Noticed youths taking pics of my car over multiple days...
Discussion
Hi all.
I was sat in my living room on Monday around 6pm and saw 3 17-22 year old lads walking past my drive. They notice my car, stopped, chatted to each other for about 10 seconds, then walked off down my street. They returned a few minutes later, chatted some more, looked at the car, then took a picture of the front 3/4 of the car. They appeared to be smiling to each other so I assumed they either liked the car, or found the plate amusing (by fluke it has BJ in it, so some might grin at that).
Fast forward to this evening, about half an hour ago, and one of them is back again. I live at the end of a cul-de-sac with another walkway entry onto the back end of the street. He walks into the cul-de-sac via the back walkway, straight to the back 3/4 of my car, which is still on the driveway, takes a picture of what appears to be the rear wheel / rear 3/4 end of the car. Then walks back off from where he came. It's hammering down outside, so really don't think he's just out admiring nice cars.
Car is a bright red 981 Cayman, so doesn't exactly fly under the radar - and consequently not particularly high on the theft list I thought.
What do you guys think?
I was sat in my living room on Monday around 6pm and saw 3 17-22 year old lads walking past my drive. They notice my car, stopped, chatted to each other for about 10 seconds, then walked off down my street. They returned a few minutes later, chatted some more, looked at the car, then took a picture of the front 3/4 of the car. They appeared to be smiling to each other so I assumed they either liked the car, or found the plate amusing (by fluke it has BJ in it, so some might grin at that).
Fast forward to this evening, about half an hour ago, and one of them is back again. I live at the end of a cul-de-sac with another walkway entry onto the back end of the street. He walks into the cul-de-sac via the back walkway, straight to the back 3/4 of my car, which is still on the driveway, takes a picture of what appears to be the rear wheel / rear 3/4 end of the car. Then walks back off from where he came. It's hammering down outside, so really don't think he's just out admiring nice cars.
Car is a bright red 981 Cayman, so doesn't exactly fly under the radar - and consequently not particularly high on the theft list I thought.
What do you guys think?
It does seem a bit odd. It's obviously a nice enough car but nothing "special" enough that I'd expect it to get much attention. Nor would I expect a car thief setting their sights that high to be stupid enough to come around taking pictures of it in broad daylight.
I guess there might be legitimate reasons to want detailed pictures of a particular part of a particular car, but with a car that common I wouldn't have thought finding what they wanted on Google images would be difficult!
I guess there might be legitimate reasons to want detailed pictures of a particular part of a particular car, but with a car that common I wouldn't have thought finding what they wanted on Google images would be difficult!
17-22 is a little too old to be just admiring a car and taking pictures, 12-15 maybe.
I'm thinking wheels, Change your locking wheel nuts to a different type or buy an extra set and fit those as well - unfortunately none are amazingly effective.
I had a full set of alloys stolen from my car many years ago, i was asleep upstairs in the front bedroom about 20 foot away from where the car was parked - wheels had locking wheels nuts on and they must have removed them silently, not a trace left behind bar a few bricks!
I'm thinking wheels, Change your locking wheel nuts to a different type or buy an extra set and fit those as well - unfortunately none are amazingly effective.
I had a full set of alloys stolen from my car many years ago, i was asleep upstairs in the front bedroom about 20 foot away from where the car was parked - wheels had locking wheels nuts on and they must have removed them silently, not a trace left behind bar a few bricks!
Thanks for the replies so far gents.
I'm with Kambites on this. It's a nice enough car to give a second glance - a low red car stands out in a sea of grey/black hatches - but it felt like too much attention. You can get detailed and much higher quality pics of this car online, rather than grainy ones in the pissing down rain.
Square Leg said:
Be prepared to dominate your stairs.
Goes without saying I'm with Kambites on this. It's a nice enough car to give a second glance - a low red car stands out in a sea of grey/black hatches - but it felt like too much attention. You can get detailed and much higher quality pics of this car online, rather than grainy ones in the pissing down rain.
NWMark said:
17-22 is a little too old to be just admiring a car and taking pictures, 12-15 maybe.
I'm thinking wheels, Change your locking wheel nuts to a different type or buy an extra set and fit those as well - unfortunately none are amazingly effective.
I had a full set of alloys stolen from my car many years ago, i was asleep upstairs in the front bedroom about 20 foot away from where the car was parked - wheels had locking wheels nuts on and they must have removed them silently, not a trace left behind bar a few bricks!
This was my gut feel too. Plates (no idea why?) or wheels.I'm thinking wheels, Change your locking wheel nuts to a different type or buy an extra set and fit those as well - unfortunately none are amazingly effective.
I had a full set of alloys stolen from my car many years ago, i was asleep upstairs in the front bedroom about 20 foot away from where the car was parked - wheels had locking wheels nuts on and they must have removed them silently, not a trace left behind bar a few bricks!
Personally I'd be fitting a second set of wheel locks plus a steering wheel lock for a few weeks just so that they will move on to an easier target.
Could be £50-75 well spent if it puts them off trying anything.
Give it a few weeks and if they were sizing it up then they will have moved on.
Could be £50-75 well spent if it puts them off trying anything.
Give it a few weeks and if they were sizing it up then they will have moved on.
Will these do: https://simonbbc.com/evo-mk5-locking-alloy-wheel-b...
Also, any tips for anything in the mean time whilst these arrive? I am able to park down a narrow gap between my house and the house next door. Whilst perhaps quieter and more secluded, I could get close enough to one of the walls that they'd not be able to get near the wheels on one side of the car.
Edit: In fact I could get my car close enough to the house at an angle that getting the front left off would be very awkward....
Also, any tips for anything in the mean time whilst these arrive? I am able to park down a narrow gap between my house and the house next door. Whilst perhaps quieter and more secluded, I could get close enough to one of the walls that they'd not be able to get near the wheels on one side of the car.
Edit: In fact I could get my car close enough to the house at an angle that getting the front left off would be very awkward....
Edited by rawenghey on Thursday 27th April 20:39
NWMark said:
17-22 is a little too old to be just admiring a car and taking pictures, 12-15 maybe.
Really? Not sure I wouldn't admire a car or even take a picture and I can barely remember being 22.I'd probably have just asked them what caught their eye, I'd imagine it was pretty innocent.
Probably innocent, wheels along with the rest of the car will presumably be covered by insurance, and I'm a big fan of not having a camera doorbell.
But as said, if you've got twitchy, I guess no harm in sticking a decent grade steering lock on for a bit and or parking it in with something else.
Make sure the keys are out of reach of the door/letterbox, in a box if keyless entry, but don't take them up to bed with you.
Depends in part how emotionally attached you are as well.
But as said, if you've got twitchy, I guess no harm in sticking a decent grade steering lock on for a bit and or parking it in with something else.
Make sure the keys are out of reach of the door/letterbox, in a box if keyless entry, but don't take them up to bed with you.
Depends in part how emotionally attached you are as well.
rawenghey said:
Will these do: https://simonbbc.com/evo-mk5-locking-alloy-wheel-b...
Also, any tips for anything in the mean time whilst these arrive? I am able to park down a narrow gap between my house and the house next door. Whilst perhaps quieter and more secluded, I could get close enough to one of the walls that they'd not be able to get near the wheels on one side of the car.
Edit: In fact I could get my car close enough to the house at an angle that getting the front left off would be very awkward....
Waste of timeAlso, any tips for anything in the mean time whilst these arrive? I am able to park down a narrow gap between my house and the house next door. Whilst perhaps quieter and more secluded, I could get close enough to one of the walls that they'd not be able to get near the wheels on one side of the car.
Edit: In fact I could get my car close enough to the house at an angle that getting the front left off would be very awkward....
Edited by rawenghey on Thursday 27th April 20:39
https://www.pichler-tools.uk/products/article/susp...
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