Car defrosting on driveway, lesson learned

[phil675]

So, somebody my my sister works with has had their car stolen this morning, while they left in on the driveway with the engine running. It was a 55 plate Audi TT, had the keys for the house and for a hair salon in it, so the locks will need to be changed, insurance company will not pay out of course.

I'll think twice before leaving the car running again!

 

[West]

Gutted

Not a nice feeling. Something similar happened to my Dad where they came into the house after he unlocked the door and went outside and opened the drive gates. He went upstairs and they had come in, took his keys off the side and buggered off with the car

Turned up about 4 weeks later burned out.

 

[ganesh]

Or if you do then lock it also.

 

[cheets64]

"A fool and her money are soon parted"

See it every winter, either stay in your car while it defrosts (which I do) or use a 2nd set to lock the car while you go back in your house.

 

[Jay794]

Sorry to hear about the car being stolen but if they leave the keys in the ignition then they kinda deserve it.

Remote start F T W!

 

[Shimmy]

Stereotype reinforced.

 

[daveski]

I leave my car on the drive with the engine running to defrost it, its always locked with the spare keys and I watch it from the kitchen.

 

[phil675]

On the plus side, my mum is selling her C class coupe so maybe she'll be interested

 

[4T5]

Sorry to hear about the car being stolen but if they leave the keys in the ignition then they kinda deserve it.

I don't agree they deserved it at all it's just unfortunate that scum bags are out there to take advantage of easy pickings.
The no pay out is a right kicker though & a harsh lesson to learn, I feel for her.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Sorry to hear about the car being stolen but if they leave the keys in the ignition then they kinda deserve it.

Nobody deserves to have a car stolen - what you mean is that they were at least partly responsible for what happened.

 

[Sagalout]

This happenned to my friends mum last year. 10 plate Focus. We all assumed insurance wouldn't pay out but it did.

 

[Glaucus]

Or if you do then lock it also.

This is when it is really useful having old keys with a separate remote. Leave car running and lock with separate remote. Job done.

 

[phil675]

Realistically though if someone wants your car they will smash the window and open the door from the inside.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Realistically though if someone wants your car they will smash the window and open the door from the inside.

True but the majority of thefts of cars with the keys in and the engine running are opportunistic - not people who 'really' want the car enough to smash in.

 

[joey1211]

Would it not be possible to say "They must have sneaked in and took the keys off the sideboard"? How would they know otherwise?

 

[Phil W]

My fiancé is terrible for starting the car, leaving it running and then coming back in the house to do other things.

Dug out her spare key so now she locks the car if she does it. She's usually pretty good and just uses de-icer but if its minus temps outside then its nice to have the car warm for when the kids get in.

 

[Begbie]

Would it not be possible to say "They must have sneaked in and took the keys off the sideboard"? How would they know otherwise?

That's the route I would be going down anyway. Or something similar to it.

 

[ash_scotland88]

Not sure if it's illegal in England but it's illegal up her in Scotland to leave a vehicle running and unintended. There was a small radio campaign on Clyde1 (when I was through in Glasgow for a couple of trips) warning of the legality and the oppurtunists.

 

[Jay794]

Nobody deserves to have a car stolen - what you mean is that they were at least partly responsible for what happened.

Otherwise known as The Darwin Award

 

[Muffin`]

Otherwise known as The Darwin Award

darwin award is when you kill yourself in the process