STOLEN - Alpina D3 saloon
Discussion
On 25th Jan 2012 my Alpina D3 no.336 (FJ07 FDO) was stolen from my driveway at exactly 3.55am. The reason I know this is from seeing CCTV footage of the entire theft from my neighbours CCTV camera.
There was no broken glass, I have all the keys. The thieves managed to take the car in 15mins from the moment they started working on it to when they pushed it off the drive and started it 20yds down the road, presumably to avoid making any noise when driving away.
The theft involved a gang of four white men in a Ford Focus (silver / white). It looked like they knew exactly what they wanted as they drove past my house and then reversed back after seeing the house numbers (my opinion). They paused and looked at the car then drove off.
After 20 mins they returned and parked the Focus out of sight. Three men approached my house, one standing watch just outside on the road while the other two worked on the car for about 5-6mins. They all walked away and then stop to exchange something. Two men walk out of sight while the other one who has received something goes back to the Focus.
The guy who went to the Focus returns after 3-4mins and the other two join him. They exchange something again and they proceed in the same way, one stands watch while the other two work on the car. The indicators flash and then shortly afterwards the headlights go on and off. Then the watchman walks away and the car is pushed from the drive and up the road by one guy, the other guy is presumably in the drivers seat. Once the car is about 20 yds up the road the pusher jumps into the car and they drive away.
3 mins later the two guys from the focus return, look into the drive. I presume they are checking that nothing has been left behind as evidence. they both quickly walk away.
I have very mixed emotions about the whole situation, most importantly though i'm glad nobody was hurt as I don't think these guys would have taken kindly to someone confronting them.
I'm happy to share the CCTV footage if anyone is in a similar situation.
Thanks for reading and would appreciate any information if you come across my car.
There was no broken glass, I have all the keys. The thieves managed to take the car in 15mins from the moment they started working on it to when they pushed it off the drive and started it 20yds down the road, presumably to avoid making any noise when driving away.
The theft involved a gang of four white men in a Ford Focus (silver / white). It looked like they knew exactly what they wanted as they drove past my house and then reversed back after seeing the house numbers (my opinion). They paused and looked at the car then drove off.
After 20 mins they returned and parked the Focus out of sight. Three men approached my house, one standing watch just outside on the road while the other two worked on the car for about 5-6mins. They all walked away and then stop to exchange something. Two men walk out of sight while the other one who has received something goes back to the Focus.
The guy who went to the Focus returns after 3-4mins and the other two join him. They exchange something again and they proceed in the same way, one stands watch while the other two work on the car. The indicators flash and then shortly afterwards the headlights go on and off. Then the watchman walks away and the car is pushed from the drive and up the road by one guy, the other guy is presumably in the drivers seat. Once the car is about 20 yds up the road the pusher jumps into the car and they drive away.
3 mins later the two guys from the focus return, look into the drive. I presume they are checking that nothing has been left behind as evidence. they both quickly walk away.
I have very mixed emotions about the whole situation, most importantly though i'm glad nobody was hurt as I don't think these guys would have taken kindly to someone confronting them.
I'm happy to share the CCTV footage if anyone is in a similar situation.
Thanks for reading and would appreciate any information if you come across my car.
Sytner Nottingham is the UK authorised dealer for Alpina. The car was originally purchased here, second owner was based in Swindon and I am the 3rd owner based in West London. The car has been kept in immaculate condition throughout its ownership and cannot believe how easily it has been stolen. The insurance company believes this car has a 5 star security rating and thinks it should take at least 3 hours before the car can be broken into and driven away.
This is clearly not the case as I can show CCTV evidence of the car being taken in 15 mins despite being locked and alarmed.
Insurance company also believes that the key has been replicated. If this is true then why not just jump in and drive off?
If anyone has any information or would like to see CCTV footage to help with a similar incident, please PM me.
This is clearly not the case as I can show CCTV evidence of the car being taken in 15 mins despite being locked and alarmed.
Insurance company also believes that the key has been replicated. If this is true then why not just jump in and drive off?
If anyone has any information or would like to see CCTV footage to help with a similar incident, please PM me.
A lex said:
Aviz said:
Gutted for you OP.Looks like this ^^^ may have been the way they did it.
I can only assume such a device would be massively expensive
H0ndaT7peR said:
Sytner Nottingham is the UK authorised dealer for Alpina. The car was originally purchased here, second owner was based in Swindon and I am the 3rd owner based in West London. The car has been kept in immaculate condition throughout its ownership and cannot believe how easily it has been stolen. The insurance company believes this car has a 5 star security rating and thinks it should take at least 3 hours before the car can be broken into and driven away.
This is clearly not the case as I can show CCTV evidence of the car being taken in 15 mins despite being locked and alarmed.
Insurance company also believes that the key has been replicated. If this is true then why not just jump in and drive off?
If anyone has any information or would like to see CCTV footage to help with a similar incident, please PM me.
Sorry to hear this. This is clearly not the case as I can show CCTV evidence of the car being taken in 15 mins despite being locked and alarmed.
Insurance company also believes that the key has been replicated. If this is true then why not just jump in and drive off?
If anyone has any information or would like to see CCTV footage to help with a similar incident, please PM me.
I think I've seen your D3 in the past at the M&S BP petrol station on the A4. If it's the one I think it is (PH smileys on the boot?) it was in great condition.
I'm in West London so I'll keep my eyes peeled.
Johnboy Mac said:
A retro fitted standalone alarm system maybe a wise investment for modern BMW's after this theft & the many others reported.
Not a BMW, but I recently fitted a £60 tracker to my AMG Merc. It works off a mobile phone signal and GPS nd I can send it a command to cut the power to the fuel pump if my car is nicked and then query its location using GPS.Obviously not going to help you now mate, but may be worth a thought in future
I have resurrected this post to provide some information following the theft of my Alpina D3.
In summary the car was stolen January 24th 2012, it was taken clean from my drive and I had all the keys.
The insurance claim took 5 months to complete but I did receive market value eventually. However the claims process was very difficult since the car was supposedly a 5 star security rated vehicle. As far as the insurance company was concerned it was impossible to steal this car without a key despite it disappearing without trace.
Following the theft of my vehicle I have come across a number of similar incidents. This is not just a BMW issue as I have heard many other stories including a Mclaren SLR taken in the same way.
Channel 4 have contacted me and will be reporting my story this weekend on Channel 4 News (1/2-9-2012). They are doing a section on high-tech car theft which will hopefully escalate this very real problem to car manufacturers to review their security.
In summary the car was stolen January 24th 2012, it was taken clean from my drive and I had all the keys.
The insurance claim took 5 months to complete but I did receive market value eventually. However the claims process was very difficult since the car was supposedly a 5 star security rated vehicle. As far as the insurance company was concerned it was impossible to steal this car without a key despite it disappearing without trace.
Following the theft of my vehicle I have come across a number of similar incidents. This is not just a BMW issue as I have heard many other stories including a Mclaren SLR taken in the same way.
Channel 4 have contacted me and will be reporting my story this weekend on Channel 4 News (1/2-9-2012). They are doing a section on high-tech car theft which will hopefully escalate this very real problem to car manufacturers to review their security.
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