ldnlksmth wrote:He's a smart cookie, keeps his 'house' keys on a key ring with him (it's huge, actually takes up a breifcase). He has tons of master key systems in his laptop (also not kept in the truck overnight). Most kids wouldn't know how to use the code machine to originate a key on a blank, but it is a possibility, he does have some major contracts (local brewery being one of them) that could present a tempting target. Looks like his blanks weren't touched.
I still think it's a VERY good idea to cage off the back (put a divider between the cab and work space, fence off the windows) so that breaking the windows doesn't get anywhere.
I'm recommending to all locksmiths in the area the idea of the cutoff switch. There are a few companies on the road with lots of trucks (not locksmiths, but other people I've worked with) and they use an electronic immobilizer on a key fob. Pass the fob over a spot on the dashboard (not marked, just have to 'know' where it is) and then you can start the vehicle normally. Little too extravagant for my liking, but it's very, very effective. One contractor I know put that in all of his trucks and reduced his theft rate from about 50 a year to just 2 (one left the keys in the ignition and the truck running, the other one was hauled off by a flat bed). Costs over a grand per truck though.
Concerning using a key fob- I don't know the type of vehicle it would be used on but a grand sounds pretty high. You could hook up a homebrew device pretty easily for under $100 if you had the inclination.