Neighbour been round to show gang scoping my car last night
Discussion
Very interesting evening. Transpires a white Lexus pulled up down the road from my house last night and 3 hooded scrotes scoped out my Golf R, neighbour caught it on his CCTV. Neighbour then went though his old files and this is their second visit and they were here 3 weeks ago. I'm at the end of a cul-de-sac so cars don't pass very often or without purpose.
Looks like they were spooked last night and left in a hurry after one took a phonecall, so could be they were planning to take it last night.
It's now blocked in by my wife's car on the drive and our front gate has a D-Lock through it and we've not fed the dog tonight.
Not sure what else I can do.
Only 6 weeks left on the lease, so I'll probably try and dump it asap, with 2 young kids in the house i can do without the grief. Will an E39 540i be a moneypit?
Looks like they were spooked last night and left in a hurry after one took a phonecall, so could be they were planning to take it last night.
It's now blocked in by my wife's car on the drive and our front gate has a D-Lock through it and we've not fed the dog tonight.
Not sure what else I can do.Only 6 weeks left on the lease, so I'll probably try and dump it asap, with 2 young kids in the house i can do without the grief. Will an E39 540i be a moneypit?
UPDATE - we're alive and I drove to work this morning in my Golf.
Phone police last night, they noted the information and asked me to call them back if they return.
Plan of action - as there's only 6 weeks left on the lease I'm going to ask it goes back asap. In the meantime, I'm going to speak to the fleet manager at work and see if I can borrow a company car, which will probably be nicer than the Golf but diesel and dump the Golf in my parking space at work - secure multi-storey car park containing far nicer cars than a Golf.
Wife is fairly relaxed about the whole thing - she's a keeper, but we did leave all car keys next to the front door and took hockey sticks to bed with us.
However, my wife has just thoroughly cheered me up - she wasn't keen on the 540i and has this morning sent me a link to a Honda Jazz for sale locally.
Phone police last night, they noted the information and asked me to call them back if they return.
Plan of action - as there's only 6 weeks left on the lease I'm going to ask it goes back asap. In the meantime, I'm going to speak to the fleet manager at work and see if I can borrow a company car, which will probably be nicer than the Golf but diesel and dump the Golf in my parking space at work - secure multi-storey car park containing far nicer cars than a Golf.
Wife is fairly relaxed about the whole thing - she's a keeper, but we did leave all car keys next to the front door and took hockey sticks to bed with us.
However, my wife has just thoroughly cheered me up - she wasn't keen on the 540i and has this morning sent me a link to a Honda Jazz for sale locally.
Live in a reasonably nice suburb of South Manchester and had the car 3 years without a single issue. Quite frankly, if my neighbour hadn't spotted them on Monday night and then gone back and reviewed his CCTV I'd have no idea that 3 lads had been on my drive twice in the last 3 weeks.
The lease has now been formally cancelled - payed the £100 to terminate early, transpires there was 2 months left and I'm awaiting a call from BCA to arrange collection of the car.
I must admit I had planned to hand the car back early anyway to avoid the final service which would have been due. Looks like I'll be car shopping this weekend.
The lease has now been formally cancelled - payed the £100 to terminate early, transpires there was 2 months left and I'm awaiting a call from BCA to arrange collection of the car.
I must admit I had planned to hand the car back early anyway to avoid the final service which would have been due. Looks like I'll be car shopping this weekend.
wemorgan said:
Thread drift:
Have you considered something like Netgear Arlo home security camera?
Relatively cheap to buy and if you have <5 cameras the data backup is free.
Our house is going on the market in the next few weeks, so reticent to spend any money on it, but I will definitely be investing in a system for our new house. Cheers for the recommendation.Have you considered something like Netgear Arlo home security camera?
Relatively cheap to buy and if you have <5 cameras the data backup is free.
yajeed said:
It may not sway your decision, but the cameras as wireless and battery operated.
So installation is literally drilling a single hole.
They're great, have night vision and can record (to the cloud) based on movement. Some models do 2 way audio if you want to talk to the scrotes too ;-)
I've just bought a load of them, mainly for talking to delivery people at the front door, and protecting the garage etc but they're a decent product if you ever find yourself needing something like them in the future.
Cheers. Having just spent some time looking at them, they do appear quite transportable and would be easy to take down when we move. I'll have a more detailed look tonight, but certainly looks like a goer.So installation is literally drilling a single hole.
They're great, have night vision and can record (to the cloud) based on movement. Some models do 2 way audio if you want to talk to the scrotes too ;-)
I've just bought a load of them, mainly for talking to delivery people at the front door, and protecting the garage etc but they're a decent product if you ever find yourself needing something like them in the future.
djc206 said:
thetapeworm said:
One of my neighbours does this but instead of a driveway he parks his car outside my house - the weekend we moved in he had two cars stolen with keys, since then he's installed CCTV and doesn't use his driveway for his car. That gets parked in random places but generally at the end of my drive (which exits into a small turning place / courtyard) making access in and out slightly more inconvenient.
I approached him and politely mentioned some concerns over my house being targeted in the same way his was (my own cars would only attract thieves with mental issues) - his reaction was that it wasn't an issue because I have CCTV... like he does.
People are funny. Anyway that story added nothing to this, sorry, hope nothing happens OP.
Leave a note on his windscreen when he does it with “keys at number ....” written on it.I approached him and politely mentioned some concerns over my house being targeted in the same way his was (my own cars would only attract thieves with mental issues) - his reaction was that it wasn't an issue because I have CCTV... like he does.
People are funny. Anyway that story added nothing to this, sorry, hope nothing happens OP.
Mo28 said:
OP don't wait for them to call you, you call them. They tend to take a couple of days to get back to you.
Cheers called them and they've not received my details yet, suggested calling back at 5pm.A police officer has been on the phone and was very pleased I had reported it and took lots of information about the incidents. Discussed lots of positive stuff and I'm very happy with the response I've had from them, but I ain't getting Emilio Estevez and Richard Dreyfuss parked up outside my house.
Update - had a text from my neighbour in the night and it would appear they came back last night. Hopefully, the fact my car was blocked in by my wife’s car behind our iron gates secured with a bicycle D-Lock will provide an indicator they’ve been rumbled. Both never normally happen.
Hindsight’s a great thing but now wish i’d put a big sign in my wife’s car’s windscreen saying we had them on CCTV, as suggested on here, Doh!
Have said i’ll pop round to my neighbours tonight and look at the CCTV to see if there’s anything I can give to the police.
Hopefully the car will be gone by the weekend. No longer looking at 540i’s but off to see a 2002 Volvo 2.4 auto at the weekend, cheap and cheerful to keep me going until I can replace the Golf properly.
Hindsight’s a great thing but now wish i’d put a big sign in my wife’s car’s windscreen saying we had them on CCTV, as suggested on here, Doh!
Have said i’ll pop round to my neighbours tonight and look at the CCTV to see if there’s anything I can give to the police.
Hopefully the car will be gone by the weekend. No longer looking at 540i’s but off to see a 2002 Volvo 2.4 auto at the weekend, cheap and cheerful to keep me going until I can replace the Golf properly.
Watched the latest video of Tuesday night and 2 lads get dropped off at the end on the cul-de-sac and walk up it separately, hoodies up, heads down as if they know they’re on tape and putting on gloves. 10 secs lately they come running back, presumably as they see my car is immobile.
Just had text from neighbour and it appears they came back again last night (Wed), 3 Lads this time. They really really want my car. Getting rather worrying now, can’t wait for the car to go. It’s being inspected by BCA today and collected tomorrow. I might ask if I can just drop it off at Belle Vue today.
Just had text from neighbour and it appears they came back again last night (Wed), 3 Lads this time. They really really want my car. Getting rather worrying now, can’t wait for the car to go. It’s being inspected by BCA today and collected tomorrow. I might ask if I can just drop it off at Belle Vue today.
petjam said:
I would certainly put a large note in the windscreen saying
You don't want them thinking you have just parked it elsewhere causing them to potentially break in and force you to tell them where it is.
This was the discussion we had last night and why we left it on the drive totally immobile, I can't really believe they came back again. Each time it's been the same time 12:15am to 12:30am, half tempted to stay up tonight and see what they're up to, but don't think it'd achieve anything positive.You don't want them thinking you have just parked it elsewhere causing them to potentially break in and force you to tell them where it is.
Waiting for the police officer handling it to call back.
Car is going to a 100% secure basement car park 10 miles from my house this evening, so it has spent it's last night at my house and will be gone tomorrow.
Slightly worrying element is that if it wasn't for the neighbour's CCTV being pinged we'd know nothing about it, makes you wonder how often people are skulking round your house in the early hours.
andrewparker said:
JQ said:
Waiting for the police officer handling it to call back.
Really interested to hear what there response is to it happening three nights in a row. Obvious criminals, obvious intention, how hard would it be to catch them in the act?I'd be astounded if they came back again, I just don't fancy taking the risk, hence the car is going.
As for the neighbour calling the police, he only saw them in person on Sunday night and since then it's just been on his CCTV in the morning and each time since they've arrived and gone within 90 seconds when they're realised they can't get at the car presumably.
Torquey said:
Op - I'm glad to hear the car has spent its last night at your house.
IMO they don't sound like the toughest of thief's. They would have had it by now if they were that determined. I think the fact they keep returning is because they have nothing else to do with their time and looking for the easiest opportunity, not because they are determined for that car.
I must admit that's why I'm not that worried about it, it's an annoyance and a pain in the arse that the car is going but I've slept soundly the past few nights. If they really really wanted it they'd have just kicked the door in on Sunday night. I just find it bizarre they keep coming back, seems a really odd thing to do.IMO they don't sound like the toughest of thief's. They would have had it by now if they were that determined. I think the fact they keep returning is because they have nothing else to do with their time and looking for the easiest opportunity, not because they are determined for that car.
havoc said:
Did we work out in the OP's situation if they showed up twice (once to scope, second time intending to steal but thwarted by OP's actions), or three times (which would be unusually determined)?
They came in mid December, presumably to scope out the house at 3:30am. On this occasion they weren't discreet and drove half way down the cul-de-sac before dropping off the 3 scrotes.They came back on Sunday night 12:15am, presumably to pinch the car, but appears they were spooked by the neighbour who watched them from his window and turned his lights on.
Monday night neighbour alerts me to the issue, having reviewed his CCTV and seeing the same people came in December.
Tuesday night scrotes return at 12:30am, but my car is blocked on our drive by my wifes car and gates secured with very visible bike D-Lock.
Wednesday night scrotes return at 12:30am, but my car is blocked on our drive by my wifes car and gates secured with very visible bike D-Lock.
Thursday night I give up and move car to works car park 10 miles away. Not heard from neighbour so I presume they've not returned. Car is being collected by BCA this afternoon, so hopefully that'll be the end of it.
Off to go shopping for cheep runabout this weekend which i'll likely keep for 6 months and then get a new car later in the year. Volvo V70 2.4 auto is top of the list at the moment.
andrewparker said:
Bit of a disappointing end to your tenure of the car. Can’t think what I’d do in the same situation, but had 18 months left on the lease!
I must admit I'm quite philosophical about the whole thing, I've owned more valuable cars and faster cars in the past in far worse areas and not had an issue, so I've not done too badly. and frankly nothing has actually happened, if my neighbour didn't have CCTV I'd be none the wiser.I've had the car almost 3 years and it's time was nearly up anyway, so I'm happy to have a change. Doubt I'll get another R but won't stop me getting another nice car later in the year.
Onwards and upwards.
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