Stolen from Woodford Green - BMW 535d M Sport
Discussion
Hi guys,
My car has been stolen last night from Woodford Green, between 10pm and 9am.
It is a BMW 535d carbon black, registered BJ07YBX, 19" alloy wheels and black leather interior.
It had been scratched by someone with a key on the bonnet and on the boot, on the right side.
It was parked in the street, with a steering wheel lock on, that I have bought after someone tried to nick my car a few weeks ago in another street nearby.
The thief didn't break in my flat. I still have the key of the car and the lock.
Many thanks for your help,
Pierre
My car has been stolen last night from Woodford Green, between 10pm and 9am.
It is a BMW 535d carbon black, registered BJ07YBX, 19" alloy wheels and black leather interior.
It had been scratched by someone with a key on the bonnet and on the boot, on the right side.
It was parked in the street, with a steering wheel lock on, that I have bought after someone tried to nick my car a few weeks ago in another street nearby.
The thief didn't break in my flat. I still have the key of the car and the lock.
Many thanks for your help,
Pierre
Thanks for your replies...
The car was parked 100 yards up the street from my flat.
I have asked the neighbour whose window is right next to where it was parked, but she didn't hear nor see anything.
Obviously no CCTV in the street.
There's something I'm wondering. I've had this car for less than 6 months. I absolutely loved it, and right now I can only think of replacing it with the same model. But if I do will the new one be gone as quickly? Or have I jut been unlucky...
It feels to me like there's a number of high spec cars in the area. It's not like mine was very showy, I think.
The car was parked 100 yards up the street from my flat.
I have asked the neighbour whose window is right next to where it was parked, but she didn't hear nor see anything.
Obviously no CCTV in the street.
There's something I'm wondering. I've had this car for less than 6 months. I absolutely loved it, and right now I can only think of replacing it with the same model. But if I do will the new one be gone as quickly? Or have I jut been unlucky...
It feels to me like there's a number of high spec cars in the area. It's not like mine was very showy, I think.
I did hear a lot of "home-jacking" indeed. It seems to be happening a lot and for a long time. That's how my in-laws got their car stolen twice.
Edit: I realise "home-jacking", although it sounds very English, is pretty much only used in France as an expression! I'm sure you get what it means...
The thing is, in my case, people tried to steal the car twice (and succeeded once...) but never tried to break into the house next to it. I don't know if it's the same guys but they didn't seem to need my keys.
A few weeks ago, I was working in Paris and my wife was staying with my parents-in-law, literally round the corner in South Woodford. At 2am ish, my stepmother heard a noise outside. She looked and saw two men trying to steal the car. She shouted and they ran away... This is when I (foolishly) bought a steering lock.
They apparently tried to open the driver's door with some sort of screwdriver. The lock was ruined and I couldn't use the key mechanically any more. Would they have managed to open the door, I don't know what their next step would have been, but I assume the alarm would have gone off.
As of yesterday, it's the same thing. I used to keep the car keys and the lock keys in two different places in the flat, in case someone was tempted to grab them. No one came to my door, or to anyone's door. To be fair I'm quite thankful for that. But then how did they do?
I've seen a program in France where a thief was explaining his technique. After he'd open the door of that Mini Cooper with a disturbing easiness, he plugged some kind of device into the car. Then on the screen he selected the make and the model, pressed a button and off he went...
Maybe I shouldn't buy a fancy car until I have a garage in which I can jealously hide it every night.
As for the insurance, I guess I'm about to find out! I have fully comprehensive coverage. They are delivering a rental car this morning for 14 days, which is nice.
It says on their leaflet that they indemnify according to the "market value". I'm pretty sure there'll be some arguing there. The car was loaded with options rather difficult to find all in the same car. It took me months to find the one I wanted. It would probably take months to find a new one. I wonder how that will reflect onto the "value"...
Edit: I realise "home-jacking", although it sounds very English, is pretty much only used in France as an expression! I'm sure you get what it means...
The thing is, in my case, people tried to steal the car twice (and succeeded once...) but never tried to break into the house next to it. I don't know if it's the same guys but they didn't seem to need my keys.
A few weeks ago, I was working in Paris and my wife was staying with my parents-in-law, literally round the corner in South Woodford. At 2am ish, my stepmother heard a noise outside. She looked and saw two men trying to steal the car. She shouted and they ran away... This is when I (foolishly) bought a steering lock.
They apparently tried to open the driver's door with some sort of screwdriver. The lock was ruined and I couldn't use the key mechanically any more. Would they have managed to open the door, I don't know what their next step would have been, but I assume the alarm would have gone off.
As of yesterday, it's the same thing. I used to keep the car keys and the lock keys in two different places in the flat, in case someone was tempted to grab them. No one came to my door, or to anyone's door. To be fair I'm quite thankful for that. But then how did they do?
I've seen a program in France where a thief was explaining his technique. After he'd open the door of that Mini Cooper with a disturbing easiness, he plugged some kind of device into the car. Then on the screen he selected the make and the model, pressed a button and off he went...
Maybe I shouldn't buy a fancy car until I have a garage in which I can jealously hide it every night.
As for the insurance, I guess I'm about to find out! I have fully comprehensive coverage. They are delivering a rental car this morning for 14 days, which is nice.
It says on their leaflet that they indemnify according to the "market value". I'm pretty sure there'll be some arguing there. The car was loaded with options rather difficult to find all in the same car. It took me months to find the one I wanted. It would probably take months to find a new one. I wonder how that will reflect onto the "value"...
Edited by arakin on Saturday 9th April 08:08
arakin said:
It says on their leaflet that they indemnify according to the "market value". I'm pretty sure there'll be some arguing there. The car was loaded with options rather difficult to find all in the same car. It took me months to find the one I wanted. It would probably take months to find a new one. I wonder how that will reflect onto the "value"...
Can you get gap insurance on a used car? If you can, consider that for your next car if it's going to be something similar. It works well in this situation, my Dad had a Focus ST stolen via a burglary (about a year old, purchased brand new) and the insurance pay out was very satisfactory.Can I suggest you replace with a 530d m-sport instead of the 535 if you're worried about this happening again.
My money would be on it being stolen to order (an opportunist doesn't lift a car away quietly and quickly) which would be for the 'top of the range' which I believe the 535 is (in diesel)??
I know that's not a lot of help but would be my suggestion.
It actually saddens me to write the above...
Cheers
The Moose
My money would be on it being stolen to order (an opportunist doesn't lift a car away quietly and quickly) which would be for the 'top of the range' which I believe the 535 is (in diesel)??
I know that's not a lot of help but would be my suggestion.
It actually saddens me to write the above...
Cheers
The Moose
arakin said:
A few weeks ago, I was working in Paris and my wife was staying with my parents-in-law, literally round the corner in South Woodford. At 2am ish, my stepmother heard a noise outside. She looked and saw two men trying to steal the car. She shouted and they ran away... This is when I (foolishly) bought a steering lock.
They apparently tried to open the driver's door with some sort of screwdriver. The lock was ruined and I couldn't use the key mechanically any more. Would they have managed to open the door, I don't know what their next step would have been, but I assume the alarm would have gone off.
Funny, we live in Chigwell and the parents in law live in South Woodford same as yours. Despite 2 x e92 convertibles, 1x 730 and a 1 series on the drive they've (touch wood) never had any issues. I'll tell them to be extra vigilant, maybe consider CCTV.They apparently tried to open the driver's door with some sort of screwdriver. The lock was ruined and I couldn't use the key mechanically any more. Would they have managed to open the door, I don't know what their next step would have been, but I assume the alarm would have gone off.
I'll keep a look out.
I think it is always in the back of your mind. As you prob know tox i'm in an e92 335d too and a few months ago there was a similar gang going round our area.
Fortunately the police were very hot on this, arrests were made and since then we have regular ANPR set ups, checks in and out of the town and a good CCTV network.
Still my motor is tucked away in a garage with an IR camera and motion detector, kindly donated by my bro who has all sorts of issues in london, plus the house and garage is alarmed and the Mrs car is parked in front of the garage most of the time so they would have to move/knick that too.
Hopefully that will be enough. Seems like a long stretch but i would do anything to protect my family and if i ever caught one of them well... i wouldn't want to incriminate myself.
Fortunately the police were very hot on this, arrests were made and since then we have regular ANPR set ups, checks in and out of the town and a good CCTV network.
Still my motor is tucked away in a garage with an IR camera and motion detector, kindly donated by my bro who has all sorts of issues in london, plus the house and garage is alarmed and the Mrs car is parked in front of the garage most of the time so they would have to move/knick that too.
Hopefully that will be enough. Seems like a long stretch but i would do anything to protect my family and if i ever caught one of them well... i wouldn't want to incriminate myself.
rallycross said:
Hope you get it back or get a fair payout
It's interesting that no one seems to know how they do it without the keys.
Low loader truck would be too obvious/slow the other thing would be a truck that lifts the front up and tows it that would be quicker
The professionals must be scanning for the remote locking signals and the encryption must be cracked and that's how they're getting them. I'm sure that VAG encryption has been cracked, which is why I always use my key to lock now, regardless if they really want a car they'll get it. It's interesting that no one seems to know how they do it without the keys.
Low loader truck would be too obvious/slow the other thing would be a truck that lifts the front up and tows it that would be quicker
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