Mystery vehicle alarm almost every night (on our driveway)
Mystery vehicle alarm almost every night (on our driveway)
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Goochie

Original Poster:

5,797 posts

248 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
I've posted this in General Gassing because as you'll see, it isnt' really Marque specific (and there is no Technical area for vehicle electronics).

A couple of weeks ago, the alarm in my Audi A2 went off in the middle of the night for no apparent reason, the security lights overlooking the driveway diddnt come on so I dont think it was a cat etc.

Over the next week, the A2's alarm went off almost every night at around 1:10. There is no way to lock an A2 without setting the alarm.

I booked it into the dealer who couldnt provide a courtesy car until after the May bank holiday.

In order to avoid upsetting the neighbours, I borrowed a company Passat which was spare due to a salesman getting the boot. This sat outside for two nights and behaved perfectly.

After this I had to change to the company pool-car Passat which has over 150k miles and is in a pretty poor state. The alarm went off over night. I assumed this had the same fault as the A2 as it must be a very similar system.

So, for the Easter weekend I've been in a 6 month old Renault Master van, parked it in the same place and the alarm went off last night at 3 AM


I'm at a bit of a loss as to what could be causing this. the A2 and 2nd Passat *could* have the same fault but why does it happen at around the same time of night? But what could explain the van's alarm?

All this has started since:

1) The council changed the street light outside from a traditional orange light to a much whiter light.
2) We had Virgin cable installed which runs alongside the driveway.

Any ideas??

Steve H

7,562 posts

224 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Neighbour with a grudge or odd sense of humour?

DJFish

6,017 posts

292 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Idiots on their way home from the pub?

Regiment

2,799 posts

188 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
What about doing a stake out?

CO2000

3,177 posts

238 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Regiment said:
What about doing a stake out?
With CCTV to save you staying up.

Regiment

2,799 posts

188 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
CO2000 said:
With CCTV to save you staying up.
Pizza and Indian takeaways are going to be cheaper and more fun smile

Goochie

Original Poster:

5,797 posts

248 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the helpful ideas guys wink

I've found a nice bit of free software that allows me to use a standard USB webcam as CCTV with motion detection etc.

So I'm installing it now and will try it tonight.

Xavier259

222 posts

191 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Maybe a cat/fox setting the alarm off?

Benbay001

5,892 posts

186 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Paranormal.

wildoliver

9,308 posts

245 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
It will be people coming home from the pub I'd almost put money on it, late opening, walking home around 1.10, then easter weekend lockin/late night opening at 3am.

Zeemax_Mini

1,235 posts

280 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
There was a thing near us, where a shop had new phone (or power, can't remember) lines installed overhead above the parking area. Since then, they've had car alarms going off every day and it was found to be something with these newly installed lines!

We also had this when we bought a new Subaru about 10 years ago - alarm started going off every night around the same time. We locked it without the alarm, and that night someone came to nick it - turned out they'd been rocking the car to set the alarm off every night, and then once we'd disabled it they came to rob it!

Dom

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

211 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Cat.

Westy Pre-Lit

5,088 posts

232 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Have heard of people firing catapults at cars windows as they drive past. Owner eventually gets pee'd off and turns off the alarm.

Comes out next morning car gone.

Could this be happening ?

EDLT

15,421 posts

235 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Sounds like ghosts to me. Is there an ancient indian burial ground under the driveway?

seagrey

385 posts

194 months

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Westy Pre-Lit said:
Have heard of people firing catapults at cars windows as they drive past. Owner eventually gets pee'd off and turns off the alarm.

Comes out next morning car gone.

Could this be happening ?
I could understand it if it was a "special" car, but it's been a fairly old Audi, a repmobile, and a small van. None of which are particularly "theft to order" material.

davidspooner

24,138 posts

223 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Ghoul

Defcon5

6,470 posts

220 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
seagrey said:
Fantastic stuff, shame they didnt tie them up and dump them outside the local Police station

Goochie

Original Poster:

5,797 posts

248 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
davepoth said:
I could understand it if it was a "special" car, but it's been a fairly old Audi, a repmobile, and a small van. None of which are particularly "theft to order" material.
Indeed. The van is probably the most desirable of the lot as it's pretty new and highly spec'd. However the problem pre-dates the arrival of the van.


Jayho

2,413 posts

199 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
Goochie said:
davepoth said:
I could understand it if it was a "special" car, but it's been a fairly old Audi, a repmobile, and a small van. None of which are particularly "theft to order" material.
Indeed. The van is probably the most desirable of the lot as it's pretty new and highly spec'd. However the problem pre-dates the arrival of the van.
Has there been an increase in unwanted town visitors to the area? Ones from the likes of Gypsy wedding? Older cars, as far as I'm aware of, are made of more parts which are worth a bit of money?