Locking Crown Vic trunks

[jswwjw]

I keep my patrol rifle in the a case in the trunk as many of you probably do. I have heard that some agencies install chains to lock the truck from opening and need some suggestions, specifically how do you do it, not the most mechanical person. Purchasing a rifle rack is fine but I keep my shotgun in there as well.

Thoughts, suggestions, what have you done?

Thanks, be safe. PM me if you are more comfortable.

[campuscop]

Our agency rewired the electronic trunk release to where it will only open when the key is in the ignition and the vehicle is on. If the vehicle is off, you have to use your vehicle key to open it.

[shook0002]

Pullout the dash button, unplug. Put the button back in unplugged and it will only open with the key.

[jswwjw]

Good ideas guys. My Asst Chief still wants chains and a lock but I will bring that up. Thanks again for the input and be safe.

[KenW.]

My policy forbids weapons in the trunk. Our armorer thinks there could be a moisture problem.

Regardless of storage location; we HAVE to use a locking rack. that amounts to a double lock- the vehicle door, and the locking rack. The shotgun and rifle are against the ceiling of our explorers. The few crown vics we have are unlikely to get rifles for the time being.

[JSSD]

There is plenty of room in the crown vic for a rifle rack and a shotgun rack. I would hate to have to run to my trunk to get out my rifle or shotgun. We have to use a rifle rack as well.

[jswwjw]

Thanks but my problem still remains. I would love to have a double rack but the junk is in the trunk. Any Feds out there or Feebees? I was told that the FBI field force has to have chains in their trunks.

I keep trying and thanks.

[Resq14]

I have heard that some agencies install chains to lock the truck from opening

I guess I don't understand what you're trying to do with chains... ?

[jswwjw]

Our assistant chief wants to lock the trunk so if anyone opens it, it will only open a small distance. In other words a chain on the trunk lid and attached to the truck with a lock. Pop the trunk and it exposes the chain and a lock. Unlock the trunk to gain access.

[Resq14]

Hmm, ok... I've never heard of that. Doesn't that make it kind of hard to get to the rifle when you need it? Trunk storage alone makes it a challenge, let alone chains and padlocks.

Is this a take-home car, and the issue is it getting burglarized while parked off-duty, or will the trunks be chained shut at all times??? Sorry for the questions, I'm just trying to understand.

[LE4Life]

I second Resq14's post for further explaination.and don't see how this would help someone when needing to get to into the trunk quickly to get your rifle or other weapon. If fine motor skills suffer under pressure and high stess then wouldnt trying to place a key into a lock fall into this category? Again, i could be completely misreading this but it sounds as if your installing two sections of chain inside your trunk, one that is permanently hooked to the trunk lid, one to the base of the trunk and is linked together by the padlock. Access to the chain and padlock is the standard opening of the trunk, however you see fit to get in there, but the trunk i'm guessing only opens a few inches to reveal your padlock that then also needs to be unlocked. If this is the case I am very thankful that my rifle is inside my driver's compartment within easy reach.

My only other thought would be someone's previous statement that there is a possibility for moisture to creep into the trunk area possibly "welding" shut the key hole or moving parts on the padlock for those officers that dont like to actually do work and never open their trunk. The only other suggestion would be to use the 3 or 4 dialed numbered locks to possibly prevent the need for fine motor skills. Just hope that you comerade that you count on has as good of a memory as you when you need to get in there in a hurry.

[mulligan3193]

At my last post, I was on SWAT with a take home car. I carried an AR-15 in the trunk and we had the chain set-up just like what LE4Life described. I only allowed a couple of links from the top and bottom between the padlock. As for getting to the weapon, I never found myself in the line of fire trying to get to the weapon under extreme stress. That was a possiblity, too I guess, but I would not pull into a gun fight having to exit the car exposed in the first place. However, when I needed it, I usually just got out, I was parking the car there anyway, and unlocked the trunk to get the rifle. As a response to an active shooter out in the street, he's already positioned, so I would come from behind cover in a stealth mode before driving into it. As for moisture, my rifle was in a pelican case and I never had any moisture issues. If it was necessary to get out immediately and go to arms, without the ability to get to the trunk, I would have pulled my 870 out of the car with me and used it.

[jswwjw]

Yes, all of our vehicles are take home and yes they are most worried when the car is parked and unattended. Believe me, I don't have time to come up with these subject matters. We did have a shotgun stolen out of one of our cars and perhaps that is the reason for the trunk locks. Mulligan3193 any way your could take a photo of the chain and lock set up and PM me with it? thanks. Great thoughts on the switch-unplugging. I already did that.

[DW319]

I have to say it even though I know changing admin's thoughts can be mighty challenging if not impossible. Your best option is to have them readly available inside your patrol car for all the reasons that we all know. We recently had an officer that while searching for an armed suspect within a muliple mile radius found him around a corner. Suspect had already fired shots in the area and was in the process of taking aim on a not known juvenile. The officer stopped and exited his car quickly retrieveing his racked patrol rifle and quickly and appropriately addressed that threat. The officer was not in handgun range for an effective shot and would have had to break cover, gain ground on the suspect and hoped to get in range for an effective shot before it was too late. If that officer would have had to retrieve his keys, open the trunk, switch keys open a pad lock, finally get the trunk open, open his gun case ect ect ect. The outcome might have been different. In this case time was of high importance. I know this is not your problem. All you can do is point out options, write proposals, provide case documentaion and if you still get the "no" then you have done all you can. Good Luck!

[TheDesire]

Ours only unlock with the button when the vehicle is started. The key is needed outherwise.

Our long guns are in the cab unless it is a cageless unit, then they are in the trunk.

[Phil H.]

Our assistant chief wants to lock the trunk so if anyone opens it, it will only open a small distance. In other words a chain on the trunk lid and attached to the truck with a lock. Pop the trunk and it exposes the chain and a lock. Unlock the trunk to gain access.

Uh, seriously?

our vics have a shotgun and AR side by side in locks between the seats. not in the way, plenty of room for the MDT, radios etc.

I can see it now. "Hold on bad guy, I gotta get this stupid key in the padlock to open my trunk during this adrenalin dump and then unlock my rifle".

[Phil H.]

Yes, all of our vehicles are take home and yes they are most worried when the car is parked and unattended. Believe me, I don't have time to come up with these subject matters. We did have a shotgun stolen out of one of our cars and perhaps that is the reason for the trunk locks. Mulligan3193 any way your could take a photo of the chain and lock set up and PM me with it? thanks. Great thoughts on the switch-unplugging. I already did that.

crazy idea, i know. but how about taking the rifle/shotgun inside your house? I park mine in the garage so not a big deal but if the vehicle isnt secured i leave NOTHING in it. kind of off the subject here but we had an officer go out to his car one fine morning a few months back and while approaching the car, the sun was up just enough to see an outline of a milk jug under his car. it was a gasoline bomb.

[brownj21]

I see this is an old thread, but I do have an answer because we have the same policy. Shotguns and rifles go in the trunk, and if you have a rifle, policy says that you must use a chain and lock (for a Crown Vic).

Get a bolt about 2-2.5 inches long and if you look into the left side of the trunk, pull back the covering, you will see plenty of holes that you can thread that bolt through. Hook the bottom rung of that chain on and then a wide washer. Obviously on the other side (the side pointing into the trunk itself, you will need a nut.
As for the trunk lid, the 2nd half of the chain can loop through a hole up there and then connect to itself with a quick link.
Close the trunk nice and low, slide a lock through 2 parts of the chain and you are in business.

Clearly, if someone really wants to get in, they still could. Its just another layer of protection.
I can send pics of this setup if my explanation was not clear.