A couple of weeks ago, my 30 gig rio-car along with many other things were ripped out of my car. Since I bought my rio-car about 8 months ago, I have forgotten what it's like to not have the best possible music machine on the planet with me at all times on the road. After 2 straight weeks of crying, I have decided that I just can't live without that warm blue glow keeping me company, and there's no way I can ever go back to cd's. If anyone has ANY KIND of rio car for sale, or knows somebody who does, I would be willing to pay a lot for it, since I will be getting a pretty big insurance check soon. Any help would be MUCH appreciated.
-Brian Nissley

I am sooo sorry to hear that every time I hear of an empeg getting stolen I just get so mad., and it makes you wonder if the person that stole it even knows what it is. The best I could tell ya is to report your ser. # as being stolen and check here or on ebay to get another one.

PEOPLE PLEASE QUIT LEAVING THESE THINGS IN YOUR CARS !!!!!!!

That sucks

Yeah, the "For sale" forum here, or ebay should be your 2 hunting grounds.

Sorry about the loss. I've had two car stereos stolen, so I know how it feels, although it would be a whole new level of purgatory to lose an empeg. As MrFixit says, please make sure to contact support with your serial number to report it stolen.

Speaking of serial numbers, is the serial number in the "About" info the same as the serial number that was on the sticker on the bottom of the player that got rubbed off before I thought to write down the serial number?

Should be.

Well, after checking on e-bay a few times, I've already found and purchased a new rio-car. I will be counting the minutes until it gets to me. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let my experience be a lesson to all of you who value your rio/empeg cars as much as I do. DON'T LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAR. I myself am thinking about taking it out and strapping it to my chest every time i leave my car, and maybe I'll even sleep with it...or at least I'll get something to carry with me that I can keep it in when I leave my car. Thanks for the support.
-Brian

If you decide to sleep with it just be sure you're careful with its delicate fill nipple.

Oh no... not the fill nipple again....

Brian,

Sorry to hear about the loss of your empeg. I'm glad you got a new one (well, actually, I'll wait untill you actually HAVE it before I say that).

If it's not to much to ask, could you let us know the condition under which it was stolen? Was it simply in your dash while you were away from the car? Or did you have it hidden in the car and it was taken?

I know I am taking my chances by locking it in my glovebox every day while at work. I've ordered that Peilcan 1400 case, so once that comes in, my empeg will be in my personal "black box", chained to my wrist at all times.

Well, after checking on e-bay a few times, I've already found and purchased a new rio-car.

"Hey, this new player has the same serial number as my old one did. WAIT A MINUTE..."

LMAO @tfabris

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"Hey, this new player has the same serial number as my old one did. WAIT A MINUTE..."

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Hmmm, does it also contain exactly the same music?
LMAO

edit:
What are the chances of a thief connecting to the player and erase the drives/upload other music?
Just wondering: would a thief be able to find the software on the internet, assuming he never saw an empeg before? that is, if he would come up with the idea he needs the software...

My Rio-car was stolen while it was still in the dash, which was my biggest mistake. I'm willing to bet that any thief that sees the empty car mount in the dash will assume there is no stereo at all, or that it is not worth the trouble of stealing. Obviously if it's possible I would take it out and keep it on you at all times, but that's not always convenient.

With regards to this "Pelican 1400" case, I haven't heard anything about it. Is it designed specifically for empeg/rio cars? Where can I find one?

It is just a hard side weather proof case pelican makes several sizes.

http://www.all-pelican-cases-4-less.com/detail_pelican_1400.html

And if you think the 1400 a tad big, the 1200 fits an empeg, the remote and in pinch a cable too. Picture here

/Michael

Hey thats a nice fit

I'm willing to bet that any thief that sees the empty car mount in the dash will assume there is no stereo at all,

I'm willing to bet that any thief seeing the empty dash slot, thinks it's worth a look to see if it's in the glove box, or under the seat: My car audio fitters told me that's why slide out stereo's have fallen from popularity.

I'm willing to bet that any thief caught trying to steal my empeg is gonna get a tire iron in his skull.

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I'm willing to bet that any thief seeing the empty dash slot, thinks it's worth a look to see if it's in the glove box, or under the seat: My car audio fitters told me that's why slide out stereo's have fallen from popularity.

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Totally - I used to put my detachable faceplate underneath my seat, and put on a phony cover.. once I got lazy, and took off the plate, but didn't put on the cover - bang! Got my window smashed and stereo stolen for my momentary loss of common sense... Take a look at my install pics , creating a good phony cover is great security...

My old apt complex underground got massively burgled, most every vehicle got smashed into, even my gf's car with a crappy tape deck - but my old car survived without a scratch, cause the phony face plate I made was covering up my Alpine CD player! (This was pre-Rio, now I would absolutely die a thousand deaths if my baby got stolen)

I would recommend heading out to a local auto-wrecker, and getting your hands on a stock deck (AM Radio never looked so good!) that you can tear apart.. inquire about non-working units, you will likely walk away with a perfect dud unit great for hacking apart for $10....

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Take a look at my install pics , creating a good phone cover is great security...

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That is a *@#king fantastic job!
I think everyone should follow and make these for their own cars. I know I'm going to.

Another thought I had after all this talk of stolen empegs <shudder> - I think most all models came with the serial # on a sticker on the bottom, but the metal 'serial' number area wasn't engraved - I'm going to a trophy shop tomorrow to get it done.. Having the serial number engraved onto the outside of the case may assist if someone tries to re-sell the unit. I may go one step further and have my contact details engraved on the top of it too.. the personal touch!

Does anyone know if the serial # is also written/engraved/acid etched/tattooed inside the units?

The best defense is not to get lazy and leave the empeg in there. it's hard and inconvient sometimes, but it's worth it.

At least lock it in the glove compartment (after getting a secure aftermarket glove compartment

I don't have an alarm on my jeep and I leave the top off most of the year, so I almost always take it with me. Sometime I leave it in the strongbox in the jeep, but only when I go to certain clubs.

I admit, a couple of times dudes and girls wyho thought they were so cool made fun of me or were amazed at the retro "Benzi Box" i was carrying. They thought I was going to jump into a Datzun Z-28 or something.

The serial number is written in protected Flash.

Rob

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At least lock it in the glove compartment (after getting a secure aftermarket glove compartment)

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Do you have any links, sources, etc to aftermarket glove box manufactures? I was thinking about that myself - I lock mine in my glove box when I have no choice, but I have no delusions about how weak it is - sternly talking to it, and the lock would pop open!

However - just locking it up, or taking it out of the vehicle isn't enough - you want to stop someone from even wanting to bother smashing your window to get in, cause they think you may have left in under the seat, or in a weak glovebox.... hence the phony face-plate.

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The serial number is written in protected Flash.

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Is that the only other place, really? A sticker on the bottom, and stored in RAM, not on the mobo inside at all?

I'm definitely going to a trophy shop to get engraved tomorrow now!

Yes it's on the motherboard, but it's only a sticker.

Protected flash seems pretty secure to me!

Rob

I can't advocate violence but my prayers would include words like fire, brimstone, and anathma.