That is tough Micksmith, I have some good news, Boomer is firing today, the south point is starting to reform itself after more than 10 years of poor sand distrubution. You should get midweek perfect south point with good swell lines and offshore winds. I'll post a picture if I can. Its a bit crowded at the moment.

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pumpjockey02 said..
I am sure Europe is way worse for thieves than Australia. I predict crime will rise over here as unemployment (real unemployment) passes 15%.[...]
Is COVID 19 reducing the amount of tourist over your way. We are getting way more local tourists.

Thieves: it really depends on the place, there is no general rules. It can be good or bad 10 miles apart.

Yes, we see a lot less foreign tourist, but a lot more local (French) ones. And thus we already have had 5 deaths on our beaches here this month (and it is not even the holidays yet), as we see lots of people coming here for the first time and no realizing this is not a swimming pool, there are rips and shorebreaks... I guess these people were going to other places before.

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colas said..

pumpjockey02 said..
I am sure Europe is way worse for thieves than Australia. I predict crime will rise over here as unemployment (real unemployment) passes 15%.[...]
Is COVID 19 reducing the amount of tourist over your way. We are getting way more local tourists.

Thieves: it really depends on the place, there is no general rules. It can be good or bad 10 miles apart.

Yes, we see a lot less foreign tourist, but a lot more local (French) ones. And thus we already have had 5 deaths on our beaches here this month (and it is not even the holidays yet), as we see lots of people coming here for the first time and no realizing this is not a swimming pool, there are rips and shorebreaks... I guess these people were going to other places before.

Colas it is even crazier here, people from nations you would not believe like Brazil getting into trouble and having really heavy accidents and deaths. Brazil etc, you would assume a brazilian person would know about the beach. We had six koreans get swept out to sea just 5km south of Boomerang beach. It takes 10km down a dodgy dirt road to get to that beach which is totally wild. You would think that might spark a few alarm bells. They waded out onto the sandbank not being able to swim well. The tide swept the sandbank away with them too. Tragic.

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colas said..

ghost4man said..
Colas do you have the link for where you ordered?

Via Amazon, a Burg-Wachter: www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B074XFZ4QG

My key safe is: www.amazon.fr/KIDDE-SAFETY-Residential-Portable-Keysafe/dp/B01GWEVE4I
The hardest to crack is (if your eyesight is good enough) www.amazon.fr/KIDDE-Commercial-Portable-Keysafe-Assorted/dp/B01N6I37PV

Colas, thanks for the links to the Kidde keysafe. Which model version, 001000 or 001005, has the larger internal space? My remote for the Prado, with a couple of keys on it take up a bit of room. Thanks.

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DaveL1963 said..
Colas, thanks for the links to the Kidde keysafe. Which model version, 001000 or 001005, has the larger internal space? My remote for the Prado, with a couple of keys on it take up a bit of room. Thanks.

They are exactly the same.

And realistically, you can only fit a single flat key in it, with no keychain.

Basically you have to dedicate a small open-only key to it, and store the remote inside, in a metal box if it is a proximity radio one.
I use the small open-only key (the metal part) out of a full one for my Mercedes Vito:
And you may even have to cut it, e.g for Renault which have a big handle

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pumpjockey02 said..
That is tough Micksmith, I have some good news, Boomer is firing today, the south point is starting to reform itself after more than 10 years of poor sand distrubution. You should get midweek perfect south point with good swell lines and offshore winds. I'll post a picture if I can. Its a bit crowded at the moment.

Looking forward to it, got the prone just in case of crowds

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jvriesinga said..
I put my key under the car besides the wheel. Never had a problem.

Where are you parking ? Asking for a friend...

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Surfnbjj said..
I use water proof pouch worn around my neck

Got a waterproof pouch - good brand, great guarantee, about $50. Lasted a couple of sessions before it leaked all over my electronic key. Found that the guarantee was not so ironclad. Got an FCS safe now also around $50 - should have saved myself the first $50.

I have wondered about the integrity of these pouches. They do claim a lot and have positive, though few reviews. If the electronic controller swims I would be hard pressed to get back into the van and get going.

Still not perfect with the FCS safe, as both myself and a neighbour have proximity keys. My car if wrapped well in the provided metallic bag just about works 90% of the time. My neighbours not to successful. Like someone said earlier - it would be great to not have to worry about such things, but where I live, there is a little organised gang with a motorbike and ball pein hammer targetting ocean folk as they know we'll be gone more than a few minutes. Interested to see where this debate goes as I am in the same position as many. I feel the safest place for a key is with me, but that proved to be difficult to fulfill. I feel tha it at it's safest wrapped in a shirt in my cap on a towell on a busy beach in the Summer while I bodysurf. Not with me or the car. Maybe there's something to take away from that.

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surfinJ said..
I have wondered about the integrity of these pouches. They do claim a lot and have positive, though few reviews. If the electronic controller swims I would be hard pressed to get back into the van and get going.

I am paranoid . I tested pouch approach using the small O&E punch inside a larger iPhone pouch in between those I used two double zip lock hurricane lunch plastic sandwich bags and two smaller zip lock plastic bags inside O and E pouch . Yep . Paranoid but electronic keys cost thousands. Also attached a secondary string around neck

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JasonProsser said..
I feel tha it at it's safest wrapped in a shirt in my cap on a towell on a busy beach in the Summer while I bodysurf. Not with me or the car. Maybe there's something to take away from that.

Before using a Key Safe, I just used an open-only key that I either tied to the loop in the boardshorts pocket, or in the wetsuit pocket (generally under the knee, tied to the safety loop there), or on a necklace under the wetsuit. Secure an unobtrusive, and not relying on a pouch waterproofness.

Worked fine, but I was concerned with introducing tiny quantities of salt water into the car lock, rusting it on the long term. Replacing a rusted key is nothing, but a car lock...

So I regularly WD40ed the lock, and kept a small paper cup with fresh water stuck under the tire to rinse the key before unlocking the car.
It seemed to work, but as I spotted some rust points appearing on the lock, and the key itself being covered in rust, I decided for the key safe solution.
Plus my water cup was often either stolen (kids, dogs?) or removed by the beach clean patrol...

Well after reading through this you've all got me worried. I've been using one of the "easy to break into" style ones for a couple of years now with now issues. I've probably had no issues because my car is an older Transporter that is my work van.
So after reading through this, I thought I'd try a "diversion" tactic. I went to Bunnings and got a $5 magnetic key box. So I leave the lockable on the front of the car in plain sight, empty and I leave the dash cam running. The door key goes in the magnetic one and I slip under the car when pulling my board out the back.
The ignition key I hide somewhere in amongst the tools and gear in the back.

I've used this sneaky tactic once now and can report a 100% success rate

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Nozza said..
Ah yes, the lockability of the 1974 Kombi.
Manual key only, and really any VW key will probably get you in.
Managed to get the locks re keyed from purchase time so that barrels were all new, and the correct key was required.


Again, I'm more concerned about theft from the van than the whole thing.
Bought a lockable tool box, chanied it to the back seat.


Valuables go in that, locked up, locked to the seat base.
Again, It's a slow down ploy only, but the bad guy will have to be carrying a substantial set of bolt cutters to get in to it.
Only key that starts the car goes with me.Van is well insured in case the worst happens.
I suspect Louise and gabe are less paranoid and just hide stuff, take the key with them.

That's great!
A mate and I had one of these (Combie) on a trip from California down to Mexico in the 90s. Before we left for mexico we got a tool box welded into the back under a seat and locked our passports, travellers cheques (remember them?) and cash in it. We'd keep our day to day cash in a cheap wallet on us or in the glove box.
We never got broken into but it definitely saved us from the gringo robbing cops that would take every note in your wallet for their trumped up traffic offences.

Bobajob, that is right, I would close the safe and maybe leave the pin on open. Actually getting a key, not to your car and putting it in the key safe and then showing everyone that you then put it in your leggie, while still having your car key in the bunnings magnetic box under the car, (just make sure its not near the wheel well as thieves check these) might work even better.
This technique is also good for your missus if you have small children so you can get into the car, if you or her accidently lock the key and the kid in the car accidently, which happens a lot!!!!!

Well worth a read

www.theinertia.com/surf/car-thieves-are-stealing-surfers-vehicles-in-san-francisco-by-exploiting-key-hiding-devices/?fbclid=IwAR0qMJJF-DyD1Wla_xeMSuMqblfu4Vg4pkEElNxmDCVHB5XZnQrSj1gh8Fc

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colas said..

JasonProsser said..
I feel tha it at it's safest wrapped in a shirt in my cap on a towell on a busy beach in the Summer while I bodysurf. Not with me or the car. Maybe there's something to take away from that.

Before using a Key Safe, I just used an open-only key that I either tied to the loop in the boardshorts pocket, or in the wetsuit pocket (generally under the knee, tied to the safety loop there), or on a necklace under the wetsuit. Secure an unobtrusive, and not relying on a pouch waterproofness.

Worked fine, but I was concerned with introducing tiny quantities of salt water into the car lock, rusting it on the long term. Replacing a rusted key is nothing, but a car lock...

So I regularly WD40ed the lock, and kept a small paper cup with fresh water stuck under the tire to rinse the key before unlocking the car.
It seemed to work, but as I spotted some rust points appearing on the lock, and the key itself being covered in rust, I decided for the key safe solution.
Plus my water cup was often either stolen (kids, dogs?) or removed by the beach clean patrol...

I am with Colas, but I carry a small hydration pack in my sup PFD (being an older newbie I fall off a lot, sometimes quite spectacularly) so I can wash the open-only key first. However, my boy comes with me sometimes and he just sucks any salt off his open-only key first. His car is still going strong at 240,000 km. Works for him.

I think the best option is to get a bag to take it down to the beach. Make sure it's an open top bag so people can see inside it and wrap your key in a nappy or sanitary napkin that looks used (i.e. bunched up like there's a load in it...).

No one is going through that sucker...

Colas. It has been a while since you posted on this topic but I only just looked through it. I have a key like yours. I put my key in my mouth and get all the salt water off before putting it in the lock. I hide the electronic part of the key in the car where the thieves would never guess. Hmmm or would they?

Any one tried Keyfender ?
Here is a brief product review on supboarder

www.supboardermag.com/equipment_guide/keyfender/

Well, my Kidde key safe is rust-proof, but my key rusts quite a bit, so I often put some rust-fighting stuff + WD40 on it, so I will NOT put that in my mouth :-)

If I was in a place with determined thiefs I would definitely keep the entry-only key with me in some small waterproof style small pouch. I use chest zip wetsuit, and they form a place under the zip where you can put flat things easily. I even carried spare fins there when trying different fins setups on the water.

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Gboots said..
Any one tried Keyfender ?
Here is a brief product review on supboarder

www.supboardermag.com/equipment_guide/keyfender/

Well that seems to be a great find, thanks. I was just thinking that some small waterproof container would be sturdier than the bag types I was seeing. Got one on the way.

I was using a combination lock box that I got from Bunnings, but I got worried about the ease of breaking into it and the insurance aspect (apparently if you use one you might not be covered for theft). So then I got a key cut for my car door lock and wear it around my neck on a bit of string under the wettie. I realised this might not be an option if you don't have a car with a door lock.

Just bought Kidde key safe on Amazon. Will lock electronic key in the Kidde in the car and take my blank around my neck on a string. after reading this I am not too confident with hiding the electronic key in the car.

When I was a shortboarder-
Before the days of Apple watches--
when on-call I would put my phone in an 'Otter Box' ( wrapped in glad wrap, surrounded by tampons, just in case)

the box then went into a hip drink bottle holder

I will go back to that set up (for a large electronic key) if I ever have to drive to the surf again ??

The Master Lock key lockbox is one of the more durable options. Its metal body and vinyl-coated shackle will survive for a long period. When I tried it out, I was amazed by how sturdy and well-made it felt.

worth watching this

Watch out putting a modern proximity key on the tow knob. Highly likely boot will open. I have a small piece of chain that goes through front wheel spokes and padlock type key box . Just watch you get chain big enough for the hasp. The plastic enclosed bike cable things with loop eyes are a softer option. Chain makes a better noise though if you forget to take lockbox off the wheel when you take the key out and head home.

This was advertised a couple of weeks ago so it's a lockdown purchase, solid as a rock and they say it is good for proximity keys NOT opening your car while inside.

Be careful, the locks with number wheel like theses are opened in seconds, see the various youtube videos.