I noticed yesterday afternoon my neighbour's rear light cluster seemed to be smashed on his 08 Ford Galaxy. It Looked odd because there was no damage around it - I wondered if it had been deliberately broken. As I drove past this morning I realised that the whole light cluster was missing, so I assumed it was just being replaced. But when I got home, it turned out the entire leather interior of the car and other components had been stolen. The car is literally GUTTED. It must have been done last night cos he moved it to that space yesterday morning. I guess the rear light cluster must have been a way in, maybe smashed at first then they return at night if it seems no one has noticed. The car is parked under a street light, on a usually busy terraced road directly opposite the owners house. Must have taken real time to strip everything out. Its really quite astonishing.
Im seriously thinking of setting up some CCTV to cover the street outside now. Anyone heard of anything like this before?
unbelievable car break in
unbelievable car break in
2.8 sadly departed, currently between zeds.....
Re: unbelievable car break in
Perhaps the central locking and alarm wires are behind the light unit ?
Gazza
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster
, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster
, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M CoupeRe: unbelievable car break in
Ive heard of things like that behind front headlights - some modern BMWs are vulnerable there I think. But rear light cluster is new on me.Gazza wrote:Perhaps the central locking and alarm wires are behind the light unit ?
2.8 sadly departed, currently between zeds.....
Re: unbelievable car break in
Bastards!
Z3lda (Zelda), 1998 2.8, Montreal Blue, Beige Oregon leather interior and M steering wheel, Sports Seats, Wood trim, Chrome Line Interior, Centre armrest with Cupholder, Alpina Softline wheels, Chromed Angel Eyes, De- tango'd, Rear stone guards, Sport aerial, ASC front strut brace, Strong Strut Butt Strut and Body Brace, Uprated brake fluid, Yellowstuff pads 78k.
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wonderloaf
- Joined: Mon 02 Aug, 2010 20:55
- Posts: 518
- Location: Basingstoke
Re: unbelievable car break in
I locked my car keys in my old Volvo 480 once, the RAC man showed how to release the tailgate by removing the rear side reflector and accessing the internal workings. Amazed at how quick and easy it was, the knowledge came in handy when I went and did it again 
2001 Titan Silver 2.2 Sport
Re: unbelievable car break in
Yup same with vauxhall omegas and older vauxhalls, you can access the central locking wiring via the rear of the car.
Won't give details for obvious reasons, but it is a pretty shocking design
Won't give details for obvious reasons, but it is a pretty shocking design
Reality is an illusion that occurs due to a lack of alcohol
Re: unbelievable car break in
This could be an urban myth.
I was told that the original Mondeos had the airbag accelerometer behind the front bumper. A sharp tap with a hammer released the central locks. Too hard and the airbags would go off
.
I was told that the original Mondeos had the airbag accelerometer behind the front bumper. A sharp tap with a hammer released the central locks. Too hard and the airbags would go off
.Pingu
Re: unbelievable car break in
Possible true, older renaults come with that system, so that in the even of an accident you don't get locked in
Reality is an illusion that occurs due to a lack of alcohol
Re: unbelievable car break in
I think all modern cars with central locking have such a system, however the car should not be "listening" to the impact sensor when the alarm is armed (or central locking deadlocked).
I have heard of this method being used to break into cars, but can't remember what models were involved. Clearly a design flaw in the electronics...
Cheers R.
I have heard of this method being used to break into cars, but can't remember what models were involved. Clearly a design flaw in the electronics...
Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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therealdb1
- Joined: Tue 25 Jun, 2013 21:47
- Posts: 263
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Re: unbelievable car break in
Never mind breaking in! In London I used to own a Jaguar XJR which parts would regularly disappear from. You know the sort of thing, £50 indicator lenses, £500 front grills.
I contacted the local constabulary to complain and the reply was "That's unusual, Sir. They normally only steal parts from BMW's!"
Guess what car I have now???
At least I am in rural Norfolk now!
The helpful Policeman continued by advising that I should park the car in a well lit place close to home. The thefts happened with the car on my driveway 6 feet from my bedroom window and 4 feet away from a street lamp before they used to get turned off overnight. This was particularly useful for the lowlife pre-owned parts dealers who could see what they were doing when stripping my car!
It eventually stopped when I put a CCTV camera on the house wall facing the car and a large poster in the windscreen stating that the car was being monitored and any evidence of theft wold be reported to the Police.
Sorry if this drifted off topic slightly but BMW owners of built up areas be warned and to the OP go for the camera and signage. These 'people' have no respect for YOUR property.
I contacted the local constabulary to complain and the reply was "That's unusual, Sir. They normally only steal parts from BMW's!"
Guess what car I have now???
At least I am in rural Norfolk now!
The helpful Policeman continued by advising that I should park the car in a well lit place close to home. The thefts happened with the car on my driveway 6 feet from my bedroom window and 4 feet away from a street lamp before they used to get turned off overnight. This was particularly useful for the lowlife pre-owned parts dealers who could see what they were doing when stripping my car!
It eventually stopped when I put a CCTV camera on the house wall facing the car and a large poster in the windscreen stating that the car was being monitored and any evidence of theft wold be reported to the Police.
Sorry if this drifted off topic slightly but BMW owners of built up areas be warned and to the OP go for the camera and signage. These 'people' have no respect for YOUR property.
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Southernboy
- Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
- Posts: 6437
- Location: Johannesburg
Re: unbelievable car break in
Interesting behavioural inclinations...In the UK they steal the parts...well mostly...
In SA, any car parked in the street is more likely to be stolen...then stripped at "chop shops"...and that applies day or night. I had a BMW 3 series brand (3000km) new back in 1989, stopped off for a pint after a golf game and that was the last I saw of it...including my clubs!! I reported the theft and the cop's response was that I shouldn't hold out any hope of recovery, and that I should steal one myself as a replacement...
There's obviously a difference in detective abilities between the two countries too !!
In SA, any car parked in the street is more likely to be stolen...then stripped at "chop shops"...and that applies day or night. I had a BMW 3 series brand (3000km) new back in 1989, stopped off for a pint after a golf game and that was the last I saw of it...including my clubs!! I reported the theft and the cop's response was that I shouldn't hold out any hope of recovery, and that I should steal one myself as a replacement...
There's obviously a difference in detective abilities between the two countries too !!
Re: unbelievable car break in
I am told that on the old Escort and Orion top of the range models with OEM alarm, the fuse could be blown by removing an indicator bulb and shorting the contacts. Set off the alarm deliberately and the fuse blows instantly as the indicators try to flash, with the effect that the alarm is disabled. Crafty little bits of information like that are gleaned by techies in the trade, I assume. I was once in the intruder alarm business and the were back ways through alarms known by designers. 
