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Moved back to my parents for a week or two while I move house etc.  Somewhat predictably for the north east of england - some little runt just smashed through the bay window downstairs @ 5am, climbed in, knicked my car keys and drove off in my car before I could get down there.

Theyll have been after my dads golf GTi really (probably for the giant alloy wheels) and then ended up with my VW as a booby prize since the keys look the same.

More annoyingly my mobile was in there so there goes everyones numbers...

Frig.

:(

I hate little sh*ts like that. Id love to catch one and beat them until they see stars but then Id end up in nick and theyd get off with nothing happening...

You should be able to get your numbers (recent calls anyway) from your phone bill. It wont be ideal but it gives you somewhere to start.

yeah it was a good thing I didnt catch him with hindsight.

The phone bill things actually a very good idea - I wouldnt have thought of getting numbers that way. :)  cheers

Someone told me to do that when I had my phone nicked, it is quite handy and a good way to use up that SMS allowance :)

A good reason not to leave valuables/keys on display on downstairs front rooms. The scrote would have scoped it out first and figured it was a lottery win.

Id be gutted if it was me, btw, sorry for your loss Steve.

Nimrod must be good advice because I said the exact same thing to steve on another forum, lol.

The lesson is never leave your keys anywhere, even in your house. Get yourself a key chain and fasten them to one of the belt loops on your trousers. OK its a little weight to carry, but it makes them far more difficult to steal.

I used to work with little B*stards like that (worked for NACRO) and you do tend to learn things you should never do.

Same with house keys.

And get your parents to fit a basic alarm system if they dont have one.

As they say you should not leave keys or anything on your windowsills and nothing on a table or chest that is near a letterbox

Quote from: SeriousThe lesson is never leave your keys anywhere, even in your house. Get yourself a key chain and fasten them to one of the belt loops on your trousers. OK its a little weight to carry, but it makes them far more difficult to steal.

Not just a little excessive, dont you think?

Its all locking the stable after the horse has bolted.

Depends, leaving your keys just lying there is an invitation for someone to nick them. I have seen peeps leave keys on tables which are very visible from a window.

At least getting it in now might mean he takes some notice. Hopefully he might get the car back in one piece and if he just continues leaving the keys lying around. Getting rid of that bad habit nailed is important.

Yeah be careful where you leave you keys. :)

Quote from: SeriousAt least getting it in now might mean he takes some notice. Hopefully he might get the car back in one piece and if he just continues leaving the keys lying around. Getting rid of that bad habit nailed is important.

In fairness though its not like they were on a window ledge...  the house and window he came through is 10-20 metres down our private gravel drive off a non thoroughfare road.  The photos were taken briefly after the event so its not exactly dark - he basically did this in broad daylight.

 

There are security lights (didnt trigger as it was daylight), the ground floor of the house is alarmed and we have a dog.  He had to go through a wooden window frame plus 2 panes of glass (part of a few hundred year old bay window) to reach them.  Then he had to go a metre or two into the house around an awkwardly placed dining table after waking up everyone in the house to get to them.

Dont get me wrong, I wish Id not left them in sight of the window but its kind of hard not to in detached houses with windows on all sides when someone is willing to come onto private property, etc.  Thats kind of how windows work.

He had to be on our land, inside the gates, pressed up against a window, willing to smash the glass set off the alarms and piss off the dog in a house full of people.  While I agree you shouldnt leave things on display theres a point at which you cant stop someone who is determined to take something.  Its not like this is a terraced street that everyone walks past and I left them lit up on a window ledge...



Hed sat and chisseled away the wood and putty from around the panes of glass even though my parents berdroom window was open 2 floors above and the shutters were closed on my bedroom window indicating I was in.  When hes tried to lift out the glass its cracked and everythings started going off and people waking up.  At that point he just smashed his way through the rest of the window, ran in and grabbed them.  He tried to use them on the GTi and then realised it was my car he had the keys for.  He then sped away at crazy speed with people chasing after him and shouting.  Note the rather sad looking dry patch on the drive where my car once lived lol.

The dog had gone mad 2 nights ago at around 3 am and the security lights had all sparked up around the back so theres a fairly high chance that the house was sized up 2 days ago.  On the drive is a high end fiesta (joy rider favourite in black, alloys etc), a big BMW, an old triumph classic sportscar, a new golf GTi (the police reckon he wanted this since its in black and has 19/20" alloys) and my VW Bora.  This guy seemed fairly committed to getting the keys.

What a wan*ker.

I have a big bat and a slicing device under my bed. If our alarm ever fires I am out of bed like a shot and on my way down armed to the teeth. One way or the other someone will get hurt, probably me when I trip over the top stair and fall to my doom.

At least they didnt do too much damage. Please tell me that your dog wasnt whimpering away in the corner ?!

at home I normally have a camera and can grab heavy things on the way but being in a strange house I couldnt take his picture or find anything to pick up fast.  The police did point out that he would have been in the car by that stage so would have probably just run me over or if I got there very fast he had been using either a knife or chisel to carve into the window frame - not getting to him in time might have been a good thing :P


Parents got back from Scotland late last night and somehow shut a combination of doors that stopped the dog from getting to the room he needed to be in.  As they got back late they didnt shut the curtains like they normally do and a few other random combinations that let this happen.  People keep saying it was just unlucky that the one night that they dont close the curtains, trap the dog out of that part of the house, etc is the night it happens.  I dont buy that personally - I just reckon that the fact the curtains were open made him choose that night.

It was definitely the car they wanted though as my wallet (with £100 in) was millimeters away from the keys and it was still there.  Just waiting for it to turn up abandoned or burnt out now.



Its the little annoying stuff like having to change the locks, and deal with planning councils.  The damage was minimal but the annoying part of living in a grade 1 and 2 listed house is every little thing is a p.i.t.a. to solve.  We cant for example just replace the window because the glass it uses is illegal to use now.  But we cant fit the legal stuff as it breaks the planning rules.  So we have to apply for planning permission to fix the window.  The car was stolen from someone elses address using the keys.  I had satnav and my mobile in the glovebox.  The car was bought for ~£7k a year ago since it was spotless and low mileage but the insurance company will probably pay around £3-4k for the average car price.  By the time youve paid £500 excess, the inevitable towing charge of a couple of hundred quid when it shows up abandoned in a car park, the time off work, transport arrangements and things it wont be enough to get another car.  Just dumb stuff like that really.

He is an irksome young chap...

Smile to yourself that the wa*ker tried the keys in the GTI and had to settle for your car!   ;)

You live in a nice house, have a fleet of cars and will no doubt have nice posessions; unfortunately, makes you a target for all those cnuts who want to take for free.  Really hacks me off!!!

Sorry for your loss, although am sure you will get something nice back by way of insurance.

EDIT: Just a suggestion; would be tempted to put some kind of lockable/alarmable electric gate.  Would prevent cars being nicked and also stop vans parking in drive to loot your house; means theives have to carry the stuff further .. may be an idea.

hehe yeah, driving away in a 1.6 bora as a joy rider or a steal to order car thief  will have done his street cred no favours ;)

planning permission forbids us to change the gate in any way.  Its mad really.  It will be closed in future at night - lesson learnt the hard way so take note peeps  - would hate this to happen to any of you lot.

Theres a homebrew CCTV being arranged as we speak and the sensors in that room have been moved to detect people on the other side of the window now ;)  The alarms are wired into the police so they were here within a 6 minutes.  Theres just not much you can do tbh.  I kind of have little faith in many of the people of the north east so just expect this to happen now and again.  Its one of the reasons Im leaving and doubt parents will be far behind.  Up here you stand out and are a target.  In Yorkshire/Nottingham youre just the norm.  In the south youre poor.

Was just suprised how many risks this guy took to get the car.  If things had gone slightly differently for him then hed have been forked.  I often dont park my car on that drive so hed have found himself with keys to a car he couldnt find and two blokes coming after him

Bit stupid they did not take your wallet

I agree the "one time you do not do something" as people do not realise that a lot of the time these guys are not one trick ponies and will actually have a bobby on the beat style area they check out every night, and probably just waiting for that time the curtains are not closed so they can check.

We had someone try our garage a couple of times, and our landrover here at our new house.  At our old house we had a removeable bollard fitted.  Just fit it behind your gate, and you cant get a car down the drive without lifting it out.

Oh thats crappy steve! :( Gutted for you.

This is one good reason for ANPR cameras to be used I think. I mean if he got out and used a major route then they might be able to track where the car went.

yeah they had the reg # on the ANPR system within 10 mins but he didnt go into the nearest city and its not shown up yet so i guess he knew to avoid them.

As its not shown up abandoned yet, he opened it with keys and its a mint condition car itll probably be on new plates by now.

little b****rds

someone tried to nock one of my vans the other day.... the old duffer we keep as a spair, broke the lock, broke the plastic around the ignition... then gave up :dunno:

the problem is.... they get away with it.... and a lot of the little sh*ts these days dont know any better... products of bad parenting :(

....i.e. the reason i dont steal is because its wrong, not because its against the law ?   (if you know what i mean?).... where as those kinds of people know its against the law, bot don;t really see it as wrong :(

Gutted for you mate.. So Im guessing insurance is paying out on this then?

Little b*stards. Karma will get them one of these days ;) Its times like that you wished your starter motor was going or your brakes lock up!

just going throught the insurance process.  I have to send them my remaining set of keys.  Im waiting a day before I post everything off just i case it turns up and I have to go collect it.

Quote from: SteveFI often dont park my car on that drive so hed have found himself with keys to a car he couldnt find and two blokes coming after him

and a dog eh.. that would have been interesting lol

I know a friend who went to a large shopping mall, walked to where he thought his car was (large carpark you sometimes forget the exact location (well some people do)) and pressed his key fob and unlocked a car, saw the lights walked up got in and was half way down the nearby road when he reached for something and noticed it was not his car, he got back with the owner with a security guard, lol.

Quote from: neXusI know a friend who went to a large shopping mall, walked to where he thought his car was (large carpark you sometimes forget the exact location (well some people do)) and pressed his key fob and unlocked a car, saw the lights walked up got in and was half way down the nearby road when he reached for something and noticed it was not his car, he got back with the owner with a security guard, lol.

I some times walk out of work and forget where my car is parked myself. Its not even that big the carpark!

Haha, I do that loads. I can never find my car

I have a bad habit of going to get into the drivers side of friends cars too. It doesnt feel right walking to the left hand side of the car!

steve

its them golf gtis i tell you!
a few months back, my brother in law got jumped at the petrol station on him way back from paying at the till, they attacked him with crow bars and had balaclavas on and they nicked his gti.

he shouted after them that it had a tracker fitted... it didnt really but they recovered it unmarked 5 days lays about 5 miles away in a posh housing estate.

think they tend to leave them to see if they are safe, then come back to it and take it for good.

yeah - fairly sure it was the GTi he was after.  Your mate got off lightly!!!  You drive the GTi into any car park around here and you get some kids saying ooooh nice wheels or something.  They reckon they took the keys for the VW because they come with immobilisers and its quicker to take the keys.  I did learn some things talking to the police over the last day or two that might interest people...


The reason they break in to houses in the early hours of the morning (i.e. when the sun is coming up), is because its a more serious offence to break in at night dark.  Didnt get the full details but apparently its burglary if its dark outside but its a tresspassing if its light.

If hed have taken my wallet from next to the keys (or anything else) then it would have been theft/burglary of a house.  Apparently taking a car without the owners permission isnt strictly theft even if you steal the keys.  Or at the very least its a lesser offence than a straight forward theft.


By doing it in daylight (although 5am) and not taking any property from the house (other than the keys) the lad minimized how much trouble he would be in if he was caught.  Is it just me who thinks thats a bit dumb?  He broke into the house and stole my car,  I dont care if it was light or dark.  If someone takes my car without my permission thats theft in my mind.  Apparently thats not the case in the eyes of the UK legal system.

my brother in law has since had a tracker fitted and had the glass upgraded its pretty impossible to smash.

the tracker he got can remotely disengage the engine via a mobile telephone. he got it from the car show so its pretty cool. you can also use a mobile phone and listen in to whats happening in the car.

he did look at getting remote dropped bollards fittied into the drive.
I guess getting done over like he did is worse than getting the keys nicked in the night at home.

having said that he sleeps with the keys under his pillow, so lets hope they dont come looking for his eys in the night next time.

bit late really, horse already bolted and all that.

Quote from: SteveFThe reason they break in to houses in the early hours of the morning (i.e. when the sun is coming up), is because its a more serious offence to break in at night dark.  Didnt get the full details but apparently its burglary if its dark outside but its a tresspassing if its light.

If the door is unlocked then its trespassing, if they damage your property to enter its breaking and entering. By not taking the wallet it does reduce the crime though, from theft to taking without consent. IIRC.

crazylegs, even if the car is gone its worth giving peeps advice for the next time. Once they have found they can break into somewhere they will go back, sooner or later, even if its just for a look.

Quote from: SeriousIf the door is unlocked then its trespassing, if they damage your property to enter its breaking and entering. By not taking the wallet it does reduce the crime though, from theft to taking without consent. IIRC.

That was it.  It doesnt count as theft it counts as taking without consent.  Madness.

They took the car keys without consent so it is theft?

apparently not

They took the key ring that was attached to the keys? and your Germs, without consent...

Quote from: SteveFapparently not

Got to love English law, where Dumb ass Judges have no sense of the real world and theft can be re classed depending on the time of day

Personally Id have done him for trespassing on the property in the first place.  Criminal damage to the window and frame.  Breaking and entering the house.  Theft of the keys and then taking the car without consent.

But apparently it all comes under the minimum charge due to the daylight and only taking the keys.  Thats retarded.

Starting to get very sick of not having a car!

Once the Volvo is taxed you can use that :)

hehe yeah :)  Camo transport lol

Quote from: SteveFhehe yeah :)  Camo transport lol

Atleast youd be able to see it on the road if some one were to steal it ;)

Or maybe not ;)

oddly enough... I was talking to a girl today whos just starting her first job after law school.... and she says shes heard of this daylight thing, but its bollocks, its not actually law, its just by the policy of some police forces to cut down to paperwork etc !

(lazy buggers)

god almighty - car insurance companies are rubbish.  You owe them a penny and theyre calling you 1000 times a day and writing you letters.

After claiming and sending all of the paperwork, keys, etc etc Id heard absolutely nothing for weeks.

Called them at start of the week and they claimed the paperwork hadnt arrived.  Pressed the point and low and behold they found it.  Called them again a week later only to find they required me to walk them through the accident and repeat all the info Id sent them in the post.  They hadnt rang me to ask me for it or sent me a letter to tell me they needed it.

Its so frustrating.  Just send me the frikken pitiful excuse of an insurance value or at least tell me when theyre at a standstill and ask me anything they need.

Crooks the lot of them.

Quote from: SteveFgod almighty - car insurance companies are rubbish.  You owe them a penny and theyre calling you 1000 times a day and writing you letters.

After claiming and sending all of the paperwork, keys, etc etc Id heard absolutely nothing for weeks.

Called them at start of the week and they claimed the paperwork hadnt arrived.  Pressed the point and low and behold they found it.  Called them again a week later only to find they required me to walk them through the accident and repeat all the info Id sent them in the post.  They hadnt rang me to ask me for it or sent me a letter to tell me they needed it.

Its so frustrating.  Just send me the frikken pitiful excuse of an insurance value or at least tell me when theyre at a standstill and ask me anything they need.

Crooks the lot of them.

Why I am waiting to see all the stories in regard to the flooding in terms of excuses for them not to pay out to people.
Your 100% right and they are very much above the law, take your money and it is dam ni on impossible to get your money when needed OR it takes an arm and a leg to get them to do it.
Messing you about loads mate :/

Being without a car for over a month is just stupid.  Commuting by bus and train got so annoying I just moved house.

Quote from: SteveFPersonally Id have done him for trespassing on the property in the first place.  Criminal damage to the window and frame.  Breaking and entering the house.  Theft of the keys and then taking the car without consent.

But apparently it all comes under the minimum charge due to the daylight and only taking the keys.  Thats retarded.

Starting to get very sick of not having a car!

Cant see that being right.. They are prosecuting at the minimum charge simply to solve the case, get a conviciton & get a mark on their targets. Id press for a private prosecution if the CPS aint going to do anything. Sounds like a Pro & your car wont have been the first & probably not his last.

Whats going to happen next time if you get the scumbag before hand? knowing hell only get a slap on the wrist your gonna kick f**k into him thats what.. then that sends you down to nick while the scumbag sues you for lost of earnings & damages....
THIS COUNTRY GRRRRRR

Quote from: SteveFBeing without a car for over a month is just stupid.  Commuting by bus and train got so annoying I just moved house.

Why dont you get yourself a cheap banger? Can normally get somthing 1/2 reliable for £500 - make it a diesel & use home made biofuel. Should pay for itself soon enough.

im still trying to sort the claim out from when my vectra was hit at the start of feb :( takes the piss

Quote from: Eggtasticothat sends you down to nick while the scumbag sues you for lost of earnings & damages....

And if hes earning a car a night I simply cant afford to pay his lost earnings lol ;)

Yeah I considered the banger route.  Originally I hoped theyd get my car back but somewhat naively I thought the insurance company would simply process the claim or call/write to me if there were any problems.  It also sucks that I lose my no claims when someone breaks into my house and drives away in my car.  A crash I understand but someone nicking your car?  Anyway thats for another rant I guess.

Quote from: Binary Shadowim still trying to sort the claim out from when my vectra was hit at the start of feb :( takes the piss

wow - thats still going on?  They actually just gave me the direct number of the claims adjuster as they got sick of me ringing up at 3pm each day this week.  Looks like things are moving so it may be worth doing the same on yours?

im kinda stuck as they have contested my claim, tried to go 50/50 which i refused and now i have to run through small claims :( bloody bastids!