Grand theft auto is getting bad in my area. Started using The Club, and wondering about a fuel shut-off. Thinking about removing the fuel pump fuse. They sell a kit that replaces the fuse with a wire and a switch, so you can have a remote shut off. Is it save to d/c the fuel pump this way, and has anybody else done this? Thanks for any help you can provide

 

The factory immobilizer is much more effective than many of the newer cars out there. You don't have to worry any can steal it just by popping the ignition switch, or plugging into the OBD2. Most car thefts are new Dodges and Hyundai's, seems like the thieves start those quicker than the owners do with the key. Your car should have a reverse cut key also, which also also pretty effective, seems like most car theives go for what will be the quickest to steal,, Lexus has a reputation for being difficult to steal, so your probably safe

 

Steering's wheel can be easily saw-off with a $2 hand-saw, so club-lock is useless.
You will need DiskLok to cover the whole steering wheel when locked, to prevent sawing.
Even that won't stop thieves from using a large hammer to knock the steering / lock out of the steering column position.

Stock USA 4IS Lexus, even for most recent 2024 models unlikely to have any Immobilizer installed nor was it an option at any dealership.
For unknown reason, IGLA, KVANT, CompuStar & Viper still don't fully support all their features for 2023-2024 4IS, ie Keyless-Entry, Smart-Start, FailSafe StarterKill/Immobilizer, Comfort Closure (Windows & SunRoof), Parking Light Flash Arm/Disarm/Alarm & more.

In Bay Area, car thieves don't even bother with CANBUS Attack, OBD2 Port Key Replication or Key-Fob Relay Attack any more.
Car burglars in NorCal pry your home /apartment's garage door open, with a tow-truck jack & use the same jack to tow away your car in under 60sec.

So you can forget about brake-lock, fuel line / starter kill-switch, relay removal, wheels lock, OBD2 port relocation & glass breakage alarms, cos it will never stop tow-theft method.

The car thieves in CA do it in broad daylight at malls, office/airport garage & off-street, with your shock/tilt alarm blaring in full volume, while your car wheels are still locked.
You can see the tires mark of your stolen car, on the very street when it's drag like a cow to a kill station.
No one incl you or the PD dare to stop them cos they come in large gangs, usually in convoys of 3-5 cars, fully armed with automatic assault rifles.

They just stole 3x AMG, 4x 911 & 4x BMW M from a Halloween store at Mountain View 12noon yesterday, from the same parking lot, using just 3x stolen tow-truck they nick from 101, earlier Sunday morning.
Best part is 6x MTV PD patrol car arrived in <2min, but the 12x officer din even dare enter the parking lot cos these gangs have AR-15 assault weapon, operates tactically, in full public display of firepower.
MPV PD waited for 2 hrs for SWAT team to arrive, only for the car thieves to have long fled with >10 stolen vehicles in 60min.
This meant the thieves were so confident they came back for 2nd & 3rd pickings, as they don't have enough tow trucks.
This also meant they left the stolen car somewhere.

Car thieves usually will leave the stolen cars for few days to weeks to be sure it's not tracked by GPS.
Most owners who has GPS locator installed manage to retrieve their cars.
Usually in bad shape, either joyridden / badly burnt after joyridden, at nearby Oakland, if you even dare to go there in 1st place.

 

^^^^^^^^ Another reason to NOT move to California.

 

Here in Queens NY, the thieves are not that brazen or technical. Surveillance cameras show that a car pulls up, a guy gets out and pulls the door handle to get the code. Then he gets in and drives away. Anything that makes things harder will deter them enough to go to an easier car. That is why the cops suggest The Club. I have a tracker in the car. The fuel pump cut off is good, because even if they manage to drive the car, it will die in the middle of the street.

I feel for those in CA. And heaven forbid an armed car owner shoots a thief. HE would be in jail. A neighbor got fed up after 3 of his bumpers were stolen from his Caddy, back in the 80's He staked out his car, then beat the snot out of the thieves with a baseball bat. He got arrested, then the thieves sued him They also harassed his wife and they had to move.

 

“We, the people” have become too soft.
We used to hang horse thieves and worse. No repeat offenders, or massive prisons.