Starlink subscription includes immobilization and GPS tracking of your car. Noting that it appears you need police to request/activate that part of the service in the event of theft.

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It may or may not be enough for your concerns. Really depends on how much risk you are willing to accept. With the service, it can still be stolen just as easily. The odds of recovery are just a little higher.

 

Starlink subscription includes immobilization and GPS tracking of your car. Noting that it appears you need police to request/activate that part of the service in the event of theft.

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MySubaru Connected Services offers multimedia, navigation, real-time safety and security services, and seamless smartphone integration to elevate your driving experience.

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It may or may not be enough for your concerns. Really depends on how much risk you are willing to accept. With the service, it can still be stolen just as easily. The odds of recovery are just a little higher.

Thanks for the input!
I think some of the features there will definitely help me recover the car, unless the thieves manage to kill the Starlink connection. I plan on using IFTTT style notifications every night if the car turns on during the night/leaves my geofenced location.

Greetings and welcome to the Forum! There are probably a number of places where a kill switch might be installed, but with all of the computer managment these days, you may have problems doing so. That being said, the Outback is a difficult car to steal, primarily do to the anti-theft measures already builty into the car. Also, if you are placing your fob(s) in a farady bag, you'll make it that much more difficult for someone to steal it.

Thanks for the warm welcome!
Using a Faraday bag is definitely on the top of my list, but I wanted to add an extra measure of security. I saw an anti-theft device called IGLA which is an rfid chip that is required to put the car into drive/reverse. The only way someone can steal the car is tow it.

However, I haven't been able to find any 3rd party dealers that install it in my neighbourhood (Quebec, Canada)

I wonder if there’s a master fuse or something you could pull, if it was worth the inconvenience of doing so daily.

Thanks for the input!
I think that would be too extreme, I wanted something a tiny bit more convenient.

 

Greetings and welcome to the Forum! There are probably a number of places where a kill switch might be installed, but with all of the computer managment these days, you may have problems doing so. That being said, the Outback is a difficult car to steal, primarily do to the anti-theft measures already builty into the car. Also, if you are placing your fob(s) in a farady bag, you'll make it that much more difficult for someone to steal it.

 

I've seen several references to using a Faraday bag/container to mitigate key activation (I assume). Wouldn't using the OB's "Key Sleep/Deactivation" mode accomplish the same goal? How does a Faraday bag prevent or discourage vehicle theft?

 

I wonder if there’s a master fuse or something you could pull, if it was worth the inconvenience of doing so daily.

 

If your killing all power many of the preset's for radio, windows, seats etc. are "usually" lost.
Bagging your FOB's is a great first step.
Welcome to the family.

 

This thread reminds me of when my 18 month old 2003 WRX Wagon was stolen and ultimately recovered. It was all smashed up from the thieves playing bumper cars on a nearby interstate. They even started modifying it. I kept tabs on it with the electronic toll reader but that was of no use to locate it. The early WRX's were easy to steal. Cut the wires to the horn, slim jim to open the door, and a screwdriver to start the car.

Anyway, my 2004 FXT had many layers of security because of that. Clifford alarm system with anti-carjacking which required a code to even start the car and needed to be re-entered if the doors were opened. It also had a kill switch as well as Lo-Jack.

I didn't go to any additional levels with the Outback since there are so many more cooler cars in Central NJ to steal. 😁 Other than Starlink, I would probably consider hiding an Apple AirTag in the car.

AirTag Helps Find Stolen Motorcycle

 

They just tow things they want to take around me. GPS, lojack some times finds the stuff or its found stripped.

 

I thought the Subaru Outbacks have an alarm / ignition disable, correct?

 

And coded RF fobs.. but if you grab the data over the air you can make a fake fob and get past that.

 

Probably a better chance of losing your Catalytic Converter than the Outback. The skid plates under the Wilderness Edition may help you from them getting to it, but not sure how much exhaust is covered in the Wilderness Edition.

 

Catalytic converter is difficult to get to on the 2.4T (in a tight spot covered by under guards). I am not saying it cannot happen, but good thieves know the easy targets and the Outback is not going to be one of them.

 

The fuel pump is under the rear seat. Two clips pops the seat. Some wire and a switch will kill power to the pump.

 

I like this stuff. MOS Equipment my vehicle is worth more than an old tin can or some silver foil.

 

The "relay attack" method in that car theft video isn't "copying" your key, and it often requires 2 thieves, one to get close enough to your fob where they can clearly receive and rebroadcast the fob's RF signal. The second thief waits at the car with a similar receiver/transmitter where they're ready to relay that signal to the keyless entry system. Since the system uses rolling codes, it has to happen in real time, so they're not actually left with a "copy" of your car's key. If you leave the key fob in receive range, like at the front door, a single thief can manage this process. IMO, it's pretty unlikely for any Outback owner to fall victim to this sort of theft, but it happens apparently. Last I looked, a few years back, some car makers were switching to newer proximity key systems that make this method a lot more difficult (and the equipment even more costly). I wouldn't be surprised if the latest systems have defeated it entirely, but it's probably safe to assume Subaru is not using the latest tech.

 

If you can, park your car in a garage of course . If it gets stolen, I am not sure if I wanted it back. Whoever will mess around with it badly. Perhaps investing in good insurance is a better piece of mind.

If you don’t mind displaying a degree of paranoia you could add a car boot clamp. These are often used when you have to leave your camping trailer behind or for motorcycles. Just don’t forget you have it on when leaving for work

 

Not a mechanic but maybe a switch on wore the break wire that closes the circuit that tells the car its OK to start when depressed?