996 Violated and Stereo stolen

Not my day, come down to garage at 6.30 am to find rear garage door pried and passenger side door of car open...knew what to expect next..my Pioneer AVIC-N1 head unit was gone...guy was a consumate pro, no major damage to car, phone and driving glasses left behind as was $15 in change...lucky I left it unlocked last night or would be replacing window...getting the garage hooked up to alarm this weekend...tough luck...if only he had come into the house looking for the keys we could have been introduced and he could meet my friends Benelli and Glock.....bastard. Upside is that the replacement will be a very quick job....wifes Cayenne was locked and untouched.

Sounds like he knew exactly what he was after.........inside job maybe?

There has been a prowler in neighbourhood recently, so he knew what he wanted I guess. Couldn't be inside job unless wife was in on it..haha

Why would you leave the door unlocked?

Sorry to hear that, I would love to introduce my friend "Colt 45" to someone like that!!! Robert

Sorry to hear about your mishaps. Somebody's been watching you and your 996 very closely.

Inside job.... Could mean someone at the "car toys" shop that knew you had an expensive aftermarket unit, and who would be better qualified to remove it with no damage. I would bet it wasn't random, sounds like the theif knew there was something worthwhile in that closed garage and a factory unit would not apply.

Yah, stupid I know, but it saved me a very expensive repair to window or door.

Could be, but more then likely a pro thief, our neighbourhood gets hit in the summer as many families are away at cottages..going to check with neighbours if their high end cars were victimized last night as well..apparently our neighbours Audi was tried the other night...

Does that unit have a removeable faceplate? I still think it's better to lock the car. An unlocked car is an invitation. I remember an old saying that went: "Q: What do you call someone who never locks his car? A: A pedestrian..." And what's with all the mention of hand-guns? You guys are kidding right?

Yes, will lock it from now on. And yes, I was kidding about the handguns. Its just a car. Its not like the guy came inside after my family, then its no joke.

I don't see an issue here. All you proposed was an introduction to your two friends.....you didn't suggest swapping bodily fluids or anything......I am betting an "introduction" would have been quite sufficient to convince the dirt ball to take his freekin act elsewhere..... I mean, I do understand that you guys from Cali and Toronto live with a different set of rules (some would even suggest that they are more civilized rules) then exist in places like Texas or New Hampshire. At the same time, I see nothing wrong in legally defending yourself. A show of force is different from a use of force. What ever.......sorry for your bad luck.....the guy invaded your garage and your car..........you are justified in being pissed......

Yeeah guns, wish they were legal in the UK then we could all go around killing each other like in America

Come on guys everyone knows its only the Americans that own hand guns. The best news is no damage to the car.

That sucks! But at least you didn't have a window broken or worse a door pried with a crow bar. I don't lock cars in my garage when I'm home. Years ago I lost a radio, window and a bunch of collateral damage to my BMW while parked in a church parking lot for a wedding. I'm from Cali and have my friends Sig Sauer, Glock and other associates at hand. Hope I never have to introduce them to strangers but they are good friends to have around just in case.

Then there's also "locks only keep honest people out". Locking the car is sometimes asking for a broken window or sliced convertable top. I had a friend who had stickers on his MG windows that said "it's not locked".

Sorry to hear about your victimization. This discussion has me wondering though...who locks their car while it is in their garage? I never lock my car while it is in my garage. Heck, my wife leaves the keys to her car in the car while it is in the garage.

carbon are you even allowed to own a glock in canada? i thought that handguns were almost unavailable there. btw, i agree it was better to leave your car unlocked in your own garage. this thief obviously wanted your specific head unit.

Too bad you didn't wake up in the middle of the night and shoot his *** while he was fleeing the scene. BTW, the reason he didn't take your glasses/personal items is because believe it or not, certain thieves actually have a moral code that they go by when they steal stuff outta your car like a stereo or whatever else. They'll take what they're after and leave the rest of your **** alone. The only reason I know this is because my best friend as a child turned into a car thief and he adhered by a very strict moral code when he went on jobs. He'd only take what he was after and make sure and leave everything else unharmed and intact.

Ignacio, here it only seems that the "theives" have gun ownership rights I'm not professing that we should all have guns, but if someone comes into MY home, then they will have to deal with the consequences (btw I still have my c32... getting PSS-9s on it soon). CARBON: I feel for you, I was actually considering getting one of those for myself, but it's this kinda thing that really turns me off!!! I've been looking for any Video Head Unit Model that can be fully removable (like the models that existed pre-face-plate-removal units) and used between cars, but they don't seem to exist any longer. Good Luck! btw, you can get Home Video Surveillance Kits (+/- $500 cdn) @ COSTCO, I'm considering one as well.

Yes, we know how effective UK gun control laws are in controlling your Eastern European crime wave

Ignore him Bill. Sarcastic comments are a cover for jealousy or ignorance, sometimes both. I've been to London, you? I can tell you where I would rather live...........not London.

Actually, I worked in Woking (outside of London) for almost a year in 1996. It was a great place to visit but I was happy to come back to the US. Our infrastructure and general standard of living is so much better in the US that it is ridiculous. In fact, of the 6 English friends I made while over there (who later came to visit me in the US) 3 are now living in the US and 2 are in Canada trying to get in the US! I love to visit (have gone back 7 times since 1996) but every time I visit I feel the place is deteriorating. What a shame!

If you claim it on your insurance, they may want to know if the car was locked or not. Probably better to pay for it yourself.

i don't think anyone could expect a car to be locked INSIDE a garage! after all, the thieves DID break into the garage. i don't think there will be any trouble with insurance coverage.

I used to park my Ford Orion Ghia i (yes, I thought it was cool back then) at the same train station car park every day. I came back after about 10.30 at night there was probably about a 30% chance that I had a broken window. Never once had the radio stolen as the alarm would go off and scare them away. Eventually I used to arm the alarm (it was on a switch) and leave the doors unlocked. Never had the radio stolen and saved a fortune in windows. Barry

moral thief??? If that isn't an oxymoron I don't know what is!

Yeah Bernie, we Americans kill each other quickly with guns. Unlike the Britts who do it slowly and painfully with some of the worst food in the free world! Pick your poison, literally.

Anyone without a record can have one in their home, I used to compete.

Not worth claiming it, only a 2k claim. Got a replacement at cost and will have the guys install it tommorrow..Just one of those things, could have been worse..

Honest politician?

Who's Bernie? I guess I am taking this a bit off topic. Sorry carbon_00. Yeah I have to agree but it has gotten better. Don't want to start anything here but here's my take on it. I lived in the US on and off for 4 years. I also lived in Australia on and off for 11 years. I have been back home in the UK now for 8 years and I love it. When I left the UK i couldn't wait to get out the place. I went to the US and boy did I get an eye opener. The food, service, people are great. Stuff is so cheap compared to the UK. Quality is the best. Choice is unmatched. Outdoor life is unreal and for the most part the weather is great too. But the US has some real bad bits too but I'm not going to go into them as I don't want to start a war here. Suffice to say I couldn't wait to get out the US fast enough. So off I went to Oz. Oz is a split between the UK and the US. It's sort of like the best bits of both. But it lacked culture. So I came back home. Now I flit off to somewhere in Europe at least 8 times a year for a vacation. The choice cannot be better. Greece one month, France next. Hell I even went to the Ukraine last year. Food. Well the choice of food in the UK has gotten so much better. There are plenty of good quality restaurants. Most Yanks think England is London and that's it. You should take a trip to the Lake district or North Wales, deep into the country of Kent or Cornwall. This is a beautiful country. Sure the steaks aren't as big as they are in Texas but then we are a hell of a lot more healthier population than the US. Having lived there I can honsestly say that while you may think you have it all, you don't. There is a whole world out there to be explored and most of it, yes most of it, is better than the US even with all its great food and super duper infrastructure. I think to sum up, there are good and bad bits in each society. They are different enough to be interesting and that's what makes it a great world to live in. I hope I didn't offend anyone. My comment on guns is not something to s****** at. I am sure it's been debated to death in the US. But it has created a trigger happy society that I hope never leaves its shores. I once told a Yank that the constitution is written correctly but interpreted wrong. In my country "the right to bare arms" means "you have a right to roll your sleeves up". There is no mention of guns there.

I'm somewhat in the middle on the gun issue - I'm a Brit, but have lived in LA for the last 4 years. As a kid I competed in pistol shooting competitions but thought the UK had gun control right - the police did a background check, you paid an annual fee and you could have most things (no full auto etc.) California is pretty close to this now. The post Dunblane bans were dumb, now nothing over .22 is allowed, even the olympic team have to train in France...Meanwhile criminals can still get guns, and gun crime has risen massively in the past 5 years. The real issue is gangs and drugs which are responsible for the great majority of US shootings, there are plenty of other countries with guns, but without the murders: Canada, France, Switzerland(highest gun ownership in the world) etc. Sorry, didn't mean to rant. Just don't like the idea of banning things outright because of a minority misuse: guns in 98, video recorders (broadcast flag), compulsory speed limiters anyone? Back to cars at least...

OK... just to jump back on the topic... $2k. Can I get one as well for that price, otherwise I will pick one up when I'm down in the States later next month. BTW Carbon, how much was the in car camera option. TIA lap

$2040k is dealer cost from Pioneer, I actually paid $2140 for it , plus GST, they retail for around $2700. Now that you know what they cost you can grind the retail guys!! I cannot get another one at that price, a good client/friend of mine took pity and gave me one at his cost plus 5%...sorry..better getting one in the states In car camera retails for around $300, I didn't get it installed (yet)

honest politician? Too funny Carbon! By the way, the prices must be higher in your neck of the world since the Avic is about 1800 down here in Vegas at the electronics stores. Duties/Taxes maybe? .....Berny "the constitution is written correctly but interpreted wrong" I think you hit the nail right on the head!!! The problem we have here in the US is the interpretation, bending each ammendment as far as it will go, and our abuse of some of the amendments.

Yah, our entire country, while significantly larger then the US in geographical area has a smaller total economic mkt then California, so the electronics are a bit more for car stuff, however computers are much cheaper (!?!?) Also, the forex conversion evens things out a bit....

I would only justify use of force(gun) if some dirtbag came in my house at night and my wife or children were in harms way...Then and only then would I protect myself with some serious force! Problem is our society allows the criminals to have most of the rights... No car or stereo etc is worth losing your life over....I don't think we can drive P-cars in heaven!!! HaHa! Stay safe everyone! Robert

Scouser: You forgot to mention Accrington

Hmmmm.... I must be missing something. No idea what your on about. Remind me.

carbon, I have the avic-n1 too. have you installed any of the options, like rear view camera, etc? also, have you figured out how to play dvds on the main screen (don't have a 2nd screen) have you tried the voice control?

No problem with security here in sleepy beautiful Kent....... All we have are Tracker Horizons on both cars, sophisticated perimeter security with double infra-red beams crossing drive and front garden linked to alarm system incorporating master blaster siren (audible a mile away), alarm then automatically dials the police, telephone line is monitored 24/7 and alerts the monitoring company if cut or faulty even if alarm is not set, oh and a GSM transmitter incorporated as a back up to alert the police should all the above fail. - Movement sensing cameras transmit images to the monitoring centrre and can be accessed from the web. I sleep peacfully at night !

Adrian, That is some serious security - good for you. I feel totally unprotected now! Luckily, in Central London there are lots of people to stand around and do absolutely nothing (as happened earlier this week, when a neighbour helpfully informed me that she had seen some kids standing on my C4S, but hadn't called me to tell me about it because she couldn't see a light on in my flat).

Deeps, - It probably sounds more effective than it is: Master blaster is required because all my gereatric neighbours are deaf !! Dial out security is good but local plod have about 2 cars to cover 20 square miles, probably take them an hour to get here ! Bastard kids jumping on your roof though - I think I'd wire it up to the mains ! I'm sure living in London has it's down sides. - I remember one occasion driving along the Kings Road about 10.00PM - as I passed the entrance to a bar the doors burst open and some geezrer literally flies out horizontally and smacks into the side of my BMW. I stop and am about to get out when a 2nd geezer flies out of the same door and proceeds to smack first geezer about the head with a bottle. - At this point my concern about scratched wing diminished, I thought better of it and drove off !!! - In the event there was no damage anyway. Adrian

Well, these things are as much about (1) deterrence and (2) peace of mind in knowing that you've done what you can yourself, as anything else, IMHO. I suspect that the kids using my beloved black chariot as the most expensive trampoline in the world may have been fathered by your "friends" on the King's Road (that's if they they know who their fathers are ...).

Sheesh!.......We don't get any of that palava up here in Liverpool. Simple sticker in the window that says "gone to an IRA meeting" seems to keep most idiots off my car. Oh yes, and BTW, did I mention Accrington?

Whatever you do, DON'T MENTION THE ACCRINGTON.

Scouser: Somehow I ended up owning a chunk of Accrington. Please include into list of placed not to be missed while extolling the virtues of England. Tickets for the football club are a hot item. But you already knew that. : )

Whoo hoo....what did that kit cost? In the states, a good 12 guage is a couple a hundred pounds......you can also hear it about a mile away, and you don't have to call the coppers, they come to you.......and if the first barrel should fail, there is always the second....

I just lurve that atitude !!!!!! - Good for you ! Alarm kit wasn't too expensive actually - all in about �4,500 fitted. - They fleece me on the six monthly maintenance and monitoring charges though. Unfortunately in the UK if you shoot a burglar on your premises he'll probably sue you (with the benefit of legal aid paid by my taxes). - Really - this happens.

It is strange timing that this should occur during this thread: my UK biz-partner just called to say someone put an overnight brick through the pasenger side window of his parked BoxterS.

I'm afraid that there's a real problem certain people have in the UK with other people having nice cars (or even being at all successful). No doubt there are people with a similar mentality in the US, but one thing I always noticed about the US (having lived there for about 3 years) was that far more Americans seemed to me to see the badges of others' success as something to admire and something to which they can aspire, rather than harbouring simple-minded (destructive) envy. (Sighs)

I couldn't agree more. I spent a bit of time in New England and people generally seem to appreciate the success of others. It seems to inspire the 'I could do that' mentality. Here it seems to stimulate resentment amongst the have nots. Maybe you guys all subscribe to the American Dream.

New England was where I was living, coincidentally. I think I may just be old-fashioned (at the ripe old age of 31), but when I see someone who is successful in some way, I tend to think something along the lines of "I hope I get to do that some day". Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of aspects of the American Dream to which I might not subscribe myself, but they have this aspect spot on, IMHO.

Yeah, I lived in L.A for a while and I remember strolling back to my apartment at 2:00am after leaving the "improv" club slightly over oiled. An LAPLOD pulled up in his rozzer and after trying to communicate with me, and finding out I was English, he said I should be careful as it was a very dangerous city walking about at night alone. I remember saying, I seen more trouble in the suburbs in Liverpool than I have ever seen in L.A.....nice plod gave me a lift home. I can prety much guarantee with certainty that if I left my car out on the street it would get trashed before midnight. Any other car would be left alone.....(but it's wheels might go )