Two Mercedes cars worth a total of £34,000 were stolen from the driveway of a house in Surrey after thieves broke in and took the keys.
"It may seem extreme but taking the car keys to bed may be an easy way to protect your vehicle."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-11976048
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I would think that professional car thieves stealing to order would not be too impressed if they could not find the keys easily and might become violent.
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I keep mine in the bedside table as does my wife. If they are going to nick our cars, they can have the courtesy to introduce themselves and give me a chance to change their mind.
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>> Two Mercedes cars worth a _TOTAL_ of £34,000
They're practically giving them away now. That seems astonishingly cheap for 2 mercedes. Maybe it was a couple of run in A classes or something but mercs in general just seem less valuable now.
They still turn out some interesting kit, in fact im not sure there's many other manufacturers can compete for volume of choice as on display in a merc dealership.
When i win the lottery i'll probably have my PA pick me up a G wagon for the collection. Not sure i'll ever get around to driving it though.
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Hmmm. I won't leave them where they can be seen, or fished through the letter box, but I'm certainly not going to come between the keys and unknown potential assailant(s) who break(s) houses.
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Rather they took the keys than got upstairs to the family - you never know how determined these thugs are, and as some are off there face they dont hav ethe same sense of reason as you or I
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Human life is more precious than metals.
If thieves break into house when occupants are inside, they are quite desperate and I'd prefer they leave the house with cars than my family have to confront them.
The car can be claimed from insurance.
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In a street with BMWs, Mercs and all manner of nearly new machines, Im doubtful they would look at all of them and conclude that what they really want is an old Daewoo and a Daihatsu.
Since they are parked nose to tail, they would have to move the Sirion to get to my car, but I cant see them making much effort tbh.
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Still goes against the grain to give up easily, but I hear what some say.
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Trouble is if you hide the keys or take them to bed you might be in line for a serious beating until you "find" them. These types aren't very gentlemanly, to be honest it's not worth risking a real roughing up over a car, no matter what it is- that's why I pay insurance!
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Maybe this is why it's popular. It sounds like easy money reading this thread, saunter in safe in the knowledge they're not going to be confronted :)
A really nice guy on Briskoda had it done to him recently, he never woke up :( He was more upset he never heard them.
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Usually in Surrey the keys get thrown into a bowl in the middle of the floor before the respective owners head off for bed.
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I like to think anyway, that I'm a genial sort of chap. Not at all given to confrontation or violence. But on the very odd occasions in life when it has been necessary to, shall we say, stand up and be counted, I've managed to leave the other party in no doubt as to their error of judgement. Suffice it to say, anyone breaking into my house would have at least some regrets about it afterwards whatever the ultimate outcome of their mission. I can more or less guarantee that.
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>> anyone breaking into my house would have at least some regrets about it
>> afterwards whatever the ultimate outcome of their mission. I can more or less guarantee that.
>>
12 gauge. Double ought shot. Kaboom. Several times.
If you've got over the 8 ft wall, you are up to no good. Try to get into the house, you are definitely up to no good.
Then it is SFAQL.
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Sadly that approach has been shown to be unacceptable in the UK.
Also, most of us do not have such weapons. It is more likely that the shoe will be on the other foot, never mind the disadvantages of having something to lose, not being a vicious thug, being undressed, and being half asleep. Discretion the better part of valour I should say.
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Id rather go out fighting than cowering in the corner. Show weakness and they will surely come back again if you present a soft target.
Ive known several people who were repeatedly robbed at home, presumably because the first time worked, so why not keep going back..
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OK, I'll come off the fence, about 15 years ago we heard something "go bump in the night". I went downstairs to investigate, naked and unarmed.
There were two guys in the downstairs hallway having gained access by forcing the kitchen window.
They left empty handed and with, regretably, only minor injuries. Like I said, I'm not a man of violence but if someone crosses my line they had better be ready to deal with my reaction. Stupid maybe, ill advised certainly but there are times in life when you have to decide to take control of situations or go down in the effort.
As far as I'm concerned and notwithstanding the law, if someone invades my home and poses a threat to the security of my family then all bets are off.
No question.
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>> No question.
>>
Can't argue with that Hump.
Apart from the family or loved ones in the home...it's our damned home we paid for it we worked all hours God sent to pay for it and our cars without and reasonable stuff within was also paid for with our work.
No low life is going to walk in here and walk out again without wishing he'd tried his luck elsewhere.
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>> Sadly that approach has been shown to be unacceptable in the UK.
Indeed.
I live in a prison.
All my windows have bars. Doors all have secondary gates. Get through that lot, you are up to mischief. Therefore I am 100% in my rights to SFAQL.
The 'throwaway' knife helps as well... *grin*
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Ever since I bought my first car at 17 I have kept the car keys on the same key ring as my house keys. They have always been thrown under my bed. Even when 'taken unexpectedly' I instinctively know where to find them in the morning!
The car is in the garage, unlocked, but the garage alarm is set, as is the downstairs alarm. Occasionally it goes off in the night, presumably activated by spiders, which is not good for those with a weak heart.
Neither is the Grivel Air Tech ice axe which is also kept adjacent to the keys.
Leaving car keys downstairs, and in an obvious place, with no alarm set, seems a dumb ass thing to do.
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You're a brave lot indeed.
I share your instincts, but my main worry is that I might succumb to the same impulse. I doubt it's the best idea unless you're content you've lived long enough. Self preservation isn't cowardice.
Chances are your intruder will only be interested in escaping if confronted, and they won't bother you again; but if they happen to be as determined as you then is risking life the best way to protect your family's security?
The cowardly scrote isn't going to come into your bedroom and threaten you is he? Anyone who does is likely to be prepared for resistance.
I hope this is academic anyway. I don't think CRVs, Pandas, Civics and ancient Land Rovers are in the dreams of car thieves...
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I wonder if the sight of another man naked and angry would be more than enough to scare off all but the most hardened of thieves :) If ya cant scare them, freak em out.
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freak em out.
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They'd be a pushover in my case Stu...helpless with laughter probably.
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Start making eyes at em, its amazing how grown men turn to flight when another bloke winks at them. I think that would be my first line of defence. Failing that, theres an equaliser hanging on the bedpost, should I get the only gay theif in the village... my luck I would an all.
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...The car is in the garage, unlocked, but the garage alarm is set...
An alarmed garage is a good effort, but I'm not sure the insurance company would be too impressed with the car being left unlocked, even in those circumstances.
I thought I read something about unlocked cars in garages, perhaps someone else can advise.
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>> Suffice it
>> to say, anyone breaking into my house would have at least some regrets about it
>> afterwards whatever the ultimate outcome of their mission. I can more or less guarantee that.
So you would subscribe to the Tony Martin method would you Humph? I know I would. If pushed as much as he was.
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I don't think CRVs, Pandas, Civics and ancient Land Rovers are in the dreams of car thieves...
Indeed - my fleet of Fiats and Skoda parked on the drive is enough of a deterrent to sleep easy at night, in fact I've left the keys in the ignition accidentally on more than one occasion!
No self respecting criminal will want a getaway Skoda or Panda!!
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>> So you would subscribe to the Tony Martin method would you Humph? I know I would. If pushed as much as he was. <<
If he'd shot a scrote in the face in his house I'd have more sympathy, but shooting one in the back as he ran away from the property he was lucky that the politicians took him under their wing.
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I told you he was a Rodger Moore clone !
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I'm surprised no one has linked this thread to the one about garaging your car.
In all the cases I've known, the keys have been taken to a car parked outside.
If you want to avoid being woken up by nasty men looking for the keys to your pride and joy, it's obvious what you should do.
Put the car in the garage.
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So speaks the voice of reason.
Obvious isn't it.
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It may be the reasonable way out but to hell with reasonable.
It's high time violent thieving useless scumbags found themselves where they should be, in prison for a long time or preferably pushing up daisies.
Thousands of decent people cowering in their prisons while scum seemingly wander freely laughing at them, don't for heavens sake make the thieving swine's life difficult by doing something so dastardly or apparently stupid as hiding the keys, he might get annoyed, never heard anything like it.
Unless good men stand up to scum they win and we descend to an ever lower level of the pit.
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>>If you want to avoid being woken up by nasty men looking for the keys to your pride and joy, it's obvious what you should do.
Put the car in the garage
Two big problems with this solution:
1. Not everyone has a garage
2. It has been known for crims to follow desirable cars home and then 'pay a visit' later to obtain the keys. The fact that the car is in a garage won't be much of a deterent.
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>> follow desirable cars
Is there any statistics available which cars are stolen in this way?
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The car parked on the drive in plain sight is the big attraction.
All off the fishing for keys cases I've seen in court and the far rarer break-ins to get keys have involved a car parked outside.
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Surely if you have an expensive car, and garage it, then you can afford an alarm in the garage.
My wireless alarm cost me less than £100 to install, and I only paid £950 for the car in the garage. Although I did pay £3.5k for the Legacy estates and almost £10k for my current BM.
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I have occasionally seen cases where a burglar has broken into an unoccupied house and left in the family car.
The advice there would be to hide the keys/take them with you if your property is routinely empty with a car present.
I'm a lazy beggar, so I rarely leave Iffy Towers other than in the CC3.
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Actually no, I wouldn't say I approve of shooting someone unless I felt certain that they were about to commit an act of extreme violence against me or mine. I used to own a shotgun but the thought of using it as a method of self or property defence really never occured to me. It was kept locked away securely unless I was going to point it in the general direction of some clay pigeons.
As it happens, I do know something of how to apply reasonable physical force and if necessary, unreasonable physical force but that is relatively irrelevant to be honest. It's the principal of one's response to such a situation on which I am unequivocal. I remain absolute that any invasion of my property or family will be met with my best resistance but I hope I would stop short of using any kind of weapon except in the most dire or imminent life threatening circumstances.
As I have now twice stressed, I am not an instinctive man of violence, quite the opposite in fact, but I have never, and indeed hope that I never would, shy from at least attempting to defend myself and my family from those who would seek to harm me or them.
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...but I hope I would stop short of using any kind of weapon except in the most dire or imminent life threatening circumstances...
Humph,
That remark, and the general meaning of your post, puts you on the right side of the law (for what that's worth).
The only thing I would add is don't assault the guy if he is running from you.
It's the essence of the legal defence of self-defence - you have to believe you were under threat.
So you can hit him very hard if he's about to swing a punch at you, but it would be assault if you struck the same blow after chasing him down the garden path.
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I ... hope that I never would, shy from at least attempting to defend myself and my family from those who would seek to harm me or them.
So do I. I'm just not so keen to put myself, and them, in a situation where the need arises as some of you seem to be ;-)
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1st. rule of unarmed combat - only kick a man when he is down - too easy to grab a swinging leg if the kicked person is upright.
2nd. tip - if the man is already down by your previous efforts, drop onto his chest with both of your knees - he won't get up in a hurry!
(You can always say to Inspector Knacker that you tripped and fell on him, at the subsequent investigation!)
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"drop onto his chest with both of your knees - he won't get up in a hurry!"
If you sleep naked, sit on his face till the police arrive. Give the toerag nightmares for the rest of his life.
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>> Two Mercedes cars worth a total of £34,000 were stolen from the driveway of a
>> house in Surrey after thieves broke in and took the keys.
I keep my car keys in a chest of drawers in the bedroom. And since my car is locked up in the garage there's no reason for any lowlife to even know there's a car on the premises.
Last edited by: L'escargot on Sun 12 Dec 10 at 08:08
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>>I keep my car keys in a chest of drawers in the bedroom.
I just hope that none of the 'lowlife' you mention are reading this thread. You never know, there may be one out there swatting up on your many previous posts, just itching to get their hands on your Focus.
:-)
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>> >>I keep my car keys in a chest of drawers in the bedroom.
>>
>> I just hope that none of the 'lowlife' you mention are reading this thread. You
>> never know, there may be one out there swatting up on your many previous posts,
I average a mere 6 posts a day ~ admittedly twice as many as your good self, but only a quarter of some I could mention!
>> just itching to get their hands on your Focus.
>> :-)
In addition to finding the car keys, they'd have to find the means of opening the electric garage door.
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>>but only a quarter of some I could mention!
Now, who could that be?
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>> >>but only a quarter of some I could mention!
>>
>> Now, who could that be?
>>
It's nothing. Hardly worth mentioning!
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>>It's nothing. Hardly worth mentioning!
Best say ziltch, then.
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>> Best say ziltch, then.
When did he register? Not seen any of his posts.
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Would it not be better to sleep in the garage just to be on the safe side?
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A colleagues son has an Audi TT. He parks it outside his house. He was away to work in his car and his house got burgled. Turned his house upside down.
Police said they would be looking for the spare key to the car to come back later and take it when the car was there. Interestingly, he had followed some advice and hidden the spare key in a plastic tub of rice in his kitchen cupboard. Thieves had ransacked all the cupboards but still not found the key!
He was quite spooked though when the police explained that it wouldn't take a genius to work out his shift pattern by keeping an eye on him and knowing that every time the car left, the house would be empty for 10 hours!
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>> Would it not be better to sleep in the garage just to be on the
>> safe side?
>>
But then where do you keep the house keys - in your sleeping bag?
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But then where do you keep the house keys - in your sleeping bag?
Too obvious. Put them in the shed with wife.
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Why not let all the tyres down and flatten the battery each night before going to bed?
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>> Why not let all the tyres down and flatten the battery each night before going
>> to bed?
That's taking the "cycling the battery theory" a little bit far IMHO.
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...That's taking the "cycling the battery theory" a little bit far IMHO...
You mean that's possible?
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Which?
1/ Being able to cycle a battery every 12 hours
2/ Carrying a theory too far
3/ The idea that I might have a humble opinion?
Honestly dear boy, for a court reporter, I thought you could have carried a little more clarity in your questioning.
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It's better just to remove the battery and take it to bed (space permitting).
No car thief would ever think of that.
Also it avoids the worry of trying to decide where to put the keys.
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>> It's better just to remove the battery and take it to bed (space permitting).
Certainly give the wife's rabbit a new lease of life.
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>> >> It's better just to remove the battery and take it to bed (space permitting).
>>
>> Certainly give the wife's rabbit a new lease of life.
>>
Hare hare!
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A neighbour when I was a child would remove the leads to the distribution cap every night. He knew instantly which went where but a thief would not. He's no longer with us sadly.
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...Honestly dear boy, for a court reporter, I thought you could have carried a little more clarity in your questioning...
Depends which court you mean.
Someone reporting on a court of law doesn't get to ask any questions.
Someone reporting on the Royal Court might get to ask an occasional question such as "Shall I go now?" or "Was my bow low enough?"
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Assuming for a minute that any thief would be stupid enough to kick my front door in for the keys to our two old bangers, they would find said unlocking devices on a key hook in one of the downstairs rooms, and easily accessible.
I have two young daughters asleep upstairs, and I would rather they took the cars and disappeared. If they decapitated themselves in some sort of freak accident at the end of the road, so much the better, but I don't want these kind of characters anywhere near my family.
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Remember these scroats dont always go looking for the high performance cars - my neice had her brand new Ford Galaxy stolen by theives using the "fishing line" method. The car was found, stripped and burnt out, and reported back by the Met Police, but by the time a transporter had gone to pick up the remains, they had been taken for scrap by persons unknown......
Another story I recall was on one of these Police programs about South Wales Police, and a Citroen had crashed at high speed on a roundabout and the driver was killed. So the Police went to the registered keepers address, since the body had no id, to give out the bad news about the driver etc, only to wake up the owner who hadnt even known that his pride and joy was gone.....
RM
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>> "It may seem extreme but taking the car keys to bed may be an easy
>> way to protect your vehicle."
Good idea. It'll dissuade them.
I am shocked by the volume of cowardly whining of "Oh but they might get cross about it" that I read in this thread.
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...I am shocked by the volume of cowardly whining of "Oh but they might get cross about it" that I read in this thread...
Bit harsh.
I wouldn't be keen to enter a fight I was unlikely to win.
Two or three nasty men falls into that category.
No point in taking a hiding for nothing.
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>> ...I am shocked by the volume of cowardly whining of "Oh but they might get
>> cross about it" that I read in this thread...
>>
>> Bit harsh.
Typical cowardly attitude.
>> I wouldn't be keen to enter a fight I was unlikely to win.
>> Two or three nasty men falls into that category.
>> No point in taking a hiding for nothing.
Roll over and let 'em take it.
Your car.
Tour 'phone in the street. Your wallet. Your laptop.
The shirt off your back.
Let them take it, and make it easy for them to take it. They'll be back for more.
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> I wouldn't be keen to enter a fight I was unlikely to win.
>> Two or three nasty men falls into that category.
>> No point in taking a hiding for nothing.
I took a kicking form six guys in a club in Manchester, I was in intensive care for a week and the dentist chair for more than a year - because I was too stupid to walk away.
"Roll over and let 'em take it."
No. Secure your property. Make it so damned difficult for them to get in, that they go elsewhere.
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I'm shocked by the naivety. If a gang has broken into my house when I'm there, they are hardly likely to be nice people. They will probably be armed, and be practised in all the ways of using those arms that I am not.
I've heard horror stories of persons getting in and immediately putting the kettle on, or bringing large flasks. They are not planning a nice cup of tea. Remember, these people don't give a fig about you or your well being, they just want your stuff with as little hassle as possible. Causing serious injury to the house occupants doesn't normally count as hassle.
My car keys hang in the kitchen in a spot easily visible from inside but not visible from outside. If they are in, then they can have them - an easily replaced possession is not worth the risk.
Last edited by: Statistical Outlier on Mon 13 Dec 10 at 13:43
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Agree with Statistical Outlier word for word.
You wake up staring down the business end of shotgun, and you are outnumbered. What, realistically, are you going to do? Apart from hand your car keys over. Or have them taken off you and wind up in hospital (or worse)?
If I disturbed a single burglar, I'd probably have a go. If I was woken up by several of them and they were armed, I wouldn't. One person only successfully disarms multiple armed foes in the movies.
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The problem I have is I can never remember where I put the car keys. Do you think these marauding gangs will help me look for them?
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"Well if I was confronted with someone trying to steal my car and armed with a tactical nuclear weapon, I'd need new trousers".
Yes, but all these scenarios are vanishingly inlikely, and to kow-tow to all comers is spineless.
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Obviously circumstances alter cases. However, the huge majority of thieves are not bandits armed with SIG-Sauer P226s or thermos flasks of hot cocoa or whatever, they're pasty faces little ubggres who will shove off if you say "Boo!". Note also, that if you suspect that they are going to cause serious injury to you, then you can cause serious injury to *them*.
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I think if someone is really intent on confrontation, they are unlikely to come at night.
The reason for coming at night is people are asleep, therefore not going to get in the way. Thats not someone up for a fight, thats a coward with a screwdriver.
I guess for balance, you need to assess the situation. If its a gang and they mean harm, theres little point in trying anything, but if its one person and in your estimation you can handle them, I cant see why one wouldnt.
What if, by lying there and hoping they go away, instead they make their way into your kids rooms? What will you say then, let them get on with it? Its very much a flaw in the passive approach that places alot of hope on their motives - it might not be the car they are after, you never know.
There is of course a proviso that it depends entirely on your ability to defend yourself.
Im youngish at 30 and a very solid 16+ stone, which is useful in these situations and I also have some self-defense knowledge and have been in tight situations in the past, so its something I have a degree of confidence in, but thats not everyone.
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I've have found that smiling and thickening my normally soft Scots accent in situations which seem in danger of turning to conflict usually has a calming effect. I like to think it's our reputation for pacifism and compromise which reassures...
:-)
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Since losing a car in the night (keys taken from the kitchen but the window was closed, above the stairs to the cellar - so a big drop - and not very visible) I take mine upstairs... but leave them in the office or on the landing window sill. In fact the reason they are there is the house keys are in reach if you had to leave in a hurry.
I'd not fight anyone for a car - I know of someone who confronted someone in the house in the middle of the night and they were armed with a length of 4x3 with nails in it. And he was hit. He just wanted to chase them away to protect the family though.
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Ooh, 4x3 with nails in it. Somewhat unwieldy, especially in 6' lengths. Shame he didn't have a rounders bat to hand.
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:-) Finger slipped. But they had a lump of wood with nails because they'd ripped it of something. They also hit him with it and he had puncture wounds.
End result: car not stolen. Car then sold at a huge loss because his wife did not feel safe. Maybe it would have been cheaper to lose the no claims discount and it was stolen. It was a performance car of some sort. I didn't know him at the time.
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Guy must have felt a bit of a plank.
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>> End result: car not stolen.
Well done that man - side effect of end result - scrotes who will be a bit more wary of "easy pickings" in future. That's what we want.
By the way - www.jaqueslondon.co.uk/rounders-stick-and-ball.html
It's worth having the ball as well. A bit difficult to play without it, in fact. It might even be considered odd to have one but not the other.
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I forgot to add they also had big knives (seriously!). Hence the car sold at a very big loss.
>> It's worth having the ball as well. A bit difficult to play without it, in fact. It might even be
>>considered odd to have one but not the other.
I think I know what you mean. If you had one of these and happened to use it in self defence it might be okay. If you had one to use an offensive weapon you might be in trouble. So if this was in a car say, with the ball, you might be okay. No ball and you're in deep trouble if used to defend yourself.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Mon 13 Dec 10 at 23:53
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"No self respecting criminal will want a getaway Skoda..." (Baz, about halfway up the thread).
Oh yes they would - they took my Octavia vRS last January - fiddled the front (house) door lock and took SWMBO's handbag with all the keys in it. Police were sure they targeted the car - West Midlands Police found it a few weeks later in Birmingham (we live in Berkshire) - undamaged and only 200 miles extra on it so probably planned to be used in a getaway.
The police exceeded my expectations, but the insurance company fell far short, virtually accusing me of fraud.
Yes, our keys are upstairs at night but we have discussed this on here before and I'm still in two minds about it, for the reasons people have given above.
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My opinion on car/house keys - keep nowhere near windows/doors and the letterbox. But hiding them is something I'm not sure about.
In our house I might think I could leave them on the stairs because of an outer door and the original door. The latter has stained glass too so you could look in. But a fishing rod type thing through both letter boxes (must be doable but not easy being at different levels) with a camera and you'd get the keys. But would they?
And to hide the keys you might need in an emergency yourself, especially house keys?
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"Take your car keys to bed ?" - Old Navy
