I just picked up my Lariat a few weeks ago and I have a question concerning the factory alarm. My surveillance camera picked up some unsavory characters the other night checking out the cars in the neighborhood. I always lock our cars but I'm wondering if they were so bold to actually break a window what does the alarm do? Horn ? Lights flash?
Has anyone had this happen to them ?

 

You should test it.

Get in car, go to accessory mode, open window. Turn car off, hit door lock button, close door. After a minute (I think 30 seconds), stick your arm in the open window.

Horn and lights.

 

My basic theory on most Fords (and domestic vehicles) getting stolen and broken into in general is that because it is common knowledge that PATS has a 30 delayed trigger, thieves work in teams to open the hood and or door then disconnect rip / cut the the battery or BCM harness within that time frame.

You can discover how fun it is for yourself when your Key Fob battery dies and you have to manually open a locked door.

Stealing a truck has a bit more complexities that that, but not by much and I will not discuss it openly. Modern vehicle anti theft deterrents are a well understood joke that do next to nothing except drain your battery.

 

Happens where I live. Kids just checking to see if the cars are unlocked if they are they go through them. If they are locked they move on. As far as alarms I think for the most part people just ignore them because they hear them so much. And if someone wants what you got it’s not going to stop them.

 

Years ago when I worked with aftermarket alarms, they had an option to add a glass breakage sensor. Unsure if such a sensor could be added to the Ford OE alarm.

 

I don't remember if Ford is using any type of impact sensors anymore (or ever). Breaking the glass could make a noise becuase it is breaking glass. The alarm would do what it is supposed to if they reach though the now invisible window.

If it makes you feel better, your thievery attempts will be less invasive as it's easy to pop the handle to gain entry, easier and more quiet than breaking glass. The smart ones will first cut the horn wiring though so when they do get in the cab there is no noise.
Note: the door handles were easy to remove before the change in what, 2020? I can't say for certain if the handles are identical to those previous years.

 

I haven't tested mine but I know mine has gone off when I tried to jack (lift) the truck with it locked. So there's that....

 

Thanks for the responses. I agree that most of the thieves are just looking for unlocked car doors. The only thing that worries me is supposedly trucks are a bigger target due to a higher chance of a firearm being in there. According to the owners manual there are also interior motion detectors that should catch anyone rummaging around. I make it a habit not to keep anything of great value upfront in the truck besides some nice flashlights. I do have nicer things in the back underseat storage box which is lockable and out of sight.

 

This is mostly people stealing from those not smart enough to lock their cars. Many people intentionally leave their cars unlocked while parked outside overnight, then wonder why items get stolen.

And it's also true trucks are more targeted for greater likelihood of having a firearm.

Don't have any stickers or decals on your vehicle indicating it might contain valuables, keep it locked, park in the best lit and most obviously camera watched spot possibe

 

Don't slap an NRA bumper sticker on it.