thining its stupid taking the car keys upstairs at night, as if someone breaks in to get the car, i dont want them coming upstairs

[carriedapumpkin]

dh insists on taking the car keys upstairs at night, incase someone breaks in to delibertly steal the car

this has happened to someone we know 6 miles away, with the same car

the police were convinced they were broken inot purley to get the car.
i have not idea how or why they've come up with this idea though

anyway personally i dont want crooks coming upstairs looking for the key

and last night before we were in bed we heard the car alarm go off.
there didnt seem to be anyone outside, but it just put a bit of fear into me that someone was creeping about and i couldnt sleep
i kept hearingnoises probably the fridge AND the house just making noises etc.
it was still there in the am

but me and dh are aguring where to keep the keys

where do you keep yours?

Unless you have a fake car on the drive...

I used to bring the car key upstairs but about 18 months ago a friend had a party and had other friends sleep over, a gang broke in and went into 3 different rooms with sleeping people in until thy found the key they wanted then stole the car.

Maybe the gang new that there had been a party and people had been drinking but the idea that they could be that bold is worrying, especially as the police say they did it again the same night to an older lady who they assulted when she woke.

Yup. My proper key snapped off in the door and I have a temporary one, and to turn on the car I need to hold the broken one against it. I have one in one compartment and the broken one in another. If anyone really wants a dirty old dented piece of crap with 3 car seats, a boot full of shite, and enough rubbish to fill a small skip...well, they are welcome to it!

And sure if it was stolen how would the insurance company know that the key was in it?

If you can afford it, get a burglar alarm which has a 'nighttime' setting, which means you set it before going up to bed and it activates if there is any movement downstairs. Complete peace of mind...

I like the fake car idea. Cunningly crafted out of Lego perhaps?

My keys were taken whilst the front door was unlocked (it was during the day and we were moving stuff into the garage ). My insurance paid out on problems.

I'm against the idea that the blame is some how shifted to the victim. Where does it stop? I don't think having keys in a locked house but in sight from a window if someone is peering in is negligent

i remember a friend who had a really old car and she put a sign in the dash saying "if you steal my car please leave the babyseat on the footpath"

no tyler, but insurance companies don't like paying out so if they can get out of it they will.

Profiterole, that is outrageous. Who bargained with him on that one? Unless your DH used unreasonable force, I can't see how they would not progress with a burglary.

police said that we could have been done for assault as well - apparently if you hurt them while they are running away, it is assault. If you hurt them while they are coming towards you, it is self defence.

only shoot them when they are facing you then?

Another cynic here but the Police would get mega detection brownie points for detecting a burglary -they never usually let those stats go. Sounds like a crap Police officer there.

We hide ours now - we were burgled earlier in the year and they took the car keys but didn't actually take the car! It was expensive getting the locks changed because changing locks isn't covered on the car insurance (or home insurance).

I suppose if you're hiding them it doesn't matter if its upstairs or downstairs, if the burglars are really determined they'll look everywhere.

I definitely think its normally opportunists though, if they're next to the door they'll take them otherwise they won't bother (unless its a very special car!).

My earlier post should have read

My insurance paid out no problems.

profiterole thief - sure, having the hammer would have gone massively against him. Weapons make a big difference in assault charges.

I still can't get over this - my Mum had her handbag stolen from the front seat of her car in Sainsbury's carpark while she was loading shopping in the back - she caught sight of the bastard and grabbed at his t-shirt while he ran off but couldn't stop him. When she spoke to the police about it, they were more concerned that she had "assaulted" him than that he had committed a criminal offence! Wankers.

Leave them downstairs where burglars can find them! then at least they will just take them and (hopefully) go without causing disruption or harm to you and your family.

There is nothing written in to insurance policies about where to leave your car keys,they would be classed as being 'safe' in your house. Its not as if you are leaving them in the ignition or on top of the bonnet....