I hate to say it, but thats the UK for you.

 

Add some real security measures to your house - not just passive stuff like lights outside - locks. Take the example of a friend.

Its common nowadays for cars with high security that the theif steals it by taking the keys. On another forum i was a member of, someone had their subaru stolen by someone breaking into the house, and waking them up, and threatening for the keys. So, hearing of things like this, my friend put his keys on a hook in the kitchen. If a theif wants them he can take them. And that is exactly what happened. First my friend knew was that all the lights were out in the house. That was caused by the theives cutting the power cables to the external security lighting. They took both cars - a ford mondeo ST diesel and a 2 month old renault clio. The Mondeo was found 200 yards up the road, abandoned (a theif with taste? ) and the clio was chased down by the police, forced off the road and the guy was arrested and did time for it. Interesting thing was although the police pushed the car off the road with theirs, causing 50% of its value in damage, they were not liable! The 2nd theif with the mondeo didnt get charged as they couldnt prove he had been driving the car as he had discarded the keys. The fact he was yards from the car, and 30 miles from where he lived didnt count in court!

So, what I do is to take the keys upstairs each night, and have fitted locks to all the downstairs doors, locked from the hallway. Anyone that gets inside my house will need to make a hellava row to get into any populated part of the house. Hopefully they give up, or i call the police whilst they are trying to sort out the locks.

 

[quote name='bruce_miranda' date='Mar 5 2008, 08:07 AM' post='539912']

Sorry mate

Bet they "cool off" for a month or two then it will be ebay as you are looking at least 800 -1000 with good tyres.
probably sold be someone who has no idea where they came from via a mate.

Enough Said like you been considering some better wheel bolts over for a bit

Going to order some Mcguards for my 19" 125s these are somewhat rarer still cost a fortune - the Tyre cost alone is worth it.
Mine sits at airports and train stations so its a likely victim.
plus the wifes golf needs some.

My solution to this uk wide social issue is somewhat radical
Remove some essential body parts so they cant breed, and give them 2 months breaking, carrying rocks on a wet remote island no music, or drugs etc. quadrupled if they ever offend again. Too soft on scum these days.

MAE60D
2006 525D SE Mtech and 19" 125s

 

Sorry to hear about this - but at least its made me order a set of McGards after reading lots of comments on here, as I really don't want the inconvenience and financial loss of having my 172s nicked from my Touring. Could prove ?35 well spent IMO. Hope you get a prompt resolution. Anything that acts as a deterrent should move them on to an easier target..... Keep a high-voltage cattle prod under your bed for when you need to go rustling villains.

 

ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Just got my car back from the garage today. Its now got a set of brand new M172 wheels and tires so I'm happy again. The insurance didn't make a fuss at all with the wheels and because I'm on a fixed 3 year insurance deal my premium is unaffected too.

I was quite pleased at the service I received from my insurer's garage. The service I received there was absolutely top class. Way way better than my BMW dealer. They even fixed a small dent I had on the car that I had not noticed, saying "we told the insurance company it was caused in the incident ".

They even got me the original BMW McGard's style locking nuts telling me that the standard locking nuts from BMW were not very secure (as I now know). They even replaced all the nuts with brand new ones and said new wheels need nice looking nuts too.

When I went in with the pair of McGards nuts today they were all pleased that I was taking security very seriously. Lastly they assured me that all their work was covered under warranty for Life. He said that I was great help by leaving the cut out from the accessories brochure with the wheel style on it on the passenger's seat - I apparently made their job a lot easier by giving them the actual BMW part numbers.

The guy behind the counter left me saying "Those are brilliant cars to drive, unfortunately the theives know so too, so take care".

All in all, this incident was brought to a nice end. Now all I need to do is get some black paint put on the 2 chrome McGards nuts.

 

Sounds like a top-notch place! Glad all is well and back to normal.

 

+1. good to hear youre happy again

 

Great News Bruce !!

 

Glad to hear everything worked out Bruce

Now if we could just have a few minutes alone with the thieves

 

Good to hear everything worked out well.

By the way, may I ask which insurance company & repairer it was (only asking as my ins is up for renewall shortly & I wouldn't mind signing up to the same insurer )