A victim of car-jacking
Discussion
I posted a few nights ago about the theft of my Golf R in the VW/Audi forum, where a masked gang essentially followed me, hide behind my car and stole my keys, while parked in my in-laws driveway in full daylight and in view of many witnesses.
Up until last Wednesday, I have been fortunate to never have had a car stolen. No doubt I was unlucky that a gang probably knew the route I take every day and took the opportunity to threaten me and steal my keys, while I was on my own.
I know I made the right decision to hand over the keys, as the consequences could have put me into hospital or worse. I am also counting my lucky stars that none of my children were with me at the time, as the ordeal would have been terrible for them. The aftermath of this seems more difficult for me. My senses are heightened and I feel very paranoid, even in my own house. I keep replaying the incident in my head and thinking of the what if I did that scenario..
I have gone through the hassle of cancelling all my credit cards, new license, locks changed and dealing with insurance/rental companies. Amazing how these thieves turn your life upside down momentarily, the inconvenience they cause both emotionally and financially is quite significant. I love my cars like many of us on here and now I feel like I just want a sedate car to keep under the radar, something boring that no one will want to steal. Maybe that is the default reaction for many?
Car is still missing....Just a bit p£ssed off really...
G
Up until last Wednesday, I have been fortunate to never have had a car stolen. No doubt I was unlucky that a gang probably knew the route I take every day and took the opportunity to threaten me and steal my keys, while I was on my own.
I know I made the right decision to hand over the keys, as the consequences could have put me into hospital or worse. I am also counting my lucky stars that none of my children were with me at the time, as the ordeal would have been terrible for them. The aftermath of this seems more difficult for me. My senses are heightened and I feel very paranoid, even in my own house. I keep replaying the incident in my head and thinking of the what if I did that scenario..
I have gone through the hassle of cancelling all my credit cards, new license, locks changed and dealing with insurance/rental companies. Amazing how these thieves turn your life upside down momentarily, the inconvenience they cause both emotionally and financially is quite significant. I love my cars like many of us on here and now I feel like I just want a sedate car to keep under the radar, something boring that no one will want to steal. Maybe that is the default reaction for many?
Car is still missing....Just a bit p£ssed off really...
G
I think the easiest way to think about it is.. it's ultimately a car. Might be a rare, favourite, prized, expensive car. But it's a car.
And if you have insurance, you'll get another, and enjoy it. The risk with trying to obstruct the theft means while you might put up a fight, it could end up in injuries or worse, and certainly won't rid you of the paranoia and inability to enjoy it. Much easier to move on fresh.
Had a house broken into, some stuff stolen. As you say, paranoia and worries are more prevalent than the stuff that was taken. But it's just stuff.
If someone threatens to take my car away, I'll give it away and be done with it. If it's one I built with my own hands, it would be more difficult, granted.
And if you have insurance, you'll get another, and enjoy it. The risk with trying to obstruct the theft means while you might put up a fight, it could end up in injuries or worse, and certainly won't rid you of the paranoia and inability to enjoy it. Much easier to move on fresh.
Had a house broken into, some stuff stolen. As you say, paranoia and worries are more prevalent than the stuff that was taken. But it's just stuff.
If someone threatens to take my car away, I'll give it away and be done with it. If it's one I built with my own hands, it would be more difficult, granted.
Gio G said:
Maybe that is the default reaction for many?
Depends on the person, some people go out looking for the b
ds and bite their nose off, some will want to curl up and hope it doesnt happen again. Neither is wrong. Victim Support are available to you, dont be shy at making a call or thinking you're taking up their time unnecessarily, something like this has the possibility to redefine how you live your life, and it should need tohttps://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
Also, buy another Golf if you want to. Or a Porsche, you make the decision, not the thieves
As a Golf GTI driver (in Coventry where there have been other incidents) I've been thinking about what I'd do in a similar situation. The Answer: Hand the keys over without hesitation, claim on insurance / GAP policy, buy new car and be happy. I certainly don't want it to happen but I've changed my mindset to the view 'that it's only a car'. Similarly, if they break into the house - keys are no longer hidden. They're not on show to tempt thieves, but if they do get in, they won't need to hunt for them in the bedroom.
Just a shame that we end up faced with these situations and having to think about them.
Just a shame that we end up faced with these situations and having to think about them.
CYMR0 said:
Very sorry to hear about that - it's extremely traumatic even to read about!
Is it leased? If so, it'd be interesting to see how you deal with the lease company, as VWFS have some interesting clauses in their lease when the car is written off or stolen.
Yes leased, hoping that GAP insurance I purchased may play it's part if it needs to..Is it leased? If so, it'd be interesting to see how you deal with the lease company, as VWFS have some interesting clauses in their lease when the car is written off or stolen.
G
Speaking as someone who's been the victim of a violent crime, I can sympathise with the feeling of paranoia. FWIW victim support were sh*t in this regard but it will subside. As for the car, I think although on here tales of this sort of thing are not uncommon, in the wider world it's less common. I wouldn't let this one incident change how you live your life. For want of a better term that's just letting them "win".
Gio G said:
CYMR0 said:
Very sorry to hear about that - it's extremely traumatic even to read about!
Is it leased? If so, it'd be interesting to see how you deal with the lease company, as VWFS have some interesting clauses in their lease when the car is written off or stolen.
Yes leased, hoping that GAP insurance I purchased may play it's part if it needs to..Is it leased? If so, it'd be interesting to see how you deal with the lease company, as VWFS have some interesting clauses in their lease when the car is written off or stolen.
G
Do you think it was a just a local gang, or a group in the country stealing for export? What did they look like?
(I just know Ill be branded a little Englander, just for asking).
Unlucky fella, but you did the right thing. It's not worth getting into a fight for what is essentially a lump of metal. Hopefully it doesn't put you off going for the higher spec/performance models in the future though.
It is a bit worrying though, I know fast Fords are being pinched left right and centre recently and it is beginning to play on me a bit.
It is a bit worrying though, I know fast Fords are being pinched left right and centre recently and it is beginning to play on me a bit.
BuzzBravado said:
The cynic in me thinks some insurance companies will use "handed the keys over" as some loophole for not paying out.
Hope it all goes smoothly.
I know insurance companies can be bad but I think you may be overly cynical Hope it all goes smoothly.
Remember, it can just be a non-violent threat for it to be considered stolen with force. The act of handing over keys is irrelevant in this case. He didn't walk up to someone and say "Hey mate, want my car?", it was forcibly taken. The poor bloke doesn't need anymore worry...
Best wishes OP!
Definitely made the right decision. It's the same reason why I leave the keys in an easy to find place in the house on a night. I'd rather them just take the car and leave, rather they come upstairs where my kids are and threaten me for them.
You will get over it, I was attacked in a road rage incident and I was really down about the whole thing for about 3 weeks, even to the point I felt like overdosing on the tablets I was given for the pain. You gradually just begin to think about it less though and it just becomes a well learnt lesson and experience of your life. The kind of thing you can talk about at a party or dinner.
However a heightened sense of it happening again, isn't a bad thing. Next time (highly unlikely) you'll probably just notice the signs and the call the police before it happens. If I was ever in a similar road rage incident I'd just reverse, turn around and call the police.
You will get over it, I was attacked in a road rage incident and I was really down about the whole thing for about 3 weeks, even to the point I felt like overdosing on the tablets I was given for the pain. You gradually just begin to think about it less though and it just becomes a well learnt lesson and experience of your life. The kind of thing you can talk about at a party or dinner.
However a heightened sense of it happening again, isn't a bad thing. Next time (highly unlikely) you'll probably just notice the signs and the call the police before it happens. If I was ever in a similar road rage incident I'd just reverse, turn around and call the police.
SuperPav said:
I think the easiest way to think about it is.. it's ultimately a car. Might be a rare, favourite, prized, expensive car. But it's a car.
I'm sure it's not the car that matters most to the OP, same as when your home is burgled it's the actual "act" that leaves the mark. Coming close to motivated scumbags who will do you harm, the fact they see fit to take what is yours on a whim, the helplessness that most feel in being unable to stop it and the what if scenarios that play through your mind afterwards, it's the psychological effects that stay with you, not the car.
My nan had her house broken into once they went through a solid outdoor on the laundry room, through the locked kitchen door and got fumbled at the next door. My nan never went barefoot were the robbers had been, always wore slippers in the kitchen and laundry room for 20 odd years. Very proud lady.
I would hate this to happen to me, im far too stubborn to hand my keys over.
I would hate this to happen to me, im far too stubborn to hand my keys over.
How horrible, OP.
You made absolutely the right decision to hand the keys over. Any car is just a lump of metal and plastic and really not worth taking a kicking for. Claim on the insurance, go out and buy yourself another and enjoy it. Don't let the thieves dictate what you do and don't do.
You made absolutely the right decision to hand the keys over. Any car is just a lump of metal and plastic and really not worth taking a kicking for. Claim on the insurance, go out and buy yourself another and enjoy it. Don't let the thieves dictate what you do and don't do.
Hol said:
Im interested to hear that it does, if you don't mind keeping us informed.
Do you think it was a just a local gang, or a group in the country stealing for export? What did they look like?
(I just know Ill be branded a little Englander, just for asking).
All I could see was their eyes, as they made a good job of covering themselves up. The whole thing was over in less than 1 minute. I just recently heard of another incident before Easter up by the A10, where someone was bumped from behind, he went out to investigate, they then stole it, with keys in the ignition. Same car as mine, a Golf R. They really appear to be a magnet to thieves at the moment Do you think it was a just a local gang, or a group in the country stealing for export? What did they look like?
(I just know Ill be branded a little Englander, just for asking).
G
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