A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a wireless transceiver, a plurality of sensors configured to sense measurements proximate to a vehicle, and at least one computing device coupled to the plurality of sensors and the wireless transceiver. The at least one computing device can be configured to receive, via the wireless transceiver, an indication to enter an armed mode from an unarmed mode. In response to entering the armed mode, the at least one computing device can set a configuration of at least one property of a subset of the plurality of sensors. The at least one computing device can receive, via the wireless transceiver, a second indication to enter a special mode from the armed mode. In response to entering the special mode, the at least one computing device can alter the configuration of the at least one property of the subset of the plurality of sensors.