Powerful Audis still being targeted by scum

[HannsG]

Having sold my M3 and got a Panda 100 as a station car I was thinking about spending some money on a 2007 S3 as a replacement.

I park in some dodgy areas so in two minds now.

[mustdash]

And not too long ago there was another thread on this very forum from people saying how it was all in peoples minds, and these car jackings didn't happen all that often blah blah blah.

They do happen. A lot more than is reported in the press.
Violence is used.
The vehicles are then used in armed robberies / gang type crime.

This is the reason I got rid of my RS4 - the paranoia of driving in to and out of Birmingham with work and possibly being followed home / having a machete used etc was the overriding factor.

[Loyly]

Integroo said:

I really don't think anyone should have to worry about driving around bloody Birmingham. It's not Kosovo.

There are police in Kosovo, and spaces in jail for criminals too, I would imagine.

[djc206]

Loyly said:

There are police in Kosovo, and spaces in jail for criminals too, I would imagine.

I doubt anyone steals cars in Kosovo, they're all stolen from Birmingham and driven down there.

[Decky_Q]

Kosovo is quite the unspoiled European holiday destination. Birmingham isn't.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/eur...

[shotta287]

I visit Birmingham very often and unfortunately I agree with all the negative comments about it. Parts of the city are like driving in a third world country. There's just no respect for road laws or other drivers.

With regards to the carjackings, it's a huge problem in the city. Recently an AMG GTS was taken from someone's driveway after the owners were attacked with hammers. Can't have anything nice these days it seems.

[fridaypassion]

I'm in another area where this type of thing is very commonplace (West Yorkshire)

I have a unit full of sports cars located in a pretty rough area for work but I'd only have to sleep in the unit if I had an Audi S car in there.

Audi S Cars
Golf R
AMG Merc

Theres just no point owning one of the above round here as it will just be stolen. I love my cars and have been lucky to have some fruity stuff but I would never put the family at risk by parking any of the above on the drive.

[ivanhoew]

park a few s4's, full of c4 connected to the ign switch ,around dodgy areas for a year ,problem solved ?

[raspy]

I wonder if the lady in the article had her window open as well as doors unlocked? Driving in London, I've resorted to keeping my doors locked and windows closed whilst driving. Simple things such as locking the car at the petrol station whilst I'm filling up too.

The criminal justice system here seems to be rather weak, and they should start chopping the hands off of thieves as punishment.

[RigbyE61]

Jonmx said:

You make some pretty big assumptions. Ignorance is not a defence in the eyes of the law, but you have to be some kind of special to say that to a victim of a carjacking. I can assure you there are many owners of RS, AMG and M model cars that will be completely oblivious to the fact that their vehicles are desirable to thieves. Does that make them naïve, possibly, does it justify them being held up at knifepoint, absolutely not.
The woman in this photo hasn't even noticed the guy taking her picture. A prime spot for taking a car as she's out of the vehicle and the keys are to hand.

Little bit off topic and sorry to waste your point but I know that car and it isn't the Grandmothers, its her grandsons. I live in the same town and while he does let her drive it its mostly so it can go viral, and did. He has now changed cars, about 6 times since then I think!

[aj520d]

I was car jacked about 5 years ago in south london. Horrible experience that hasn't left me to this day.

[jan8p]

This lingers at the back of my mind sometimes, but I don't let it spoil my enjoyment of my cars. I'm certainly not going to let it change my life, if I get held up at knife point then they can have the car.

Fortunately I've never heard of many of mine going missing from around here, but I guess anything is possible.

[Who_Goes_Blue]

An old golf Mk3 gti i had years ago had an aftermarket Clifford alarm fitted with the 'Blackjack' add on - a anti carjack feature (god knows why they thought anyone was going to jack them for a golf gti)
Anyway it consisted of 2 buttons mounted under the steering wheel you had to press in a certain sequence once you started the car and pulled away, otherwise it would cut the ignition 30 secs later - provided you were doing less than 10mph. Also kicked in if the front doors where opened and the engine stayed running.

Although it appears cumbersome to put a code in everytime it became routine very quickly and you rarely forgot to put it in. You could also put in it valet mode for garage works etc

Surely something like this is a simple setup to deter car jackings on high end cars, assuming it operates away from the ECU/OBD port and therefore cant be hacked

[andrewparker]

fridaypassion said:

I'm in another area where this type of thing is very commonplace (West Yorkshire)

I have a unit full of sports cars located in a pretty rough area for work but I'd only have to sleep in the unit if I had an Audi S car in there.

Audi S Cars
Golf R
AMG Merc

Theres just no point owning one of the above round here as it will just be stolen. I love my cars and have been lucky to have some fruity stuff but I would never put the family at risk by parking any of the above on the drive.

I don't know where in West Yorkshire you live, but I also live in West Yorkshire and have had a Golf R for a few years now. To my knowledge no-one has ever taken any interest in it, and several friends who drive similar cars have managed to avoid having theirs stolen. In fact, I can't recall the last time I heard of a car being taken round here.

[Manners2001]

Jonmx said:

You make some pretty big assumptions. Ignorance is not a defence in the eyes of the law, but you have to be some kind of special to say that to a victim of a carjacking. I can assure you there are many owners of RS, AMG and M model cars that will be completely oblivious to the fact that their vehicles are desirable to thieves. Does that make them naïve, possibly, does it justify them being held up at knifepoint, absolutely not.
The woman in this photo hasn't even noticed the guy taking her picture. A prime spot for taking a car as she's out of the vehicle and the keys are to hand.

I'd wait until she'd filled the tank - pricey business running a C63.....!

[irocfan]

raspy said:

I wonder if the lady in the article had her window open as well as doors unlocked? Driving in London, I've resorted to keeping my doors locked and windows closed whilst driving. Simple things such as locking the car at the petrol station whilst I'm filling up too.

sounds like you'll be fked if you're driving an open top

[havoc]

ITP said:

If it is the car dealer chap, I'm pretty sure he will be well aware of RS audi's being susceptible to this kind of thing. Why risk letting your wife and child ride round a know nightmare area in an RS6? It's not like he can't afford, or have access to, other very nice but less targeted vehicles.

I know you should be able to drive what you want etc etc but I bet he has a different view now.

Oh FFS - use the word Birmingham and everyone jumps on the f'n bandwagon.

Solihull is far from a nightmare location - it's an affluent commuter suburb.

Lode Lane runs from north-central Solihull up past the Land Rover plant to BHX, so depends where she was, but assuming near the bottom that's not a bad area.



PS - not a Brummy, never lived there (worked there for a while), no axe to grind either way. DO acknowledge there's a car-theft problem there though.

[austinsmirk]

andrewparker said:

fridaypassion said:

I'm in another area where this type of thing is very commonplace (West Yorkshire)

I have a unit full of sports cars located in a pretty rough area for work but I'd only have to sleep in the unit if I had an Audi S car in there.

Audi S Cars
Golf R
AMG Merc

Theres just no point owning one of the above round here as it will just be stolen. I love my cars and have been lucky to have some fruity stuff but I would never put the family at risk by parking any of the above on the drive.

I don't know where in West Yorkshire you live, but I also live in West Yorkshire and have had a Golf R for a few years now. To my knowledge no-one has ever taken any interest in it, and several friends who drive similar cars have managed to avoid having theirs stolen. In fact, I can't recall the last time I heard of a car being taken round here.

Boom:

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/crime/1...step_upafter_machete_gang_tasers_man_and_steals_his_car/


Wilsden is a nice area too, a lot of people aspire to live in such a place.

[fridaypassion]

andrewparker said:

I don't know where in West Yorkshire you live, but I also live in West Yorkshire and have had a Golf R for a few years now. To my knowledge no-one has ever taken any interest in it, and several friends who drive similar cars have managed to avoid having theirs stolen. In fact, I can't recall the last time I heard of a car being taken round here.

Wakefield. Mrs used to work for the feds. Somone on our street had a c63 stolen at gunpoint in Bradford only a few weeks back that one was on the TV news. A Unit further down from us got raided a few months back it was filled floor to ceiling with stolen German cars.

If they are nicking the cars they are breaking in for the Sat Navs/seats/airbags.

[raspy]

I wonder how bad car crime will get before we get this in the UK (and it's legal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLhWzMOccTg