A potential car-nicking scam
Discussion
This nearly happened to a mate of mine recently so I thought I'd share. If it is what we thought it might be then it's quite cunning.
While he was in a pub somebody smashed the window of his car outside, and made a mess of the plastic around the radio, apparently trying to nick it. The radio wasn't anything special but they pretty much destroyed the surround, and left some of the wiring hanging out.
The odd thing was that the car wouldn't start.
Being a mechanic, he eventually noticed that the ignition wires had been snipped and neatly hidden back inside the dash - totally at odds with the apparently mindless destruction elsewhere.
So we think the plan was to make the driver think his car was inadvertantly knackered so he'd leave it in the pub car park overnight and deal with in the morning. Then the thieves would return later on when things were quiet to take the car. It was only because he's a mechanic that he spotted the ignition wires and was able to get the car home.
What do you think? Does that sound likely?
While he was in a pub somebody smashed the window of his car outside, and made a mess of the plastic around the radio, apparently trying to nick it. The radio wasn't anything special but they pretty much destroyed the surround, and left some of the wiring hanging out.
The odd thing was that the car wouldn't start.
Being a mechanic, he eventually noticed that the ignition wires had been snipped and neatly hidden back inside the dash - totally at odds with the apparently mindless destruction elsewhere.
So we think the plan was to make the driver think his car was inadvertantly knackered so he'd leave it in the pub car park overnight and deal with in the morning. Then the thieves would return later on when things were quiet to take the car. It was only because he's a mechanic that he spotted the ignition wires and was able to get the car home.
What do you think? Does that sound likely?
Nothing exotic, just an MX-5 although it was turbocharged. It had a few bits on the body (splitter, spoiler etc.) but they could quickly be removed I suppose.
The centre console bit is probably £100 tops to replace. It seems the plan was not to do so much damage that you'd immediately ring plod, but do enough so it looks like they've hit disabled the car in the process.
The centre console bit is probably £100 tops to replace. It seems the plan was not to do so much damage that you'd immediately ring plod, but do enough so it looks like they've hit disabled the car in the process.
Sounds plausible.
Reminds me of the theft of a classic Ford from a show a few years ago. The thieves tried it a second time and someone spotted it hence why we know how it was done : Car displayed with bonnet open, thief sneaks a clamp or set of moleys round the fuel line down the back of the engine. Car won't run and gets locked up to be collected later / next day. Thief comes back and takes off the clamp, hotwires the car and drives it away.
Reminds me of the theft of a classic Ford from a show a few years ago. The thieves tried it a second time and someone spotted it hence why we know how it was done : Car displayed with bonnet open, thief sneaks a clamp or set of moleys round the fuel line down the back of the engine. Car won't run and gets locked up to be collected later / next day. Thief comes back and takes off the clamp, hotwires the car and drives it away.
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