Tea leaves robbed my cars

[saq85]

****** URGENT HELP NEEDED *******

On Monday 9th May 2 cars were stolen from our driveway.

1. Silver Seat Leon FR 5dr with body kit.

2. Black Audi S3 3dr with silver wing mirrors.

Pictures below.

****** If you see any of these cars on your road or maybe a carpark please contact me or the police immediately *****


Birmingham area.

Any help would be gladly appreciated.

 

[S3Alex]

I am so sorry to hear this,and hope no-one was hurt etc while it was happening.

Good luck getting the cars back and catching them.

 

[Strell]

Ah gutted for you.
Had my Alpina D3 biturbo stollen just over a year ago.
If you are like me I hope the cars don't get found and you get a nice simple payout from insurance.
I didn't want mine back after God knows what had been done in it.

 

[mookster]

Nightmare, hope you manage to find the scum and get them locked up

 

[tcardio]

educate me on how this can happen? AND, would you use something like an APR remap to turn off the ECU nightly or would this make those scumbags break into your house?

 

[voorhees]

Have you put it on social media ? It would get instant coverage in the area it was took

educate me on how this can happen?

I'd guess they stole the keys then the cars.

 

[Sandra]

@saq85 Im sorry to hear that both your cars were stolen. As long as you are all ok, that's the important thing. I have put a post up on our asn facebook page.

 

[Bazzle]

That's a "pr1ck" of an act.
Any idea how they took them?

 

[Gazwould]

Seems like every fortnight an S3 is reported stolen on here .

 

[saq85]

Seems like every fortnight an S3 is reported stolen on here .

educate me on how this can happen? AND, would you use something like an APR remap to turn off the ECU nightly or would this make those scumbags break into your house?

Have you put it on social media ? It would get instant coverage in the area it was took


I'd guess they stole the keys then the cars.

@saq85 Im sorry to hear that both your cars were stolen. As long as you are all ok, that's the important thing. I have put a post up on our asn facebook page.

That's a "pr1ck" of an act.
Any idea how they took them?

Thank you for all your replies, basically I've been living in a new house for not longer than a month or so. And havnt been using the house alarm.. the upvc doors and the whole house is very dated with very old locks on them. What they did was open up my side access. And jumped over the side of house into the rear garden and peeled back the upvc door handles exposing the lock barrel and snapped it off and turned the lock with a screwdriver and hey presto they are in the house... straight into the kitchen draw with all our keys and then they must have rolled the cars of my drive and started them away from the house so I didn't even hear the miltek exhaust.

In regards to disabling the ecu... I'm sure they would have just come back in and threatened me/my wife to start it up for them.

The police said if its not found in 48 hours it's quite unlikely it will be found.


@Sandra thank you for putting it up


I've plastered it all over social media but if the thieves no what they are doing they've already changed the plates. So it will go undetected.


I don't think I'll be getting another flash car anytime soon.

It's sad that I'm being a law abiding citizen and working hard and legit to not be able to get the things I want.


Part of life hay?

My wife's excess on the Leon is £3000 because it's Birmingham and full of ***** it's the only insurer who would insure her.


Right now I feel like life sucks but on the plus side like a few of you guys have said we are safe and it could have been worse.

 

[saq85]

I knew s3's were hot cakes a good few years ago.. but now they are old I didn't think they were sought after..

Going to turn this house into a fortress now. Lol.

 

[leshkin]

What a bunch of scum-bags! My heart sinks every time I see one of these posts

From what I heard when we had local police reps visit our office and advise on home security, CCTV tends to put them off more than a house alarm, I'd check that out if I were you. For the cost of a few hundred quid you could at least have some chance of putting them away. Getting good doors and windows also helps too I guess.

 

[enc]

Gutted for you mate. Hope you get the result you want.

 

[audismart]

They were probably stripped for parts that night and chopped up in a warehouse. Sorry mate. Dont know how many times I had to moan at the Mrs about leaving the keys on the sideboard next to the door, for some scum bag to go fishing for a set of keys with a hook and magnet. Finally she got the message.

 

[AlexA4Avant]

Yale house alarm from screw fix was 300 pound and maplin do a cc tv for 149 approx

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

 

[mrksl]

Sorry to hear the news...had my S3 8P stolen back in 2014..similar story broke in through french doors at back by snapping cylinder lock and getting keys whilst asleep.
**Note to everyone make sure all of your doors with euro cylinder locks are replaced with anti-snap ones such as Avocet ABS (they are Sold Secure approved) and about £40 per door and can be diy installed in a few mins...all my doors have these now!**

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[saq85]

Sorry to hear the news...had my S3 8P stolen back in 2014..similar story broke in through french doors at back by snapping cylinder lock and getting keys whilst asleep.
**Note to everyone make sure all of your doors with euro cylinder locks are replaced with anti-snap ones such as Avocet ABS (they are Sold Secure approved) and about £40 per door and can be diy installed in a few mins...all my doors have these now!**

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Did u ever it it back mate?

 

[mrksl]

Did u ever it it back mate?

No...guess it was stripped or sent abroad. Replaced now with S3 8V after months of deliberating to have another. Put my own phone tracker in it, Disklok and Gap insurance..along with making house more secure...oh and alarm part set at night etc.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Rs3Dude]

Sorry to hear, seen the post on Facebook, no sure which part of Birmingham you live in but I live in one of the worst parts couple of the locals have been arrested for car theft related crimes and plenty of chop shops about!

Not too fussed if the car goes anyway tbh, just bought the s3 8p and it's giving me a load of ****! luckily I've taken out gap insurance so puts risk of me getting worked up should the same happen from these scums to 0.

Hopefully you don't get it back and get the paid out you want.

 

[saq85]

Sorry to hear, seen the post on Facebook, no sure which part of Birmingham you live in but I live in one of the worst parts couple of the locals have been arrested for car theft related crimes and plenty of chop shops about!

Not too fussed if the car goes anyway tbh, just bought the s3 8p and it's giving me a load of ****! luckily I've taken out gap insurance so puts risk of me getting worked up should the same happen from these scums to 0.

Hopefully you don't get it back and get the paid out you want.

I'd rather have got it back and taken the go faster bits off it :'( oh well

 

[saq85]

No...guess it was stripped or sent abroad. Replaced now with S3 8V after months of deliberating to have another. Put my own phone tracker in it, Disklok and Gap insurance..along with making house more secure...oh and alarm part set at night etc.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

have you had any trouble with your new s3 now you have upped your security? I have received a pathetic offer from my insurance company. Obviously refused it.
I think the most gutting thing is the realisation that if I get another eye catching car it's just going to make my house a target again. Been looking at 07 plated focus tdci

 

[AlexA4Avant]

Go back for the audi you will regret it if you swap

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

 

[mrksl]

have you had any trouble with your new s3 now you have upped your security? I have received a pathetic offer from my insurance company. Obviously refused it.
I think the most gutting thing is the realisation that if I get another eye catching car it's just going to make my house a target again. Been looking at 07 plated focus tdci

Not but I try and be a bit more aware when out and about and when at home

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[saq85]

Update...
Car still not found and probably won't be. Got a ridiculous offer from the insurance company and will probably be going to the financial ombudsman. I can't get the same car with the offer they've given. I don't know where I stand, with the offer they have given I can only get a prefacelift s3 and according to their valuations that they have done that's what my car is worth. :S confused.

 

[Usmxn]

Update...
Car still not found and probably won't be. Got a ridiculous offer from the insurance company and will probably be going to the financial ombudsman. I can't get the same car with the offer they've given. I don't know where I stand, with the offer they have given I can only get a prefacelift s3 and according to their valuations that they have done that's what my car is worth. :S confused.

Find similar cars to yours on Auto trader mate in terms of colour mileage year etc. And then show that to the insurers and they should be able to up their offer

 

[Samy boi]

Update...
Car still not found and probably won't be. Got a ridiculous offer from the insurance company and will probably be going to the financial ombudsman. I can't get the same car with the offer they've given. I don't know where I stand, with the offer they have given I can only get a prefacelift s3 and according to their valuations that they have done that's what my car is worth. :S confused.

Sorry to hear it mate. Best thing you can do to start with is provide proof that the car is worth more than they have valued it at. Put together a little pack/document file of advertisements from maybe 3 different car sites with similar mileage and spec to your own and also from some car valuation sites. Also, if they insured you for any mods you can provide receipts to show the car was worth more than they believe (if you of course told the insurers about it).

If that fails and they don't want to listen, inform them you will take it to the FOS. That usually shits them up, I am in financial services myself and if a client happened to say that to me, I would do everything I could to prevent that and resolve any issues beforehand! Plus, they have an obligation to hear you out and if you tell them it is an "official complaint" that you wish to put forward, they have to report this to the FCA and be fair, get back to you in a reasonable timeframe and let you know their assessment.Good luck mate, hope you get the result you want.

 

[Strell]

Yeah wouldn't worry too much if that's their first offer. Think they always come in really low at first in hope people just accept it.

When my Alpina was stolen the initial price was £13k in the end they paid £16.6k

 

[saq85]

Find similar cars to yours on Auto trader mate in terms of colour mileage year etc. And then show that to the insurers and they should be able to up their offer

Sorry to hear it mate. Best thing you can do to start with is provide proof that the car is worth more than they have valued it at. Put together a little pack/document file of advertisements from maybe 3 different car sites with similar mileage and spec to your own and also from some car valuation sites. Also, if they insured you for any mods you can provide receipts to show the car was worth more than they believe (if you of course told the insurers about it).

If that fails and they don't want to listen, inform them you will take it to the FOS. That usually shits them up, I am in financial services myself and if a client happened to say that to me, I would do everything I could to prevent that and resolve any issues beforehand! Plus, they have an obligation to hear you out and if you tell them it is an "official complaint" that you wish to put forward, they have to report this to the FCA and be fair, get back to you in a reasonable timeframe and let you know their assessment.Good luck mate, hope you get the result you want.

alright guys thanks for replying, I've told them I can show them proof of it being more expensive then what they are offering but their argument is that they used 3 independent valuations from glass, Parker's, and cap. Who are the industry standard for actual sold prices in the car market. And apparently it's what the GPS will use :s. They don't look at private adds because the cars usually sell for less. I've told them that I won't e able to buy another car of the same spec etc and they don't care. Their valuations is final basically.

Yeah wouldn't worry too much if that's their first offer. Think they always come in really low at first in hope people just accept it.

When my Alpina was stolen the initial price was £13k in the end they paid £16.6k

Sadly it's their 2nd and final offer. They've actually told me to go to the GPS if I'm not happy.

What a rob.

 

[MICHAEL PARKER]

Insurance companies want t it all their own way , very unfair , if the boot was on the other foot it would be very different , they make me sick tbh .

 

[Samy boi]

alright guys thanks for replying, I've told them I can show them proof of it being more expensive then what they are offering but their argument is that they used 3 independent valuations from glass, Parker's, and cap. Who are the industry standard for actual sold prices in the car market. And apparently it's what the GPS will use :s. They don't look at private adds because the cars usually sell for less. I've told them that I won't e able to buy another car of the same spec etc and they don't care. Their valuations is final basically.

Take it to the FOS mate, if you can't buy one private with the money they are offering, even with a bit of haggling on the cost price, then it isn't a fair offer. Just because they have sold for that much from those valuation services, doesn't mean the price now is the same. Those are historic transactions and you could argue that those valuation services are flawed to some degree as from recollection, they don't always take in to account the spec. Plus, they wouldn't have private ad data for car sales prices and if they really have used main dealer pricing, you should check out the audi site and see the approved used range to see if they are realistic. Worth a try, the FOS can only say no after they look at the evidence after all.

 

[saq85]

Take it to the FOS mate, if you can't buy one private with the money they are offering, even with a bit of haggling on the cost price, then it isn't a fair offer. Just because they have sold for that much from those valuation services, doesn't mean the price now is the same. Those are historic transactions and you could argue that those valuation services are flawed to some degree as from recollection, they don't always take in to account the spec. Plus, they wouldn't have private ad data for car sales prices and if they really have used main dealer pricing, you should check out the audi site and see the approved used range to see if they are realistic. Worth a try, the FOS can only say no after they look at the evidence after all.

I've just got in contact with them. Wish me luck

 

[saq85]

Didn't have any joy with the ombudsman. They were very polite and professional, great service. But they are tied to what they can do. I guess they are there to make sure companies are doing as per their terms and conditions.



Anyway, looking at car again.. don't really want an Audi 8P as I've been sitting in that one for 4 years.
Thinking of getting a VW R32 or a BMW E90 335i


Trouble with the r32 is you are paying crazy amounts of tax for only 250ish bhp.

The 335i has a nice tunable lump in it.

My requirements are:
Fairly modern (not ancient)
5 door (family on the way )
Some decent tech in it (Bluetooth. Parking sensors. Heated seats, panoramic roof, anything fancy)
Prefebaly not a 4cylinder



Will appreciate any feedback.

 

[MICHAEL PARKER]

I have had a few 335i's great cars , fast and very tuneable , I was also put off the r32 because of the tax band hence I thought the s3 was the best all rounder .

 

[s5joe]

You will find the 335i is the same tax band as the r32

 

[MICHAEL PARKER]

Depends on the year of the car from what I remember , I could be wrong though.

 

[s5joe]

Depends on the year of the car from what I remember , I could be wrong though.

Yer after March 2006 it rockets

 

[saq85]

I've just checked via Parker's, the r32 post 06 is £500 per annum and the 335i is under £300
Guess them turbos make it way more efficient.

 

[s5joe]

Do a tax check on them as I went to see some and they were £500 for the 335i on like a 57 plate

 

[MICHAEL PARKER]

You also need to remember the gits are re banding vehicle tax in April as well which may be quite scary !

 

[saq85]

Do a tax check on them as I went to see some and they were £500 for the 335i on like a 57 plate

Weird :s I'll keep my eyes open on that one then if i do decide to get one.