Not really a special tool. Just a T25 and a T30 torx and the bars come off in seconds.

 

I didn't realize that a locked rooftop cargo box could so easily be stolen right off the car, cross bars included! Apparently someone had a special tool that allows you to simply take off the cross bars and take anything that's locked to them. Not a scratch to the car or anything else amiss. I lost a $1400 Thule Vector M box and a few hundred dollars worth of contents. To make matters worse, auto insurance doesn't cover roof boxes and my home owners doesn't either due to a timing technicality that I didn't fix until too late.

Does everyone know that the rack is not secure? I certainly didn't or I would have thought twice about leaving the cargo box on there.

BEFORE:
View attachment 523972

AFTER:
View attachment 523971
View attachment 523973
View attachment 523970

Sorry that some chunk(s) of human waste ripped off your equipment. That had to be a really rotten scene to walk up & see. 🤬

I'm sure that this isn't the first time that this has happened, and I'd be interested in what kind of anti-theft measures (if any) could be implemented to discourage similar thefts.

 

I'd just put epoxy in the hole in the head of the bolt. If you need to replace it, it'll be a bitch, but doable.

 

David, stuff like this really PO'S me.
Unfortunately I have a feeling that things will become worse.
Thanks for the warning as I'd never thought about this.

 

Well, this just plain sucks. Sorry it happened to you.

 

They should have a security head torx screw to secure it. Of course the perps would probably have the security bit to remove them. That is a glaring security risk indeed.
This thread 6 months ago speculated about vandalism of unlatching crossbars but no one speculated about their complete removal with a roof box attached!

Roof Rack Crossbar Vandalism Prevention....

I love my 2021 Outback. However, I have an area of concern with the rooftop rack/crossbar design. The rack crossbars are always 'unlocked'. Any 'parking lot punk' can reach up there and release a latch, with no tools, and move a crossbar out of its hole and onto the roof. Likely a driver would...

www.subaruoutback.org

 

What about securing the roof rack with these? What I like: Every Tricone® driver tool is uniquely coded (traceable to customer)

Tricone® Security Bolt | Fastenright Ltd

Tricone¨ tamper proof bolts are available exclusively from Fastenright M6 - M10 off the shelf, other sizes available to order. See sizes & technical specs.

www.fastenright.com

 

What about securing the roof rack with these? What I like: Every Tricone® driver tool is uniquely coded (traceable to customer)

Those look good, but are probably expensive. I've put it an enquiry for 100 pcs., stainless, M6-1.0 x 30 mm (the size used for my Gen 3 crossbars).

On the more economical side, and certainly less secure (every corner hardware has these kind of driver bits as of late), there are these:

M6-1.00 x 30 Tamper Resistant Torx Button Head Machine Screw 18-8 Stainless Steel - Metric (T-27)

M6-1.00 x 30 Tamper Resistant Torx Button Head Machine Screw 18-8 Stainless Steel - Metric (T-27) . Tamper resistant machine screws provide an additional layer of security by their drive design, which prevents their removal with ordinary screw drivers or insert bits. These machine screws conform...

www.fmwfasteners.com

Or a slightly less common head style:

M6-1.0 x 30 Tamper Resistant Drilled Spanner Pan Head Machine Screw 18-8 Stainless Steel - Metric (#14)

View our M6-1.0 x 30 Tamper Resistant Drilled Spanner Pan Head Machine Screw. Available for purchase in any quantity. Shop now!

www.fmwfasteners.com

 

An older thread where the same thing happened: Roof rack got stolen :(

Still no known solution as far as sourcing security bolts with the correct thread and length. Maybe we should work together to find off-the-shelf solutions or if we need to have some custom bolts made, do it as a group so it's not $200.00 per bolt.

One crosstrek guy is using security torx bolts but they aren't the same as ours I'm sure. What did you do to your Subaru today???

 

Edit I think the spanner bit #14 is needed and the kit I originally listed didn't have that size:

Amazon.com: IRWIN 3053055 1" #10 Spanner Insert Bit : Everything Else

Amazon.com: IRWIN 3053055 1" #10 Spanner Insert Bit : Everything Else

www.amazon.com

 

I mount the box to one side. It completely covers the access to the bolts. I had a Dodge Magnum and HAD to do that since they are just simple flip up levers on top. Also allows easier access to the box. I'd recommend mounting on the passenger side for safety if you need to access it on the side of the road.

To the OP, sorry to see this happened.

 

I must not be a very devious or dishonest person. I never thought of needing such a security fastener. Possibly Even scarier is if only one side has access would the thief's just remove that then lift and break it off the roof. Certainly they are not worried about you and your damaged car. Sad truth is our cars come with the factory tool and it could have been another Subaru owner liked it so much they took it. Hope Not So!

 

The old Subaru cross bars from ~00-09 have a security torx bit to attach the cross bars.

Which is great thinking on Subaru's part.

Unfortunately the bit accepts a flat head screwdriver perfectly.

 

The old Subaru cross bars from ~00-09 have a security torx bit to attach the cross bars.

Delayed response, but mine came with standard Torx, not security Torx. This must have been something the dealer did for you.

 

I am starting to lean on the drilled spanner type. I wonder if McMaster Carr stocks them. I will look into it The missing link is you will loose the torque wrench feature of what comes with ours now

I see they do not go over 25MM in either type,

 

Man, so sorry this happened to the OP and others who have suffered this fate.

 

I didn't realize that a locked rooftop cargo box could so easily be stolen right off the car, cross bars included! Apparently someone had a special tool that allows you to simply take off the cross bars and take anything that's locked to them. Not a scratch to the car or anything else amiss. I lost a $1400 Thule Vector M box and a few hundred dollars worth of contents. To make matters worse, auto insurance doesn't cover roof boxes and my home owners doesn't either due to a timing technicality that I didn't fix until too late.

Does everyone know that the rack is not secure? I certainly didn't or I would have thought twice about leaving the cargo box on there.

BEFORE:
View attachment 523972

AFTER:
View attachment 523971
View attachment 523973
View attachment 523970

So I have a Rola rack and already saw this coming and bought these to lock my rack to the holes in all 4 corners (win for Onyx rack over Wilderness rack!) , they will need to spend a lot more time to cut through those holes.
These locks and chains cannot be bolt cut. You might need the longer of their chain. Upside they can be used everywhere when not needing to lock down the roof. I'm using the 2 ft chain but I posted the 10ft.

ABUS 20/70 Diskus Stainless Steel Padlock with 3/8" Shackle, Keyed Different, Made in Germany - Abus Lock - Amazon.com

ABUS 20/70 Diskus Stainless Steel Padlock with 3/8" Shackle, Keyed Different, Made in Germany - Abus Lock - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com

 

So I have a Rola rack and already saw this coming and bought these to lock my rack to the holes in all 4 corners (win for Onyx rack over Wilderness rack!) , they will need to spend a lot more time to cut through those holes.
These locks and chains cannot be bold cut. You might need the longer of their chain. Upside they can be used everywhere when not needing to lock down the roof. I'm using the 2 ft chain but I posted the 10ft.

I'm trying to picture this... So you are looping a chain from the hole at the front/back of the rack to the bar? How do you secure the lock/chain to the bar? Love to see a picture of this if you have some time. Thanks.

 

A thief that apparently knows Subaru. I'd never heard of this.

 

Not really, once securtiy torx bit starting becoming the norm, my entire set is. Nothing special. As a thief you'd be a moron to buy a normal set.

 

Yeah, that stinks, sorry to hear. Lots of threads on this topic (not actual thefts, but security of the bolt) and you don't exactly have to be Nostradamus - if you've ever tinkered with the crossbars you'd know how easy they are to remove.

 

There is a lot of good ideas, but lets look at it from the thieves point if view.

Speed is the key to their success and carrying a rack of the different security profiles in the needed two sizes is easily doable.

If one was to fill the cavities of fasteners with silicone it would cost them enough time that you would become far less attractive.
Still sucks people have to crap on others.

 

If you aren't already doing this... keep an eye on those CL & FB Marketplace ads...

Definitely a bummer.

 

Regarding specialty screws... 5 bucks gets a 50 piece set that includes spanner, security torx, 3 and 5 wing, square security, 2, 3, and 4 pin, and so much more. I have a couple of these sets that are well used.
If a thief wants it, a thief will take it.
And for the puck lock poster, I have witnessed 2 guys hop out with cordless grinders and cut both back doors off an Econoline van that had a puck lock.... in about 30 seconds.

 

What about these? Anyone want to check if they have the right size?

Loss Prevention Fasteners | Anti-Theft Bolts

Loss Prevention Fasteners - Stopping Theft Every Day

www.losspreventionfasteners.com

 

No thanks.

These are not stocked, just like the place I approached in the UK - you give them a size, they bid it, and you order. Then you wait. The response from the UK company Fastenright was 20-24 weeks delivery, and we didn't even get into pricing.

My take: They're probably all quoting long delivery times, and they're probably all quoting whatever price the market will bear, given the current situation.

 

If a thief is going to use angle grinders or power tools they'd probably make more money taking a catalytic converter than gamble on a cargo box with unknown contents.

 

I reached out to Hexlox and they said:

We have M6 x 30 Panhead bolts, Which needs 4mm Hexlox to secure.
https://hexlox.com/products/bolts?variant=41204422026
4mm Hexlox
https://hexlox.com/products/single-hexlox-4mm

 

I reached out to Hexlox and they said we have M6 x 30 Panhead bolts .....

Interesting, thanks. And note for many of us in the US - although they will ship from the UK and the cost seems pretty reasonable, there is also a store locator on their website. I see there are three bike shops near me who may carry stock, so I'll check there first!

Followup: Checked local retailers; they don't have stock on hand,

 

I'm not sure an M6 x 30 would work for a Gen 5. Seems to be a special type of bolt.

ROOF RAIL. 2019 Subaru Outback Limited | Sport Subaru South, Orlando Florida

2019 Subaru Outback Limited ROOF RAIL CROSS BAR '17MY-

www.orlandosubaruparts.com

2019 Subaru Outback Limited Stopper Pivot M 8. Body, RAIL, ROOF - 91172AJ00A | Sport Subaru South, Orlando Florida

Stopper Pivot M 8. Body, RAIL, ROOF. 2019 Subaru Outback Limited. Genuine Subaru Part - 91172AJ00A. Ships from Sport Subaru South, Orlando Florida

www.orlandosubaruparts.com

2019 Subaru Outback Limited Stopper Pivot M 6. Body, RAIL, ROOF - 91172AJ01A | Sport Subaru South, Orlando Florida

Stopper Pivot M 6. Body, RAIL, ROOF. 2019 Subaru Outback Limited. Genuine Subaru Part - 91172AJ01A. Ships from Sport Subaru South, Orlando Florida

www.orlandosubaruparts.com

 

Most thefts are crimes of opportunity. In my area thieves have no problem breaking windows to get into cars and stealing exposed purses, backpacks, laptops, cameras, etc.

I do think security fasteners will help prevent some thefts but nothing will make it theft-proof but additional security does provide incremental protection.

 

I do think security fasteners will help prevent some thefts but nothing will make it theft-proof but additional security does provide incremental protection.

 

That stinks
Are you sure it isn't laying in a ditch somewhere? (Kidding of course).

Man I hate thieves.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk