is real no “neutral” in the TC. Its either in 2wd, 4H or 4L

 

Just spend a week in Quebec and had no issues. Maybe a bit over thinking it?

 

If your not going to spend to do it right by adding layers of protection/deterrent i would just rent or take a different vehicle.

I have a full security alarm that can notify me via app and key fob up to 3mi away so i know if someone is breaking in. I also have video surveillance. But its a bit of an investment.

 

There's a neutral position on the 4WD lever. Won't slow down thieves though, as many Jeep Wranglers are stolen as well.

It's a legit concern as a large portion of stolen vehicles from this continent are loaded into shipping containers and "exported" through the port of Montreal. Two people in my off-road club had their Tacomas stolen; one had his 4Runner stolen. 2020+ 4Runners got on the high risk list last year, with local customers being hit with a $500 insurance premium surcharge at renewal.

Known attack vector seen from security camera footage discussed in 4Runner FB groups is to smash a rear window glass, climb in, access the OBD2 port to program a fob, and drive off. Mechanical OBD2 lock slows them down, as would kill switch or pulling a fuse/relay.

You can also cover up your VIN on the dash so thieves with an inside man at a dealer can't program fobs with it.

Park your vehicle somewhere that a tow truck can't pick it up.

I've seen a Lexus RX (also a high risk vehicle) in a shopping mall parking lot with a yellow trailer wheel lock, but I don't recommend it - collateral damage is high if you forget to remove it.

 

there is no neutral on the 4wd selector he has. Its either 2h, 4h or 4L on the dial.

but I am curious as to what putting the 4wd in “neutral” does to prevent theft. My 2011 SR5 has the old school lever to engage the 4wd which does have a neutral position before you get to 4L

 

The TRD Pro has a “manual” TC shifter. My understanding is that N would disengage the drivetrain, but I view this as a minor deterrent.

My fear is even with some of these deterrents that render the car immobile (short of towing), like pulling a relay from the engine bay, there’s still a pretty high risk of getting a window smashed before getting to that point.

We’re making a road trip out of it and staying in upstate NY on the way, so I’m leaning toward driving the Prius

 

Just put these on

$55 KAYCENTOP Wheel Clamp Lock Universal Security Tire Locks Anti Theft Lock Fit Most Vehicles Max 11" Tire Width for Trailers SUV Boats ATV's Motorcycles Golf Cart Yellow/Red 2 Packs 6 Keys Alike

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DY1F8V4Z

 

my bad, i thought after 2014 or so they all moved to the dial to engage 4wd

 

Steering wheel club, and brake pedal club-get both. Airtag with speaker removed, bury it deep inside the panels. In a particular bad area for the night? Pull the fuel pump fuse/relay. I did this when driving a Uhaul with our belongings 1,400 miles. Each night at the hotel I pulled the relay for the fuel pump and kept it in our hotel room.

 

Something else I was considering besides the relay: https://www.jordandistributors.com/products/ghost-lock-universal

 

Insurance

 

Jeep Wranglers are routinely stolen and they all have a 4WD lever with a neutral position. Thieves know about it.

There's no prevention against a smashed window while on the road. Thieves may do it anyway just to steal your luggage. Very common in Europe and in US cities like San Francisco. In Europe they may do the smash & grab at a traffic light, while your family is still in the vehicle, and zipping away on a motorcycle before you processed what had happened.

 

You can bring all the stuff but see how the area you are in actually is as cities vary widely across their area and whether you'll blend in or not. If it was as guaranteed as it feels from where you are, nobody would have a remotely nice car where you end up.

The whole Hyundai/Kia engine failure and theft issue seemed guaranteed for a while, but those in my family haven't blown up or disappeared yet.

(of course not to dismiss the worry, their engine engineering is still garbage and I'd rather not keep them given the choice, but for light use around the suburbs they're perfectly adequate.)

 

Problem solved. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XW8iA...embeds_referring_euri=https://www.google.com/

 

I have always thought about a mannequin in the passenger seat as a deterrent.

 

holding a hand grenade

 

The OP and many of you are seriously over thinking this. Just make sure your insurance is up to date and hope for the best. It’s just a pile of metal and glass and can be replaced. It’s not a Ferrari F40.

If someone really wants your vehicle, they’ll find a way to get it. Trust me on this. Your clubs, kill switch, wheel locks, alarms, and faraday cases to block the FOBs do nothing to a thief with determination to steal what is yours.

P.S. Canada sucks.

 

But those things will deter a large number of people-which is what you want to do.

 

Just make sure you have full coverage insurance and stop overthinking it. I mean, you can take some precautions, but you shouldn't even have wonder whether or not you can drive your car to a city. It's only a Toyota 4Runner FFS.

 

They need to slightly pointier

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/ToyotaTundra/s/Q4dyz6vDIX

This dudes tundra was just stolen there. Drive the crappy car is your best self advice

 

Air tags don’t do shit if your truck is in Africa