Protect your investment
The goal is to make a visual theft deterrent for would-be thieves. If you’ve invested in aftermarket rims, GET WHEEL LOCKS.
At the end of the day if someone wants to violate you they’ll find a way. but for as little as $20 you can have some type of reasonable theft deterrent. If you are buying wheel locks make sure they are the correct seat and thread pitch. For the 5×100 First Gen Scion tC you’re looking for 12mm x 1.50 Thread Size. After market rims are USUALLY cone seat. Stock is Ball seat. Do your own research. Here’s how I protect my ESR CR5 rims.
Gorilla X2 (71631X) 2-stage locking nut
This is the Gorilla x2, 2-stage locking nut. I like these a ton. They basically spin on the first stage without the right key. With the correct key they lock then go to the 2nd stage where you have to key it again. Here’s a video showing how it works.
Gorilla (61631) Guard Locks
The Gorilla 61631 Guard locks are your run of the mill locking nut, but fills the lug not hole fairly well such that you MIGHT not be able to get a lug nut extractor socket on it. Keyword: might.
Double up
Using two wheel locks per wheel on aftermarket rims is a simple but effective way to protect your investment and discourage theft. While a single locking lug per wheel has become common, experienced thieves often carry universal removal tools that make quick work of standard wheel locks. Doubling up changes that equation by increasing both the time and effort required to steal your wheels.
Additional Measures
I have a few additional theft deterrent measures, depending how you look at it
1. I have the ESR CR Hex caps that cover the lug nuts, this cover requires a specific tool to remove, however with enough muscle one could theoretically just spin that off.
2. I added a DE 507M TILT SENSOR to the OEM Scion Security Alarm. If the car gets jacked up, the alarm goes off. Video demonstration below.
3. I upgraded my stock horns to LOUDER aftermarket horns. If the tilt sensor is triggered, these go off, and they’re quite annoying.
4. If someone wanted to actually steal my car, they would need to know where the starter kill switch and fuel pump switch is. A would be thief would literally have to tow my whole car.
