Preventing a keyed car

This is my first post to the board, I am a novice please be gentle.  I have a 1994 Ford F250 that was recently vandalized resulting in $4300 worth of damage and a total new paint job.  My 2001 Explorer was also keyed for $1300 worth of damage at the same time.  Is there any kind of alarm/system that will prevent this type of damage in the future?  Will a proximity sensor prevent this type of damage, or will it just really annoy my neighbors?  I am mostly worried about the F250 as it was almost totaled by this incident.   My local car audio store thinks a proff. install is twisted wires and tape, and the only alarm they will sell starts at $550.  If you could make any recomendations as to which brand and accessories will solve my problem I would be greatful.  I work in law enforcement and would like to prevent this nightmare from happening again. 

you can use the viper791xv, it has two ways so you know was going on whit you car.how own your mind, control your life.

MECP certified. always use a DMM

No alarm will prevent anything from happening to your car, detour maybe but not prevent.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Any good two-way pager alarm system with an added proximity sensor install should do the trick. Once install set the sensitively level to the most sensitive. Anything or one trying to tamper with your truck the moment they touch the truck alarm will page you. However, the first thing you want to do is to upgrade the truck with a complete armed body. This is just encase a swing of a crowbar might slip pass by. Get a Grey/Dark matted paint job so it would not be easily scratch and if it did it would not be very noticeable. Get 3” bulletproof glass for your window encases the vandal thinks it’s probably a lot easier to get into the truck though the window. Set up a few surveillance cameras in the truck and around the perimeter area of the truck where you suspect your truck might be the target. This way if any culprit shows up to do damage to you truck you will catch them red handed.   Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.

You're in law enforcement? I have a great auto alarm system. It requires no installation, no wires, no bugs. It can be used at a moments notice, and used properly is GUARANTEED to prevent any vandalism. In fact, it might even get your car washed and waxed. It's a Glock 23.--

'98 Dodge Durango SLT+

a good proximity sensor will only alert you that your vehicle is being damaged, it wont prevent it.... it will set the alarm off though.....Kevin Gerry

Certified Electronics Technician

MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer

Classic Car Audio

since 1979

I highly recommend the Compustar 2wfm8000as for a competent 2way alarm system. That said though, like Kevin above said, by then it will be too late. Sometimes the career you choose has more than one hazard, btw, any job openings?Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

just dont piss ppl off. personally, alarm will not prevent ur car bein keyed... ppl will just pass by and key ur car in any cases.Houston,TX

"The two most common elements in the universe are H+ and stupidity" (Ellison).

There is a very easy fix. Get a TrunkMonkey. http://www.trunkmonkey.com/content/view/45/51/

Build a garage or buy one of those portable ones and put an alarm in it. I think a security camera setup from the house aimed at the vehicle might be a great investment too. Then maybe you can ID and catch the SOB and get your damages reimbursed.