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Originally Posted by R35Bren
Unfortunately I think you're right, I'm a bit worried really so we will probably be moving to somewhere more secure next summer as we don’t even have double glazing or proper window locks where we are now. No garage either! What else can you do apart from alarm, tracker/engine cut off etc?
I remember when I was younger and how upset my Mum was when her XR3i got stolen one night and going with her to see the spot they torched it on a country lane after a joy ride. Not nice. Her pride and joy.
I'm 25, 6'3" 17st and know how to handle myself so won’t be making it easy for anyone but when it happens it happens fast and you have to remember these sorts of 'people' live in a world of violence. It all depends on how many of them are waiting for you in that multi-storey when you're walking back to your wheels alone.
My mate has just retired from 32 years traffic policing and says the going rate for most cars is £150 . . enough for the next fix. The druggy that usually steals the keys usually has a designated drop off point where the car will be left to see if it has a tracker before it is picked up. Bear in mind he might get a severe butt whooping if he comes back empty handed too.
In your home - I have it on good advice that legally the worst thing you can do is go after them with whatever weapon comes to hand, even if they have violated your space, crossed the line and put effectively put their lives in your hands. . . Don’t go sneaking around in the dark with your baseball bat/ice axe as most of the time they'll do a runner as soon as they know they've disturbed you . . . but he did say to shout "get the !"*"**!! out of my house!" (or whatever 'balls out' obsenity you can muster) from the top of the stairs. If they decide to take it to the next level you are quite within your rights to unleash hell on them (self defence) but it can’t be half hearted and when their down and out you have to have enough wits about you to stop or the balance steps back into their favour. One of my mates colleagues lost his job on the force after taking down a particularly nasty bloke, the first 5 blows with the baton were seen to be lawful but the last 2 were not . . .
There are 2 schools of thought. . . some people prefer to leave the keys ‘on the side’ downstairs so in the event of someone entering the house they can get the keys quickly and leave. On the other hand, most people with our sorts of marques tend to keep the keys closer to heart and its then when it turns nasty as you can imagine.
I don’t have kids but I dread to think how it would go down if my girlfriend was home alone. I don’t want this car to be a burden so having a tracker and auto engine immobiliser will provide piece of mind even if it does cost a grand. I really like the ADR (automatic driver recognition) card idea from Cobra5 and Tracker.
Sorry about the long post chaps but it’s something I feel quite strongly about. Dont have nightmares!
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Its a real threat, alot of the export cars are done via organised gangs rather than random druggies and they have a shopping list so to speak, your right in that they only get a few grand for the car but if they do a couple of week its still alot of money.
I know abit about it after having my saphire cossie stolen 3 times in a year, and the last time they cut the front of in a farmers field to steal the engine (later found fitted in a travellers p100 pick up truck ...). If i remember correctly within the first few months of starting the RS4 site we had one carjack on a M way (they bumped into him to get him to stop before lamping him) One stolen from a private house by nicking the keys whilst they slept and one stolen from a dealership as it was unloaded.
You have to be carefully with the hero stuff even if you fend of 3 of them at once its just as likely the fourth one will stab you in the back whilst your busy, there pretty much cowards and desperate. And then of course being the UK your gonna get nicked for violating there rights to steal your car and for assaulting them. I was told by a DS friend to get an old screw driver from a boot fare, one that doesn't match your tools, then stick there prints on it whilst there "sleeping" and swear to the police when they arrive the guy tried to kill you wil it. Pretty crap thing to have to do but they only way he could think of that you wouldn't get nicked for defending yourself, family and property.....
I will certainly be getting a tracker with hijack system on mine, there gonna have trouble following me home thou to find where i live lool