Roof Theft

[Trevor G]

Oh joy. Owned my dream Chimaera for less than 4 weeks and someone steals the roof last night.
Questions:
1. Motive? Is there a market for Chimaera roofs? I guess I'm about to find out. How much are they new and, if available, second hand (97 'R' reg if that matters)?; Were they actually trying to steal the car and the alarm deterred them? Who knows. How easy is a Chimaera to 'hot wire' when immobilised?
2. Method? There is no visible sign of forced entry to the canopy section. The velcro'd sections next to the doors don't create a hole big enough for a hand (do they?). How did they release the struts (these were in the collapsed position when I found it)?
3. Prevention? No wisecracks about garages please: street parking is the only option presently (and I thought West Sussex was relatively safe). Do the leven hoods add any security? If this was stolen to order, it makes me think it will probably happen again.
4. If anyone sees a black roof lying around in West Sussex, it's mine!
Trevor G (unhappy).
PS I cannot access personal emails from work but will check tonight & can check this forum later. Thanks.

[dannyboyo]

As far as I can tell a Chimaera would be a nightmare to hotwire to any theif. The alarm is behind the dash which is a bloody nightmare to get at!! And most of the electrics are hidden away in bizzare places.

I think you've answered question 2 yourself there actually.l

Prevention? No idea I'm afraid. Other than get a better alarm (did your alarm go off?)

Maybe they got p*ssed off or jealous and decided to ruin what they couldn't have. But I'd have thought if they did it out of spite then they would've just slashed the roof or keyed it.

A new hood is in the 100 to 200 region i think.

Sorry to hear about that though mate, bastards need a good hiding

[trackdemon]

Trevor G said:

Oh joy. Owned my dream Chimaera for less than 4 weeks and someone steals the roof last night. Questions: 1. Motive? Is there a market for Chimaera roofs? I guess I'm about to find out. How much are they new and, if available, second hand (97 'R' reg if that matters)?; Were they actually trying to steal the car and the alarm deterred them? Who knows. How easy is a Chimaera to 'hot wire' when immobilised? I can't imagine the market for roofs would be very large - what can go wrong with the old one? I doubt they were trying to steal the car otherwise you'd probably find further damage from the attempts and as mentioned they would be a nightmare to hotwire. Added to which who the hell's gonna buy a hot TVR? The market is so small they'd have no chance of selling it unless the prospective owner was totally naive 2. Method? There is no visible sign of forced entry to the canopy section. The velcro'd sections next to the doors don't create a hole big enough for a hand (do they?). How did they release the struts (these were in the collapsed position when I found it)? It's easy as easy to get into a Chim without the keys I'm afraid (i've had to do this myself when my battery died). I'd get a decent full car cover, added benefit of stopping water ingress! 3. Prevention? No wisecracks about garages please: street parking is the only option presently (and I thought West Sussex was relatively safe). Do the leven hoods add any security? If this was stolen to order, it makes me think it will probably happen again. As above... 4. If anyone sees a black roof lying around in West Sussex, it's mine! Trevor G (unhappy). PS I cannot access personal emails from work but will check tonight & can check this forum later. Thanks.

[Incorrigible]

I'm in west sussex, but do have a garage, if you need to borrow a hood for a week let me know

Ben

[Roobarb]

Incorrigible said:

I'm in west sussex, but do have a garage, if you need to borrow a hood for a week let me know

So lets see here. One guy in West Sussex gets his roof stolen. Another guy in West Sussex has one spare. Hmmmmm.

[N17 TVR]

Roobarb said:

[quote=Incorrigible]I'm in west sussex, but do have a garage, if you need to borrow a hood for a week let me know /quote] So lets see here. One guy in West Sussex gets his roof stolen. Another guy in West Sussex has one spare. Hmmmmm.

Nope, the 'hood' is a local heavy who will guard the car until a replacement roof is fitted.

[aaandy]

Never occurred to me that someone would want to steal one of these. Fers!! I would like to think it is just kids nicking it for the sake of it and that this hasn't been stolen by a fellow TVR owner.

Would recommend the Leven hood cover though. They are reasonably secure as they have flaps that are held at either end by the boot and bonnet, but I reckon that they could also be a deterent, the 'out of sight, out of mind' theory for opportunist vandals. Plus it does keep the water out!

Nice one Incorrigible for the hood offer.

[Incorrigible]

Roobarb said:

[quote=Incorrigible]I'm in west sussex, but do have a garage, if you need to borrow a hood for a week let me know /quote] So lets see here. One guy in West Sussex gets his roof stolen. Another guy in West Sussex has one spare. Hmmmmm.

No, I don't have a spare, mine lives in a garage so it doesn't need one, well not as much as Trevors

Now buy some lucky heather or I'll put a curse on you

[shadowninja]

could be a good time to go for one of those 2-part jobbies... about the same price as a normal roof iirc?

[N17 TVR]

aaandy said:

Would recommend the Leven hood cover though. They are reasonably secure as they have flaps that are held at either end by the boot and bonnet, but I reckon that they could also be a deterent, the 'out of sight, out of mind' theory for opportunist vandals. Plus it does keep the water out!

Also have a look at Classic Additions who do full length lockable covers.

I've got one and they are v.good - IMHO

[mongoose]

shadowninja said:

could be a good time to go for one of those 2-part jobbies... about the same price as a normal roof iirc?

ive been wondering where you get these from? any help greatly appreciated-mv

[GreenV8S]

mongoose said:

ive been wondering where you get these from? any help greatly appreciated-mv

RT Racing

[Trevor G]

Thanks for replies, and thanks Ben (Incorrigible) for your kind offer. I've sourced a replacement roof panel at reasonable cost but it will need re-covering. Any ideas where I can get this done & at what cost, preferably in the South-east?

TG (ever so slightly happier).

[jon h]

I have heard of more than one roof being nicked. Probably kids. I guess that with a suitable impliment it is possible to collapse the struts through the velcro flaps at the side. To this end, I am thinking of drilling a hole through one strut where it folds and having a pin which fits the hole and then a small padlock or similar through the end of the pin. I have a neat solution in mind but it is difficult to explain properly. If i get round to it, I will post pics.

Jon H

[Big Al.]

Sorry to hear your woes.
You may want to try:-www.pistonheads.com/ads/detail.asp?i=11169&s=7&sc=9WCY
He's breaking a Chim and might have a roof in your color!

Good luck.

>> Edited by Big Al. (moderator) on Monday 23 June 18:38

[jessica]

Sorry to hear about your roof..

glad to hear about a fellow Tiver helping you,and the guy with the idea about pins in roof bars.. Go and patent it quick before someone nicks yer idea(sounds pretty good to me)

[FourWheelDrift]

jon h said:

I have heard of more than one roof being nicked. Probably kids. I guess that with a suitable impliment it is possible to collapse the struts through the velcro flaps at the side. To this end, I am thinking of drilling a hole through one strut where it folds and having a pin which fits the hole and then a small padlock or similar through the end of the pin. I have a neat solution in mind but it is difficult to explain properly. If i get round to it, I will post pics. Jon H

I understand, bit like the locking pin on a wheel nut.

like this?


Fitting a bit like this.

[tovey]

dead easy to gain access. Its a convertible.



Sorry too graphic for this sensitive subject, on an open forum.



>> Edited by Big Al. (moderator) on Monday 23 June 22:05