Another S3 broken into

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PHutch33

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So I returned to my car after work today to find that the passenger window had been smashed, glovebox ripped out as well as back plate covering the fuses. Nothing missing.

Whether they were startled or not who knows, but I was under the impression that S3's couldn't be taken without keys? It's not a keyless entry version.

Police crime reference obtained and CCTV being sought. Don't expect anything however.

Time to upgrade security after autoglass have been on Wednesday- what size disklock do I need? Visual deterrents are what I'm after to start with.

Look forward to replies whilst I try to let my anger simmer....
 
Check to make sure you have no other damage apart from what you listed. My car was broken into recently and had passenger door body damage which I did not see upon first inspection along with window trim.
I feel for you as it is pita as the only thing stolen was a USB charge/sync cable.
 
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Sorry to hear about that. You work hard for these things and idiots just want to ruin everything.
 
Sorry to hear that.

Very interesting though, I wonder what they were trying to do back there near the fuses...
 
azibux1 said:
Sorry to hear that.

Very interesting though, I wonder what they were trying to do back there near the fuses...
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Muppets probably looking for the plastic valet key that the A4 and up have that are stored in the glovebox that start the car.
 
azibux1 said:
Sorry to hear that.

Very interesting though, I wonder what they were trying to do back there near the fuses...
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No idea, was hoping someone might be able to shed light on that.

No fuses seem to be missing either as no warning lights/issues.
 
Matty_S3 said:
Muppets probably looking for the plastic valet key that the A4 and up have that are stored in the glovebox that start the car.
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Ah yeah didn't think of that!
PHutch33 said:
No idea, was hoping someone might be able to shed light on that.

No fuses seem to be missing either as no warning lights/issues.
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Hmm not sure... All I can think of is the above... Or maybe they were looking to see if any additional fuses were tapped into for a tracker etc if they had the intention of stealing it? Then like you say they maybe got spooked?

But again I didn't think the non-keyless ones were that easily stealable anyway
 
PHutch33 said:
So I returned to my car after work today to find that the passenger window had been smashed

Time to upgrade security after autoglass have been on Wednesday- what size disklock do I need? Visual deterrents are what I'm after to start with.

Look forward to replies whilst I try to let my anger simmer....
Click to expand...

Small size dislock - its a good old schoool visual deterrent.
 
azibux1 said:
But again I didn't think the non-keyless ones were that easily stealable anyway
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Common misconception. All of the news articles that have done the rounds in recent years always hark on about "keyless", however what they refer to (as evidenced by the fact that they always list cars starting from the turn of the century) is keyless entry (and by keyless, they mean a remote, not needing to use a physical keyblade in a door).

Once you are in the car, it's just as easy to start a "keyless go" car as it is a "keyless entry" car by dodgy OBDII means.
 
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This really gives me the ****** hump. These low life’s have nothing better to do than steal, beats getting a job. One thing that the motor industry could do to enhance security is make all windows laminated.
 
I think if you made all the windows laminated in an emergency you wouldn't easily be able to get in or out if the doors were jammed.
 
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Leevr said:
I think if you made all the windows laminated in an emergency you wouldn't easily be able to get in or out if the doors were jammed.
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An extremely good point, missed that one but I was up early today.
 
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PHutch33 said:
No idea, was hoping someone might be able to shed light on that.
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Obviously not professional steal to order thieves otherwise it would be gone. I expect it was just kids/teens who had little or no idea and doubt your car was targeted as it was an S3 in this case. Just wrong place and wrong time .. none the less still annoying and upsetting

Btw Disklock will never stop anyone smashing a window and looking for glovebox stuff of value.
 
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paradigital said:
Common misconception. All of the news articles that have done the rounds in recent years always hark on about "keyless", however what they refer to (as evidenced by the fact that they always list cars starting from the turn of the century) is keyless entry (and by keyless, they mean a remote, not needing to use a physical keyblade in a door).

Once you are in the car, it's just as easy to start a "keyless go" car as it is a "keyless entry" car by dodgy OBDII means.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarification, makes sense :) only real difference then is that the truly keyless (advanced key) are possibly easier to get into quietly compared to the remote key ones?
 
I don't believe it makes much of a difference in all honesty. Both key types transmit/receive on similar frequencies, the only major difference being that no handshake between car/key will happen with advanced key until you are in range of the sensors in the vehicle (unless you press a button on the fob, like you would with a normal key). It's likely easier for the criminal fraternity to intercept "normal" key transmissions due to most people using them from a greater distance from the car.
 
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azibux1 said:
Thanks for the clarification, makes sense :) only real difference then is that the truly keyless (advanced key) are possibly easier to get into quietly compared to the remote key ones?
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One of the reasons...well the reason I went for the ghost system on my new A5, no key needed in the ignition as it's push button start. I collected it on the Saturday and got the ghost system fitted 11 days later. If they got into the car and made the car think the key was there they still can't move it! Even with the original key inside the car they still can't move it! No extra fuses or wires to show that any extra security device is fitted. The most then can do is start it up ;) I had it set to lock the gearbox in park, so when they try to move it into D it stays in P....do it a few times and it throws a "Drivetrain fault, please visit workshop" warning on the dash, so they think it's a faulty car! :) Once you enter the code and drive off it clears.
 
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I did see your video @S32B... Seems like a really cool product that I might consider for my next one... Just need to do some more research on how it works for when you give it to the dealer, valet mode etc... Could you drop me details if you know them on a private message please? Thanks!
 
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Always saddens me reading stuff like this.

Does anyone know exactly why S3s are so commonly stolen? To me (and I hope you'll forgive my slight stereotype), the nature of the car it is means there's always the possibility it might belong to someone you might not want to p*ss off too much.
 
rnm37 said:
Always saddens me reading stuff like this.

Does anyone know exactly why S3s are so commonly stolen? To me (and I hope you'll forgive my slight stereotype), the nature of the car it is means there's always the possibility it might belong to someone you might not want to p*ss off too much.
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Apart from being stolen to order because of the value.

Logically thinking I'd say that the sportback have a higher chance of getting stolen, down to the fact that 4 people can get in quickly and the boot is large and easy to throw stuff in...obviously they are fast so! If I were to do an armed robbery etc it would be my choice! You don't want to be waiting for 2 mates to get in the back and then pull down the seat before you can get in!!! :p
 
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rnm37 said:
Always saddens me reading stuff like this.

Does anyone know exactly why S3s are so commonly stolen? To me (and I hope you'll forgive my slight stereotype), the nature of the car it is means there's always the possibility it might belong to someone you might not want to p*ss off too much.
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If you watch an old episode of The Sweeney the blaggers choice was always a Jaguar Mk2... four doors, relatively quick, discreet & plentiful availability... sound familiar!?.
 
richinsoton said:
Apparently SD card theft is now a thing!?!. Maybe that's what they were after, not that it would be of any use!??.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=74&t=1707420
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What is going on?!

My sat nav disc was still there. No idea what they were after.

Spoke to the CCTV company who cover the place it was parked who have 'very clear images' of people who broke into car which they've passed on to police. What annoys me though is they won't give me any more info because of data protection! If some bottom feeders break into my car I've got a right to see if I can help the police track them down and plaster their faces across all media I can.
 
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PHutch33 said:
What is going on?!

My sat nav disc was still there. No idea what they were after.

Spoke to the CCTV company who cover the place it was parked who have 'very clear images' of people who broke into car which they've passed on to police. What annoys me though is they won't give me any more info because of data protection! If some bottom feeders break into my car I've got a right to see if I can help the police track them down and plaster their faces across all media I can.
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Are these CCTV systems not monitored and the chances are someone must have seen something but did nothing.
 
PHutch33 said:
What is going on?!

My sat nav disc was still there. No idea what they were after.

Spoke to the CCTV company who cover the place it was parked who have 'very clear images' of people who broke into car which they've passed on to police. What annoys me though is they won't give me any more info because of data protection! If some bottom feeders break into my car I've got a right to see if I can help the police track them down and plaster their faces across all media I can.
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GW1 said:
Are these CCTV systems not monitored and the chances are someone must have seen something but did nothing.
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My mate had his R6 stolen years back from the works car park, the works security had watched them take it yet did nothing to stop them! Van pulled up, doors opened, plank of wood out the back and his bike pushed up into the van!
 
GW1 said:
Are these CCTV systems not monitored and the chances are someone must have seen something but did nothing.
Click to expand...

They're not actively monitored, more that they are utilised when something happens (which is ridiculous).
 
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A friend of mine had his car parked in the long term parking at Gatwick and it got rammed. There was CCTV but it had not worked for ages :scared2:
 
PHutch33 said:
They're not actively monitored, more that they are utilised when something happens (which is ridiculous).
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Would be nice to think that there is someone actively monitoring CCTV cameras but given how many there are in the UK it would need thousands of people to do the job and who would pay and what's the advantage of them being actively monitored.....30 seconds and its gone!!!
 
So the police have been pretty active and here's the scrotes that broke into my car. They were there for 7 minutes apparently, and came back an hour later to try to break into 5 more cars!

Wonder if they'll ever be found...
 

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I guess you've probably already got a disc lock by now. I had one for nearly ten years, which I always secured to the steering wheel of my MG ZT, which had an old deadlock key system and no engine immobiliser. Once you've got used to the weight of it and the rather scissor-like action of the two halves (mind fingers!), it's quite straightforward to use.

In case anyone's still deliberating, they cost about a ton and are widely available, although our local Halfords doesn't stock them anymore, strangely. This one seems to be good value:
https://www.carnoisseur.com/product...MI3_PZmJLQ1wIVdTPTCh0MuQ1hEAQYAiABEgLFbvD_BwE
 
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