2 Black Audi S4 Avant's stolen last night, Epsom area

Russboy

Russboy

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Both from the Epsom area, both didn't have keyless entry and the keys weren't taken. So they either broke in and went through the OBD port (I guess?) or they just lifted them.

One had the reg '*******' and the other was a 2010 with reg plate '********'. The second one is a guy I work with, went to warn him my neighbours was stolen last night and he said so was his!!

I suspect the only reason I still have mine is because it wasn't parked on my driveway last night due to building works, was hidden up the road at my Dads house!!
 
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****** hell not great!!!
im in bromley so not far off!
 
One of the reasons I switched the grey standard S4 grill (which I always hated) to the standard S-Line gloss black (as well as looking nice in my opinion) was the fact from the front when parked just looks like a normal A4 (has a basic Quattro badge). I was even thinking of switching the pipes to single to black ovals to go even more incognito!

And I'm staines so not far either!!
 
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OBD ports should be disabled when not in use or moved on these cars at the very minimum. It is so easy to do.

And they are so easy to steal if you don't.
 
*****, in Ashtead! But mine spent the night at Driftbridge Audi as "something went wrong" with the 24DP recall
 
And said:
Trackers?
Click to expand...
Anyone got any recommendations for trackers? Back in the day many years ago I had one put on an Elise that cost a fortune... Some of the plug and play type devices where you just need a basic Sim card look appealing....
 
ToadConsulting said:
Anyone got any recommendations for trackers? Back in the day many years ago I had one put on an Elise that cost a fortune... Some of the plug and play type devices where you just need a basic Sim card look appealing....
Click to expand...

Yep, this is starting to change my thinking on the necessity of having a tracker fitted!

As it happens i'm toying with the idea of selling my S4 anyway, so think i'll take it back to standard just in case it does get nicked!
 
ld2130 said:
*****, in Ashtead! But mine spent the night at Driftbridge Audi as "something went wrong" with the 24DP recall
Click to expand...

Apparently Drift Bridge Audi had an interior nicked from a car on the forecourt as well last night, don't worry it was from a Golf.
 
Russboy said:
Yep, this is starting to change my thinking on the necessity of having a tracker fitted!

As it happens i'm toying with the idea of selling my S4 anyway, so think i'll take it back to standard just in case it does get nicked!
Click to expand...
The small units were you could just get a cheap gift gaff SIM (or the likes) and plug it in through USB or hard wire in and hide does seem the may to go for less than the cost of a tank of fuel I may well do.
 
Also how do you disable the OBD port? And how do they get to it, smash the window?
 
ld2130 said:
Also how do you disable the OBD port? And how do they get to it, smash the window?
Click to expand...

Yes, guess they smash the window.

Somebody on here is selling a dummy OBD port. You connect into the original and hide that in the dash and a false is in the OEM position, to the theif they are none the wiser, but it doesn't have the ability to connect into anything important.
 
You can disable the port by removing the fuse for it... no power, no port.

I am selling the dummy port as I ended up with 2 of them(LINK)

All is designed to cost them time as it takes less than 60 seconds to gain access(windowsmash) plug in their device to code a fake key and drive off.


For ford cars but just as easy on the Audi.



focus RS gone in 60 seconds






Fuse locations for Audi(LINK) I think they call it "diagnostic connector" though I think if they carry a battery they can get around the no fuse thing so I would recommend the dummy port option and moving/hiding the port. They need to rip the dash apart to sort that and while I'm not saying its impossible I would love to see that done in the dark through only the window as access. Match that to a simple and cheap steering lock and they need power tools and lots of patients.... and they deserve your car as a reward if they get all this done.
 
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Just picked my car up from Audi Epsom after recall and mentioned this to them.
They said the Epsom VW dealer, had an R32(?) seats removed from it on the forecourt last night as well. :fearscream:
 
ld2130 said:
Just picked my car up from Audi Epsom after recall and mentioned this to them.
They said the Epsom VW dealer, had an R32(?) seats removed from it on the forecourt last night as well. :fearscream:
Click to expand...

Yep, I posted the same up above (well generically anyway), must have been targeting the area. Hopefully that means they'll move on, although I expect it's far more likely i'll get pulled over soon now.
 
Russboy said:
Yep, I posted the same up above (well generically anyway), must have been targeting the area. Hopefully that means they'll move on, although I expect it's far more likely i'll get pulled over soon now.
Click to expand...

Doh, sorry missed that
 
ToadConsulting said:
Anyone got any recommendations for trackers? Back in the day many years ago I had one put on an Elise that cost a fortune... Some of the plug and play type devices where you just need a basic Sim card look appealing....
Click to expand...

Have a google for Automatrics. Self install, very small & discrete unit that is self powered. Very easy to hide in a car or plant machinery etc.

Have a look at there recovery videos on Youtube aswell.
 
Automatrics looks good... Then you see the monitoring cost. I don't need it monitored until it gets nicked so I really hate these monthly subscription devices.

Plenty of options that will show you a location on Google maps... You never know I might want to find it first before the police turn up.
 
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MuPPeT_ON_TouR said:
You can disable the port by removing the fuse for it... no power, no port.

I am selling the dummy port as I ended up with 2 of them(LINK)

All is designed to cost them time as it takes less than 60 seconds to gain access(windowsmash) plug in their device to code a fake key and drive off.



Fuse locations for Audi(LINK) I think they call it "diagnostic connector" though I think if they carry a battery they can get around the no fuse thing so I would recommend the dummy port option and moving/hiding the port. They need to rip the dash apart to sort that and while I'm not saying its impossible I would love to see that done in the dark through only the window as access. Match that to a simple and cheap steering lock and they need power tools and lots of patients.... and they deserve your car as a reward if they get all this done.
Click to expand...


There are 2 fuses I believe on the side fuse box panel on the passenger side. I remove my fuses, although admittedly I've left them in the past few weeks whilst messing about with Carista. I also have a 'OBD is disabled' stickers which I hope is a bit of a deterrent.

I did read some time ago, something along the lines of if a thief broke into the car from the drivers side, realized the fuse was missing for the OBD port, they would have to open the passenger side door to put the fuse in, which would trigger the cars alarm. Although my story may be a little off, as surely the alarm would go off upon the initial break in. This was for cars like mine that didn't have keyless entry. So you would literally have to get into the car and plug a computer into the OBD port in order to clone a key which is used to then start the engine.

Hopefully the stolen cars are found..
 
metzer_001 said:
There are 2 fuses I believe on the side fuse box panel on the passenger side. I remove my fuses, although admittedly I've left them in the past few weeks whilst messing about with Carista. I also have a 'OBD is disabled' stickers which I hope is a bit of a deterrent.

I did read some time ago, something along the lines of if a thief broke into the car from the drivers side, realized the fuse was missing for the OBD port, they would have to open the passenger side door to put the fuse in, which would trigger the cars alarm. Although my story may be a little off, as surely the alarm would go off upon the initial break in. This was for cars like mine that didn't have keyless entry. So you would literally have to get into the car and plug a computer into the OBD port in order to clone a key which is used to then start the engine.

Hopefully the stolen cars are found..
Click to expand...

Spoke to both owners yesterday, one late last night. They don't expect to see the cars again.

They will be parked up somewhere on fake plates for a couple of days in case trackers are fitted. Then if the cars aren't lifted by the Police they'll take them away and either break them, or more likely change their identity fully and they'll go abroad.

I'm now wondering if I even should keep mine. More than likely will, but going to go old school with a steering wheel lock for now I think. Building a new house next door, but once finished our drive will need to be re done as it's ruined (to be honest it was a mess with a mixture of concrete and stone anyway as we knew the building works would destroy it so never spent any money on it).

Think we may incorporate some posts at the end of the drive as an extra safety measure. After all on our drive and in the 2 garages we have the S4, Honda NSX, 3 classic minis - one of the last coopers, a pick up and a van, so there's a lot their to protect.
 
metzer_001 said:
There are 2 fuses I believe on the side fuse box panel on the passenger side. I remove my fuses, although admittedly I've left them in the past few weeks whilst messing about with Carista. I also have a 'OBD is disabled' stickers which I hope is a bit of a deterrent.

I did read some time ago, something along the lines of if a thief broke into the car from the drivers side, realized the fuse was missing for the OBD port, they would have to open the passenger side door to put the fuse in, which would trigger the cars alarm. Although my story may be a little off, as surely the alarm would go off upon the initial break in. This was for cars like mine that didn't have keyless entry. So you would literally have to get into the car and plug a computer into the OBD port in order to clone a key which is used to then start the engine.

Hopefully the stolen cars are found..
Click to expand...

From what I've read, mainly on this forum, the security issue on all/most cars or at least these cars is that the FOV or field of view of the interior monitoring/movement sensor is extremely limited and so there are blind areas and these include the exact area where a proper thief would restrict their messing around/reaching the OBD2 port - so game over it seems as far as the alarm being triggered. That is why if the OBD2 port was located where it used to be in the centre console area, the alarm would always trigger - but regs have changed and the OBD2 MUST be located very close to the driver's seat - so this sort of weakness has been introduced.

Edit:- I'm still amazed/confused as to why some nasty people are still targeting these cars at the age they are now, I've always felt that my B8 S4 ownership has been blighted by this - not good! OBD2 blocker fitted and DiskLok fitted but still I worry when I leave it in "strange" places. My wife's Polo gets used for about 10K miles a year and my S4 for about 2K miles a year - if security/theft risk was a lot lower these cars would get probably used for 7K miles and 5K miles respectively!
 
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I relocated my OBD port into a solid locked steel box, hopefully enough deterrent for the blaggard to scarper when he finds the port "missing" .
These were produced by "protectavan" but they seem to have stopped making them for cars.


S l1600
 
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MuPPeT_ON_TouR said:
Automatrics looks good... Then you see the monitoring cost. I don't need it monitored until it gets nicked so I really hate these monthly subscription devices.

Plenty of options that will show you a location on Google maps... You never know I might want to find it first before the police turn up.
Click to expand...

The issue with the "plenty of other options" is that the signal they emit can be scrambled, and also scanned & found within the vehicle & removed/disabled. Even factory fit Sim card based systems.

As is the case with many thefts, the tracking system goes dead within minutes of the theft location because GPS tracker jammers are readily available for literally pennies.

The Automatrics system transmits in several ways making it hard to find without the correct equipment. The same equipment plod use. This is why its a Thatcham category 7 tracker NOT the usual cat 6.

But i suppose it depends on how much you value your car.

Would you leave thirty grand cash sitting on your driveway unprotected? Not a chance. So why leave a £30k car there instead?

Prime example in the picture below... 3 stolen nearly new BMWs only found because a member of public noticed them. On board nav systems disabled so no way to track them.

Screenshot 20190404 205059
 
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audi upgrades
The point that CarbonMike makes is an important one for anyone considering fitting a tracking device.

All GPS and GSM (Sim card) dependant trackers can be blocked using some cheap electronics purchased off the internet. This is what the professionals/steal to order crowd are using to defeat tracker devices. The only exception is the original Tracker solution which is not reliant on GPS or SIM cards, and uses VHF radio tracking technology installed in all uk police cars.

If your using GPS/Sim based tracking devices then you should consider additional protection including Autowatch Ghost (lots of discussion already in the forum) other intelligent immobilisers and physical barriers.

It’s interesting and disappointing, that the SMT recently criticised some Thatcham car security findings which highlighted increasing thefts of vehicles fitted with smart locking. Seems to me the manufacturers themselves are contributing to this epidemic of thefts and failing to address the situation.

Frankly it ****** me off that after spending £65k on a car, I then have to spend additional £££ in an attempt to ensure it stays on my driveway!
 
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If you go the route of a tracking system always opt for a system that ALSO uses RF & VHF frequency.

As i mentioned, the Automatrics Mtrack uses these along with I belive the original Tracker system too.

Also, its a total myth that shipping containers block out bound digital & analogue signals.

Having been a victim of car theft twice (2004 & 2007) id never depend on a single layer of security, add as much as you can in my opinion/experience.
 
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Unfortunately it does sound a bit like Thatcham and others maybe also Lloyds and some other "reg'd guardians" of standards are being found not to be doing exactly what it expected of them, ie being more commercially aware than doing "what it says on the tin" with respect to what is expected of them. (maybe add the FAA into that grouping as well in the way that they cleared the 747 max aircraft for flight.)
 
I'm looking at slighly less technical methods to stop the car being stolen for now. Instantly thought Disklok, but then read Auto Express's review and to my surprise they recommend a stoplock pro:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/95031/best-steering-wheel-locks

Tempted on getting on, can be had for around £37 if you shop around and chuck on one of these cheap and cheerful numbers as well:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/4167ReYEMvL.jpg

Guess it's all about slowing them down as much as is possible. Eventually if they want to steal your car and they have time, they will get it.
 
It is exactly about slowing them down and making stealing another car more appealing than taking yours. The old fashioned physical devices while even they can be overcome in just 5 minutes it does mean 5 minutes of power tools and that should help to put them off taking yours.
 
MuPPeT_ON_TouR said:
It is exactly about slowing them down and making stealing another car more appealing than taking yours. The old fashioned physical devices while even they can be overcome in just 5 minutes it does mean 5 minutes of power tools and that should help to put them off taking yours.
Click to expand...

Yep completely agree. I have a long drive way and the car is up by the house. As soon as anyone steps on my drive its lit up light the sun and my 2 GSD's start barking their heads off (as was demonstrated early hours of Tue morning when someone mistakenly delivered milk to our front gate!!).

So the longer I can keep them barking to alert me so I go downstairs or look on my phone at my cctv system the better.

Only worry would be what if someone were there and I confronted them? Being an organised gang, as this team was, would they have weapons? Wouldn't want the dogs or me to get hurt. But I know one of my GSD's would chase the living daylights out of them, even though he's not that big.
 
I agree with that AEX test, Disklok can be a bit annoying to fit if you only use it now and again as I do as that mirrors how I use my S4! Though they do point out on balance if you use your car frequently then convenience is a big issue, so I’ll stick with saying naughty words while fitting Disklok.
The same goes for my OBD port lock, as it only gets removed twice a year if things go well, remembering the easiest way to fit it also forces me to utter some very bad words, simple security means it’s not liable to fail but can be a beggar to live with !
 
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I think the "what if" is part of the problem here. Would rather they take the car than break in and threaten my family. The car is insured.
 
scotty76 said:
I think the "what if" is part of the problem here. Would rather they take the car than break in and threaten my family. The car is insured.
Click to expand...

Totally, if they knocked on the door with a gun, i'd ask them if they want me to wash the car before I hand over the keys!

But with having 2 big (& loud) dogs, they must just decide mine isn't for them and move to the next house where there is an S4.

For now i'm blocking the driveway with another car. Yes they could move it, but again it all takes time, the one thing they don't have on their side.
 
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I try to minimise my family risk by keeping my S4 in a garage so out of sight unless it is being used, when it is parked away from home all I’m trying to achieve is that a potential thief will prefer another car to mine - and that is as far as I plan to go to protect it, if it is taken I’ll accept what has happened, hope never to get it returned, take the best that my insurer can give me and put Audi S4 ownership experience behind me and get a more basic unattractive car to replace it.
 
rum4mo said:
I try to minimise my family risk by keeping my S4 in a garage so out of sight unless it is being used, when it is parked away from home all I’m trying to achieve is that a potential thief will prefer another car to mine - and that is as far as I plan to go to protect it, if it is taken I’ll accept what has happened, hope never to get it returned, take the best that my insurer can give me and put Audi S4 ownership experience behind me and get a more basic unattractive car to replace it.
Click to expand...

Have already been looking at 'bland' cars after this weeks events, sad that it comes to this! We'll be re-doing the drive soon and it's 3 cars wide so will try and incorporate some sort of hidden area for the S4 or a future 'nice' car.
 
Got this on my driveway at the moment, should do the trick to block the S4 in, i'm told it weighs 15 tonnes!!

40577542013_b80f3c6824_b.jpg
 
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