Near Theft of my S3

[xjay1337]

Exactly.

And I'm not saying to go all "dominate the stairs" on them, but if criminals know that people by and large will just let them get away with it, then there is nothing to stop it happening in the future.

Clearly the police do nothing.
If car owners literally roll over and do nothing then the crime will only rise.

Putting your keys on the shelf by the front door? May as well make them a tea or coffee while you're at it.

[SVS]

xjay1337 said:

... I sure as hell don't have a spare £5-10k to protect myself with :-(

Surely you can protect your house for a lot less than £5-10k?!

[xjay1337]

Adds up quickly.
Decent CCTV would be around £300
To get proper bars sunk into your driveway / garage would be £1500 ?
Again additionial physical security (Ie upgraded front door £800 alone)
Plus all locks £50 per lock
Monitored alarm, can be hundreds as well as subscription fees
All adds up quickly.

[Digga]

It would be great if we could all club together and pay a subscription to fund a service that patrols, detects and apprehends criminals on our behalf. We could call them Peelers.

[Digga]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I did wonder what progress is on this lot?
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/22/fo...

If you look, they are now opening some (Berwyn in north Wales and also) and building more:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/two-new-prisons...

The Times said:

Two new prisons get go-ahead at Glen Parva and Wellingborough as ‘more brutal’ sentences on way

About time too.

[MrSmith18]

I've seen the devistation first hand, attended a break in, daylight hours, keys stolen but not the RS3, statements taken, CSI came and went, the thieves came back and stole the car with the keys they took earlier, all between 12pm and 2pm!! Beefed up security can help, alarms and CCTV are great to alert others, possibly help prosecute but physical security is more of hinder to the robbing blighters. They generally steal the more desirable motors, more likely to take an S3 than an S8, more saleable etc. Some are even scanning for keys, grabbing codes and driving away without keys. I've heard the "leave your keys in sight" before, but if the powers that be won't do anything, why can't we?! We work hard for what we have and should have the right to protect what is legally ours, without fear of repercussion. Turning belly up will just encourage the scroats to do it again, consequences for others may result in more than hospitalisation if they refuse. I was always taught, "if someone hits you, hit them back", doesn't mean you're spoiling for a fight, just protecting your rights. Self defense is acting in defense of yourself or on behalf of another to remove a threat, remove the threat and no more, if you do continue, you're at higher risk of been prosecuted for assault - boils my blood that the thieving scroats get away with it - rant over

[Digga]

MrSmith18 said:

I've seen the devistation first hand, attended a break in, daylight hours, keys stolen but not the RS3, statements taken, CSI came and went, the thieves came back and stole the car with the keys they took earlier, all between 12pm and 2pm!!

Somewhere in the early pages of this thread I recounted the experience of friends who thieves attempted to steal an RS6 from.

They tried to break the front door down, but failed. Police attended, then left, and the thieves returned twice more.

It's hard to convey how brazen, ruthless and determined they are. I would agree, any and every deterrent is a good idea. Trying to be a have-a-go-hero, very probably not though - they are not likely to roll over easy or take kindly.

There is the same situation right now with the theft of Ford Transit vans - easy to steal and sell. The police do not advise people chase or tackle them, because many of the gangs are ruthless, Eastern Europeans gangs (Albanians etc.) who will not care how they evade capture.

[MrSmith18]

Digga said:

MrSmith18 said:

I've seen the devistation first hand, attended a break in, daylight hours, keys stolen but not the RS3, statements taken, CSI came and went, the thieves came back and stole the car with the keys they took earlier, all between 12pm and 2pm!!

Somewhere in the early pages of this thread I recounted the experience of friends who thieves attempted to steal an RS6 from.

They tried to break the front door down, but failed. Police attended, then left, and the thieves returned twice more.

It's hard to convey how brazen, ruthless and determined they are. I would agree, any and every deterrent is a good idea. Trying to be a have-a-go-hero, very probably not though - they are not likely to roll over easy or take kindly.

There is the same situation right now with the theft of Ford Transit vans - easy to steal and sell. The police do not advise people chase or tackle them, because many of the gangs are ruthless, Eastern Europeans gangs (Albanians etc.) who will not care how they evade capture.

I see what you're saying and many of these vehicles are stolen to order as free parts donors for vehicles bought from rite offs. Vans are definitely at the forefront, mainly for tools than the vans themselves, slam locks and deadbolts are getting installed aftermarket but this is something the dealers/manufacturers should address (probably better for cars too). I remember when the first rapid hit hatches came about, they had to have extra security before insurers would insure them. Protecting your stuff is paramount, by way of extra or superior security, strobe lighting at the right frequency will deter and disorientate an offender, after all, its used for tactical applications. I used to have me keys for ignition separate to the keys for my disklock, again, to slow them them down. Simple immobilisers, switches on the LT wires are effective, especially if some has a key, saved an ex's care from been stolen. I used a jack plug (female) for the LT connection then made a jump wire in the male segment of the plug, simple ideas often work. Not your fault the car won't start if they try to nick it, I mean, they do have the keys 😉

[anonymous-user]

In another thread I talked about getting an S5, having considered a number of other cars. When i had all but agreed this whole thing of making my house more of a target really hit home and with a young family I then cancelled buying the car. I think it is a real shame this is the world we live in and that I now will likely never own a car like this (baring in mind this was not even my dream car, which I hoped to own later in life).

Fact of the matter is, my families happiness and security must come first, and even if i leave my car visible the idea that I increase the chances of harm, or even the slightest bit of fear into them is a no go.

I really can't think of a viable solution.

A guy round the corner from me (I live in a nice area) had his M3 robbed after people in broad daylight jumped his 6 foot gates, knocked on his doors and told him to 'get the car out the fking garage'

[Shelsleyf2]

Unfortunatly you will only move the problem. If you make it impossible for it to be taken from your home, beware of the potential alternative.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/carjackers-s...


Frightening.

[1177harrison]

Totally puts you off having a nice car, a close friend of mine had an 2017 S3 reversed it off the drive (in Streetly near Birmingham) two lads opened the door before the auto locks kicked in and held knife to him and made him get out the car and the worst bit was his 7 year old daughter was also in the car. Absolute scum.

[Rick1.8t]

1177harrison said:

Totally puts you off having a nice car, a close friend of mine had an 2017 S3 reversed it off the drive (in Streetly near Birmingham) two lads opened the door before the auto locks kicked in and held knife to him and made him get out the car and the worst bit was his 7 year old daughter was also in the car. Absolute scum.

In an area not far from there I have heard of two people having cars stolen by knife-point on the drive.

We live in a relatively small village in a rural area and an S5 got taken by the usual break in / obtain keys method, it is the only time in years though.

I am in the camp of making life difficult for a potential thief e.g. Disc lock, driveway bars, well secured house etc and common sense but find it utterly hilarious when people talk about 'fighting back' what the hell are you going to do if 3 blokes, mental enough to steal your car by any means available try and take your keys while your family are in the house? Fight back and get stabbed / your head smashed in so your mrs / kids can find you on the floor after you 'tried to show them'?

Statistically it's still unlikely to happen though isn't it, it's just more likely if you choose a small, fast German car - unless you have a gun in your side table surely you are better off to let them take that entirely replaceable piece of German metal? if after all a decent amount of deterrents doesnt work (like above, them entering the property and demanding the garage is opened) flexing your muscular arms or brandishing a stick at them won't work either, nobody is saying leave the keys in the ignition but physically fighting back is borderline moronic, it's a car, they are not trying to steal your kids.

[dudleybloke]

Are S8s on the thieves shopping list too or do they prefer the smaller cars?

[J4CKO]

dudleybloke said:

Are S8s on the thieves shopping list too or do they prefer the smaller cars?

Wouldnt think so, as a getaway car, probably good, but too big to thread round estates and through narrow entries, and as a source of parts there probably isnt a huge market for spares compared to a Golf R or S3. It wont be on the radar to the same extent.

I have an M135i which is potentially a theft target but its lack of 4WD limits its appeal to thieves a bit, its fast, but not as planted and grippy, would be much more difficult to evade the Police, especially if its damp.

[andymc]

they can break for parts

[jimPH]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Likewise not all thieves are 6ft 4, built like a brick toilet and out to kill. It may come as a surprise, but buy and large, not getting caught is a high priority.

[anonymous-user]

jimPH said:

Likewise not all thieves are 6ft 4, built like a brick toilet and out to kill. It may come as a surprise, but buy and large, not getting caught is a high priority.

The thing is though that you have to make a split decision which if you get wrong could have massive implications.

It's easy on a forum to suggest how you could react but in the heat of the moment either at home or sat in your car you have to make that split second decision when it is unlikely you have all the information

We are talking about lads robbing £30k+ cars often for a £100 payment. They are motivated to take the car, they are ready and they are making the initial approach, meaning they are prepared while you may be sat watching xfactor, fast asleep or blasting out the chorus to NSyncs Bye Bye Bye.

You have to weight up the guys intent, how many there are, do they have weapons, what weapons, would they use it? Would their mates get you. Do they know where you live (assuming in car) who is outside the house etc

I've just decided I won't get an S5 as to be honest, I don't want the idea that at some point I may be in a position where I have to make that decision and getting it wrong results in serious injury to myself or worse, or just my kids no longer feeling safe in the house or in a car.

[Rick1.8t]

euphoricmess said:

You have to weight up the guys intent, how many there are, do they have weapons, what weapons, would they use it? Would their mates get you. Do they know where you live (assuming in car) who is outside the house etc

Realistically I think if you are weighing up tackling a group of men that could be tooled up, are intent on taking your belongings in full knowledge that they could be met with resistance then you are probably from the kind of background that makes stands you apart from 99% of everybody else out there and on this forum. e.g. you are involved in a similar world or are trained somehow.

For the rest of us, its only going to end one way in the real world, being 6ft5 and 'capable in a ruck' wont stop one of them knifing you while you tackle one of the others or getting your head smashed in by a hammer or similar, it wont be a fair fight and the will be completely desperate to get away by this point so all options would be on the table, so that example above of them not wanting to get caught would also be the motivation to leaving you for dead if that's whats required to get away.

Live in the real world, take precautions to protect your belongings, stand up for and defend yourself, but if 3 blokes mash your front door in at 3am for the keys to something as realistically irrelevant to life as a Golf R, let them take it unless you can somehow be completely sure that you are not going to end up with a knife lodged in your stomach, unless of course you are also from this kind of world, in which case crack on.....

[anonymous-user]

J4CKO said:

Wouldnt think so, as a getaway car, probably good, but too big to thread round estates and through narrow entries, and as a source of parts there probably isnt a huge market for spares compared to a Golf R or S3. It wont be on the radar to the same extent.

I have an M135i which is potentially a theft target but its lack of 4WD limits its appeal to thieves a bit, its fast, but not as planted and grippy, would be much more difficult to evade the Police, especially if its damp.

The chances are it's to break for parts rather than a getaway vehicle. It's big business.

Mind you, if you have a 5 door S3 or equivalent, you might just have competing gangs wanting to nick it!! Auction it to the bds.

[AL5026]

I sold my S3 sportback a month ago and although I enjoyed the car, I’m enjoying sleeping soundly and not waking up feeling anxious to any unusual noise.
Thing is, we were burgled whilst out of the house with the S3 on the drive, annoyingly because the garage was in the process of being rebuilt. Thankfully I was home first so got to witness the devastation before the wife did, it also allowed to divert the kids to the grandparents to give us time to sort the mess out to avoid them knowing what had happened. To this day they don’t know it happened. Equally to this day, the wife doesn’t know that we were targeted for the car. Nor does she know that when the f@@kers got in and found the spare door key in the cutlery drawer they also got out and left out one of our large kitchen knives. I’ll not be buying another S3, Golf R et al.