Does removing the faceplate actually deter thieves?

[cnjvh]

For Kenwood at least you can simply order a new one from the online store. Is removing the faceplate actually a deterrent? Has anyone had a head unit stolen even though the faceplate was removed?

[bobman1235]

I don't know if fact backs this up, but most thieves go for the easiest and most painless hits they can. If they see a car without a faceplate and the next one has one, which one do you think they'll hit?

Now, just to prove myself wrong - I had my car broken into once with the faceplate off (this was MANY years ago, and since then have rarely bothered to remove the faceplate or do any other preventative things other than locking my door). I'm pretty sure it was just vandalism, not theft - they tore the stereo out of the dash but left it dangling - but still obviously not a deterrent to the crime, regardless of what the crime was.

[thuffman03]

I only one ugraded my car's head unit so I could have a CD player. Never had it broken into but that may be why I don't put any money into my car system. I would assume that if you had a good stereo in it you would be at a higher risk of getting your car broken into.

[exalted512]

Well, the thing with that is most people is that they dont take the face plate with them, they put it under the seat, in a center console, or in the glove box. With that, if a thief sees you have no face plate, it probably means that its a radio worth stealing.

So to answer your question, I guess it depends on the thief.
-Cody

[cnjvh]

I do always take it with me so hopefully as was stated above it just makes it more trouble than its worth to the thief.

[myork]

Didnt deter the prick who caused $800 worth of damage to my door ($1800 total) in order to steal my headunit.

[black magic]

I would say no. Thieves steal anything and everything. My bro had his HU stolen out of his civic at least 5 times. With and without the faceplate detached. I'd say a bigger factor to whether or not it gets stolen is where you leave your car.

[Lasareath]

I've had stereo's with removable faces for the past 15 years. Before that I had Benzi Boxes.

I used to remove the faceplate and throw it into the glove box and one time in china town in nyc someone jimmied the lock and stole the HU, the faceplate and all my change.

So now I take the faceplate with me all the time.

If I am parking in a shady area I take everything with me, ipod, gps, faceplate. I hide all my change. and I also open the glove box and keep it open so that the potentional thief can see there's nothing in there!