Stolen Wheels & Tires - advice?
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Tampa (Riverview), Florida
My Ride: Rides: 1992 525i (Sold), 2000 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab (Sold), Everett-Morrison Cobra - built 1998, 2005 Nissan Frontier Pick Up (daily driver)
I thought about that - the alarm had to have gone off - no one heard it enough to do anything and the hotel HAS CCTV, but stupidly enough, it is not monitored at night - the monitors are in the Mgr's office with the door closed and it is their "policy" that the front desk can't see what's going on in their own parking lot! WHY HAVE A CCTV THEN??? And also, the cameras are on the roof (7 stories high) so all you see is a car come in, park in front, two dudes get out, do the deed in 14 minutes and drive out. Can't see faces, can't see license plates, and since no one was monitoring this, they did it with impunity. The cops don't care. They tell me "call this number to get a written report in 15 days". They refused to dust the car for prints - they tell me "anyone could have touched the car.." Yeah, asshole, but two sets of prints on the four fenders would be a coincidence wouldn't it??
Thread Starter
New Members
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Tampa (Riverview), Florida
My Ride: Rides: 1992 525i (Sold), 2000 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab (Sold), Everett-Morrison Cobra - built 1998, 2005 Nissan Frontier Pick Up (daily driver)
Next time get a trunk monkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee3L9BQQ4Gs problem solved. LOL
Thread Starter
New Members
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Tampa (Riverview), Florida
My Ride: Rides: 1992 525i (Sold), 2000 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab (Sold), Everett-Morrison Cobra - built 1998, 2005 Nissan Frontier Pick Up (daily driver)
Thanks for all the replies guys. And yes, laving the car was stupid, but I'd been there a month and had had no problem. Of course, that gave these people ample time to plan and when they saw the car not move in 4 days, they made their move. Last week an SUV was hit - same hotel - they busted the passenger window and stole who knows what from it.
I bought a set of the BMW wheel locks that I will put in when the new set of M6 replicas come from ModBargains. Right now, I'm back on the OEM set that luckily I still had.
BTW, they damaged a lot of things while doing it - the whole thing, including the new wheels and tires and all the repairs cost my insurance almost 6K.
And I saw the 1-Series on the crate - what a sight! I feel if I had seen them and I had access to a baseball bat, or a tire iron I would have used it unrepentantly. Both my sills had to be replaced and the car put on the frame machine because they broke stuff underneath. Brake dust shields had to be replaced and so forth. They could have just left the car flat on the ground! Lesson learned!
I bought a set of the BMW wheel locks that I will put in when the new set of M6 replicas come from ModBargains. Right now, I'm back on the OEM set that luckily I still had.
BTW, they damaged a lot of things while doing it - the whole thing, including the new wheels and tires and all the repairs cost my insurance almost 6K.
And I saw the 1-Series on the crate - what a sight! I feel if I had seen them and I had access to a baseball bat, or a tire iron I would have used it unrepentantly. Both my sills had to be replaced and the car put on the frame machine because they broke stuff underneath. Brake dust shields had to be replaced and so forth. They could have just left the car flat on the ground! Lesson learned!
I thought about that - the alarm had to have gone off - no one heard it enough to do anything and the hotel HAS CCTV, but stupidly enough, it is not monitored at night - the monitors are in the Mgr's office with the door closed and it is their "policy" that the front desk can't see what's going on in their own parking lot! WHY HAVE A CCTV THEN??? And also, the cameras are on the roof (7 stories high) so all you see is a car come in, park in front, two dudes get out, do the deed in 14 minutes and drive out. Can't see faces, can't see license plates, and since no one was monitoring this, they did it with impunity. The cops don't care. They tell me "call this number to get a written report in 15 days".
They refused to dust the car for prints - they tell me "anyone could have touched the car.." Yeah, asshole, but two sets of prints on the four fenders would be a coincidence wouldn't it??
They refused to dust the car for prints - they tell me "anyone could have touched the car.." Yeah, asshole, but two sets of prints on the four fenders would be a coincidence wouldn't it??
Thats despicable though, they should dust for 4 identical prints! In fact, I doubt you'll find any other prints so low around the car anyway! D-bag cops!
Do you have the CCTV footage? Even though it's from high up, the make and model can be worked out (even if the footage is vague!), which is a start at least.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Boston,UK
My Ride: 2007 LCI 535SE Auto,Mtech Bodykit and Rear Spoiler, Blufin Chipped, 124 alloys,Space grey, Folding Mirrors, Black leather, Adaptive headlights, Pro nav, Bluetooth,Logic 7,Comfort access, USB, Adaptive Cruise, Lane Departure, Acoustic Solutions DAB, love my car!
Retired-2003 530SE, 124 alloys,Titan silver, Black leather, Adaptive headlights, Business nav, Mtech Bodykit & Rear Spoiler,-petrol with LPG
Here's my solution- gives slight peace of mind and costs about 50USD: I bought a GSMtracker off ebay, it can be set up to page any mobile phone when a break in/alarm occurs. Its using the same network as my mobile, As long as there's a phone signal where I park, if something happens I get a text. Obviously this is only useful if your nearby, most of the time you would be. (Easy place to pick up the alarm signal is the rear indicator). As an aside, the attitude of the hotel this occurred at sucks- a couple of years ago someone broke into my car in a hotel in Rome (apparantly UK plates= easy pickings plus tourist goodies), by the time I got down to it from the 4th floor, the doorman was charging round the car park with a seriously BIG baseball bat. Apparently he'd caught 2 people that year so far... The police there shake his hand too, unlike in the UK where he'd probably get a stiffer sentance than the low lifes.
Those are landscaping blocks I believe. They cost about $1 lol.
OP - Locks were a waste of money, go get your money back. There is nothing going to help you in the future. This was an inside job. If someone wants it, they'll get it. Just wondering what hotel this was because you mention you went on a trip and parked the car at the hotel when you went to airport. Noticed your location on your profile and TPA is about 35 miles away from you. A 4.5 hour drive? Not even the FL keys is that far! Where u going Atlanta?
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Thousand Oaks, California
My Ride: 2008 550i Jet Black on Black Leather, SAT with Paddles, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, NAV, Sport Package, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, Trinity 12W LED Angel Eyes, RPi GT Exhaust, M rear spoiler, ACS Roof Spoiler, Tinted Tail Lights, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 550i emblem, RPi Scoop, E60 Forum Cling, Mtec bulbs in fog lights, Mtec 2W LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, K&N Filter, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Blackout roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills.
Retired Rides - 1989 325i convertible, 1995 M3, 2002 X5, 2005 545i, 2008 X5 (Lemon)
I would still buy wheel locks, I know they won't stop a professional, but if they stop ONE amateur, they've more than paid for themselves!


