Where is it now?

[Bouncingogre]

I thought I'd post this as a thought provoking exercise for us all, and not one I hope you ever have to experience.
Yesterday, I drove into town to get a haircut. Parked the car in the town centre car park, bought a 2 hour ticket so that I'd be suitably covered, and put it in my windscreen. Locked the car which also sets the alarm and immobiliser and
Just under a hour later, I took the lift back to the car park, and went to get my car.
It took me only a few seconds to register the horror that my car had been stolen!
After ringing the car park number which was no longer in service......
I rang the police... You need to report the theft online, they said.
So stood in the middle of a town centre car park with no prospect of any results, I got a cab home.
I got hold of the police an hour later on my phone (your call is important to us.... please continue to hold)...
I got hold of my insurance company after a 20 minute wait.
So then the enormity of what had happened to me sunk in.
Like most people, we all keep stuff in our cars. Our Dogs veterinary docs were in the glove box. These have our address in them.
My wife's prescription driving glasses were too.
In the boot, my tool kit, my obd vehicle scanning tool.
In the car, my binoculars, tyre pump and gauge.
And so on and so on.

ALLL GONE

The moral of this is to go out to your car.
Take out anything with your address in it.
Take out anything you'd hate to lose. The little personal things that you always have in your car.

TODAY accepting that my vehicle is probably already in a container heading for Bonga Bonga Land. I have spent literally ALL Day finding and purchasing a replacement vehicle at a hefty 5 figure sum.
Changing my insurance details, and taxing the new car.

I have to go into hospital on Friday for a Hernia repair operation. There is no way we could be without a car at this point.

Huge stress.
Huge Hassle

A nightmare for me, and at 79 years old, the shock has been more than I ever thought it would be.
I swear, last night, I thought I was on my way!

 

[Rayblewit]

That is a very sad situation mate!
I feel so sorry for you.

Good advice you suggest to remove our names, addresses and valuables from our cars. Thanks for that. I will certainly be checking my car today.

Back to your dilemma, I wish you well in your recovery and replacement and dealing with the tardy authorities.
I hope they get those bastards who stole your car. Check the town centre carpark for video footage. Good luck with that. Also the hernia op. Speedy recovery mate.

Ray

 

[Bouncingogre]

Thank you Ray! 🫠

I really appreciate your kind words.

It's true, we drive around with all sorts of things that we never give a second thought to until they are gone.
Our little dogs leads, seat covers, tools, and some wet weather gear... Just all gone! It hurts.
To think that some light fingered little arsewipe think it's OK to steal a pensioners 9 year old car!
We will get through it. We are resilient and tough, but Karma has been activated!!

Op is on Friday morning... I will look forward to the 2 hours under general anaesthetic just for a rest from this!


Thank you mate. Hugely... Thank you. I have been pretty emotional over this!
Keith.

 

[Biggles]

Aagghhh, so many moronic persons alive today who deserve to be shot at dawn.

I feel your angst.

A stolen car is a nightmare, it apparently is fairly easy to overcome many security systems that are fitted to cars, I hasten to add that I am honest as the day is long, honestly.

I’m a member of a Forum for a specific Model of a certain manufacturers car and a significant number have had their cars stolen from outside their homes, one had his stolen and the insurance paid up and so he got another exactly the same six months later and two weeks later that too was stolen.

One would think that the security is top notch, no, it is not, keyless entry can be overcome by a bit of kit off Amazon and a length of wire. A non keyless entry can have the alarm disabled, entry gained via picking the mechanical lock that is there for emergency access if the key fob fails. Once entry is gained then they access the OBS port, or they rip out half the dash to get to electronic components that are worth a lot of cash. Or worst still they dismantle the body for the light units which cost three grand to replace. They know where the inbuilt Tracker is located so they remove that

My car is now 10 years old, I bought it new and it resides in my garage, when parked away from home I put on a steering wheel lock so at least it has a visual deterrent.

It could be worst, they could have nicked it from your home after breaking in for the keys. This happened to my Nephew, they nicked it, parked it a few streets away. Nephew found it and took it home. A few weeks later they nicked it again, he then decided to move home.

Hope the Insurance pays out quickly.

 

[Biggles]

They do this to a £120,000 car, just for the headlights.

 

[Bouncingogre]

Thank you for your reply Biggles.

I'm old school, I'd cut their bastard hands off!

Police have it on ANPR system but I don't hold up much hope.

Thanks buddy.. Appreciated.

Keith

 

[Biggles]

My Nephew’s second theft was problematic for the thief.

He stole the car and had slight engine running issues, unknown to him my Nephew had swapped over two of the ignition leads so the car was kangaroo jumping down the road.

So it was not going well for the thief for coming in the opposite direction was a Police car who was actually attending my Nephews 999 call. The thief stopped the car and legged it away hence Nephew got the car back again.

He then always left it sans distributor cap and a certain fuse missing with a note on the windscreen saying it had broken down.

So not content with his actions the thief nicked Nephews motorcycle instead.

The alleged thief was his neighbour opposite so had served time for such activities.

Hence the house move.

 

[Biggles]

On the forum I mentioned above one of the members knows precisely where his car is.

The thieves had disconnected the standard Tracker so thinking that they were good to go they shipped it abroad.

What the eventual user did not know that there is a second non standard Tracker fitted.

The car is presently being driven in Lithuania.

 

[Rayblewit]

Sorry to make light of your serios situation Keith, but hopefully just to put a smile on your face . .
This made the news here just last week as a thief tries to get away from the bottle shop. Leaving the hand brake on.

 

[Bouncingogre]

What a complete Tool, the state of the car tells you everything.

Thanks Ray...

 

[amwilburn]

Ogre, I'm really sorry to hear that... not a day goes by lately where I don't end up asking "what in the actual f*** is wrong with people.

But also what kind of car park charges for parking but doesn't have a security guard patrolling?

Mark

 

[Bouncingogre]

Thank you Mark.
Just out of hospital will reply more fully over the next few days.