A very, very lucky escape

F30AM · 04-06-2014, 05:21 PM

Yesterday, Saturday, when I got home after a night out, I noticed that I had not locked my car. Five minutes later I had a knock on my door. It was the police. They told me that they had been called by my wonderful and caring neighbour who had seen a guy get into my car. This guy, who I am informed has mental health problems, had been arrested for the fourth time in the last 3 weeks. It seems he goes around the richer areas trying car doors and if they are unlocked, he steals anything worthwhile from these unlocked cars. As my car is always left clean on the inside, apart from BMW Instructions, nothing could be stolen. He never breaks any windows or damages anything: a very clean and tidy thief.

What a lucky escape that I attracted such a neat and tidy thief.

I did not sleep too well last night.

jusdorange · 04-06-2014, 05:23 PM

wow that's disturbing

I left my car unlocked overnight once (opened boot forgot to lock)

but no evidence of someone being inside

jusdorange · 04-06-2014, 05:26 PM

btw is there any way of getting the car going if they don't have the fob ??

F30AM · 04-06-2014, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jusdorange

btw is there any way of getting the car going if they don't have the fob ??

No. And besides I have a keycode immobiliser, called Key Guard.

....,,,,..,,.. · 04-06-2014, 05:35 PM

That is distinctly scary, bad enough someone trying to steal your car, however that is plain freaky.
Well done to your neighbour, hopefully suitably thanked with some red stuff :-)

I don't leave anything in car either, habit with coming from Newcastle.

teaston · 04-06-2014, 05:42 PM

Wow lucky escape!

I forget to lock mine sometimes, lucky nothing has happened!

Anyway, so you live in one of the "richer" areas do you!

....,,,,..,,.. · 04-06-2014, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Wow lucky escape!

I forget to lock mine sometimes, lucky nothing has happened!

Anyway, so you live in one of the "richer" areas do you!

Nothing Stalkerish about that comment at all ........

jusdorange · 04-06-2014, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Wow lucky escape!

I forget to lock mine sometimes, lucky nothing has happened!

Anyway, so you live in one of the "richer" areas do you!

I live in Kensington / Chelsea

I'm hoping they look at all the Arab / Russian supercars and leave my lowly 3er alone

FSE23 · 04-06-2014, 06:58 PM

well, I went to London visiting a friend of mine couldn't find a space to park my car. All the street around had several empty spaces but all for permit holders. I didn't want to risk my car to be towed away as we were going for holidays next morning. So I did several circles in the area which I don't know very well and finally decided to park a half of my car on double yellow line. Next day about 5:30am I walked to my car ......and it wasn't there. Just imagine my feelings and thought....I became breathless and speechless. Called the police first and then towing company but they did not have my car. My friends' son could not believe it and went to check whether my car really disappeared and came back shouting that it is there where I parked it

. Because the streets and houses look alike there I went one corner too close and got panic

while my car was just one corner further down the street. It took me a while to recover

Torquein · 04-06-2014, 07:31 PM

Blimey that was lucky! Be careful you may have used up all your luck for a wee while.

I went round to my brother in laws a few months ago and walking up their drive his wifes car was parked, driver door wide open, it was chucking it down and her purse was on the passenger seat. She'd pulled up the night before and left it like that! I was back there a few weeks later, same again - unreal!

MWA · 04-06-2014, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piono

well, I went to London visiting a friend of mine couldn't find a space to park my car. All the street around had several empty spaces but all for permit holders. I didn't want to risk my car to be towed away as we were going for holidays next morning. So I did several circles in the area which I don't know very well and finally decided to park a half of my car on double yellow line. Next day about 5:30am I walked to my car ......and it wasn't there. Just imagine my feelings and thought....I became breathless and speechless. Called the police first and then towing company but they did not have my car. My friends' son could not believe it and went to check whether my car really disappeared and came back shouting that it is there where I parked it

. Because the streets and houses look alike there I went one corner too close and got panic

while my car was just one corner further down the street. It took me a while to recover

that's funny.. Hope you didn't have to replace your pair of boxers that day

FSE23 · 04-07-2014, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWA

that's funny.. Hope you didn't have to replace your pair of boxers that day

No, just changed my shirt

from sweating

.

jaffab · 04-07-2014, 03:30 AM

I have left my car running - locked!!! Drove to sainsburys with wife, we both got out of car, I locked car and walked away, and then remembered I had not pressed the "Stop button".

So the car was sitting then, engine running, but locked, whilst I did my shopping.

Doh.

alex_chung · 04-07-2014, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaffab

I have left my car running - locked!!! Drove to sainsburys with wife, we both got out of car, I locked car and walked away, and then remembered I had not pressed the "Stop button".

So the car was sitting then, engine running, but locked, whilst I did my shopping.

Doh.

I left the car running a couple of times last week as well. Damm stop start

Alex

Torquein · 04-07-2014, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_chung

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaffab

I have left my car running - locked!!! Drove to sainsburys with wife, we both got out of car, I locked car and walked away, and then remembered I had not pressed the "Stop button".

So the car was sitting then, engine running, but locked, whilst I did my shopping.

Doh.

I left the car running a couple of times last week as well. Damm stop start

Alex

Does it not stop the engine completely when the key is more than a few feet from the car? That's a design flaw!!

jaffab · 04-07-2014, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JM7789

Does it not stop the engine completely when the key is more than a few feet from the car? That's a design flaw!!

Nope - or at least, mine doesnt. I was in the meat section of sainsburys, and that was a good 200 meters from my car.

Actually, the car (or I) must be breaking some kind of law having the car running and unattended. Its the reason BMW in Europe do not allow remote starting (or so I have have heard/read/made up).

F30AM · 04-07-2014, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Wow lucky escape!

I forget to lock mine sometimes, lucky nothing has happened!

Anyway, so you live in one of the "richer" areas do you!

Six zeros for a 3 bed house!

....,,,,..,,.. · 04-07-2014, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30AM

Six zeros for a 3 bed house!

You can buy some towns up here for that.

Moving from Cambridge to Wolverhampton was a bit of an eye opener lol.

teaston · 04-07-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30AM

Six zeros for a 3 bed house!

bloody hell, do you know what you could buy round here for that!!

Mind you up north is crazier, friend has just bought a brand new 5 bed detached in a nice area of Hull for a lot less than £300k!

Torquein · 04-07-2014, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaffab

Quote:

Originally Posted by JM7789

Does it not stop the engine completely when the key is more than a few feet from the car? That's a design flaw!!

Nope - or at least, mine doesnt. I was in the meat section of sainsburys, and that was a good 200 meters from my car.

Actually, the car (or I) must be breaking some kind of law having the car running and unattended. Its the reason BMW in Europe do not allow remote starting (or so I have have heard/read/made up).

Have you tried leaving it running, taking the keys in the house and then going for a spin? I'm going to see what mine does if no one else has/will try that, but it doesn't arrive for just over a week so can't give it a go yet.

The loaner e90 lci I have has stop start but it also obviously has a key slot so it won't stay running. I don't like the stop/start in this car though the 1.8d has a loud start up so people in traffic look at you as if you keep stalling

TouringPleb · 04-07-2014, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaffab

Nope - or at least, mine doesnt. I was in the meat section of sainsburys, and that was a good 200 meters from my car.

Actually, the car (or I) must be breaking some kind of law having the car running and unattended. Its the reason BMW in Europe do not allow remote starting (or so I have have heard/read/made up).

The offence is called 'quitting' and it's leaving a car running without someone licensed to drive it in it.

Torquein · 04-07-2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaffab

Nope - or at least, mine doesnt. I was in the meat section of sainsburys, and that was a good 200 meters from my car.

Actually, the car (or I) must be breaking some kind of law having the car running and unattended. Its the reason BMW in Europe do not allow remote starting (or so I have have heard/read/made up).

The offence is called 'quitting' and it's leaving a car running without someone licensed to drive it in it.

Wonder what the punishment is? Fine, points? Stolen car, no insurance

04-06-2014, 05:21 PM	#1
F30AM Major General 706 Rep 5,021 Posts Drives: F30 330d M Sport sDrive Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	A very, very lucky escape Yesterday, Saturday, when I got home after a night out, I noticed that I had not locked my car. Five minutes later I had a knock on my door. It was the police. They told me that they had been called by my wonderful and caring neighbour who had seen a guy get into my car. This guy, who I am informed has mental health problems, had been arrested for the fourth time in the last 3 weeks. It seems he goes around the richer areas trying car doors and if they are unlocked, he steals anything worthwhile from these unlocked cars. As my car is always left clean on the inside, apart from BMW Instructions, nothing could be stolen. He never breaks any windows or damages anything: a very clean and tidy thief. What a lucky escape that I attracted such a neat and tidy thief. I did not sleep too well last night. __________________ Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys
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04-06-2014, 05:23 PM	#2
jusdorange YOLO 440 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: #mw Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monaco iTrader: (0)	wow that's disturbing I left my car unlocked overnight once (opened boot forgot to lock) but no evidence of someone being inside
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04-06-2014, 05:26 PM	#3
jusdorange YOLO 440 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: #mw Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monaco iTrader: (0)	btw is there any way of getting the car going if they don't have the fob ??
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04-06-2014, 05:35 PM	#5
....,,,,..,,.. General 6733 Rep 20,651 Posts Drives: xxxx Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: xxxx iTrader: (0)	That is distinctly scary, bad enough someone trying to steal your car, however that is plain freaky. Well done to your neighbour, hopefully suitably thanked with some red stuff :-) I don't leave anything in car either, habit with coming from Newcastle.
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04-06-2014, 05:42 PM	#6
teaston Banned 10995 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	Wow lucky escape! I forget to lock mine sometimes, lucky nothing has happened! Anyway, so you live in one of the "richer" areas do you!
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04-06-2014, 06:58 PM	#9
FSE23 Major 256 Rep 1,442 Posts Drives: C63 AMG 2019 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	well, I went to London visiting a friend of mine couldn't find a space to park my car. All the street around had several empty spaces but all for permit holders. I didn't want to risk my car to be towed away as we were going for holidays next morning. So I did several circles in the area which I don't know very well and finally decided to park a half of my car on double yellow line. Next day about 5:30am I walked to my car ......and it wasn't there. Just imagine my feelings and thought....I became breathless and speechless. Called the police first and then towing company but they did not have my car. My friends' son could not believe it and went to check whether my car really disappeared and came back shouting that it is there where I parked it. Because the streets and houses look alike there I went one corner too close and got panic while my car was just one corner further down the street. It took me a while to recover __________________ Current: 2019 C63 AMG Selenite Grey Previous: 2017 C43 AMG Coupe Polar White 2014 F30 335d Msport MG with ACS springs 2007 E92 335i BS ultimate drive Last edited by FSE23; 04-06-2014 at 07:17 PM..
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04-06-2014, 07:31 PM	#10
Torquein Captain 27 Rep 647 Posts Drives: F30 330d M Sport sdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (0)	Blimey that was lucky! Be careful you may have used up all your luck for a wee while. I went round to my brother in laws a few months ago and walking up their drive his wifes car was parked, driver door wide open, it was chucking it down and her purse was on the passenger seat. She'd pulled up the night before and left it like that! I was back there a few weeks later, same again - unreal!
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04-07-2014, 03:30 AM	#13
jaffab Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 242 Posts Drives: F32 420d xdrive M Sport Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0)	I have left my car running - locked!!! Drove to sainsburys with wife, we both got out of car, I locked car and walked away, and then remembered I had not pressed the "Stop button". So the car was sitting then, engine running, but locked, whilst I did my shopping. Doh.
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