New S3 and TTS Stolen today!

CraigI said:
M3 will likely be more desirable to car thiefs than the TTS or S3.

Nothing wrong with a Fiesta ST by the way.
Lessen the chance of the thieves striking again and have more fun at the same time.
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Yes you're probably right...how about:

XK-R,
Lexus IS F?
 
Zeb....my opinion for what its worth is firstly talk to a security specialist company or companies to get their professional advice and quotes. If you don't want bars on the windows or modifying the house too much physically then get a monitored alarm system which can be seen as installed from the exterior ie. motion activated lights, camera's that can see in the dark (glow red) and a sign clearly posted in the front yard with stickers on all the windows to say "this house is alarmed and monitored by xxxx". I know it sounds stupid, but after having the house monitored for a year you may even stop the monitoring and still having the stickers on the windows may be sufficient deterrent. However, as a must if you don't do the monitored alarm I would spend the money on either gates or electrically operated bollards which are a very visible physical barrier that they will see immediately when you come and go.
 
PanamaS3 said:
Zeb....my opinion for what its worth is firstly talk to a security specialist company or companies to get their professional advice and quotes. If you don't want bars on the windows or modifying the house too much physically then get a monitored alarm system which can be seen as installed from the exterior ie. motion activated lights, camera's that can see in the dark (glow red) and a sign clearly posted in the front yard with stickers on all the windows to say "this house is alarmed and monitored by xxxx". I know it sounds stupid, but after having the house monitored for a year you may even stop the monitoring and still having the stickers on the windows may be sufficient deterrent. However, as a must if you don't do the monitored alarm I would spend the money on either gates or electrically operated bollards which are a very visible physical barrier that they will see immediately when you come and go.
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All good advice and have explored all the options. I'm getting everything I can except i'm not sure whether the electric gates would work with our setting - it would be too close to the main road and getting in whilst waiting for the gates to open would cause a traffic backlog and so for this reason no one on my road has them and probably because they wouldn't get approved by local planning. Bollards are only good if the thieves don't get the keys to it and if they get the keys to the car it is likely the bollard keys will be attached to this anyway. The crux of this all is to stop the aggravated burglary in the first place because if they can't get into the house to get the keys than they can't drive the car away. However, they can use a pick up truck to tow the car or pick it up onto the back of a lorry. Bollards might help with towing but not necessarily pick up. Better to get a car that isn't worth the risk in time and extra resource for the thief if better gains can be had from newer performance audi's, mercs and bmw's. Maybe a Lexus IS F might get overlooked for these reasons by a pro thief! Who really knows...I can only try and mitigate the risk as far as possible...
 
Zeb358 said:
All good advice and have explored all the options. I'm getting everything I can except i'm not sure whether the electric gates would work with our setting - it would be too close to the main road and getting in whilst waiting for the gates to open would cause a traffic backlog and so for this reason no one on my road has them and probably because they wouldn't get approved by local planning. Bollards are only good if the thieves don't get the keys to it and if they get the keys to the car it is likely the bollard keys will be attached to this anyway. The crux of this all is to stop the aggravated burglary in the first place because if they can't get into the house to get the keys than they can't drive the car away. However, they can use a pick up truck to tow the car or pick it up onto the back of a lorry. Bollards might help with towing but not necessarily pick up. Better to get a car that isn't worth the risk in time and extra resource for the thief if better gains can be had from newer performance audi's, mercs and bmw's. Maybe a Lexus IS F might get overlooked for these reasons by a pro thief! Who really knows...I can only try and mitigate the risk as far as possible...
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I can't see why gates would cause a planning issue unless you live on a major road/traffic route. If you are in a residential area then waiting for someone to turn into their driveway for 20 seconds is not a traffic hazard or issue. I would talk to someone in your local planning and put this idea to bed first as sliding electric gates are a great deterrent. At the same time run this by aforementioned security companies as they can and should offer the best advice.
Don't let this stop you living the life you want to live! Get the RS3!
 
fair point...I'll investigate this option further, although I can see the neighbours seriously turning their nose up at it!
 
I've just placed an order for an S3 Saloon and this post is abit worrying. Very sorry to hear about your experience and I hope you get back to normality as quick as possible. It's my first performance car and I must admit I hadn't this issue any thought because I've never had a desirable car!
 
Zeb358 said:
fair point...I'll investigate this option further, although I can see the neighbours seriously turning their nose up at it!
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Screw the neighbours! Unless you are putting 10 foot gates that open with flashing orange lights and lorry reversing beepers then I'm sure they will be more understanding of your need to protect your new RS3! They may get 'Jone's' syndrome and want the same...but most probably they peek through their net curtains at you over their beige Allegro!
 
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PanamaS3 said:
Screw the neighbours! Unless you are putting 10 foot gates that open with flashing orange lights and lorry reversing beepers then I'm sure they will be more understanding of your need to protect your new RS3! They may get 'Jone's' syndrome and want the same...but most probably they peek through their net curtains at you over their beige Allegro!
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I think you will find the planning law is the gates need to be 5m back from the road and open inwards
 
Don't end up living in a prison. Do the normal stuff, secure windows, doors etc and have a house alarm thats on at night (linked to police if need be).

And keep your keys upstairs!
 
So here are the most poignant
Jay_A said:
Don't end up living in a prison. Do the normal stuff, secure windows, doors etc and have a house alarm thats on at night (linked to police if need be).

And keep your keys upstairs!
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Indeed, gates to driveway not doable. But retractable anti-ram bollards yes! Police advice is not to hide keys! This is to mitigate the threat of violence. These organised car gangs are tooled up and ready to take that kind of action in order to quickly get what they want and get out.

If you can't take reasonable measures against professional criminals (we're not talking about the opportunistic burglar here!) from breaking and entry then leave your keys in an obvious location far away from your bedside!

If the pro's (and these are very well organised and experienced career criminals who want to make big gains for their risk) can easily gain entry into your house you may as well let them have the keys without the need to confront them. The latter is not going to be far worse and the odds will be against you!

Any form of confrontation is an absolute last resort if you feel your life is in danger and I will be ready for that eventuality too. Nobody wants to be attacked/injured/killed over a car!

So my own primary goal is to secure my house from break-in in the first place as much as I can. Secure the drive and secure the car with additional security measures. In order for me and my family to feel safe I need to take whatever measures I deem necessary in order to create a feeling of safety and thereby reduce the fear. That's it!

I don't care what neighbours might think about my measures or anyone else for that matter. What matters is how I feel about the action I am taking now. We all have a responsibility onto ourselves to do whatever we got to do to "feel" safe. By taking all the necessary measures (I'm not going to list them all for obvious reasons) I am finally regaining confidence and control and making my family feel safe again.

Everyone else can do whatever they need or don't need - that's their own prerogative. I am merely reacting to what has happened and to my own perception of threat. Everyone has their own perceptions of threat.

I have been told by the experts that this is a problem issue which statistically isn't being reported the right way by the Police and Home Office. So it is not widely known. Normal burglaries are down but car key burglaries are on the rise and properly organised. The threat is real and current. Do your own research and assess your own level of security and what you feel comfortable with or not. Then make your own decisions and take necessary action. Don't bury your head...thinking it happens to someone else - like I did - to my detriment! That's my only regret!
 
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Y26 AUG said:
I think you will find the planning law is the gates need to be 5m back from the road and open inwards
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yes pretty much this.

planning for gates varies from one local authority to another, but it is very likely you would need planning and they would need to be set back from the carriageway with at least sufficient room for an average vehicle to pull up to the gates without obstructing the flow of traffic.
 
And as a good buddy of mine serving as a Police Officer for the last 25yrs tells me all the time...we live in a different world now, gone are the days of Dixon of Dock Green!
 
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I recall my mates dad who was an inspector in the police telling me that 4 door performance cars are more likely to get stolen over 3 door ones to be used in crime, due to the fact that they are easier to get in and out of in a hurry.

Makes sense when you think about it...no good doing a ram raid and then waiting for others to get in the back before you get in the front :)
 
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That's exactly what the Herts Intell car crime team told me.
 
Just read this and all I can say is "I am Gutted for you".... I know how you feel, I had my house broken in to a few years back. We had just moved in and I had not had a chance to have the alarm fitted or fasten my safe to the wall.

I worked in the Caribbean for a long time and collected watches and also had a rare Mont Blanc Pen set..... Long Story short over £50k worth of stuff was taken (and I only had minimal insurance).

I went through every emotion possible and even considered shuttering every door and window...... what made it worse was that we had an Idea who broke in to the house but the Police didn't have enough evidence to search the suspect's house!

All I will say is this...... You were not hurt! That's the main thing
 
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illingworth22 said:
Just read this and all I can say is "I am Gutted for you".... I know how you feel, I had my house broken in to a few years back. We had just moved in and I had not had a chance to have the alarm fitted or fasten my safe to the wall.

I worked in the Caribbean for a long time and collected watches and also had a rare Mont Blanc Pen set..... Long Story short over £50k worth of stuff was taken (and I only had minimal insurance).

I went through every emotion possible and even considered shuttering every door and window...... what made it worse was that we had an Idea who broke in to the house but the Police didn't have enough evidence to search the suspect's house!

All I will say is this...... You were not hurt! That's the main thing
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Thanks man...really sorry to hear what happened to you. Its the invasion more than anything that gets to me rather than the things we lose. And like you say we weren't hurt or confronted because I'm sure if that had happened my wife would not one to live in this house anymore.
 
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audi upgrades
I live in Herts and my keys stay upstairs with me. Someone must really want my car if they break in and have me chasing them around the house naked!!
 
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Hilarious! Picturing the scene in my head...:wtf:
 
Zeb358 said:
Thanks man...really sorry to hear what happened to you. Its the invasion more than anything that gets to me rather than the things we lose. And like you say we weren't hurt or confronted because I'm sure if that had happened my wife would not one to live in this house anymore.
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It is the fact that your space has been invaded...... I have never felt as much anger..... and to top it all the suspects were Roma Gyppos living 5 doors down the road. I felt like going round and torching the place!

And as for keeping the keys with you, a good friend of mine had his New RS6 stolen from the house a good few years back, the Police told him that they would have more than likely battered him had he woke up. When he went down stairs all the cushions from the sofa had been scattered around the room..... apparently this makes you pause for a second or 2..... more time for them to get away!
 
audi upgrades
yes it does - whether the gate open inwards or are sliding the outer curtailment of the gate is still in the same place.

different councils will require different distances dependant on the application of the gates.
 
I think I'm doing the right thing by spending the time and money securing the house and drive and the next car I might get. So I might as well get what I really want and then the only way left to take the car would be via a carjacking - which has to be the greatest risk of them all for a professional criminal who would want to avoid detection as far as possible.

Don't know yet...I might stay low for a while and gain some confidence with the security measures first and then see how I feel about my next car purchase.
 
Sorry to hear this mate. Most quick cars are stolen for use in robberies or false plates slapped on and used for criminal activities as they are quick a bit tasty for the scum. Normally but not always 4 doors - easier to get in and out quickly hence evo's made great cars for them to take a few years back.

They chanced it and it paid off, unlikely for sneaky scum to come and get keys, but if they do come to find you, then how many of us are in full awake fight mode at 3am against someone who is totally alert, ready and pumped up and to be sure with a weapon and very likely no too scared of some violent interaction - wouldn't be attacking you in your bed in the middle of the night otherwise. So, leave the keys on the upper stairs, if they get that far, they are willing to come all the way so let them go, it is a car, not a child and not worth risking injury or worse.

Beef up locks, get security lighting and have zone alarms fitted and USE THEM! that way if they try to get in they are going to have a harder job and then got to feel rushed and panicked with an alarm going full chat in the dead of night and EVERYONE now awake!! Most will just want to get the f*ck out of there asap. Again, the most determined who still keep going will find the keys at the top of the stairs.

They don't care about CCTV, waste of time, will more likely have you twisted anxiety constantly watching them to see who has been snooping at night or when you arent in. Posts on the drive imo are a waste, if you can put them down in a few seconds every morning, they can. I also think it makes you stick out more.

Be alert when heading home, or leaving the house, and always leave a gap in traffic and not sit wedged in, just in case you need to drive off.

Keep in mind they steal all sorts of cars, so just get what you want, have decent insurance on it, keep the house security tight and if you are unlucky that they try again, it will be harder for them and they will realise you are more alert and a harder target and move on.

Oh, and try not to come onto forums and blast loads of details of your car, especially with reg showing , you never know who is looking at your threads and the info you post across forums can often make it easy to find out about your and your location, what your cat does and doesn't eat etc hahah

Hope you can move on and get it behind you, you have been unlucky but don't let it spoil enjoying the nicer things.
 
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Hey Matts1. Thanks for your opinion. You make a lot of sense about the CCTV and I've given that more thought now with a view to probably dropping it. Probably drop the idea of anti ram bollards too...don't think I want to attract too much attention from the passer-by's on the road, as you said. However, I am convinced they do work and without a key I'm sure the bollards cannot be retracted into the ground. They are not the ones that drop over which admittedly would be easier to breach I think. Nevertheless, the bollards might cause unwanted attraction but if you have a couple of nice new motors that would cause attraction from the wrong element anyway. The bollards would simply act as a good deterrent and should stop any towing of the cars. Still a bit on the fence about the bollard. For me bollards would be a substitute for not being able to get gates to the drive. So I wonder why bollards might attract anymore attention than say gates...
 
Sounds like you are getting your head round things now Zeb.
Remember, it wasn't personal.....they would have taken the cars whoever lived at the house, if security made it worth the risk.
Which is why a small amount for cctv IS worth it. Will it make your house less secure? No. Will it make it more secure? Yes.
They don't like being filmed. It's why every town centre and shop has cctv.

Think like they do. It's just a job to them. Risk and reward.....like any business.

I moved house after our robbery - but we didn't like the house/area anyway. But it could happen at any house......thieves are mobile and will travel for what they want.

As for keeping keys by the bed. I still get a bad back to this day from having the bedroom door smashed onto me while trying to keep them out (sporting balaclava and stab vests).....and our keys were downstairs. But they thought they were in the bedroom.
They need to be somewhere visible, but not from outside. I wouldn't go top stair. Better off keeping them downstairs.

Good point about forum photos above. If you do insist on posting pics of your car on the net. Make sure Geo tagging is turned off on your phone and take pictures away from your house.
 
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The people want to be quick in what they do. They do not want noise or to be on site for any longer than they need be. It's almost impossible to run from a police helicopter. So any thing you do that increases the time to steal the cars or noise that will alert people will make them move on to the easiest target. To say if they want the car they will get it is too simplistic, they could but their main desire is to remain free. So noise lights or anything that causes the theft to take longer than a few minutes will help to make stealing your car too much of a risk. Sounds like your pretty well sorted.
 
steeve said:
The people want to be quick in what they do. They do not want noise or to be on ure site for any longer than they need be. It's almost impossible to run from a police helicopter. So any thing you do that increases the time to steal the cars or noise that will alert people will make them move on to the easiest target. To say if they want the car they will get it is too simplistic, they could but their main desire is to remain free. So noise lights or anything that causes the theft to take longer than a few minutes will help to make stealing your car too much of a risk. Sounds like your pretty well sorted.
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halegavin said:
I live in Herts and my keys stay upstairs with me. Someone must really want my car if they break in and have my chasing them around the house naked!!
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"Thief breaks into house - thief gets 'broken' in" Click to read more...
 
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Very interesting thread,

Zeb, really sorry to hear about what's happened - I simply can't imagine what that would feel like.

I've had my S3 a week and a half and have been thinking about upgrading security here. I have considered CCTV but what the guys in here have said is right - they wouldn't care. They'll have faces covered so it would be of a little use.

Anything you can do to slow people down, and alert as many people as possible is the best bet.
 
There are mixed views on cctv but one thing is for sure it can be more of a deterrent than not according to the research out there. And there's always some clue that can be gained from it's use in the firm of a suspects MORE clothes, markings etc...even when hood are worn and masks. It can be useful for evidence after the crime such as criminals snooping around in the day scoping out the situation before the commissioning of a crime. Or if a confrontation situation goes down outside or inside the house then you have evidence...

I wouldn't rule it out completely and I'm certainly doing my own research into its effectiveness etc...

Think of security as an onion...I heard someone put it. You should layer up your security in a different ways so combined it is a major hassle for any would be perpetrators and hopefully enough to put them off and go find an easier job elsewhere. It's all about risk and reward for them and this is the decision making process they all go through.

Just give them more than one thing to think about and overcome. I've now completed my own onion and have reached 8 different security levels/ measures/changes. And with that in mind I feel much more confident and soon i'll be happily looking to replace my stolen cars. I will be better prepared for next time, I hope!

One thing I've learnt now is not to give into fear caused by adversity because I was contemplating sacrificing the way I want to live or enjoy what I want. I've now chanelled that fear by taking all the necessary action I know best.
 
Zeb358 said:
There are mixed views on cctv but one thing is for sure it can be more of a deterrent than not according to the research out there. And there's always some clue that can be gained from it's use in the firm of a suspects MORE clothes, markings etc...even when hood are worn and masks. It can be useful for evidence after the crime such as criminals snooping around in the day scoping out the situation before the commissioning of a crime. Or if a confrontation situation goes down outside or inside the house then you have evidence...

I wouldn't rule it out completely and I'm certainly doing my own research into its effectiveness etc...

Think of security as an onion...I heard someone put it. You should layer up your security in a different ways so combined it is a major hassle for any would be perpetrators and hopefully enough to put them off and go find an easier job elsewhere. It's all about risk and reward for them and this is the decision making process they all go through.

Just give them more than one thing to think about and overcome. I've now completed my own onion and have reached 8 different security levels/ measures/changes. And with that in mind I feel much more confident and soon i'll be happily looking to replace my stolen cars. I will be better prepared for next time, I hope!

One thing I've learnt now is not to give into fear caused by adversity because I was contemplating sacrificing the way I want to live or enjoy what I want. I've now chanelled that fear by taking all the necessary action I know best.
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I can't stand predictive text! I didn't mean MORE! I meant MO - modus operandi
 
Why do people think cctv is not an extra deterrent?!?
Or maybe the thieves go out singling out houses with cctv so they can get caught on film, as it's less risky for them :/

Lots of 'pearls of wisdom' thrown about on car forums.

And lots of hard cases who are going to sort out the crims. Obviously a lot harder than Anthony Crolla.
 
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Reason I say cctv is not worth it is that when the scum see it they just put their hoods up and scarf across their face. A quick look on youtube will see endless clips of scum breaking in places littered with camera. Maybe a deterrent to some but not to the determined and those who would be deterred will be by lights, good locks, zone alarms imo. Camera's to me always make the owners look scared and trying to warn people off.

Bollards, if they have to come to get the keys, they can get the thing that drops the bollard. Not sure how many cars get dragged off the drive? Personally would rather a car was gone when I woke than having people running round my house after the remote.

Just my opinion, each to their own. Personally I would just beef up the general stuff, make it harder to access the property and be careful about where I leave keys and do stuff like not leave keys in locks where they can pop the glass and unlock the door, or not leave curtains open at night downstairs so that the scum can't be sure who or what is inside and where without breaking in, and when they do, you want them to have struggled to and made noise then be hit with a full blasting alarm going off waking the street up and security lights illuminating them.

If you have cctv, put it inside where they don't expect it so may have their faces uncovered and make it a crystal clear one as these scum in most case walk even when caught red handed so footage will need to be perfect.

When my mates evo was taken by force, smashed their way into the house with them sat on the sofa in the evening they got caught as their dna was in the car when recovered, their mates car was clocked parked outside at the time of the attack and yet they walked, didn't even get to court. In short, 'yeah I got a lift in the car, didn't know it was stolen, don't know the bloke drivings last name' and 'was just parked up taking a call, don't know nothing about a break in' . Ok, off you guys trot then.
 
Hot off the Press - Update from Police.

TTS was spotted by Police in Camden it had false plates but the distinct model and spec stood out like a sore thumb. Police tried to stop but had to give chase and lost the car. Some moments after Police found the car crashed and flipped over on its top! Suffice to say Police couldn't keep up with the TTS and it eventually lost control. Suspects got away on foot and still at large. Police found crash helmets and crow bars in the back seat - the scum were obviously tooled up to commit major crime with this fast getaway car!

So apparently the car is in a bad way, hopefully the damage will be deemed a write-off because I certainly don't want it back now!

Forensics are hoping to find enough evidence to link back to the suspected traveller gang that are known to Police for targeting these specific models and in the recent spate in Audi S3 thefts. After my own S3 was nicked two other S3's were reported nicked a few days later. S3's are flavour of the month for this gang!

Interestingly, and on this occasion my S3 wasn't used in the crime given its practical advantage (4 door saloon) over the TTS! But maybe my one will turn up but probably in much the sad way as the wife's TTS!

Police told me to get extra security on the house and driveway and on any future cars - such as pedal locks etc...

My advice to you is that if you have any S and RS models take extra care. Apparently these traveler gangs are known to Intell for stealing these specific models for use in crime. They are attracted by the performance and 4 wheel drive ability. BMW's and Merc's fish tail too much when being chased!
 
And I'm looking after my friends two massive boxer dogs! Giving me a lot of comfort right now as they bark and are ready to defend against anyone they don't know.
 
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