Best locking hood latches?

[Mball488]

I'm looking for high-quality OEM style locking hood latches. I like the look of the Rugged Ridge ones but I don't trust their product quality, I expect the locks to seize or parts to rust/fail. Are there other options you'd recommend?

Notes:
1. I've searched pages and pages and pages trying to find a thread I vaguely remember seeing with lots of hood latch pictures and discussion but can't locate it. Sorry if this seems like a repeat topic, unfortunately it is not easy to find specific info on the forum.
2. I have a trail cam and cannot use the BOLT style lock, otherwise I would be good with that option.
3. I am tempted by the Lasfit Stealth hood lock system, but i have not had good reliability with air lines over time. They leak, and I worry the same unlock signal from my key fob being cloned would cause the hood to unlock at the same time.

Im sure most have put these, its been 1 year this month that I installed them they have taken direct hits from highway debris and not chipped or even received a dent. No rust and work flawlessly. Highly recommend.

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[Rusty PW]

I have the Rugged Ridge locks for about a year now. No issues with them. The dealership tech does have issues with them. Everytime I go in for service. I get call to the service bay to unlock my hood.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Quad Cities, Iowa - 1,000 stolen vehicles in 1 year time.
Des Moines, 2021 - over 750 vehicles stolen.
Texas, 2022, over 105,000 stolen - in California that number is roughly 203,000

Average 1.9 vehicles stolen in the USA every minute.

The metro with the highest motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents is Bakersfield, Calif., at 1,023.7
That means for every 100,000 residents, 1,000 vehicles were stolen??

Scary stuff.......

If I didn't live and park where I do, if I were to be in other areas, locking latches would be a consideration (and may still be one day). Not to prevent theft per se, but to keep the casuals out, the battery theft chances lower.
I'd prefer using the factory key but then I've never lost a key, and in fact still have keys for things I've not used or owned in a long time.
Paranoia about losing keys keeps me from losing keys. (and that's totally contrary to ADHD.........) You learn tricks when you know you are one who can lose something that's in your own pocket 30 seconds ago.

 

[bd100]

I prefer a flat key with a little door in the slot which closes to help keep the ice out. But maybe enough lock deicer would be sufficient for the barrel locks.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

OEM. Even if you’re on the Mexican border, theft is less common than lightning strikes. Misplacing the keys to your hood or losing the lock to your wheels is common as the cold. You’re walking home either way…

Yeah, I haven’t heard a single story, even anecdotally, of someone’s Jeep being stolen or tampered with like that. I’d wager the lock companies saw easy marks and said “hey, I bet we can get folks to buy these!”

 

[Max-t]

Oh yea. 90% of Jeep builds are Barbie dolls. I grew up with loggers and real deal purpose built stuff. I get a little defensive/ suspicious around Jeep catalogues. They’re just vultures… it’s the male equivalent of the skin/hair care industry.

I am at the border and Jeep’s are among the more stolen vehicles. And it’s still, firstly old stuff, and still very rare and secondly, a bit suspect in the reports. “I came back from a 2 month vacation and my Jeep was gone from the parking garage I always use”. Yea dude, it was towed… or someone thought it was abandoned and no one would miss it.

before ya get paranoid, check the police/insurance listings of common theft in your area. And that half of that is likely “domestic” friend on friend and vindictive stuff.

 

[Glad Jeeper]

Sorry for late reply been out and about. I think I got these off ebay of all places. Couldn't remember it has been awhile. I just went to my account and that "lock Hood latch" page no longer exist.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

before ya get paranoid, check the police/insurance listings of common theft in your area. And that half of that is likely “domestic” friend on friend and vindictive stuff.

I have, and that's not the case here. In fact, it's not the case anywhere at all.

It's crimes of opportunity. The police here say most could have been prevented with simple measures (meaning lock, etc.)
None were known individuals to the owner.
When they first started talking Jeep thefts around here, I dug. The police here, and others, pretty much laid it out. Lock the vehicle, park in safe areas, don't leave things laying on the seat and more.

My findings have been posted in other threads here over the last couple of years.

In several states, the Grand Cherokee is in the top 10 stolen vehicles.

In one state, Wrangler makes the top 10 ->

 

[Max-t]

What is not the case anywhere at all. Crime happens between people that know each other? That’s the most common type of crime short of maybe shoplifting.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

sounds like talking burglary and separately car theft.
Car theft. Pretty damn rare in most places. 1 in 1000 or below in crappy areas and unless you have whatever the “Honda civic” is of that town, likely 1 in 10000-100000 chance of getting stolen… if you’re someone with lowlife acquaintances. And if you don’t park in a dark parking garage on the “wrong side of town”. There’s probably a mathematic proof to show that your chances equal zero.

burglary… it’s sad but in the US property kept in an unlocked vehicle is public property.

Did you even read the stats from my prior posts?
I'm talking only THEFTS. Nothing else, not things stolen from in the vehicle, but the whole thing being taken. It's easy to find the numbers. The FBI and NHTSA only counts when a vehicle is literally taken and does not count if the person who took it had a right to drive it (as in mistaken reports)

Check my prior posts. 1,000 vehicles STOLEN, not burglarized or simply broken into, per 100,000 citizens isn't a small rate.
I'm using facts, not conjecture or guessing and I sort it before posting it.

You need to do some reading!
I am ONLY reporting fully stolen vehicles, nothing else. And that's cars and pickups, not ATVs and such.

 

[Max-t]

Not well that’s why I deleted it. I don’t know if you edited or if I just didn’t scroll right.

people report vehicles stolen when someone takes their vehicle. If my wife took it yea, I can’t get that listed. When my ex takes it., my gross uncle whatever. Yea that’s theft. And it’s very common.


but no the first stats were burglary.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

What is not the case anywhere at all. Crime happens between people that know each other? That’s the most common type of crime short of maybe shoplifting.

That's not vehicle thefts. The theft numbers I'm reporting are thefts by real thieves, not someone that knows someone like you claim. These are not being stolen by people they know or by some vindictive person.
Do your homework.

these are fully stolen vehicles. Not breaking and entering or taking a purse - the whole vehicle is stolen, gone. And not stolen by people they know. I've done my research and homework over the years (and also have worked with IHP on the issue since I still know some of those troopers)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not well that’s why I deleted it. I don’t know if you edited or if I just didn’t scroll right.

people report vehicles stolen when someone takes their vehicle. If my wife took it yea, I can’t get that listed. When my ex takes it., my gross uncle whatever. Yea that’s theft. And it’s very common.


but no the first stats were burglary.

I don't post burglary stats - only stolen vehicle stats where the whole thing is gone, stolen. I don't report a purse or presents taken from a vehicle, but a vehicle that's gone. About 35% or so get recovered in some places, the rest never do.

This is from 2021 - stolen vehicles (not burglaries) per 100,000 people -

This means that in New Mexico, there were 427 cars and pickups totally stolen per every 100,000 people living there, for example. That's pretty big. Thefts of the whole car or pickup and by real thieves. An alarming number are leaving the country and being sold in other countries or chopped.

 

[Max-t]

Ugh this is out of hand.

theft is a 10th of a percent in the worst areas of total registered vehicles and of that like 75-90% is an area specificmodel.
End of story.

nothing I can find is a 1% as you claim you wrote.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Make up whatever story you like - but when people in Canada are constantly talking about thefts, and certain parts of California are a very high risk - people want to do something. You can sit back and do nothing - that's what the thieves are hoping.
You haven't seen all the threads and posts I have on the topic.

Where did I say 1% were stolen?

I believe this one below figures to about 2.8% stolen (not burglarized, but stolen to chop, sell, whatever)
So for every 100 vehicles in CO, almost 3 get stolen?!

I do generally know a bit about what I'm talking about...... usually......... and I research facts for things like this before posting and not just guess that they are not being taken by thieves.

I've also found at least 10 police departments and other officials like highway patrol who recommend of all things - HOOD LOCKS. Those aren't sellers, those are trained experts in the topic. They all suggest locking the hood. For one thing, if they can open the hood they can very easily kill any alarm you may have unless you are really clever.
Louisville, KY police; Houston, TX; Halton police; Hayward police; Fort Meyers, FL; among others, all say hood locks can help.
I could list a few more....... but I'd hope experts in theft/anti-theft might have a bit more pull than speculating and guessing or saying naw, it doesn't happen that often and how could they help and not that many vehicles even get stolen....

Keep in mind the above is ONLY for 2004-2014 model year vehicles stolen. It's not all inclusive which means the total number is much higher. They are not covering anything after 2014 and that includes a fair number of Grand Cherokee thefts, among others.


Here it is per registered cars IF they posted the info correctly ->
Colorado 30,452 stolen for every 100,000 cars.

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