Broke in to the H2

[Alan06SUT]

Well, I gues it was my turn yesterday. I worked late and went straight to the gym. Of couse my laptop was still in my truck, and "hidden" under the rear seat. I was sketched out for some reason and kept my wallet in my pocket. When I came back I didnt notice anything and went home. I realized my laptop was missing and went over to the gym. I wathed the survailance tapes and saw two guys in a truck pull up beside my h2, the passeger got out, poped the lock, grabbed my lap top, and hopped back in. All in under one minute. The tags on the truck came up stolen, but the cops acually printed out bulletins for the night shift and put the description of the truck out to the beat. They really want to get this guy because they have been stealing all kind of sh!t in the area. Oh well, I lost all my files because my back up USB drive was in my briefcase as well. Screw it, worse things can happen, but just beware that its super easy to break in to the h2 and you can barley tell where they broke the plastic on my handle.

[MarineHawk]

Bummer Alan. I hope you get your stuff back and they get those guys.

[Motohead]

This is a time I wish we had laws like the middle east. Cut the f$ckers hands off... lets see how he steals then.

[lasvegash2]

i had the same thing happen to me also. the next day i got the lock fixed, jimmy jammer installed and a clifford pager alarm.

[3Hummer]

IF thats all they went for it means they knew it was there. They must have been previously following you or something if they just went directly to the lap top and thats it.

[H2bill]

Originally Posted by 3Hummer

IF thats all they went for it means they knew it was there. They must have been previously following you or something if they just went directly to the lap top and thats it.

That does seem a little odd. They didn't rummage around and look in the center console or anything? They just went straight for the laptop? Did you put it there after you had parked at the gym and right before you got out? If so, I suspect they were already in the parking lot watching new arrivals. You may want to have them check their surveillance tapes some more.

[mikejr]

Alan that sucks. I wonder how the heck they knew the laptop was under the seat. I hope they catch them and bring them to justice.

Learned my lesson long time ago, we use a central server for all data at the office and nothing is kept locally on the workstations or laptops just in case something like that happens.

Good luck and keep us posted on if they find them.

[Alan06SUT]

I didnt have time to stay and watch the tapes of them entering or the 10 minutes between when I arrived and when the broke in. I suspect they peered into the window and saw a handle or strap hanging out from under the seat. The cops thing they just target any high end vehicle that looks like the driver is just getting off of work and they assume they have a laptop or something of value. The tapes were too blurry to see exactly what he was doing inside, but the short time he was there makes me think he didnt have time to go through the console, etc.

Anyway, my laptop was a pile of crap. I got suckered into to buying this Acer that our IT guy built and I had nothing but issues. Any sugesstion on brands of laptops? I am pretty physically abusive to my equipment and basically need MS office stuff and to check emails. Nothing fancy, but something small and sturdy.

[mikejr]

Hi Alan,

We're sold on Dell equipment. BUT I will qualify that in as much as their low end cheap stuff just doesnt perform up to our standards. I bought a few cheap workstations in the past and also a cheap laptop and they just werent fast enough for what we do.

Their mid level and high end stuff kicks butt. I would recommend the mid to upper level Inspirons and would expect to pay around $2K for a good unit. I am using a Dell XPSM1710 laptop which i just got about 4 months ago....it is the Ferrari of laptops....it screams....but i dropped $4K on it...but then again i am working on the laptop 12 hours a day.

I know that some companys make a "mil spec" laptop. I know that hummerstuff.com has a rough duty laptop but i dont know anything about the machine other than they seem very pricey and fairly low end on the performance end of the spectrum.

PM me if you have any other questions...we're a very hi tech oriented real estate company and i know a fair amount about the tech end of things.

[It\'s a Dry Heat]

I only buy Dell Inspirons. But they don't last if you drop em! Sorry about the break in. Mine was broke into a week after I got it. There's places I don't take it. Thats the only thing I hate about the hummer. You can't thke it, park it, or leave it any where you want. You can only drive it any where you want.

[Shrek_H2]

They popped my lock 2 weeks ago in bright daylight....I was watching a early 2pm hockey game...so when i heard the aftermarket alarm go off i thought it wasnt mine until i heard my s-way remote go crazy ...i looked outside it was too late the guy was gone....

Aftermarket alarm is the best way to go to keep those bastards out...and maybe even disconnect key lock.

www.compustar.org thats the alarm i use...has amazing 2-way range the best on market. Compustar Pro P2W9000FMR

[mikejr]

We always get the Dell warranty that covers anything and everything from drops to spilling beer on them.

[DRTYFN]

Originally Posted by Shrek_H2

...and maybe even disconnect key lock.

I think you might have a good idea right thar. Just cut the little metal rod from the key cylinder - I have NEVER used the key on that side anyway.

[mikejr]

when you speak of "popping" the lock. What does this mean? Is there an inherent weakness in the handles of the H2? If i recall correctly, arent the handles on the H2 the same as the ones used on the GM products like the Avalanche and the Silverados?

[Goalkeeper]

Originally Posted by Alan06SUT

Anyway, my laptop was a pile of crap. I got suckered into to buying this Acer that our IT guy built and I had nothing but issues. Any sugesstion on brands of laptops? I am pretty physically abusive to my equipment and basically need MS office stuff and to check emails. Nothing fancy, but something small and sturdy.

Hey Alan,

If you want a laptop that can stand up to soem abuse, check out Panasonic's line of "Tough Books".

The Dell's are also pretty solid and there warranty plan was great. I actually closed the lid of my Dell laptop and got a screw stuck inside and cracked the monitor. I called Dell on Thursday at 2:30 PM and they were in and out of my office by Friday Noon having installed a new monitor.

That being said, I just ordered a MACBook Pro 17", 3GB Memory & a 200 Gb Sata drive! These things rock, and feel much nicer / sturdier since they have metal cases. But man was it pricey!

Good Luck...

-Matt

[mikejr]

Thats the name i was trying to recall "toughbooks". I knew there was a brand of rough duty machines out there....memory is the first thing to go.

My Dell XPSM1710 feels very solid but its a large machine with a 17" screen.

Ive heard good things about the MAC's but all of our business applications are all Windows based so we just keep using old bill gates technology.

I havent had to use the Dell warranties very often, maybe twice in 7 years on a total of probably 20 machines and I can attest when something breaks they fix it right away....assuming you have the "good" warranty from them.

[ipeefreely]

go with lenovos, they're the best.

[MattRoberts123]

Mike,

Yes this is a known problem with all GM vehicles (mainly the suvs) It has been around for as long as they have been putting plastic door handle buckets in.

I thief takes a flat head screw driver, jams it in and breaks the plastic on the bottom right side, fumbles around with the screw driver and eventually finds the little lever behind the door bucket and then the door unlocks.

It is a pathetic flaw in the deisgn of GM vehicles and is sad that they havent done anything to fix it. It causes a lot of problems, and typically even messes up your paint around the door handle when a thief does it.

There are 3 fixes I know of...

Replace the plastic door buckets with metal door buckets
Buy this little contraption that mounts behind the door bucket and prevents tampering with the door lock assembly (jimmyjammer I think it is called)
or Cut the door unlock lever and totally disable key access to that door

http://trucktechniques.com/jimmijammer.html

[mikejr]

Nice of GM to not fix that issue with the door buckets. I would assume swapping them out is a major ordeal with taking apart the inside of the door and all that. I just wonder how many GM's are broken into like that.

[Htothe2]

If alien ware makes lap tops go with them. they are great.