What do you do next when....
What do you do next when....
Author
Discussion

Bowler

Original Poster:

915 posts

240 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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Pal of mine told me today that his M6 was stolen off his drive a couple of weeks ago. Scrotes broke into the house in the early hours and simply drove it away. Luckily, the Tracker meant that Plod found it within a coiuple of hours, within minor damage but otherwise OK, parked up in a st area - inhabited by low grade immigrant scum. Obviously with no keys.



This got me thinking. If this happens what do you do next? OK, you’ve got your P&J back but the scrotes have still got the keys, so is it simply a matter of time, before they're back?

Will insurers pay to have new keys and a new immobiliser fitted or is it simply a case of “tough luck and sort it out yourself”

There’s also the issue about the fact that a jammer can knock out most (but not all) trackers.... Not to mention the personal safety issue in your own home

Just curious about this, as these style of thefts seem to be happening more and more

If this happens is it time to simply take it on the chin and sell the car sharpish and buy a bland and unattractive stbox?


sengaaaa

3 posts

195 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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buy a great angry big bum biting dog and house it in the car overnight

kiethton

14,643 posts

209 months

Monday 13th September 2010
quotequote all
insurers should pay for a lock + key change but they are unlikely to come back as they will realise the keys will have been changed if they ever come back.

I woud change the locks and keys (insurance or personally) and sell the car for peace of mind

Edited by kiethton on Monday 13th September 22:10

TallPaul

1,524 posts

287 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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If it was stolen and the keys not found, then its perfectly reasonable to expect the insurers to get new locks & immobilisers fitted. This may well be enough to write-off an older (otherwise undamaged) car though...

N88

1,314 posts

208 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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My Grandads car was stolen the middle of last week. They had been monitoring the house, knew a time when they would both be out, simply kicked the door down took the keys and off they went. Thank God they at least waited until there was no one in.

The car was a 55 reg Audi A3 3.2 Quattro - so worth around 10k now - it confuses me a little why they would go for that particular car? If it is for resale then you would go for something more expensive right? And for joyriding/bank robbery idea you'd go for a quicker evo or scooby?

Any thoughts?

ETA: Apologies for hijacking the thread!

Edited by N88 on Monday 13th September 22:54

Acheron

643 posts

193 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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N88 said:
My Grandads car was stolen the middle of last week. They had been monitoring the house, knew a time when they would both be out, simply kicked the door down took the keys and off they went. Thank God they at least waited until there was no one in.

The car was a 55 reg Audi A3 3.2 Quattro - so worth around 10k now - it confuses me a little why they would go for that particular car? If it is for resale then you would go for something more expensive right? And for joyriding/bank robbery idea you'd go for a quicker evo or scooby?

Any thoughts?
Not all are for resale.

A lot of them are for bank jobs and the gang will never use the same car in the job. They'll do the job in maybe an M3, drive a mile, swap to a 5 series or something, then swap again after another mile to something like the Audi.

Bowler

Original Poster:

915 posts

240 months

Monday 13th September 2010
quotequote all
The thing that also concerns me is this

Although I don't have top spec and desirable cars (mute point), I "hide" the keys in a moderately unobtrusive place in the houseat night.

At what point do the scum that break into houses for keys, turn from car thieves into threatening the homeowner to disclose where the keys to the car are?

Lowlife sts the lot of them. May they die a long, slow and painful death, preferably in a ball of flame on the side of a busy road, whilst we all drive by laughing at their misfortune and unable to stop because we have urgently to go and buy the papers.

Negative Creep

26,061 posts

256 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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Cupramax

11,002 posts

281 months

Monday 13th September 2010
quotequote all
N88 said:
The car was a 55 reg Audi A3 3.2 Quattro - = it confuses me a little why they would go for that particular car?
Its an R32 but less cospicuous...

N88

1,314 posts

208 months

Monday 13th September 2010
quotequote all
Cupramax said:
N88 said:
The car was a 55 reg Audi A3 3.2 Quattro - = it confuses me a little why they would go for that particular car?
Its an R32 but less cospicuous...
No st Sherlock wink

But seriously, my point was that if I was in their shoes where the job has obviously been planned and there is the obvious risk of being caught, that you would go for something more special, something really quick....

Acheron

643 posts

193 months

Monday 13th September 2010
quotequote all
N88 said:
Cupramax said:
N88 said:
The car was a 55 reg Audi A3 3.2 Quattro - = it confuses me a little why they would go for that particular car?
Its an R32 but less cospicuous...
No st Sherlock wink

But seriously, my point was that if I was in their shoes where the job has obviously been planned and there is the obvious risk of being caught, that you would go for something more special, something really quick....
Why do you want something that stands out? If you've changed cars once or twice straight after the job, why draw attention by having 3 or 4 lads in a high powered clearly obvious potential getaway car? Something quick but understated is the way to go.

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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exactly. And the 3.2 Quattro looks exactly the same as the 1.9TDi S-Line, so it's pretty ideal since it'll blend right in but be able to show anything this side of a scooby a clean pair of heels.

N88

1,314 posts

208 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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Fair enough smile

I suppose it will be interesting to see if it ever turns up!

Matt UK

18,084 posts

229 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
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davepoth said:
exactly. And the 3.2 Quattro looks exactly the same as the 1.9TDi S-Line, so it's pretty ideal since it'll blend right in but be able to show anything this side of a scooby a clean pair of heels.
Agreed perfect get-away / smuggling diamonds across borders type of car.

N88, was it dark met grey, SE spec, manual box, de-badged?

Edited by Matt UK on Tuesday 14th September 01:02

vit4

3,507 posts

199 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
Hmm.

Half toyed with the idea of posting a thread about this. Gf's neighbour's 59 plate Fiesta was stolen. Mid range (Zetec), silver, nothing special. Keys weren't stolen with it. Police seem to think it was loaded onto a lorry. Very curious as to why a Fiesta though?? Would've thought thieves were only intreseted in old, easy targets, or the stolen-to-order/export cars worth big money. Living nearish Tilbury docks best guess is that it was indeed exported, but still can't get our heads around why a Fiesta.


Back on topic, I would be surprised if insurance didn't pay out for the lock/immobiliser change, but as others have said if it is an older car then there is a risk of it being written off I would have thought.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

284 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
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I'd wait for them to come back, nail their knackers to a plank and tow the plank briskly up the M1 to Leeds....

Leeds...that'll teach 'em

N88

1,314 posts

208 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
Matt UK said:
davepoth said:
exactly. And the 3.2 Quattro looks exactly the same as the 1.9TDi S-Line, so it's pretty ideal since it'll blend right in but be able to show anything this side of a scooby a clean pair of heels.
Agreed perfect get-away / smuggling diamonds across borders type of car.

N88, was it dark met grey, SE spec, manual box, de-badged?

Edited by Matt UK on Tuesday 14th September 01:02
Dark met grey, SE spec but DSG box and still badged up.

Silver

4,373 posts

255 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
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The OH's car was stolen during a burglary earlier this year but they also took the spare keys to his other car. He had to pay out something like £500 to get the locks changed. IIRC, he wasn't able to claim on the insurance for it.

Vee

3,109 posts

263 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
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Lower level drug dealers use the less flash cars.
I assume they're stolen by their 'customers' as payment.
Fairly inconspicuous and common so they can just steal the plates of another car and for ANPR purposes the car is insured and not reported stolen.
When the tax runs out they just dump it or presumably sell it on.

We had a 56 reg Golf 1.6 stolen last year. It was impounded for no tax 4 months later, 3 miles away with 54 reg plates on.
Had a large kitchen knife down the side of the seat when collected.

mjcneat

285 posts

198 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
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Negative Creep said:
The problem with that solution is that most people probably keep the key for it on the same ring as their car keys.