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Nov 12, 2006 23:13:11 GMT
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There is definitely something organised going on, no doubt more than one ring.
And my neighbours classic Mini went from right opposite my house (same street as my stolen Anglia Estate) AND it had an alarm AND immobilisor on it. So I'm really feeling sick that it will happen again if I get a new car and what can be done to protect it.
Assuming its been towed (which I think they have, either on a tow truck or winched into a van), I hope this is not too daft a question to ask but is it safer parked between two cars rather than with a large space at the front? On the night mine went (and also the Mini) we had both parked in spaces with no cars in front and the equivilent of a two car space (driveways) clear in front of us - did this make it easier to tow it out or can they get it out just as easily if its wedged between other vehicles? I hope this is not too daft a question to ask but do they need to tow it out so it rolls on the back wheels or can they pick it up the other way (ie. from the back so it rolls on front wheels? (with a steering wheel lock on?) On the 105speed.com site there is a thread about home-made tracker if anyone is interested. I had some other ideas along the same line - what about a pair of walkie talkies or a baby monitor with one placed in the car and one in your bedroom so you can hear your alarm go off (and everyone elses and the police sirens and the drunks and the cats fighting all night...) LOL. Is there nothing like ADT alarms for cars whereby if they go off police are automatically notified? Has someone invented an alarm which screams "Help my Anglia is being stolen" (insert any model) instead of just beeping like everyone elses? If not perhaps there's a gap in the market for any inventors on here (I want a cut if this is an original idea!).
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Nov 13, 2006 14:30:06 GMT
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As everyone ignores a car alarm nowadays maybe a siren that sounded like a woman screaming her lungs out would be noticed more? I'm sure I remember an experiment where a newish BMW was stolen with a lorry in broad daylight in London with the alarm blaring away and not one person paid any attention to it.
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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Nov 13, 2006 15:21:04 GMT
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Thats a good idea, novelty car alarm! No-one's gonna try and make off with a car which is emitting ear-splittingly loud brussells sprout fart noises or which yells 'F**K S**T W****R!' as it drives off the estate with 4 kids in. Saying that, the kids would probably like it and pick it out just to hear the alarm.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Nov 13, 2006 17:44:43 GMT
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Elizabeth - sadly, there are trucks which can just lift a car so parking is no real protection. I heard of someone having an Impreza stolen from their driveway. The thieves had to cut the handbrake cables on two other vehicles (including a van!) and pull them out of the way to get to the Scooby.
The FBHVC is looking into it. The best we can do is let them know about every theft with as much information as we can.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Nightmare.
What about parking right outside Streatham police station?
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I thought no one would make off with a red ford anglia - I mean its a bit obvious, has no street cred and doesn't go fast...obviously nothing is a deterrent these days.
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I think there are two problems here,.. 1) organised stealing, the number of VWs that goes missing is frightening. 2) Oppurtunistic stealing due to curse word theft protection.
We can do something about number 2) ,.. but it costs money and we need to know what is best to do,.. can you retro fit an immobiliser.. will it work?
As for 1) I have no idea, but joy riding, stealing for bangers and most of the petite stuff will be in the second lot.
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Nov 14, 2006 11:06:54 GMT
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By immobiliser, I was thinking of one of those simple "tap" type devices rather than complex electronics which will just go wrong all the time (as they did on my Rover 400 - the last modern I owned!).
number 2) is something everyone should do something about. Says he with three cars none of which have any security fitted at the moment...where did I put my stoplock?
Addressing number 2) doesn't have to cost a huge amount.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Nov 14, 2006 12:01:28 GMT
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good thread - its scary the amount of cars that are going missing!
surely the biggest deterent (sp) and easiest way to know where your car is is to fit a tracker??
I'm sure if we all got together we could organise a discount for RR members, or a large group buy or similar
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,513
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Nov 14, 2006 12:31:15 GMT
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A gang was convicted recently in my area of a massive organised car theft operation. Apparently there were very few 80's - 90's Mercs left in North London as they'd nearly all been lifted, taken to a yard where they would be stripped to component form within a couple of hours (ie before the owners would have even known they were gone) and sent abroad.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Nov 14, 2006 12:43:36 GMT
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A gang was convicted recently in my area of a massive organised car theft operation. Apparently there were very few 80's - 90's Mercs left in North London as they'd nearly all been lifted, taken to a yard where they would be stripped to component form within a couple of hours (ie before the owners would have even known they were gone) and sent abroad. I saw that. They worked scarily fast... Didn't make me very comfortable about parking my Benz in East London a few years back. There's not an awful lot that can be done to stop a car being Hi-Ab'd, apart from chaining it to the ground / locking it in a garage. The trouble is, if I saw a car getting Hi-Ab'd on the street, I'd just assume it was either the parking hitlers or a police subcontractor.
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Nov 14, 2006 13:47:36 GMT
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good thread - its scary the amount of cars that are going missing! surely the biggest deterent (sp) and easiest way to know where your car is is to fit a tracker?? I'm sure if we all got together we could organise a discount for RR members, or a large group buy or similar Can't we just make some "tracker fitted" stickers? ;D Not that they'll believe it if I stuck one on my ratty Metro... Ian
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
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Nov 14, 2006 20:43:42 GMT
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Something to think about in terms of car theft is the longer it takes them to be able to steal it, the longer they'll have to be rumbled, which is a deterrent in itself. What about a group buy on these: I use a variety of steering and gearstick locks more as a visual deterrent than anything else, but I'd really love a few of those as pretty much all steering locks etc. don't take a great deal of time to get around if you're so inclined. Another idea I like the sound of is a quick-release steering wheel boss!
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That doesn't fit round the standard steering wheel of an Anglia. Tracker stickers are a good idea (as long as the theives are not trawling these forums too). Interesting about that gang. Did it say how they got rumbled? The day after mine went my mum posted me a full two page spread on the extent of this problem from the West Australian in Perth. The police there have a dedicated motor squad full-time investigating just car thefts and there is a dob-in phone line if you suspect someone is operating an illegal chop-shop or midnight spares market near your house...it seems to be hardly a crime here. re the comments about NZ, there are a lot of old cars there but most are curse word. The Hillmans were popular in Australia but I'm not sure about Avengers. Has anyone heard of Maltese Joe and the Multitude of Old Ford Parts (of West Norwood, ie. a mile away from mine)? He has a veritable cavern of parts in there, rooms and rooms stacked floor to ceiling in order of what they are, just like a library. Alas, no complete maroon estates . A tip off from Stan the Volvo Man who has a yard next door saw him paid a little visit by me. Apparently he does the rounds of the classic car shows so maybe people have seen him? Mostly old curse word stuff but he says he ships stuff by the containerload to Ireland and Australia. (Also Stan has a bloke who buys Volvos off him for shipping to Africa). On the day in question said Joe could not resist chatting me up and invited me for a drink. The interesting thing about this (apart from the fact that nobody's chatted me up for about 8 years being as I'm married and (almost) 40) is the place where he invited me - the Bedford Park in Streatham High Road, right round the corner from mine. If you get an AZ and pick a route down from his yard in Auckland Hill to the Bedford Park it would see you looking for a parking space right about our road. Not meaning to suggest anything at all here...
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A guy I knew had a large metal ring concreted into his driveway as an anchor and a bloody great chain round the front towing eye of his MK2 RS Turbo. Not sure if he ever forgot to take it off before taking it for a spin though.
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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What about wheel clamping ones own car? As in the London Police Clamp on www.parkingcontrol.co.uk? Or is that an open invitation for the police or council to tow it away? (especially if you park it outside the police station thinking it will be safer ...)
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Nov 29, 2006 19:53:43 GMT
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I think the 2cv's gear change is enough deterrent for any car thief, that and the fact I would find them and have their kneecaps blown off
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Nov 30, 2006 16:21:30 GMT
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Not so sure Mike. Remember when Aidan's Dyane was used as a get-away car after they raided his works premises?! Very sad.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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425ci
Part of things
Posts: 518
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I think this is a good idea, but I'm not convinced that a lot of the people you would turn to for information on the cars aren't actually criminals themselves.
A website that EVERYONE was made aware of might be a good idea, then details of the stolen retro/classic cars could be posted on there. I think it would only stand a chance of working if it was really well publicized and all the clubs and organizations actively supported it.
Mike
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Current vehicle: Mountfield Mirage 3.5hp (18" cut)
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I have two words for you ... MORTICE LOCKS. Yep, my central heating broke down and Peter the boiler man turned up to fix it today and as he usually drove a Austin van in previous years I mentioned my anglia's disappearance and commented on his newly acquired ex-BT white Ford Van, where upon he showed me the mortice locks he's had fitted at a cost of £600 by France Security! They really are most impressive and the mother of all locks. I wonder if anyone else has come across this idea or he is some kind of eccentric (he is a bit eccentric) since you could have 3 trackers for the price of this!
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