Ok this might be a dumb question, but, I hear a lot of people always talkin about the best way is to protect their cars from theft, alarm systems and whatever, but how can you protect your sound system if you have an expensive head unit, top quality amp and expensive subs??? many people invest a lot of money into their sound systems, is there even any possible way to prevent someone from stealing these things??? other than installing an alarm system in your car, becasue people can often break into cars even when they have alarm systems.

tint could help, makes things harder to see and it keeps the window together if they try to smash it.

also bolting things right down helps, at least i'd sure as hell hope so.

i have an alarm, rear tinted windows and my hatch cover and you can not see 1 wire from my stereo, it looks like i have a deck and thats about it.

I've had big systems in my last three cars & the only one I had problems with was the first one, an '88 CRX. Even though the subs were hidden by the hatch cover, the amplifiers were under a locked compartment, all the speakers were under factory grills & two different alarms were installed the car was still stolen twice & broken into 12 times in a two year period. I'm sure the aftermarket wheels, Momo accessories, etc. added to the problem. The CRX was just two easy a car to get into.

My next two vehicles have had systems valued in the $8000 to $10000+ value range & I've not had a problem. Good alarm systems plus taking precautions in my own neighbourhood (turning the system down well before I approach my house) as well as having a garage really help (even though it's been broken into too!). Also keeping the exteriors stock (except for some lighting & trim accessories) didn't draw any unnecessary attention.

Bottom line is, keep things as "stealth" as possible & don't put any decals advertising what you have on the outside of the car. I'm also a firm believer in proximity alarms as I'm sure my Alpine system has warned away a number of potential thieves over the years.

yah i always turn my system right off before entering a parking lot, my neighbourhood etc, its rare ill have my stereo on for a long time in the same plus unless im rarely there.

Don't draw any attention to the car. If someone see's a blue Ford Probe with a big RF sticker on it pounding through town then they know it has a stereo in it when they drive by and see it parked in a lot or driveway.

Keep it turned down when in town (it's the polite thing to do anyways) and keep it stealth.

Fake faceplate, stock looking install, don't boom where you park, alarm, park in well lit areas, and don't brag to all your friend's buddies about your system.

The outside of my car is completely stock. I have $10,000 in stereo equipment in my stock neon...thief don't see any value in my car. Of course I have a alarm with starter kill, back-up battery etc. but I turn the alarm chirps off. No one has any idea what's in my car. Never draw attention to yourself or your car, that's the key.

i have thousands of dollars in gear in my neon(check sig)its a shame that i feel like i cant take my car anywhere that when its parked i cant see it. its lowered, chrome 18's, tinted windows, isnt very loud by any stretch, has not 1 sticker on it and i still cant leave it anywhere where i feel its safe. im not too sure what you can do to fully protect it besides to park it in you garage all the time. its sad but true

tint attracts unwanted attention. Keeping your system safe is hard. I think a stealth system is always the best. Bolt things in. tell ur insurance what u have so its covered. I have no tint, and I leave some wires in the back so it looks like the system was removed already.

some pretty good ideas here....but i guess there is only so much you can do to prevent theft, if its gonna happen its gonna happen