Friday 6th July 2007

Nightmare for new Turbo owner

Porsche owner threatened with a machete on his own driveway

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The stolen 997 Turbo

A new Porsche 997 Turbo was stolen earlier this week after the owner was threatened with a machete on his own driveway.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed the car was taken at 2-50 p.m. on Monday, from Hale, Manchester.

"The offender demanded the keys to the Porsche, which was parked on his driveway, so the victim threw them towards him. He took them and drove off. The victim was not physically injured but was left extremely shaken."

Insp. Phil Cottam, head of Lancashire's Motorway Unit, said: "The car was tracked (a tracker was fitted) along the M66, the A56 Accrington Easterly Bypass and then the M65 towards Nelson. We put resources together in the direction of Nelson and – because of the report of the machete – had also brought in firearms officers equipped with stun guns."

The Porsche was then found abandoned. "A man was quickly arrested not far away and the keys had been thrown under a van. It could be that the driver had simply seen the helicopter, or heard the sirens, and just reacted. A machete was recovered from the vehicle."

He appealed for witnesses to get in touch with PC Mark Calleston-Catterick, of the Motorway Unit on 425001. The log number is 186SQ.

A 26-year-old man from Prestwich has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and is in police custody. He has not yet been charged.

[mjdriver]

Should chop his hands off with his own machete and make him use shopmobility scheme!

[MitchT]

So the Porsche owner threw the keys at the robber and wasn't charged with assault! The police must be losing their touch!!

[Shakiras peaches]

MitchT said:

So the Porsche owner threw the keys at the robber and wasn't charged with assault! The police must be losing their touch!!

Harsh but fair

[sad61t]

Have to say that this kind of attention puts me off getting an overtly performance car more than anything else (tho the hateful looks from eco types in their not-at-all-really-eco hybrids come a close second).

Good advert for fitting a tracker though, and maybe they'll be able to use the tracker data to find the (alleged) thief was speeding in a 30 zone and jail him for 6 months.

[steil]

sad61t said:

Good advert for fitting a tracker though,

I'm not so sure - I'd never want my car back if it had been driven by someone like this...

[Vodka Margarine]

sad61t said:

maybe they'll be able to use the tracker data to find the (alleged) thief was speeding in a 30 zone and jail him for 6 months.

Don't you think that would be opening the flood gates?

[scotty_917]

mjdriver said:

Should chop his hands off with his own machete and make him use shopmobility scheme!

Exactly...

[andyturner]

steil said:

sad61t said:

Good advert for fitting a tracker though,

I'm not so sure - I'd never want my car back if it had been driven by someone like this...

You'd rather take the hit on your insurance?!

[sad61t]

Vodka Margarine said:

sad61t said:

maybe they'll be able to use the tracker data to find the (alleged) thief was speeding in a 30 zone and jail him for 6 months.

Don't you think that would be opening the flood gates?

It's already possible to use tachograph data in conjunction with speeding offenses:

Grampian Police General Order - Tachographs said:

When a driver is being reported for speeding, the reporting Officer will note the approximate speed recorded on the tachograph chart at the time of the offence and also the highest speed recorded on the chart. The chart will also be signed in accordance with Section 9.1 and retained in accordance with Section 12.1.

and tachos have been used to defend against erroneous scamera penalties:
http://www.radar-detectors.co.uk/news_at_last_proo...

If a tracker gives you a similar speed record, it could be useful in the latter case.

[vetteheadracer]

Friend of mine recently had his Scooby stolen from his drive and it has a tracker but car has not been found. Also the insurance won't pay out as they stated the car needed to be garaged between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Us the machete to cut off the carjackers scrotum then see if he is so brave.......

[Try5t]

scotty_917 said:

mjdriver said:

Should chop his hands off with his own machete and make him use shopmobility scheme!

Exactly...

I`m sure there will be a long que of people happy to assist!

Jokes aside - this is always in the back of my mind. Cars are so protected these days, 99% of the time this is the only way they can take your car.

Not wanting to go off topic but I grew up in a rough area and have had a knife or two pulled on me in the past - its not a pleasant experience, but it does make you more streetwise and wary of people etc. Perhaps some owners should be educated to look for danger signs or be more wary? People with high value cars are going to be a target. However, a lot of these crimes are opportunistic so lets try and reduce the opportunity so to speak by educating people in common sense precautions?

[Marki]

MitchT said:

So the Porsche owner threw the keys at the robber and wasn't charged with assault! The police must be losing their touch!!

Could have had his eye out , for gods sake think of the children

[ridds]

Tracker is no where near as advanced, it's just a radio beacon giving off a position.

[cliffe_mafia]

This sort of thing goes on everday in Manchester ,usually not as high end as a Porsche Turbo. Bit of a result actually catching someone for it - he mustn't have been in with the Salford gangs that have the police in their pocket.

I agree what someone said about puts you off buying a nice car (along with an M postcode for insurance), but a few months ago an old bloke got beaten to steal his P reg Corsa - wrong time, wrong place I guess.

[Mr.T]

Guys, I think we should also consider this poor offender's Human rights ?

[sad61t]

vetteheadracer said:

Friend of mine recently had his Scooby stolen from his drive and it has a tracker but car has not been found. Also the insurance won't pay out as they stated the car needed to be garaged between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Us the machete to cut off the carjackers scrotum then see if he is so brave.......

That's a harsh lesson in reading the small print when looking for quotes.

Guess the Porsche had a Trackstar Plus that broadcasts its location, rather than the passive Tracker which is a glorifed anti-shoplifting RFID tag that only responds to a ping from an interested copper (oxymoron). Plus this (alleged) carjacker was armed, so the ARV lads had a chance to play with their toys

[polus]

Good effort from the police

Anyone who is capable of something like this should be put in jail for life without parole. Any bets on the sentence?

[scotty_917]

polus said:

Good effort from the police

Anyone who is capable of something like this should be put in jail for life without parole. Any bets on the sentence?

6 months community service!

[PieroW]

scotty_917 said:

polus said:

Good effort from the police

Anyone who is capable of something like this should be put in jail for life without parole. Any bets on the sentence?

6 months community service!

And $200 Fine of course, don't forget that!

[pugs9000]

polus said:

Good effort from the police

Anyone who is capable of something like this should be put in jail for life without parole. Any bets on the sentence?

£150 fine, probably for no insurance, maybe 6 points if the judge is in a harsh mood.