A very good friend of mine had his house broken into a few nights ago, car keys were taken in the night along with his BMW M5. I know the chances of recovery are slim, but it's not that comman to see them. So please keep an eye out. It is wrapped in Matt White, but that's probably been removed, I think it's black underneath. Stolen West of London, near the old Brookland Race Track a few nights ago.

I guess these get stolen to order and get new plates so are very hard to find.

I know the customary thing is to blur out the plates, but don't you think in this case it would be useful to keep the plates visible for identification? It may not be as professional as you think, it could just be some amateurs who will try and sell it exactly as it is, or even just to drive it around a bit.

The message is never leave keys just lying around at night, don't leave them lying anywhere with 4 meters of the house door, or in a coat pocket.

police round here advise you to leave them close to the door. the thieves have no issue with violence and turn up armed. rather they get the keys and get out than confront you.


friends had knives at there throats whilst in bed as the car keys weren't handy ..... at the end of the day a car can be replaced, you life is irreplacable.

Seemingly the police advised it was a pro job and they would have got the keys somehow, so my friend is just glad they were accessable and nobody was confronted or threatened.

My keys are next to front door, not reachable through letter box but if somebody comes in for them, theyre there. Its why I pay car and house insurance.

Guess that Johannesburg is not the only home of robbers

This happened to my nephew a few weeks ago, his BMW and his partners brand new jaguar were taken, Keys taken from the hallway. Apparently it is usual for the thieves to leave the car somewher local for a few days in case a tracker is fitted, theirs hadn't.
He toured around the neighbourhood and found his BMW in a council flats car park and got it back, his partners Jaguar is gone for good.
Police got the culprits and the car keys were on their coffee table! (They had an idea who might be responsible).
The police involved also said not to hide the keys to avoid the possibility of being threatened.

Just because its stolen with keys, dont assume its off to Russia or Africa - Because car security is now generally so good, the dross cannot steal the things without the key on new stuff.

Most car thefts today are as a result of a burglary to your home, most people still leave keys in the kitchen hanging up, on the stairs etc.....



Most dross do not have access to international crime syndicates shipping stolen motors abroad, its a possible but unlikely.


Motorcycles are very rarely recovered, recovery rates of cars are far greater than plant, farm machinery, so post the No plate and let the public find it for your mate.



I speak from experience, dont know much about most stuff, but in this regard Im fairly well qualified (NVQ level )

qualified at stealing or recovering

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeR
qualified at stealing or recovering

---

It amazes me how many people leave the car that they paid thousands for outside on the drive and keep 20p worth of crap piled up in the garage..

Mines in the garage behind the CLOSE DOOR.. that keeps the scum guessing whether your in out or what.

In the more affluent portions of Toronto that has been means of stealing high end cars for some time and the Police have found quite a few containers with stolen cars in the shipping port waiting for dispatch to other countries.

A friend of mine, lawyer took his new vehicle in for it's first service and the following morning it was stolen from his driveway.

One of the new car dealers had a lot boy making duplicate keys and selling them to the thieves.

"It amazes me how many people leave the car that they paid thousands for outside on the drive and keep 20p worth of crap piled up in the garage..

Mines in the garage behind the CLOSE DOOR.. that keeps the scum guessing whether your in out or what. "

I am the only person in our road 22 houses that has a car in the garage, its my 7, were else would I keep it ??

It is actually amazing how few people use a garage to park in. In my last house I was the only person who parked in the garage, I really miss it, never had to lock the car or faff about putting the roof back up.

Firstly, what muppett buys a BMW as surely there just rep mobiles ?
secondly why buy a black one, then have it wrapped in white plastic ?

I remember years ago when we had a house in the States, really safe neighbourhood, and we always parked the car in the garage... because it FIT. It was a "single" garage, but fit a Lincoln Navigator, with tat around it and you could still open doors on both sides.

I've got a garage en bloc just opposite my front door here, with light and power, but it's 5m x 2.5m internal. The one car I would want to park in there (my Rolls) doesn't even fit (let alone being able to get in and out of a car).

If I had a proper detached house with a double garage with remote door, there'd be no reason to keep cars on the drive/street!

Cars are getting bigger. Modern houses have garage so that it can be listed on the d etails by the selker but are too narrow to get a car in let alone be able to open drivers door to get out or in.

[Edited on 27/10/13 by 02GF74]

I drive a 'W' reg Primera and my girlfriend a 56 plate Fiesta.

Thieves taking them is a constant worry for me!


I left the back door unlocked leaving for work the other day. I was late so didn't want to go back, so I risked it and returned at lunch time.
Wasn't too worried, most valuable thing in the house is the telly.... 32" and nearly 6 years old! Do they bother to nick these even?


See! I knew there were benefits to being poor- nothing to steal!



Cheers,
J

I'm looking to move and viewing house boils down to whether theres a garage and big drive or a piece on the side big enough to build one. First thing I do is view it on google earth to check the foot print.

Rep is house with drive up the side and garage in the back garden, then the whole lot will get boxed in and sealed off.

My current garage is double length. Kit is at the back with the mobile shed in front. All the crap is outside in the back garden under a canopy.