New S3 and TTS Stolen today!

[Zeb358]

Hi

I recently went on the tuning thread to show off my new S3 with mill tek exhaust and ABT tune. And then this morning woke up in the middle of the night to find both my new S3 and wife's TTS gone from my drive!

Burglars gained access through a small porch window and picked off the keys sitting on the side table. Couldn't have made any easier for the scrotes!

Anyway cut a long story short the Herts intell car crime unit called me separately from the Met who are investigating. Interestingly, this intell unit informed me that there has been a recent rise in S3 thefts and they know that it is travellers targeting these cars for use in crime, to put it bluntly they make fast getaway cars against the slow Police vehicles! I was told the best chances they have is on the motorway where Police units can block the getaway cars but this is rare.

Anyway they said they were more interested in the S3 than the TTS given that the S3 has space. The TTS was merely a bonus for them!

I also learned that these criminals are also car jacking for these cars.

Didn't leave me with any confidence to ever consider buying anything remotely fast and desirable! Still got my gap insurance so hoping I won't lose too much money!

Just don't know what else I will buy now after this experience. It's shaken me up to think they had the audacity to gain entry while we were asleep upstairs. I wonder what they would have done had the keys not been found so easily. Just wont feel safe owning a car like this again. But equally I can't bring myself in settling for second best just because of the threat of theft but more so because of the threat of car jacking.

Not sure how long the insurer will take to settle but I have this disgusting weird transformer looking Toyota thing for 2 weeks as my courtesy car!

When the time comes to replace what could I possibly get that is fast, fun, great noise, but won't make a scrote tempted to nick?! Has to be something a bit old...maybe? Or maybe I should just forget it and get something boring instead but at least I'll stay annoymous!

 

[sjbarneS3]

Gutted for ya pal

 

[Zeb358]

By the way if you spot a black audi S3 saloon with quattro along the rear door panels and a ABT badge on the rear boot please call me on 07826061336.

Thanks!

 

[Blackwhite]

Very sad to hear this. Terrible.

 

[batch]

Zen can you PM me please? Cheers dude.

 

[PanamaS3]

Really feel for you and the missus mate...must be an awful feeling....hope you get it all sorted quickly and it never happens again thieving ***** ********!

 

[Daveotto]

Really sorry to hear this, at least good to know you have GAP insurance. What part of Herts, can PM if you don't want to say in open forum.

 

[DrEskimo]

Was going to ask the same as Daveotto.... Got an S5 on order....

 

[Scottyg]

Total *********! As the police said to me the last time my car got broken into, not nicked.....get a dog! Never not had one since then.
Hope you get things sorted.

 

[Zeb358]

I was told how a black S3 just like mine was stolen about 3 weeks ago from the owner in West London and was found abandoned in Herts. Just be vigilant and take note of anyone following you for too long

 

[Simon L]

Sickening mate, really sorry to hear this.

 

[steeve]

I'm really sorry for you. Its also the fact they been in your house.

I know it's a case of bolting the stable door after the horse is bolted but have you considered a burglar alarm on the house?
I'm certain that the box with it's blinking light has a deterrent effect.

 

[Soulboy]

Sorry to hear this. But some input from someone who went through a very violent robbery for their cars in 2007:

1. Don't let it stop you owning something nice. If you do, they have won.
I bought something less desirable. ....and it lasted 3 months, before getting something faster.

2. Don't go for something subdued. You would be better off with something rare in bright yellow/orange etc.
They dont want to stand out in a nicked car. Cayman could be nice!

3. Increase your security. It's not expensive nowadays.

4. Time will heal. You will feel paranoid about it for a while. But things will feel normal again fairly soon.

5. As said before. Make sure you are not being followed as you start approaching home.

6. Use your garage for your car if you have one.

7. Remember. Don't let the ******** win! If you want a nice car ......get one.
And try and turn your fear into anger. I got so angry a week or so after ours got stolen, I was just waiting for some low life to cross my path. They really wouldn't have known what hit them.

Anyway. Good luck with it all. It's not the end of the world.
Some people will have found out they had terminal cancer yesterday......so just keep it in perspective

 

[voorhees]

Feel for you mate,bloke near me had a lovely RS5 which one morning was just broken glass on his drive eventually being found stripped on pallets now has a run of the mill BMW.

 

[CraigI]

Terrible news, but a lesson to us all.

Most of these thefts are opportune rather than planned. We had a similar spate of vehicle thefts up here not so long ago; keys left in view of a window very close to the door, or doors left unlocked.

Removing the opportunity (don't leave keys in a place they are easily spotted/reached or easily found and make sure you have a good locking system that you use) is as much of a deterrent as any alarm.

 

[Zeb358]

I'm really chuffed by the response and support/advice here so thank you all very much. Right now I've initiated Project Fort Knox on the house as my number one priority. This will consist of sash window security grilles, window alarms, cctv, and if i ever get a nice car again retractable posts for the driveway. Had a ADT alarm on the house but deactivated from previous owner. Thought it would be deterrant enough but obviously not the case in my experience. Will consider soulboy's response which has made me rethink of not giving in too fear and it's inspirational to learn how his experience didn't lead him to living in fear. So will be on the hunt for another car...I didn't help these scrotes by giving them a ABT tuned S3 because police won't be able to keep up in pursuit! Just want to say a big thank you for certain members from the emergency/security professions for their big support and help. Overall though when **** happens it's reassuring to hear others views and support from a forum like this. It really does help in the healing process.

 

[MikeParkin]

Get a shot gun! I also bought a £35 SIM card tracker off eBay and is very good. You can rather hard wire into car or just keep recharging the battery. Just uses GPS but I'm more than happy with mine just a thought for everyone that doesn't have a tracker.

 

[gamegenie]

also get a dog.

 

[Jassyo06]

Sorry to hear this mate and hope all goes well with the insurance,this almost happened to me they walked into the house around 23-30 took my Mrs car keys and also the house keys locked the door behind them as they left we where in bed at this point unaware,they realised they had only stolen the key's to the vx corsa came back around 02-30 walked into the house,but luckily there was someone up at this time,they fled with nothing, police told us they had stolen 7 cars that night all within a ten miles radius,they just target certain area's at certain time's of the year

 

[Bristle Hound]

Hi

I recently went on the tuning thread to show off my new S3 with mill tek exhaust and ABT tune. And then this morning woke up in the middle of the night to find both my new S3 and wife's TTS gone from my drive!

Burglars gained access through a small porch window and picked off the keys sitting on the side table. Couldn't have made any easier for the scrotes!

Anyway cut a long story short the Herts intell car crime unit called me separately from the Met who are investigating. Interestingly, this intell unit informed me that there has been a recent rise in S3 thefts and they know that it is travellers targeting these cars for use in crime, to put it bluntly they make fast getaway cars against the slow Police vehicles! I was told the best chances they have is on the motorway where Police units can block the getaway cars but this is rare.

Anyway they said they were more interested in the S3 than the TTS given that the S3 has space. The TTS was merely a bonus for them!

I also learned that these criminals are also car jacking for these cars.

Didn't leave me with any confidence to ever consider buying anything remotely fast and desirable! Still got my gap insurance so hoping I won't lose too much money!

Just don't know what else I will buy now after this experience. It's shaken me up to think they had the audacity to gain entry while we were asleep upstairs. I wonder what they would have done had the keys not been found so easily. Just wont feel safe owning a car like this again. But equally I can't bring myself in settling for second best just because of the threat of theft but more so because of the threat of car jacking.

Not sure how long the insurer will take to settle but I have this disgusting weird transformer looking Toyota thing for 2 weeks as my courtesy car!

When the time comes to replace what could I possibly get that is fast, fun, great noise, but won't make a scrote tempted to nick?! Has to be something a bit old...maybe? Or maybe I should just forget it and get something boring instead but at least I'll stay annoymous!

Sorry to hear your very sad news @Zeb358

 

[A3_Rider]

Man... :/

I'm grateful for having a garage (however small a deterrent) otherwise doubt I'd sleep, I shouldn't lack confidence like that nor should any of you.

I don't know...one side says go for something normal, like mentioned, "they have won". Otherside would be visiting audi.co.uk speccing up a new one.

Glad no one was hurt

 

[Zeb358]

Man... :/

I'm grateful for having a garage (however small a deterrent) otherwise doubt I'd sleep, I shouldn't lack confidence like that nor should any of you.

I don't know...one side says go for something normal, like mentioned, "they have won". Otherside would be visiting audi.co.uk speccing up a new one.

Glad no one was hurt

I think there is a key point here. If I go get another fancy motor i'lloyds only be inviting attention again. I am beefing up the security to the house and that includes personal home defence (not gonna be caught out defenceless again)

 

[Zeb358]

Meant to finish off by saying, I wish in some ways that I had a garage. But then there's always the threat of aggravated burglary/robbery before you even grt the car into the garage! I worry for my wife who would be much more vulnerable than me. For example you can increase security in the house but it is conceivable that a would be assailant can follow you into the house and take the keys by force or force their way into the house for the keys. It was the cars that caused the aggravated burglary in the first place. It's hard not to think like this once you've been a victim and you do become more paranoid as a result and you do begin asking yourself is it worth yours and your families safety if you want to own a nice car but which increases the threat? In our current climate of violent crime on the increase perpetrated by organised "foreign" gangs there is a different mentality out there to the lengths of violence they will use to get the job done. It is giving-in to a degree but if this threat is real and present then you also have a responsibility to take whatever reasonable action to protect yourself from the pontential adversity. If that means not drawing attention or increasing the risk of crime by having nice things then for some that will be a valid consideration. I guess everyone has their own comfort levels to response of threat and risk...Not sure where I personally am with that yet...

 

[Soulboy]

The thing that can be the worst consequence in this situation is living in fear. You need to overcome that.

Firstly, remember. They just wanted your cars. It wasn't personal.
And it was easy pickings for them. 'Double bubble' - twice the profit without any extra risk. Same as happened to us (R32 & Mini Cooper S Conv).

So come up with a couple of plans (a bit like fire drills) if something similar happens again. Then do what's needed security wise. And have a dry run with the SO/family...so they know what to do.
For example, we have cctv downstairs now and I always sleep with the phone by the bed.
I can check the cams from the phone and could call the dibble/neighbours if needed.
And other options.

Whatever you do, don't let fear spoil your life and paralyse you. That is a very bad, long and lingering outcome. It took me too long to realise that.
But eventually I realised that lying in bed listening for noises downstairs in the night is no way to live. Once again, they had beaten me.
So I got control back by taking action....... rather than worrying about what might happen.

 

[AudiBoy1976]

I really feel for you & your Wife mate.

My RS4 was Stolen off my Driveway last year & it was the most Upsetting & awful Experience ever.
Admittedly, mine was Taken due to having Advanced Key, therefore they did'nt Enter for the Keys, so was'nt as bad!

I still Blame the Authorities for these Crimes, as there not classed as serious, due to it being a lump of metal!
The Police also annoy me, as they always say 'just Claim off your Insurance' & 'Dont be put off having a nice Car', but with how often its happening, its making Car Insurance almost Unaffordable though!
They really need to Clamp down on this & bring something in as a proper Deterrent!

 

[Zeb358]

The thing that I'm battling with in my head is, sure I can take all the necessary security measures with the house so as to stop keys from being stolen from the house again. But what I can't get out of my head is the paranoid feeling of someone watching us if we ever decide to buy nice cars again. If I had a garage I would feel more secure but then that's not going to stop a planned aggravated attack on a person for their keys. However the rational side of me knows that this is probably quite rare. But I have this desperate feeling of wanting to be prepared for anything and I can't think how I can close this particular threat down, short of having cctv, of course. Right now I'm feeling desperate to regain control...All I've been doing is researching personal and home security!

 

[AudiBoy1976]

I think 99% of these Car Crimes, are them being Taken off Driveways, as the Criminal Element can carefully Plan it.i.e knowing that the Car is always left on the Drive over night, it allows them to Pre-visit to access whether they need to Invade your Home for Keys, or use Electronics to Bypass the Keyless system & obviously the best route of Escape.............on all these Specialised/Sporty high end Cars, there all carefully planned!

Garaging the Car overnight, would certainly be the best form of Security & the best Deterrent, as its alittle more 'Unknown' for these Criminals then...............unfortunately, not everyone has this kind of Facility though!

I also think that De-Badging the Cars can help abit in Preventing them from being taken!

 

[Scottyg]

I mentioned it earlier and It has been mentioned since then.....get a dog. Not a wee yap, a dog. I would never be without one. Ours is a superb guard dog and let's us know instantly if someone's on our driveway or near the front door. The barking alone would scare most would be burglars. However, if they see my dog flying at the front door they'll soon turn on their heals and bolt. CCTV can be a derrerant but if they want your car they'll simply cover their faces, yes distinctive clothing can point someone out but that's after the crime. You can buy wee GPS teaching key rings off eBay. They're around £3-£5 and you get a phone app with it. They can pin-point your cars location via the app. Again, this doesn't deter the stealing but you'll be able to find your car.
I'm guessing there's been nothing reported back to you about both cars??

 

[Zeb358]

I mentioned it earlier and It has been mentioned since then.....get a dog. Not a wee yap, a dog. I would never be without one. Ours is a superb guard dog and let's us know instantly if someone's on our driveway or near the front door. The barking alone would scare most would be burglars. However, if they see my dog flying at the front door they'll soon turn on their heals and bolt. CCTV can be a deterrent but if they want your car they'll simply cover their faces, yes distinctive clothing can point someone out but that's after the crime. You can buy wee GPS teaching key rings off eBay. They're around £3-£5 and you get a phone app with it. They can pin-point your cars location via the app. Again, this doesn't deter the stealing but you'll be able to find your car.
I'm guessing there's been nothing reported back to you about both cars??

I wish I could get a dog! We both come from dog owning families - German Shepherds. My neighbors got two big boxers and they did go off but neighbour thought it was me leaving for the airport on work as I have done in the past. Suffice to say he is gutted he didn't think it suspicious enough! Unfortunately both missus and I work full time and having a dog is not going to fit into that lifestyle, so we have cats instead! They must have hid pretty quick when it happened! Cats are all about self preservation and they are damn good at it! I've ordered FarbGel Spray's for us for now.

And for the house I'm going to step up security.

Then I'm going to think whether I feel ok to go out and buy a nice car and lets see if the ******** want to have a go again! This time I will be ready! I refused to let fear dictate my freedom to choose whatever I want to buy. I work damn hard for it! I have one life and want to enjoy getting from A to B not just using a car as means to an end.

I feel like in fight back mode today!

 

[Soulboy]

Good to hear you are getting angry and moving on

Just edit the middle part of your post Zeb.
Nothing to show any form of premeditation remember.

I know where you are coming from with the control thing.
Very early days though ......you will calm down with a bit of time.

I got Belkin Wemo webcams indoors. Plug and play with the phone app.
Can also use them to listen/talk as they have got mic/speaker.
Combined them with the wemo plug attached to light so you can switch on/off from your mobile.
http://www.wemo.com/

 

[steeve]

Be wary of baseball bats or ANY type of weapon like a paint ball gun Or you may find the old bill consider you the criminal and you could spend some time away from your loved ones.
The sensible things are the passive devices you mentioned, all great ideas, Don't let this push you into being the one to break the law.

Some mentioned removing badging, that wont fool these people they know what model a car is fro five hundred yards. May fool the young lads though.

Agree with Soulboy on editing your post....

Get on with your life and I'm sure we all hope you can put this behind you. By the way a good Disclock can be very difficult to remove.

 

[voorhees]

I wouldn't recommend using force as usually it is met with force.

 

[pluves1]

Sorry to hear this.

Been here a few years ago. Thieves were after my S3 but, went for the Golf Pirelli Edition as the keys were left downstairs. House was alarmed but, we didn't always set it (yes I know!!). They climbed over the side of the house to gain entry into patio doors (that way if the alarm did go off they would jump back over the fence). They didn't know the alarm wasn't set until they gained entry. They snapped the locks on the patio doors entered and had a scout around. They ignored numerous laptops, ipads, tablets, phones, etc and went on their way having found the keys to the Golf downstairs (where they don't normally live). My S3 keys were upstairs.

So my advice is get yourself a house alarm professionally installed.

Install anti snap locks in all euro cylinders.

Install motion or dawn to dusk lights in any darkened areas around your property.

CCTV might be a good deterrent but, personally I don't believe it will stop even the most hardened thief so I didn't bother. I have still been looking out for a decent wireless system but, it would have to be cheap to tempt me.

If you're after a 'boring' car I would recommend the BMW 335d

 

[G-S3]

Any updates from the police?

 

[Zeb358]

No real leads from the Police yet. I've got the Met doing their usual investigation into the burglary and car theft and Herts have a Intel Unit more interested in the fact that performance Audi's and BMW's in black and silver are being specifically targeted by professional gangs in the Herts area. So think about the security in the context of yourself, your house and the car itself. I hear pedal locks are a good addition, e.g. "CopLock"...worth thinking about.

Right now I'm just focused on beefing up the security of the house, dealing with the insurers and trying to regain some normality to my life and making my wife feel safe again. She's just paranoid about burglars gaining access again through the windows., hence the burglar bars I'm afraid. We will get Victorian ornamental styled ones but bars are still bars and they don't look great on a house in a nice leafy suburb!

Could this be the way things are going...poor economy, issues around law enforcement resource, lack of a judicial system, overcrowding of prisons, open EU borders, immigration issues are all fueling the criminal underworld local and foreign to take advantage and prey on the "have's".

So given this and my own circumstances of having an open drive I need to seriously think hard about what car suits my own particular circumstances and help mitigate the risk and threat of attack again. I think I'm going to have to avoid new fast Audi's and get something a little less desirable. No idea what will be able to meet this requirement but need to find that nice compromise over the car I really want and feeling "safer" than before. If I had a lock up garage or even a gated drive I would feel much more likely to go for another new Audi. I had planned to get an RS model next but that is now far gone out of my mind!

So far I've come up with :-

Jaguar XK R (2007-2008 model year)
BMW M3 (2011-2013 model year)

I know this wouldn't necessarily stop a professional car thief but maybe just be that a little less desirable if they see Fort Knox on my house, and all the locks I can put on a car! I just feel that with an Audi RS model on my open drive is really just going to ramp up the level of risk a car thief will go to as the gain from nicking a new RS is worth the extra resource and risk needed to pull off the job. Just trying to think like a car thief in order to rationalise what I should or should not do going forward.

How does everyone else feel about this...would be interested to get some ideas and general feeling about what you would do in my shoes?

Thanks!

 

[AudiBoy1976]

I'd still say that even a 2011-2013 BMW M3 is a very Desirable/Stealable Car mate, specially if you'd be leaving it on your Driveway overnight.

If you still love Sporty Cars that much & want an RS or something in the future, I'd seriously consider Moving House to one with a Garage, unless you have the room to get some Electric Gates installed?

Its unfortunate & expensive that you have to consider this, but if the Authorities had done their Jobs properly in the first place & set proper Deterrents to kerb Car Crime, we all wouldn't be going down these routes to Protect ourselves & possessions!

 

[martin1984]

Sorry to hear about this seems to be happiness all to often you work hard for something nice and a low life just takes it.as for security flood light on a sensor us a easy think to do as they won't want to be seen and also need if you have cctv as night vision isn't that good even on top cctv kits as for arming yourself if u did get a baseball bat just make sure you have a ball to go with it I live in a pub and was told that as long as I you've got the ball I've got it for a hobby not a weapon

 

[Zeb358]

Well we moved from a gated development out in the sticks to be closer to town. Moving to another house with the right options for the driveway are just not affordable for us. And planning permission wouldn't allow the gates I'm sure because of the situation of the drive in relation to the main road. So only option is to my home as secure as possible put more security measures on the car itself and make a little more hassle for a thief given that it's an older car surely won't be worth all that hass compared to a newer one. I don't know...I'm just trying to justify wanting what I want and not be wholly dictated by the criminals! But at the same time take some responsibility for the circumstances that face me. It's about compromises and balanced. I'm not going to completely give in and end up driving a ford fiesta or go out and park an RS8 on the open drive for example! Maybe a Q car...

 

[G-S3]

Isn't good, my keys remain by side day or night. Not sure how much use a tracker would be in this situation?

How easy is it to fit a hidden kill switch that could be removed if the car is sold?

 

[CraigI]

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.