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Original poster

Car stolen 😬

27 replies

savethewales · 20/04/2023 04:44

So we’ve been knocked out of bed at 2am to say our car has been stolen from the drive.

Feeling royally fed up and annoyed with myself as I’d left the key in the car. It’s a fob one, I’ve had it in my coat pocket and left the coat in the car when getting the toddler out. Haven’t thought or realised.

Keeping everything crossed we get the car seat and pram back at least. Along with the next 2 me cot I’d bought my sister in law that was in the back for drop off in the morning.

FFS!

OP posts:
Diplidocus4 · 20/04/2023 05:13

Depends on what car it is ? High end or top of the range may well just disappear ? Think police can track cars unless whoever stole it changed the number plates?
Are there house keys in it , as on the key fob ?
Do feel sorry for you !

Original poster
savethewales · 20/04/2023 05:17

luckily no, house keys are here. It’s a key that looks slightly like a credit card shape but a bit thicker so not easy to attach bits too.

It’s a 10 year old banger so fingers crossed they get bored and dump it.

OP posts:
Kittycash · 20/04/2023 05:18

Gosh I feel for you. It's so easy done.
Hope you get all back in one piece.
Who knocked?

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Bustard · 20/04/2023 05:21

That sucks, very unlucky for you. I am also prone to leaving my keys in the car. I've sometimes even done it when I've left the car in a carpark or on the street and had to go running back when I remembered.

BranchGold · 20/04/2023 05:25

Op, I’d be careful that you’ve posted this on a public forum.

are you certain your insurance will pay out considering you left the vehicle unlocked with the keys inside??

Original poster
savethewales · 20/04/2023 05:30

@BranchGold i don’t think they will unfortunately! The police told me to report it as stolen which I’ve just managed to do (systems down) but I think we’ll have to eat the cost of replacing the bits in it.

OP posts:
Original poster
savethewales · 20/04/2023 05:31

Kittycash · 20/04/2023 05:18

Gosh I feel for you. It's so easy done.
Hope you get all back in one piece.
Who knocked?

The police lady knocked. Next door neighbour who’s garden faces our drive was letting her dog out for a wee while it was happening so it was reported quickly.

OP posts:
PieonaBarm · 20/04/2023 06:05

BranchGold · 20/04/2023 05:25

Op, I’d be careful that you’ve posted this on a public forum.

are you certain your insurance will pay out considering you left the vehicle unlocked with the keys inside??

Insurance companies get the Police report so the key being in the vehicle will be on that. They might still pay, it's got to be worth a try, just be honest with them, if you're not expecting them too then you won't be disappointed if they say no. So sorry this happened to you OP, opportunistic theft on the one day you make a mistake. It sucks!

Original poster
savethewales · 20/04/2023 06:08

Yeah it’s on the police report, it’s a simple shit mistake. Hot day, coat off, toddler out of the car and then the chaos takes over and I’ve just not realised the doors still open with the key inside.

furious with myself but at least it’s just stuff!

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2023 06:28

And this is the problem with a key-less car and why I would never have one

I'm very likely to leave it in the car if I didn't need it to get out and lock it

My car is 24 years old (an actual 'old banger') Grin

Original poster
savethewales · 20/04/2023 06:39

LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2023 06:28

And this is the problem with a key-less car and why I would never have one

I'm very likely to leave it in the car if I didn't need it to get out and lock it

My car is 24 years old (an actual 'old banger') Grin

Totally agree, I hate it! It’s such a weird shape which doesn’t help

OP posts:
Turmerictolly · 20/04/2023 06:44

Have you walked/asked neighbours /family to drive you around looking for it? High end cars seem to go missing regularly in our neighbourhood according to our local Next Door app. Apparently the thieves sometimes leave them parked up for a few days in quieter roads before shipping them off. Some people have recovered their vehicles this way.

Oblomov23 · 20/04/2023 07:43

Poor OP.

Re the keyless car and not having one, most cars have a fob, and have done for many many years, few cars have a key these days.

ShannonMcFarland · 20/04/2023 07:47

LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2023 06:28

And this is the problem with a key-less car and why I would never have one

I'm very likely to leave it in the car if I didn't need it to get out and lock it

My car is 24 years old (an actual 'old banger') Grin

It isn't really to do with having a keyless car. My last one wasn't keyless and I was forever leaving the keys in it unlocked.

Original poster
savethewales · 20/04/2023 10:05

So, my bank cards and ID have been returned by a lovely lad from the council. He explained lots of stuff had been dumped round the back of some garages where he lives and he’d popped it in a pile. When I’ve gone down it was my coat, some clothes for my son, sunglasses etc. No prams or car seat however.

Been trying to contact the police to let them know for the last hour, to no avail.

OP posts:
Tulip630 · 20/04/2023 11:07

That’s awful I don’t know how anyone can steal from another person with no remorse!
Keep an eye on selling groups whether social media, eBay and the likes as if your pram and the cot are worth something they are likely to try and sell them. This way you can send the advert to the police and they’ll be able to track the person responsible. It’s unlikely you’ll get much luck with the car as they’re often stripped for parts or shipped off asap.
I recommend you invest in a ring doorbell as it’s possible the person knew you left the key there, it’s a huge coincidence it was attempted the one time you left it unlocked. I hope you do get it all back.

billyt · 20/04/2023 11:09

How the heck did some random person realise, not only that your car was unlocked, but that the key was inside? That was sodding typical of bad luck, OP.

I used to have a Renault Laguna as a company car many years ago. No external signs the car was open so easy to leave unlocked, and that had the card type 'key'. My current car folds/unfolds the door mirrors in when it locks/unlocks so I have visual confirmation (unless it's during the winter when I turn that function off). Then I physically check.

NameChangingIsMySuperPower · 20/04/2023 12:13

My parents have got a stupid shaped fob, the found a holder for it that has a loop to attach it to their keys!

LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2023 12:17

Shannon

No, it is to do with having a keyless car - with a key it would be on your house keyring so you wouldn't get out the car and leave it in the ignition

Nor could you lock it if you leave it in the car

Modern cars are just ridiculous

SoupDragon · 20/04/2023 12:20

LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2023 06:28

And this is the problem with a key-less car and why I would never have one

I'm very likely to leave it in the car if I didn't need it to get out and lock it

My car is 24 years old (an actual 'old banger') Grin

it's not a problem with a keyless car though. You still have to lock them (and with mine you can't lock it if there's a fob in the car which is useful if you're usually prone to locking your keys in there!)

SoupDragon · 20/04/2023 12:22

LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2023 12:17

Shannon

No, it is to do with having a keyless car - with a key it would be on your house keyring so you wouldn't get out the car and leave it in the ignition

Nor could you lock it if you leave it in the car

Modern cars are just ridiculous

My fob is on my key ring. Just like a key would be. You can't leave it in the ignition either because you don't put it in anywhere.

treespouse · 20/04/2023 12:23

Ah Op my car was stolen a few years ago, unfortunately I hadn't read the small print and the tracker wasn't the level required to insure against theft for that value car so I couldn't claim for the car (I'm actually still paying for it grrr ) but I was able to claim for everything that was inside it from my house insurance. They had broken into my house and stolen my keys. I had two pairs of sunglasses, a nice jacket and an expensive keyring. So it might be worth looking into that

tealandteal · 20/04/2023 12:25

So sorry OP- what a pain! I would count the car seat out, even if it’s returned you won’t know how it was handled etc, could have been dropped.

listsandbudgets · 20/04/2023 12:29

Ours was stolen about 3 months ago - they managed to clone the key and drive off at 4am even though it was in DS's pocket in our bedroom! We got it all on CCTV but obviously they had hoods and masks.

Astonishingly the police found it after about 2 weeks - rather battered with fake plates but original plates and paperwork with DPs name on still in the car so they were able to identify it pretty quickly. It needed a lot of repairs and anything of any value had been taken. No idea why they stole it - presumably to use in another crime. We were lucky insurers paid up but new premium is phenomenal Angry

Really hope it turns up for you OP. It's a really horrible feeling and so annoying too.

ShannonMcFarland · 22/04/2023 22:14

LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2023 12:17

Shannon

No, it is to do with having a keyless car - with a key it would be on your house keyring so you wouldn't get out the car and leave it in the ignition

Nor could you lock it if you leave it in the car

Modern cars are just ridiculous

I frequently left my keys in the ignition with the old style, house keys and all.

And my keyless start fob is also attached to my house keyring. Why wouldn't it be?