BMW M140i stolen off driveway - Cheltenham

[FWIW]

Lando said:

Quick update for everyone who's interested.

Almost 48 hours later, and the car is simply gone. No trace whatsoever. No sightings or ANPR hits.

No-one is willing to pay the ~£900 bill for the recovery and re-keying of the Mini either, and the insurance company working for the BMW won't lend a replacement vehicle as it's not damaged. Brilliant. Luckily the local BMW and Mini garage have been amazing and sourced something for free at zero notice.

It's pretty scary how many people have had similar break-ins, but not that surprising I suppose with modern car security requiring crims to get keys in order to take the vehicle. Cheers for everyone sharing their stories.

Will your house insurance cover the mini keys?


We had 2 cars stolen in similar circumstances a few days before going on holiday. Couldn’t get a hire car for the same reasons. While we were on holiday both cars were recovered having been crashed by the scrotes. So in place of my 6mth old 330d I got a base spec Ibiza! Had that for 3 months due to bmw parts being on backorder.

[Gavia]

rigga said:

OddCat said:

Gavia said:

Wings said:

No, just asking the obvious, why after stealing a high spec car, would one then drive around visually displaying the same stolen car’s number plates.

I’m still confused. Your story had two cars with the same plates on the same drive. How does that correlate with stealing one of the cars and then putting dodgy plates on it? Not being funny, I’m just not getting the point at all.

I'm glad it isn't just me !

I read this as person driving legitimate car followed home, for some unknown reason, by police only to find a car identical to their own, with the same number plate on their drive. Like me coming home to find a clone of my own car on my own drive....

Maybe this was some insurance fraud thing (one car insured covering two identical cars) but not sure how this is relevant to this thread ?

I read it as she was driving a stolen car, with their own legitimate number plates to avoid detection from anpr etc.

Then why would the police follow her? To all intents and purposes the car is completely legal.

[vonhosen]

Police behind a car will not know if a car is completely legal or not at that stage. They'll only determine that if they stop it & investigate whether it is. Virtually anything could pique their initial interest & lead onto it.

[OddCat]

vonhosen said:

Police behind a car will not know if a car is completely legal or not at that stage. They'll only determine that if they stop it & investigate whether it is. Virtually anything could pique their initial interest & lead onto it.

Surely the police would only follow someone home if the wanted to know where they were going. As opposed to puling them over had they committed some kind of driving offence.

Anyway, the poster said (i think) that the girl driving the car was the dealer principal's girlfriend. Are we really saying that a dealer principal would allow his girlfriend to drive a stolen clone of their own car ?

Story is definitely missing some key facts. Or is boll**ks.....

[70proof]

Squadrone Rosso said:

Sorry if this has been answered but can’t see it if not?

Did your house have an alarm that was switched on?

We’re in a new build. Like you, upgraded locks & handles etc.

Also got ADT in addition to the builder fit Alarm and fitted a cage around the Alarm controll unit indoors.

Glass remains vulnerable so considering a security film for French doors.

The more layers you have, the harder it becomes for thieves.

Smart water is great as thieves hate it. Datatag for Cars too.

Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Friday 19th January 13:39

alarms make little difference if they are ignored..... and monitered alarms dont get a police visit if noone is home... too low priority, and if you miles away, what can you do....

so, an alarm is only really useful if you have a very good neighbour, or you want to be awoken if someone is downstairs

Edited by 70proof on Thursday 25th January 16:55

[Lando]

Bump!

In case anyone is interested. (And with some details omitted, because the investigation is ongoing).

So; tl;dr - I got the car back this week. It was gone for about three months in total. The insurance company + GAP insurance were ready to pay out, when it turned up. ().

The car spent a couple of weeks (and 700 miles on the odo) in the hands of criminals; and was linked to a series of crimes. (5 door, fast, unassuming). It discovered in a very PH way..! Basically whichever scumbags stole it had false plates ready, and put them on the car on the driveway. The plates they used (cloned from a grey 118d) were off a 15 plate vehicle. Some excellent car nerd spotted the car and realised that the model was too new for the plates. They phoned it into 101, who arranged to get the false plates on cover.

It had a number of ANPR hits on the new plates, and was eventually found abandoned with shredded tyres and smashed wheels after being crashed whilst attempting to flee from a scene of crime. It was recovered along with a stolen X5 which was used as it's criminal buddy......

The car spent several weeks with the police for forensics, after being recovered to my local garage. Surprisingly there was not a lot of external damage, but the interior was a total ststorm. Wrecked seats, flooring, trim, ceiling (!) covered in mud, stones, gouges and generally looking like it was used to ram-raid farms to steal all sorts of stuff. It ended up needing a new exhaust, 2 bumpers, 4 wheels, most of the interior, some mild panel work at the back, and a bunch of electronics in the boot which had been ripped out and destroyed to avoid the car talking back to BMW. (Plus the Harmon Kardon amp and other goodies that were collateral damage from the telematics being ripped out). 11k's worth of damage.

So, the car has now been restored to a perfect condition, and I've taken it back. I've also gone from security level 7 to level 11. I've had to get rid of the Mk1 MX5 I've owned for almost 10 years so that the BMW can fit in my single garage away from prying eyes.

I'm not really sure what the moral of this story is, other than it doesn't matter how much security you have, these stbags will just get in anyway. For me, although the car is mechanically restored, I don't think it can stay living where I do in the middle of a town, and I struggle to wonder if it will be the same again.

AngryHappySad. Etc.

[rich12]

That's a lot of mess and a lot of time.
Its only a car and I'd certainly be getting rid, especially if it mentions giving up a car that you clearly do like.

[Evanivitch]

Squadrone Rosso said:

Glass remains vulnerable so considering a security film for French doors.

Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Friday 19th January 13:39

Don't bother with security film. Get downstairs windows reglazed with Laminated Glass if you're serious.

We've had our French doors done as a start.

[Saleen836]

700 miles of being driven how?
I know modern engines are pretty much bullet proof but no one knows how much the average life expectancy of the engine has been reduced due to how those 700 miles have been driven!

[Jimi.K.]

Saleen836 said:

700 miles of being driven how?
I know modern engines are pretty much bullet proof but no one knows how much the average life expectancy of the engine has been reduced due to how those 700 miles have been driven!

Exactly. I'd be doing everything possible to not take the car back after what it's been through. Does it have markers on it that will affect the resale price?

Edit: Actually I guess it's on PCP or HP so the OP doesn't mind as long as the engine lasts the remainder of the contract.

Edited by Jimi.K. on Sunday 22 April 08:05

[cossy400]

Jimi.K. said:

Saleen836 said:

700 miles of being driven how?
I know modern engines are pretty much bullet proof but no one knows how much the average life expectancy of the engine has been reduced due to how those 700 miles have been driven!

Exactly. I'd be doing everything possible to not take the car back after what it's been through. Does it have markers on it that will affect the resale price?

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.



It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

[TooMany2cvs]

cossy400 said:

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.

It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

It won't be a Cat N write-off, because the insurance repaired it.

I'd agree with the "Now flog it" approach.

[Gavia]

cossy400 said:

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.



It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

You need to reassess your understanding of this. Cars only get a Write off category, when they’ve been written off. Hint, the clue is in the name.

[cossy400]

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.



It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

You need to reassess your understanding of this. Cars only get a Write off category, when they’ve been written off. Hint, the clue is in the name.

YOU need to reassess what ive written then at no point do I say its been "this" or "that" category. And I defo don't recall mentioning it being a write off?

And also just so you educate me some more, minor damage etc etc that's no a cat blah blah blah anymore then???

[ZOLLAR]

cossy400 said:

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.



It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

You need to reassess your understanding of this. Cars only get a Write off category, when they’ve been written off. Hint, the clue is in the name.

YOU need to reassess what ive written then at no point do I say its been "this" or "that" category. And I defo don't recall mentioning it being a write off?

And also just so you educate me some more, minor damage etc etc that's no a cat blah blah blah anymore then???

This has been made all mightly confusing.

In the OP's case:

Car is stolen and recovered, it has been repaired so it is not a write off.
It'll be recorded on MIAFTR as stolen and recovered, stolen and recovered will not show up on vehicle history checks (correct at this time, may well change in the future).


Just to be clear CAT C and D no longer exist.

[Gavia]

cossy400 said:

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.



It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

You need to reassess your understanding of this. Cars only get a Write off category, when they’ve been written off. Hint, the clue is in the name.

YOU need to reassess what ive written then at no point do I say its been "this" or "that" category. And I defo don't recall mentioning it being a write off?

And also just so you educate me some more, minor damage etc etc that's no a cat blah blah blah anymore then???

You said “it depends what Cat that put it in”. They won’t put it in any cat, because it not a write off.

Then you wrote a load of bks about Cat D. To be clear:
Cat D does not exist anymore
A vehicle is only categorised when it’s written off, which this car wasn’t, so it won’t be categorised.

As I said, you need to reassess your understanding.

[cossy400]

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.



It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

You need to reassess your understanding of this. Cars only get a Write off category, when they’ve been written off. Hint, the clue is in the name.

YOU need to reassess what ive written then at no point do I say its been "this" or "that" category. And I defo don't recall mentioning it being a write off?

And also just so you educate me some more, minor damage etc etc that's no a cat blah blah blah anymore then???

You said “it depends what Cat that put it in”. They won’t put it in any cat, because it not a write off.

Then you wrote a load of bks about Cat D. To be clear:
Cat D does not exist anymore
A vehicle is only categorised when it’s written off, which this car wasn’t, so it won’t be categorised.

As I said, you need to reassess your understanding.

If a load of bks is CAT d "for example" then jesus I hate to see what a little is.....


So if they don't exist anymore then what are the new ones ? as ive seen cars advertised as CAT N?

[ZOLLAR]

cossy400 said:

If a load of bks is CAT d "for example" then jesus I hate to see what a little is.....


So if they don't exist anymore then what are the new ones ? as ive seen cars advertised as CAT N?

CAT A & B still exist.

You now have CAT S (Structural damage) and CAT N (non structural damage).

[Gavia]

cossy400 said:

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.



It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

You need to reassess your understanding of this. Cars only get a Write off category, when they’ve been written off. Hint, the clue is in the name.

YOU need to reassess what ive written then at no point do I say its been "this" or "that" category. And I defo don't recall mentioning it being a write off?

And also just so you educate me some more, minor damage etc etc that's no a cat blah blah blah anymore then???

You said “it depends what Cat that put it in”. They won’t put it in any cat, because it not a write off.

Then you wrote a load of bks about Cat D. To be clear:
Cat D does not exist anymore
A vehicle is only categorised when it’s written off, which this car wasn’t, so it won’t be categorised.

As I said, you need to reassess your understanding.

If a load of bks is CAT d "for example" then jesus I hate to see what a little is.....


So if they don't exist anymore then what are the new ones ? as ive seen cars advertised as CAT N?

“Cat D for example”is a load of bks for the exact reasons I’ve already stated. Why even mention it? They only get categorised when they’re written off. This car wasn’t written off so it won’t have been categorised. Its resale value will not be affected, as there is no history of the repair on a publicly available database.

Cats C and D were removed last year and replaced with Cats N and S for non-structural and structural to make it easier for the public to understand them. Cats A and B continue to exist.

[cossy400]

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

Gavia said:

cossy400 said:

The marker will just be what CAT they put it in, and theres never any details available then anyway I domt think.



It ll just be a CAT d for example and say stolen/recovered id of thought.

Either way resale will be taking a hit.

You need to reassess your understanding of this. Cars only get a Write off category, when they’ve been written off. Hint, the clue is in the name.

YOU need to reassess what ive written then at no point do I say its been "this" or "that" category. And I defo don't recall mentioning it being a write off?

And also just so you educate me some more, minor damage etc etc that's no a cat blah blah blah anymore then???

You said “it depends what Cat that put it in”. They won’t put it in any cat, because it not a write off.

Then you wrote a load of bks about Cat D. To be clear:
Cat D does not exist anymore
A vehicle is only categorised when it’s written off, which this car wasn’t, so it won’t be categorised.

As I said, you need to reassess your understanding.

If a load of bks is CAT d "for example" then jesus I hate to see what a little is.....


So if they don't exist anymore then what are the new ones ? as ive seen cars advertised as CAT N?

“Cat D for example”is a load of bks for the exact reasons I’ve already stated. Why even mention it? They only get categorised when they’re written off. This car wasn’t written off so it won’t have been categorised. Its resale value will not be affected, as there is no history of the repair on a publicly available database.

Cats C and D were removed last year and replaced with Cats N and S for non-structural and structural to make it easier for the public to understand them. Cats A and B continue to exist.

So the stolen and recovered bit then that will not be on any database? or effect its resale value??