New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys
Discussion
Somewhere in the middle of this thread I posted this,for anyone not ploughing through the whole thing you might find this of interest ,a post I spotted on another forum
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I bought my Alpina D3 in February last year. Lovely example SG D3 MT no.336.
On 25th Jan 2012 it was stolen from my driveway at exactly 3.55am. The reason I know this is from seeing CCTV footage of the entire theft from my neighbours CCTV camera.
There was no broken glass, I have all the keys. The thieves managed to take the car in 15mins from the moment they started working on it to when they pushed it off the drive and started it 20yds down the road, presumably to avoid making any noise when driving away.
The theft involved a gang of four white men in a Ford Focus (silver / white). It looked like they knew exactly what they wanted as they drove past my house and then reversed back after seeing the house numbers (my opinion). They paused and looked at the car then drove off.
After 20 mins they returned and parked the Focus out of sight. Three men approached my house, one standing watch just outside on the road while the other two worked on the car for about 5-6mins. They all walked away and then stop to exchange something. Two men walk out of sight while the other one who has received something goes back to the Focus.
The guy who went to the Focus returns after 3-4mins and the other two join him. They exchange something again and they proceed in the same way, one stands watch while the other two work on the car. The indicators flash and then shortly afterwards the headlights go on and off. Then the watchman walks away and the car is pushed from the drive and up the road by one guy, the other guy is presumably in the drivers seat. Once the car is about 20 yds up the road the pusher jumps into the car and they drive away.
3 mins later the two guys from the focus return, look into the drive. I presume they are checking that nothing has been left behind as evidence. they both quickly walk away.
I have very mixed emotions about the whole situation, most importantly though i'm glad nobody was hurt as I don't think these guys would have taken kindly to someone confronting them.
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I bought my Alpina D3 in February last year. Lovely example SG D3 MT no.336.
On 25th Jan 2012 it was stolen from my driveway at exactly 3.55am. The reason I know this is from seeing CCTV footage of the entire theft from my neighbours CCTV camera.
There was no broken glass, I have all the keys. The thieves managed to take the car in 15mins from the moment they started working on it to when they pushed it off the drive and started it 20yds down the road, presumably to avoid making any noise when driving away.
The theft involved a gang of four white men in a Ford Focus (silver / white). It looked like they knew exactly what they wanted as they drove past my house and then reversed back after seeing the house numbers (my opinion). They paused and looked at the car then drove off.
After 20 mins they returned and parked the Focus out of sight. Three men approached my house, one standing watch just outside on the road while the other two worked on the car for about 5-6mins. They all walked away and then stop to exchange something. Two men walk out of sight while the other one who has received something goes back to the Focus.
The guy who went to the Focus returns after 3-4mins and the other two join him. They exchange something again and they proceed in the same way, one stands watch while the other two work on the car. The indicators flash and then shortly afterwards the headlights go on and off. Then the watchman walks away and the car is pushed from the drive and up the road by one guy, the other guy is presumably in the drivers seat. Once the car is about 20 yds up the road the pusher jumps into the car and they drive away.
3 mins later the two guys from the focus return, look into the drive. I presume they are checking that nothing has been left behind as evidence. they both quickly walk away.
I have very mixed emotions about the whole situation, most importantly though i'm glad nobody was hurt as I don't think these guys would have taken kindly to someone confronting them.
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/04/06/thei...
Don't think this link had been posted before. So it has at least reached local press last month
Don't think this link had been posted before. So it has at least reached local press last month
smashy said:
Somewhere in the middle of this thread I posted this,for anyone not ploughing through the whole thing you might find this of interest ,a post I spotted on another forum
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The theft involved a gang of four white men in a Ford Focus (silver / white). It looked like they knew exactly what they wanted as they drove past my house and then reversed back after seeing the house numbers (my opinion). They paused and looked at the car then drove off.
If they are looking for house numbers that would only suggest that its BMW's inside job, how else would you explain them looking for house numbers?::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The theft involved a gang of four white men in a Ford Focus (silver / white). It looked like they knew exactly what they wanted as they drove past my house and then reversed back after seeing the house numbers (my opinion). They paused and looked at the car then drove off.
In regards to the last post with the link i really hope they catch these low life scums! I would love to get my car back even though i know it would not hold the same value after having been stolen and recovered!
Earlier today I attended a neighbourhood watch meeting by chance that was been arranged as I was going to the post office. There were two subjects cash machines in the neighbourhood in the run up to the Olympics. There has been an increase in skimming devices in the area.
Following this there was a warning about vehicles and without prompting BMW spilled out of the mouth of the Police officer. She was plain clothes, one of the robbery squad riding in Q cars around London. High end vehicles M sport, X3, X5 in particular. I asked what the police has done and she said that BMW has been advised of this issue for now some time.
She was dumfounded when I answered her question about has BMW contacted us owners, I said no. She though it was a poor show!
Following this there was a warning about vehicles and without prompting BMW spilled out of the mouth of the Police officer. She was plain clothes, one of the robbery squad riding in Q cars around London. High end vehicles M sport, X3, X5 in particular. I asked what the police has done and she said that BMW has been advised of this issue for now some time.
She was dumfounded when I answered her question about has BMW contacted us owners, I said no. She though it was a poor show!
Greenusman said:
If they are looking for house numbers that would only suggest that its BMW's inside job, how else would you explain them looking for house numbers?
It doesnt really. These are probably being stolen to order so it would be logical to assume that people act as spotters and supply thieves with the information. So they follow the car home then give the address to the guys who will come and steal it few days later. It also could be info coming from a number of sources. Could be DVLA for example and I believe that there is a way of finding out addresses from number plates through insurance companies?
I dont think this could "only suggest its BMW's inside job" but it is a possibility.
mrmr96 said:
Can you re-produce that here? Or link to it?
I read it yesterday afternoon, at the workshop i do a fair bit of work on my TVR at, it was on the seat of one of the customers BMW's that was being serviced, so its not mine.It said that the police were aware of the problem, and Warwickshire was a hotspot. I am down there again doing some work today, best i can do is take a picture of it and see how that turns out?
On a "Local " Forum , An Audi A3 Driver.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
smashy said:
On a "Local " Forum , An Audi A3 Driver.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This isnt new though, has been happening for ages!In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NelsonR32 said:
Told the dealer last week that I won't be committing to a 135i order until BMW have done something to resolve the issue. I'm already getting stung on insurance by being hit by an uninsured driver without the premiums suddenly trippling.
May I ask what the dealers reaction was? Did they acknowledge there was an issue?smashy said:
On a "Local " Forum , An Audi A3 Driver.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spend a bit of time googling...from a quick look there appear to be devices that work with a variety of different makes of car. Maybe what we're seeing with all of the BMW thefts is a gang who invested in a BMW key maker, have seen that investment pay off big time and have now decided to invest in another key maker and major on a different make.In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disabling the OBD and getting a disklok seems to be the way forward, but it really does seem to be welcome to the 80s again.
WheresMyCar said:
Spend a bit of time googling...from a quick look there appear to be devices that work with a variety of different makes of car. Maybe what we're seeing with all of the BMW thefts is a gang who invested in a BMW key maker, have seen that investment pay off big time and have now decided to invest in another key maker and major on a different make.
Disabling the OBD and getting a disklok seems to be the way forward, but it really does seem to be welcome to the 80s again.
That is just my concern at the moment. I was thinking of buying a new Mercedes C Class but the thought of loosing another car in the same way is just not worth it. That disgusting sicky feeling when my BMW 520 M sport got stolen is one feeling i don't and shouldn't have to ever go through because of some low life scum!Disabling the OBD and getting a disklok seems to be the way forward, but it really does seem to be welcome to the 80s again.
I think I'm going to have to settle for a banger until this problem is solved which lets face it is far from being over anytime soon!
Greenusman said:
I think I'm going to have to settle for a banger until this problem is solved which lets face it is far from being over anytime soon!
You don't need to buy a banger, just buy a nice, tidy example of a 2000-2005ish BMW with a conventional key. It'll be presentable, look nice, be well specified and nice to drive. And can't be stolen in this way, nor be of much interest to theives anyway.Greenusman said:
WheresMyCar said:
Spend a bit of time googling...from a quick look there appear to be devices that work with a variety of different makes of car. Maybe what we're seeing with all of the BMW thefts is a gang who invested in a BMW key maker, have seen that investment pay off big time and have now decided to invest in another key maker and major on a different make.
Disabling the OBD and getting a disklok seems to be the way forward, but it really does seem to be welcome to the 80s again.
That is just my concern at the moment. I was thinking of buying a new Mercedes C Class but the thought of loosing another car in the same way is just not worth it. That disgusting sicky feeling when my BMW 520 M sport got stolen is one feeling i don't and shouldn't have to ever go through because of some low life scum!Disabling the OBD and getting a disklok seems to be the way forward, but it really does seem to be welcome to the 80s again.
I think I'm going to have to settle for a banger until this problem is solved which lets face it is far from being over anytime soon!
This is a BMW problem. Perhaps not primarily, because the thieves are taking the cars, and are the evil barstards, but certainly for the change in the security on these cars unannounced and without thinking the consequences through.
BMW have totally failed to recognise the consequences if their foolish decisions. They have compounded this by refusing to admit their mistakes and immediately correct the error.
I am not a BMW man, but I have had a number of cars pinched over the years. I do therefore have an understanding of the gut wrenching feeling this leaves on the owner. I have garaged all my cars for some years and used deadlocks in the garages, CCTV 24 hours, locking battery circuit breakers on each individual car and Clifford alarms on every one. It has worked for me for 30 years.
But I am fortunate to be able to do this. With modern car alarms this ease of theft, should be absolutely, impossible. Clearly it is not, indeed is has been made nuch easier, because of the short sighted BMW approach. I fully understand the sense of despair amongst the victims and it should be stopped forthwith.
WheresMyCar said:
smashy said:
On a "Local " Forum , An Audi A3 Driver.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spend a bit of time googling...from a quick look there appear to be devices that work with a variety of different makes of car. Maybe what we're seeing with all of the BMW thefts is a gang who invested in a BMW key maker, have seen that investment pay off big time and have now decided to invest in another key maker and major on a different make.In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
va1o said:
WheresMyCar said:
smashy said:
On a "Local " Forum , An Audi A3 Driver.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spend a bit of time googling...from a quick look there appear to be devices that work with a variety of different makes of car. Maybe what we're seeing with all of the BMW thefts is a gang who invested in a BMW key maker, have seen that investment pay off big time and have now decided to invest in another key maker and major on a different make.In the early hours, from a the forecourt of my house and very tightly parked with little space to get in and out of the car! Locked, alarmed and nothing visible to steal. I give up! The police think it was lifted. I heard a noise at 3.00am, looked outside and it had gone! Won't forget that sick feeling. What do we have to do for goodness sake, electrify them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We are all stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KaraK said:
FYI not all VAG cars are still using flip keys. All the ones people have had at work (09 plate onewards) have all had push in fobs. As do the 11 and 12-plate Passats.
Fair point but the Passat is an exception. The majority have the flip key, i.e. Golf, A3, Superb and Leon etc. Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff