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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How did they get into my car?

182 replies

Elephantina · 04/01/2019 00:26

For the first time in 15 years of travelling all around the country for work, I had my new bag and some other items stolen from my car at a motorway services today.

It was a small services, fairly busy, and I parked the car within 50 yards of the entrance in full view of the main thoroughfare. I was going to be minutes - quick dash for a sandwich, I wasn't queuing for coffee or using the loo. I grabbed my purse and phone, figured my bag would be fine on the passenger seat (I know, I know, but I don't have a parcel shelf so it would still have been visible in the boot anyway). I locked the car with the remote key as I walked away - but I didn't look back to double check, it was just habit.

When I returned after about 8 minutes, my bag and a few other bits were gone, and my car was unlocked. No damage to anything, just my stuff gone.

The police told me that they watch you and use a jammer or a blocker to block the signal from your remote, so you think you've locked it but you haven't. But I've googled this and can only find info on how they target keyless systems for vehicle theft, I can't find anything about them managing to stop you locking it in the first place.

Is this a thing? Did I even lock the car at all? I keep going over and over it. Nothing I can do about it obviously, bit gutted about my lovely new work bag which was on its first outing. Sad

OP posts:
mogtheexcellent · 04/01/2019 06:50

Reading services on the M4 is notorious for this. Always check your car is actually locked. Not that it stops them...

usernamenamename · 04/01/2019 07:23

£1000 pen is that a typo? Shock Shock Shock

Elephantina · 04/01/2019 07:27

Haha Christmaslights, it's just a pen but it's a beautiful engraved Montblanc fountain pen that DH got me as a gift when I landed this job! I'd have been gutted to lose it, I'm embarrassed to use it and often too scared to take it with me, but I love it.

It's kind of you all to be so sympathetic, I don't feel terribly perturbed, just a little bit vulnerable and paranoid suddenly. It's never happened to me, I've been lucky probably.

But to put it in perspective, nobody got hurt, nothing got broken, I still have my car and phone and purse so I was very fortunate that it was not much worse. Its just stuff. I feel terrible that my employers lost some kit, but they have been very understanding (so far).

OP posts:
notaflyingmonkey · 04/01/2019 07:34

We had our catalytic converter stolen off our car from outside our house. It seemed someone came down the road and took them off any cars they could. Didn't even know that was a thing, apparently they can sell them for a few quid for the precious metals used in them. Massive pain for us to get it replaced.

Bastards.

Elephantina · 04/01/2019 07:39

Oh don't user, I'm mortified now. I shouldn't have mentioned it, I just meant that I was glad I hadn't imported a very sentimental gift to the new case as I would have lost it, and it means a lot to me. Mentioning the value was a bit crass, it was in the context of having stuff stolen but I didn't mean to be a dick. Blush

Its about the most frivolous and needlessly expensive item I have owned in my entire life! There's a story behind it but I won't bore you.

OP posts:
CantWaitToRetire · 04/01/2019 07:46

Please don’t be fooled into thinking that if the car locked it cannot then be unlocked. Some of these scumbags know how to get into cars within seconds with the right tools. The bag on the seat would have been a big temptation so you were lucky not to get your windows smashed too. Sorry this happened to you OP.

BitOutOfPractice · 04/01/2019 07:47

If my drivers door isn't quite shut, the car won't lock. Could've been that?

Sorry it happened to you though. Horrible feeling.

LindaLa · 04/01/2019 07:47

Sympathies.

I think the same happened to me.

I say think because I'd locked car, went to pop into to someone's house and when I came out my car was unlocked.

It was weird and I was going through logically, did I sit on key, was I sure I locked it etc.

Luckily I had nothing in the car of value, the only thing missing was an old pound coin I kept for shopping trolleys!

Bastards are everywhere

iamkahleesi · 04/01/2019 07:48

I'm so sorry your car was broken in to, it feels like such a personal invasion. I'm glad you're able to look at the positives and how lucky you really were, a few lessons learned.
A beautiful pen is an investment and very special. I'm glad you didn't lose it.

PoutySprout · 04/01/2019 07:50

I'm not going to claim on my insurance as my actual belongings were only worth about £100

You wouldn’t be covered anyway if you left the bag in full view.

ReflectentMonatomism · 04/01/2019 07:51

www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~oswalddf/publications/2016_usenix_lock_it_and_still_lose_it.pdf

Tl;dr is that the encryption used on door locks is shit and known to be shit.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 04/01/2019 07:56

@Elephantina - don’t feel you have to apologise for having nice stuff. Your mentioning its value was just demonstrating how gutting it would have been to lose it (and I sympathise, my father had a Mont Blanc pen stolen from his office, the bastards).

I’m sorry this has happened, it does really make you feel upset Flowers

usernamenamename · 04/01/2019 08:07

You weren't being a dick for mentioning it at all I just can't believe a £1000 pen exists I've never heard of such a thing!

usernamenamename · 04/01/2019 08:10

Wow you can even get a £7800 pen Shock

How did they get into my car?
ByeGermsByeWorries · 04/01/2019 08:18

This scumbag broke into my neighbours car one night when I used to live in a bad area. He had something which he placed against the door of the car and it disarmed the alarm and unlocked the car. Angry

Got the full thing on video took him 6 seconds to get in. Saw him many times but the police never managed to catch him at it.

Doesn't matter how careful you are locking up, if they want it they'll get it. If they don't use a fancy gadget they'll just do the good old fashioned smash and grab. Unfortunately even though we shouldn't have to, just empty your car when you leave it or hide things in the boot. If it's on a seat and they think they can do a quick manoeuvre they will.

Whoever robbed my neighbour must have been desperate as all she had left was fifty pence in her coin tray. The real damage was that he left the door swinging open and passing people were rifling through it all night.

How did they get into my car?
MilkTrayLimeBarrel · 04/01/2019 08:23

Off topic - I really covet a Mont Blanc Pen!

NewYoiker · 04/01/2019 08:32

@MilkTrayLimeBarrel try Ebay. They're genuine but some people don't want them after being given new ones for Christmas- you can get a pen for around £100

SayNoToCarrots · 04/01/2019 08:39

I always wonder why more cars don't make a big song and dance about being locked. My hideous old car makes up for its mingingness by ostentatiously flashing and loudly clunking the locks into place. Not that anyone would ever bother to steal from it.

TallulahBetty · 04/01/2019 08:39

Wow. I'm very glad I dont have remote locking. So sorry OP. X

badreams · 04/01/2019 08:59

One night someone smashed the driver's window of our old car and stole the radio. Even before the old keyless entry, it still happened but as well as losing our radio, we had to replace the window too!

1tisILeClerc · 04/01/2019 09:00

While the drama for the OP is over I was interested by the comment that the parking sensor had 'registered' something when there wasn't. This COULD indicate a powerful 'jamming' device was being used near your car. Since most of the functions of modern cars depend on a couple of micro computers most functions are in a way 'related'.
It might be worth writing to VW directly and asking if 'jamming' is being addressed. Online searches might pull something up too.
In general ANY 'odd' behaviour of a car should be investigated or at least take a note. In the 'old days' if something squeaked or the temp gauge changed from it's usual position you would know to check (depending how cavalier you are).
I am wondering if you have a key to lock the doors whether using that rather than a remote fob when leaving the car in 'dodgy' places MIGHT be a little more secure as it would mean thieves can't 'grab' the quick burst of 'radio' when you use the fob.
I don't need a £1,000 pen, my handwriting doesn't warrant anything better than a crayon!

1tisILeClerc · 04/01/2019 09:04

I have suffered 2 attempts to steal my 30 year old car. Nothing was taken, despite being full of all sorts of stuff, they only wanted the car.

EffOrf · 04/01/2019 09:07

Regarding the parking sensors, a couple of times in Waitrose car park my rear sensors have gone off continually when there has been nothing there...

Sorry OP about your stolen belongings, I will always check my car is really locked now