Break and Enter for Car Keys - Police views?
Break and Enter for Car Keys - Police views?
Author
Discussion

PGM

Original Poster:

2,168 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
I have an impreza and Boxster and live in Reading. There are a few cases recently of imprezas going missing with the keys in our area with the tea leaf entering the house for them. They seem to get away with it if they pop pills or shoot chemicals into themselves. There seems to be a win win situation on their part - no fear.

What can/are the police doing about this - the only thing you hear about it is through the bbs's - no warnings in the area etc.

Am I unjustly worried or is this a large scale problem? Have children and wife in the house.

Thinking (not seriously yet) of saying goodbye to impreza as this is on the drive at night.

Cheers
Paul

madant69

847 posts

267 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
Hasn't really come to Dorset yet (cause tractors/combine harvesters aren't that desireable), but from the thiefs point of view it makes sense...undamaged ignition and steering locks mean more money.

We had the discussion the other day about what offence they'd be charged with. We decided that this probably wouldn't be a burglary if we couldn't prove the intention to permanently deprive the owner of the car (i.e. a theft rather than a TWOC)

sparkyjohn

1,198 posts

266 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
madant - do car thieves often intend to 'permanently deprive' their victims of the vehicle ?
If not, do you consider that the status of TWOCing should be upgraded ?

li'l pugs

1,323 posts

279 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
Apparently, this is the fastest form of car crime. We had a Saab conv nicked about 2 years ago, with the keys "hooked" through the letter box from a hall table. When the insurance assessor attended, he informed us of 3 others within a 50 mile radius all taken the same way.

Also had an aggrivated burglary nearby with knives used to get the owner to hand over the keys !

Basically, as mentioned before on various threads, keep keys out of site but if anyone does get in and demand them, just give them over.

Mad Dave

7,158 posts

283 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
Can't prove they wanted to permanently deprive? Thats daft! These people don't break in to houses, beat up the householders and then steal their car/s just for a lift back from the pub! Do they?!

The worlds gone mad!

madant69

847 posts

267 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
It's a point to prove I'm afraid and with cars it's nigh on impossible. Before the offence of TWOC was introduced joyriders were charged with stupid things like "theft of petrol" and "theft of tyre rubber". (I kid you not!)

Going into someones house and stealing IS a burglary, but it only covers sections 1-7 of the theft act, not TWOC, which is...um...something else lol

Bah I almost sounded like I knew what I was talking about then

Munta

304 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
Had this happen to my Impreza 5 years ago.

Th police found prints on the number plate but couldn't link these to the burglary. So they could only charge that person with something to do with the falsification of the number plate.

In the end, the police lost the evidence so the offenders got clean away.

outlaw

1,893 posts

286 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
madant69 said:
It's a point to prove I'm afraid and with cars it's nigh on impossible. Before the offence of TWOC was introduced joyriders were charged with stupid things like "theft of petrol" and "theft of tyre rubber". (I kid you not!)

Going into someones house and stealing IS a burglary, but it only covers sections 1-7 of the theft act, not TWOC, which is...um...something else lol

Bah I almost sounded like I knew what I was talking about then



agravated burglary could get years of bird

roberie if they dont bust in house and plenty of bird.


tow the car away in broard daylight all chance of getting court no one will notice and very littel bird if court but thats unlikely.

the criminals today got no brains.



>> Edited by outlaw on Thursday 20th November 10:59

sparkyjohn

1,198 posts

266 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
Thought: Charge for aggravated burglary for the car keys ? Possible ?

madant69

847 posts

267 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
Aggravated burglary is just a burglary (so same points to prove) where the crook takes his WIFE with him...

W - Weapon of offence
I - Imitation Firearm
F - Firearm
E - Explosive

Well it made ME remember it

streaky

19,311 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
sparkyjohn said:
Thought: Charge for aggravated burglary for the car keys ? Possible ?
Still the 'intent to deprive' issue I suspect

madant69

847 posts

267 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
streaky said:
Still the 'intent to deprive' issue I suspect

Yup, exactly!

streaky

19,311 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
My protection is two dogs and no letter-box. Oh, and a 'Louisville Slugger' kindly given to me in the USA many years ago. Signed by some famous baseball team apparently, but what the h3ll ... And a narrow staircase that has access to swing a baseball bat from above on two sides - Streaky

madant69

847 posts

267 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
I like that streaky. The fire brigade tell us to have a plan for getting out.

You have a plan that covers getting in too

Mad Dave

7,158 posts

283 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
madant69 said:
It's a point to prove I'm afraid and with cars it's nigh on impossible. Before the offence of TWOC was introduced joyriders were charged with stupid things like "theft of petrol" and "theft of tyre rubber". (I kid you not!)

Going into someones house and stealing IS a burglary, but it only covers sections 1-7 of the theft act, not TWOC, which is...um...something else lol

Bah I almost sounded like I knew what I was talking about then


Thanks MadAnt - I must say i'm very impressed how restrained you are in light of some of the 'anti-plod' posts on these boards!

PS If you're interested, the next 'Bournemouth meetup' is scheduled for next Tuesday, in......err......Salisbury actually

streaky

19,311 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
madant69 said:
... The fire brigade tell us to have a plan for getting out. ...
Got that too

PGM

Original Poster:

2,168 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
Blimey - it's worse than I thought!

No laws to back it up now!

Cheers
Paul

Marcos maniac

3,148 posts

281 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
streaky said:
My protection is two dogs and no letter-box. Oh, and a 'Louisville Slugger' kindly given to me in the USA many years ago. Signed by some famous baseball team apparently, but what the h3ll ... And a narrow staircase that has access to swing a baseball bat from above on two sides - Streaky



sounds like we went to similar schools

2 dogs if you think you can/will get past them you would have to be incedibly brave/frcuking stupid

louisville slugger (black & Tan - to match the dogs )

and a couple of other toys under the pillow


The only keys that are 'hidden' are for the BMW - these are not hidden from Burglars - The G/F hides them from me

streaky

19,311 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
Marcos maniac said:

streaky said:
My protection is two dogs and no letter-box. Oh, and a 'Louisville Slugger' kindly given to me in the USA many years ago. Signed by some famous baseball team apparently, but what the h3ll ... And a narrow staircase that has access to swing a baseball bat from above on two sides - Streaky




sounds like we went to similar schools

2 dogs if you think you can/will get past them you would have to be incedibly brave/frcuking stupid

louisville slugger (black & Tan - to match the dogs )

and a couple of other toys under the pillow


The only keys that are 'hidden' are for the BMW - these are not hidden from Burglars - The G/F hides them from me

2 dogs - one white to distract the bad guys, one black to bite them in the b4ll5

louisville slugger - natural wood with ball-point signatures

The only keys that are 'hidden' are for the BMW - SWMBO can't drive the Tiv (wrong shape )

porsche944

36 posts

267 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
I don't bother hiding the key for the car - I can't find them at the best of times!!!