Stolen car advice.

[Byron.shepherd]

Hi Chaps,

I need to pick a techie's brains please.

One of my cars was stolen yesterday. It was parked behind my car. However, in my glove compartment I have a spare set of keys to that car. Somehow they have gained entry to my car, then thoroughly went through it and then stolen the other car with those keys.

For ref, the other car is less than a year old and is also a Merc.

Back to my car - there are no signs of forced entry. However, there were smudges marks all over the body work (i.e. against the dirt - I haven't used the car in 5 days, i.e. over Christmas). The car could not have been left unlocked as the 15sec auto lock ensures that can't happen. In any case, the car was left locked when I went back to it - the lock must have re-engaged after the entry?

Interestingly when forensics came we shut the car when finished and I tried to lock it with the swab. However, it wouldn't lock. So I opened the door and re-closed it and then it locked. However, when it locked the electronics sounded like they were a bit screwy. So I reopened the car and then re-locked it and everything re-engaged just fine.

So - the upshot is twofold: A) how the hell have they got into my car? B) why didn't they steal it given the hassle they took to get into it? More interesting is that I had a number of valuables left in my car that they left and didn't steal. My boot for example had valuables and despite them turning the entire boot inside out they didn't steal the valuables. Could the car have been stolen to order?

I must say, and I'm sure that this comes as no surprise, that the local police have just been awful and disappointing at everything. Forensics assured me that this couldn't happen and then expressed complete surprise when the car initially wouldn't lock via the swab.

Practicality wise what do I do next? Get my car checked over by a garage?

This has taken me all a bit by surprise... My car is a 2002 Merc C180 Sports Coupe. I do wonder if they were going to steal my car originally and then thought, nah - steal that one instead.

Any advice would be appreciated. The whole thing stinks and I'm left questioning everything. I do have some 'travellers' that have moved into my street recently and I swear they're selling drugs out of that house. I would not be surprised if it was one of their 'customers'...

Thanks.

 

[paul hayward]

sorry to hear the news

 

[teabag]

You need to find out exactly how they gained entry without leaving any evidence as this will have serious implications on any insurance claim for the theft of the other vehicle.

If I were a cynical insurance loss adjuster, my first thoughts would be that you had left the keys in the car which was stolen and are now trying to cover this by fabricating a story about the keys being in the other car.

 

[Gkinghorn]

Not good. A mistake keeping keys to one car in the glove box though. Wonder how insurance will view that?

Sounds to me like they somehow forced something open and with you doing an open/close etc a couple of times it has reset everything and assume its fine now?

My experience of travellers is sadly one where I don't trust them an inch ..crime rate in our area goes through the roof when these mobile thieves move in to an area and I am sure they are pretty adept at getting into cars .. Very opportunist though in the main ..

I would simply check your car is locking as it should and put it down to a bad experience though unless you suspect some damage has been done...

And get some CCTV for your drive.... It's what I did ..plod now comes to see me when crimes rise locally and we review the pictures together .... So far we nailed 4 of the beggars ...all gypo's .... 'Nuf said...

 

[Byron.shepherd]

I assure you all this is 100% entirely legit... I couldn't have made this up if I tried.

I appreciate how it looks but even if I had left the keys in the car it would have self locked with the 15sec lock system - and I assure you - we had the car key with us... we are both willing to swear to that in any court of law.

I just really want to know how they have done it - is everyone at a loss?

And a couple of things have gone from my car - iphone (works) and itouch - but Sat Nav was left? It's old mind you.

 

[Andy.M]

Any chance it's an "inside" job from your own household/family ??

 

[teabag]

I am sure you are legit and am not insinuating anything other, I just think you will need concrete proof that this is what happened as there is no sign of any forced entry the insurance company will probably be extremely suspicious. This is why I said you need to find out exactly how they gained entry and have this documented as evidence.

Hope all goes well anyway.

 

[lwbnick]

why didn't they steal it given the hassle they took to get into it?

Because they found a set of keys for the brand new Mercedes parked behind it?

I doubt your insurance company will be to amused by this.

 

[television]

If a car has just been driven to the house shall we say the car will not just self lock after X time has passed unless some option in the car.

Secondly if a car has been unlocked via the remote and a door not opened, then the car will lock again.

If the car was unlocked and a door opened, and then closed again the car will not self lock again.

 

[Byron.shepherd]

So basically everyone thinks I have not locked my car and have left the keys in it - and no one knows how they gained entry to my car...

 

[Gkinghorn]

All we are doing is pointing out some factors around this. Given this info does it bring any thoughts to mind?

I left mine unlocked once , berated myself for it for long enough after it... Sh#t happens sadly..

 

[tode]

So basically everyone thinks I have not locked my car and have left the keys in it - and no one knows how they gained entry to my car...

As Teabag said, in the absence of any proof to the contrary, your insurance will certainly suspect that the first car was left unlocked, allowing the thieves to take the keys to the second.

Did the police not find any trace of effraction?

 

[Naraic]

So basically everyone thinks I have not locked my car and have left the keys in it - and no one knows how they gained entry to my car...

Just to clear things up, and for the sake of clarity, you said..." The car could not have been left unlocked as the 15sec auto lock ensures that can't happen."

Does this mean that the last time you got out of the car you pressed lock on the fob? Or that you did not press lock on the fob? If the latter...you left the car unlocked I'm afraid.

 

[The Pan Man]

I thought the 15 sec lock thing was when you are moving, and not when stationary.

 

[Gkinghorn]

If you unlock the car and don't open a door it relics in about 40 seconds... Auto lock as you move off takes about 15 seconds ...then you open the door to get out and it won't lock again until you lock it with the key...

 

[EmilysDad]

.... Auto lock as you move off takes about 15 seconds .......

Depends how long it takes you to reach 10mph(?) ..... it's a speed related thing, not time.

 

[Byron.shepherd]

Engineers at work say that they have had a look at the car and it appears that they have put a wire down the window thingy. Apparently if you know which wires etc to pull on you can pop the door on those Mercs pretty easy. This is from an ex-Merc specialist.

I work for an insurer so I know all the cons people make. This is 100% genuine issue. Everything is as described.

In any case, I know the car was locked - that was all I am saying. The self-lock thingy is just my double sure it was locked type thing.

 

[Gkinghorn]

If you work for an insurer why on earth did you leave keys to another car in the glove box though? I don't know anyone who does that...

 

[Gkinghorn]

Depends how long it takes you to reach 10mph(?) ..... it's a speed related thing, not time.

Never less than 15 seconds ..clearly

 

[d215yq]

I'm sure if the thief is careful/professional enough they can break in without any damage. My old man'd passat had this happen to it, screwdriver in the passenger lock and with a certain technique all 4 windows wound down autmoatically..the lock was never replaced and the only tell tale sign was the windows being down and the man at VW explaining this is what happens.

There may well be some weakpoint on your Merc. You need to be careful when talking to the insurers, saying it was definitely locked, etc and not saying "i thought it would lock itself" as that is just asking for a refused claim.

Surely if it was locked in the car then you can claim as its reasonable to leave keys in a locked vehicle much as its reasonable to leave them in a locked house?