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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:
muckandbrass · 06/01/2019 17:46

well, this has been educational! Now I know how to deadlock my car! So, thanks OP.

easyandy101 · 06/01/2019 19:20

www.wired.com/2015/08/hackers-tiny-device-unlocks-cars-opens-garages/

Also this, it intercepts a coded signal, records it, then intercepts and saves the 2nd coded signal, whilst at the same time sending the 1st code to open the door. Then they've got a usable code to open the door at any time

Elephantina · 06/01/2019 21:18

The police called today - asked me disinterestedly what happened, I repeated the story, she said she would call the services to check the CCTV.

I emailed her details of the laptop later, and asked if she'd had any luck with the footage - she came straight back and said there was none, as it only covers the entrance and not the car park. So it will basically be filed as "undetected", unless the laptop miraculously turns up.

I'm not really surprised, I didn't have any realistic expectations of recovery. Just all seems so pointless, why bother having CCTV at all if the thieves know full well its not on the car park?!

OP posts:
Sashkin · 06/01/2019 23:31

CCTV only covers the entrance

It’s obviously for the service station’s benefit (to see people breaking in) not users’ benefit (to see car crime).

Elephantina · 06/01/2019 23:34

Ah right. Yes, makes sense. Never mind, such is life...could've been a lot worse!

OP posts:
Isayeichnotheich · 08/01/2019 00:16

Just wanted to say thank you for this thread, neither DH or I knew about deadlocking/not deadlocking and deactivating internal alarm.
I'm often not sure the car got locked, so I press the second time, turns out it deactivates the deadlock on our VW. Our mirrors don't fold in through locking.

Elephantina · 10/01/2019 22:37

By way of an update of sorts, my employers have very relaxed because their main issue would be loss of data or a data breach - and because I followed all the protocols and IT policies, and because the technology is all encrypted, they are not concerned about the theft from that perspective.

I have not been grilled about the incident itself or lectured on loss of hardware, so, fingers crossed I'm not getting the bullet...lesson learned, stay fucking awake and CHECK IT IS LOCKED.

OP posts:
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